How to Stream on Twitch: Your Guide to Starting a Twitch Stream
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Do you desire to make money playing video games? That's the dream for a lot of united states of america, and ane of the best means to do information technology is to live stream on Twitch. What most people don't tell you is that a lot goes into starting a Twitch stream. Yous have to get the applied science right, consider your game choice, and and then work on growing your stream. This guide volition teach yous how to stream on Twitch, including everything y'all demand to know to start your stream, and how to starting time building your audience.
How to Stream on Twitch
Step one: Curb Expectations.
First, I think it'south important to curb expectations. It'due south extremely hard to make big money as a gamer. You might be able to accomplish affiliate level, become a few subscribers, and make a few extra bucks, but information technology will take a lot of hard work and dedication. Making a total-time income from your Twitch stream is even harder.
This post isn't near how to make information technology big, or make a full-fourth dimension income streaming. This mail is about how to start a Twitch stream– what equipment you need, what downloads you need, what platforms you should look at. It will also swoop into the basics of edifice an audience to give you a headstart.
Streaming For Fun
There's also something to be said about streaming for fun. The main reason I stream is so that I tin can find people to play Jackbox with me. I enjoy it, they enjoy information technology, good times are had past all. I have no expectation of replacing my primary income with streaming basically ever, merely I bask doing it. That'southward okay too.
And so, with all that being said, here'south your guide to starting a Twitch Stream:
What is Twitch?
First – a rundown of the basics. Twitch is a live-stream platform that allows you to broadcast your gameplay on the internet. It's an splendid way to engage with people who are interested in the same games that you lot are and connect with other players. Information technology's my favorite streaming platform, especially now that Mixer no longer exists.
A great thing near Twitch is how like shooting fish in a barrel it is to start monetizing your stream. Getting prepare upwards, reaching affiliate, and turning your gaming session into a side hustle is easier on Twitch than on any of the other gaming platforms, such as Youtube live or your Facebook folio.
What Equipment Do I Need to Start a Twitch Stream?
Computer or Console
The most important matter yous will need when starting your Twitch stream is a calculator powerful enough to handle gaming and alive streaming simultaneously. I love my MSI Stealth Pro. I've had it for over 2 years and it's been amazing. Hopefully, if you lot're really interested in gaming you already have a computer that's powerful enough to handle it, but if non, I can't speak highly enough well-nigh MSI every bit a brand.
Some people kickoff their streaming risk without a computer. Playstation and Xbox both have live streaming options. These are great for folks who just want to plug and play, merely they offer limited functionality for building overlays and controlling your tech. If you desire to take streaming seriously, a computer is a must-have.
Internet Connexion
Yous will also demand an internet connection with a fairly decent upload speed. Live streaming takes a ton of bandwidth, then make sure your ISP tin handle information technology. If you lot don't have a adept connection speed, you lot will drop frames and your stream will lag, leading to a poor user experience.
A Note Virtually Mobile Streaming
It is possible to stream to Twitch directly from your mobile device. If you lot practice this, yous won't need a computer or any of the other software we talk about. Some folks have been successful with information technology, but in my opinion, it isn't ideal.
Capture Menu
The next thing you need in club to start a Twitch stream is a video capture device. This is a tiny fiddling box, too called a capture carte, that coordinates signals between your reckoner, your tv, and your console. It "captures" the screen from your tv, and shares information technology with your computer via HDMI or USB3 connexion so that you can stream it on Twitch.
There are a few capture cards on the market place, all with different features. Brand sure the card you cull is uniform with your console and your figurer. I went with the Razer Ripsaw HD, because information technology'due south compatible with the PC, PS4, XBOX, and Switch. I'1000 currently but using the Switch for streaming, but you lot never know when I might desire to switch it up and use something different. And at $130, yous'd ameliorate believe that I desire to brand the capture card a one-time purchase!
Many others go with the Elgato. It's also compatible with all the console games, and it'south pretty user-friendly. Either option volition let you to stream from near consoles without whatsoever issues.
Cheaper options are available, merely be careful! Make sure they are meant for streaming video games, and that they will piece of work with your panel before making the purchase.
You lot can too stream from certain consoles without a capture carte. Microsoft includes game capture software on the Xbox so yous tin stream from it directly. The PlayStation 4 has this selection also. Even nearly Microsoft computers offer some type of screen capture software. Although the capture card, and a computer in general, aren't required for these types of streams, using them volition enhance your stream quality.
