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Love watching gaming streams on Twitch? Why not kickstart your own streaming channel instead! Many aspiring streamers are reluctant to start game streaming due to the misconception that there’s a lot of equipment and skills needed to launch your channel. Actually, all you need is some basic equipment and an undying passion for gaming. Learn how to start streaming on Twitch with live streaming equipment such as webcams, microphones, lighting and more below! Be on your way to becoming a Twitch affiliate in no time!
1. Enjoy butter-smooth streaming with a gaming PC or laptop
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Aside from setting up your Twitch account and downloading your live streaming software, you will need some suitable computer hardware for your game streaming. While you don’t necessarily need the latest processor to stream, we highly recommend getting a setup that’s capable enough to support both your gaming and streaming needs. This is why a gaming PC is always your best bet.
Gaming PCs generally come with better motherboard and CPU performance that can keep up with your graphic-intensive games and streaming software simultaneously. In addition, they often boast a bigger RAM size and speed. Plus, many of them are equipped with a good cooling system to ensure that your setup is never overheated when you’re running intensive software. If you can’t find a ready-made gaming PC that matches all your gaming needs, why not consider building your own gaming PC? Custom-made gaming PCs allow you more autonomy to determine the specs of your equipment.
Meanwhile, if you prefer a portable gaming setup for streaming, consider one of these best gaming laptops. Don’t overlook these laptops for their compact sizes, some of them even surpass the performance of gaming desktop PCs! They make on-the-go game streaming a piece of cake. Plus, many gaming laptops come with a built-in webcam — saving you the cost of buying an external webcam for your stream!
2. Enjoy full visibility when you stream with dual gaming monitors
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How to start streaming on Twitch without affecting your gaming experience? When you’re streaming, you’ll want to keep an eye out on your stream and respond to incoming comments from your viewers. If you’re streaming with a single monitor, chances are you will have to play your game in a smaller window to make room for your streaming interface. While all these can be resolved with Streamlabs Game Overlay function (Twitch chats and events are layered over your gaming window in partial opacity to allow you to view both systems concurrently), it is still recommended that you have a dual monitor setup for your game streaming.
With two monitors side by side, you’re able to keep an eye on your stream without sacrificing your immersive gaming experience on full screen. Check out these best PC monitors with superior resolution and impressive refresh rate that will be a great addition to your game streaming setup! A dual monitor setup allows you to hustle between your game and your stream community without a hitch. You can easily view a Twitch chat on one screen while you launch your enemy through the air on another. A second monitor also means you have more room for your streaming applications, including recording and video editing software. This is especially important if you plan to cut clips of your game in real time.
3. Never miss a beat with a good graphics card
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During your research on how to start streaming on Twitch, you may come across two camps when it comes to getting a dedicated graphics card. One says that a GPU isn’t necessary for streaming as your CPU is the one in charge of all the encoding work. Meanwhile, another sees the GPU as a must-have because it comes with built-in hardware encoders that can lend the CPU a hand.
Our suggestion? Get a graphics card based on the intensity of the games you plan to stream! Apart from the fact that no one enjoys watching a stream that’s full pixelated quality, your performance will also take a hit due to laggy frames. You want to show your community your best self, so investing in a GPU is a win-win for both parties.
If you’re worried about the cost of GPUs, here’s a tip on how to start streaming on Twitch on a budget: Instead of going for the latest graphics card in the market right now, pick one that’s two or three launches back. This ensures you pay a decent price and still get to enjoy above average performance!
4. Spice up your stream with a microphone
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How to start streaming on Twitch and produce engaging content to capture your viewers? Unless you’re a top notch pro player who can attract and retain your audience with your superb gaming skills, chances are you need to offer something more to keep them engaged. One easy way is to get a microphone and provide real time commentary for your game. A silent game stream can make you seem distant to your viewers as they are not able to learn about your personality and communicate with you. Adding a voice to the stream can make the experience more personal and intimate for your audience!
If you’re using a gaming laptop, you may be tempted to use the built-in microphone on your device for your game streaming. However, most built-in microphones do not provide high quality audio and this can affect your viewers’ experience when they watch your streams. Instead, go for a proper streaming microphone that can help convey your commentary clearly with minimal noise.
Razer Seiren Mini
Credit: Razer Official Store
The Razer Seiren Mini (available in the Razer Official Store) is a powerful addition to your streaming gig. Its portable size makes it perfect for a smaller setup and won’t show up on your camera when you’re streaming. It features an ultra-compact condenser mic that produces professional grade audio with a maximum sample rate of 48 kHz — your audience will be able to hear your excitement through every word! It also boasts amazing noise reduction capabilities to eliminate typing and mouse click sounds. The Razer Seiren Mini is also beginner-friendly. Simply plug the mic into your setup and let your voice do the rest!
MAONO AU-A04T USB Microphone Kit
Credit: MAONO Official Store
If portability isn’t your priority when it comes to a microphone, perhaps the MAONO AU-A04T USB Microphone Kit (available in the MAONO Official Store) will be a better option. This microphone is designed with a professional sound chipset that is capable of recording at a superior sampling rate of 192 kHz. This means that it can record a wide range of frequencies to produce premium quality audio. In combination with the pop filter to boost noise reduction, your crystal clear audio will earn you a strong following on Twitch!
5. Put a face to your voice with a webcam
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Not all game streamers show their faces while they stream, so it is entirely up to you on the type of content you would like to put out on your channel. However, there are some advantages to appearing on your stream. You get to add facial expressions to your stream and enjoy the freedom of injecting other non-verbal cues into your communication. This can greatly spice up your content for your viewers!
For those who’re just starting out, a budget webcam will do the job just fine. With webcams, there’s no need to purchase a video capture card — one less thing to worry about when you’re learning how to start streaming on Twitch! However, most webcams have a limit to their video resolution and may not be the most desirable if you’re trying to become one of the top streamers. In that case, you may want to explore streaming with a DSLR camera. A DSLR camera is undoubtedly more expensive than a webcam, but it provides much better image quality and allows for greater flexibility when it comes to adjusting the settings for your footage.
6. Multitasking is a breeze with a stream deck
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You may have noticed that many guides on how to start streaming on Twitch recommend getting a stream deck, but what exactly does this device do? You can think of a stream deck as a mini keyboard full of hotkeys. Each key can be customized to trigger a series of actions when pressed. As stream decks are primarily designed for streamers, they can be easily integrated into Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) and connected with your streaming peripherals. While they are mainly used to switch between scenes and sounds or kickstart the countdown before your stream goes live, stream decks can also be used to activate social media push to add more dimensions to your channel.
Elgato Stream Deck
Credit: IT World
The Elgato Stream Deck (available on IT World) is a streamer’s best friend. It contains three rows of five buttons, each with a mini customizable LCD screen, to project the right icons assigned. Setting up this device is simple — just plug it into your computer to power it on. Then, download the stream deck software to start programming the buttons. It integrates seamlessly into OBS, XSplit, Twitch, YouTube, and many other applications. You even get to create profiles on the stream deck to toggle between various sets of key configurations!
Elgato Stream Deck Mini
Credit: IT World
If you feel like a steam deck with fifteen keys is too much for you, consider the Elgato Stream Deck Mini instead! This compact stream deck contains six LCD keys that are sufficient if you’re a beginner at streaming. Similar to the standard Elgato Stream Deck, this version also boasts direct integration with various systems for plug-and-play convenience.
7. Transfer your console gameplay seamlessly via a capture card
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A capture card is another essential component when you’re learning how to start streaming on Twitch. Capture cards serve as a middleman between your gameplay and your stream. It captures on-screen content and encodes it for playback on your stream or as a video file that can be uploaded onto YouTube and other platforms. Capture cards are most commonly used by console game streamers. This is because most consoles are not equipped with the ability to render and encode video in real time at high quality. However, some PC gamers may also choose to use capture cards for their game streaming. Regardless of your gaming device, It’s important to buy a good capture card to stream the highest quality gameplay possible.
Elgato HD60 S Capture Card
Credit: Game One PH
Capture cards come in two types of interfaces — USB and PCI-e. For a more versatile capture card that is compatible across a wide range of devices, go for a USB capture card like the Elgato HD60 S Capture Card (available on Game One PH). The HD60 S is a reliable device that captures HDMI video signal up to 1080p at 60 frames per second for a lag-free transfer. It boasts a solid build and supports input from popular consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, or even the PlayStation 5!
8. Illuminate your stream with LED studio lighting
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Planning to show your face to your viewers on your streaming channel? Do it right with LED studio lighting! Adding proper studio lights can brighten your environment and allow you to be seen clearly. After all, you want your viewers to be able to read your facial expressions! There are many options when it comes to lighting for your game streaming. Pick one below that fits your space and budget!
Selens 14 inch LED Ring Light
Credit: Selens Official Shop
If space is not a concern for you, the Selens 14 inch LED Ring Light (available in the Selens Official Shop) will be a handy game streaming tool to have. Ring lights are one of the most commonly used lighting solutions for game streaming as they provide even coverage across your scene, reducing shadows and minimizing the appearance of blemishes. This makes you appear more presentable in your videos. In addition, the Selens LED Ring Light has an advantage. It comes with a remote control so you can switch up the brightness and warmth of your light from a distance without getting out of your seat.
9. Hide unsightly backgrounds with a green screen
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Our eyes are naturally drawn to aesthetically pleasing visuals and a messy room simply doesn’t fall into this category. Thankfully, as you’re finding out more about how to start streaming on Twitch, you’ll realize that there are green screens to help conceal your background. A green screen is a piece of simple yet nifty equipment that helps isolate you from your natural recording environment. Many streaming applications, such as OBS, have built-in functions to identify green screen areas and remove it from your stream. The final result is an image of you standing against your gameplay scenes as if you’re in the game itself! There are many other ways to work the green screen creatively. You can turn to your favorite game streamers for inspiration! Just remember not to dress in a similar shade of green!
Selens Portable Green Screen
Credit: Selens Official Shop
Depending on how far your camera is from you, you’ll need a green screen that’s big enough to cover your entire backdrop within the frame. The Selens Portable Green Screen is a great fit for game streamers as it has a huge diameter of 130cm for complete coverage. In addition, you can strap it to your chair to save up on space! Sitting close to your green screen can also reduce odd shadows that may appear in your video.
That’s all you need to know about how to start streaming on Twitch
With all this equipment in place, it’s time to start the countdown and get your gaming stream going live on Twitch! Need more content for your channel? Check out these top PS5 games that your audience will be interested in. Alternatively, you can read on the best Nintendo Switch games and accessories to pair with your new capture card.
As a PC gamer, you’ll want to look at the best gaming mice and the best gaming keyboards to level up your in-game performance. Good luck on your new venture to becoming a Twitch streamer! With these items, you’ll be able to make it to the Twitch partner status in no time!