Microphone
One of the main components of streaming is the interaction between you and your audience. People want to hear what yous're saying and empathise your thought procedure. Most computers exercise accept some type of built-in sound, but the sound quality with the born microphones leaves a lot to be desired.
If yous're serious nigh streaming, yous will want to get a good microphone that lets you adapt the settings. I use a Blue Yeti – information technology's one of the all-time microphones on the market place. Customizing the sound settings is unproblematic and straightforward, and the microphone picks upward everything you lot need it to.
I went with a top-of-the-line model because I've too used it for podcasting, so you can probably become something a little less expensive if the price is prohibitive. Even so, if yous want to have a professional sounding stream, your sound needs to be stellar. The Yeti volition make certain that happens.
Headphones
I don't use headphones when streaming. Really I merely hate wearing them. Simply, there are some limitations to non wearing headphones, and the most hitting 1 is that y'all can't hear your game. Trust me, it's not piece of cake to sit and play in silence, with only your own voice keeping you company.
You encounter, if yous take the volume of your tv up so that you can hear the game without headphones, your microphone will choice upwardly the sound. And since the capture bill of fare is already grabbing the audio forth with the video, your viewers will hear both. That means yous will have double sound on your stream, which will pb to annoying feedback that no one will want to listen to.
Sometimes, I put the telly book on extremely low then I can only barely hear it, and I bring the microphone much closer to me than the tv. Then, I set information technology then that it doesn't choice up low-volume sounds. That mode, I have a tiny bit of background music, but it doesn't interrupt my stream. Although this works for me, it's probably non the ideal setup for virtually streamers.
Amazon has a pretty great selection of headphones – check them out!
WebCam
You don't exactly need a webcam to commencement steaming. You tin can easily stream and start edifice a post-obit without one. But, it's nice to have. People similar to see who they are talking to and interacting with. And yep, most computers do come with a built-in photographic camera, simply if you lot've e'er face-timed or skyped with it, yous know it's not the highest quality. Too, you might need to consider the positioning of your laptop when you stream. It might not be in an ideal spot for the camera. An external webcam can be adapted and moved so that it's in the best location for your stream.
You don't need anything fancy. I apply a live streaming webcam that comes with a built-in microphone, which I don't need, only it'southward an platonic solution for those who want to go started with minimal start-up costs. Although webcams aren't a requirement, viewers prefer to scout streams that have one. Keep that in mind if you lot are trying to become a Twitch Affiliate.
Green Screen
Yous don't need a green screen. Enough of streamers don't use one, and they do merely fine. However, if you lot want to be a super absurd gamer who has their face up literally on the game, the greenish screen is the fashion to become.
It'due south incredibly piece of cake to ready. You simply need to get a greenish fabric and put it up backside y'all. When I helped an ex get his stream set up a few years ago, nosotros only went to JoAnn's and bought a piece of dark-green fabric for like five bucks. We hung it upward with clothespins! If you're creative, you tin detect a way to do it fairly cheaply.
But, if you want the professional person-grade one, Amazon has tons of options. I got this unabridged studio kit for near $150 – I use information technology for lighting when I paint and taking high-quality pictures of models.
What Software Do I Need to Start a Twitch Stream?
OBS
One of the best things well-nigh streaming is that the software you lot need is costless. OBS is open-source software for live streaming and video recording. Once you have all your physical equipment prepare, go to this link to download it.
In one case it's installed, y'all will take to play with the settings a little fleck to get the stream right for you. You can change the audio settings, the visual settings, and even update your stream data right from the OBS platform.
Streamlabs
After I played with OBS for a while, I decided to switch to Streamlabs. OBS is great, and it has a lot of options, only in my opinion, Streamlabs is easier to use. It offers a few complimentary overlays, which helps your stream await a trivial sleeker and more professional person. You can also upgrade to Streamlabs pro, which allows you to choose a more professional overlay for your stream, and gives you the option to stream to multiple platforms simultaneously if y'all chose to do and so.
Regardless of which software yous chose, there will be a slight learning bend. It took me nearly a month to be able to plough everything on and take it just work right. There'south a ton of unlike settings in each software, and you will have to configure everything to get things correct for your system and your stream.
A bonus about both OBS and Streamlabs is that they can exist used for more than than broadcasting live videos. Both of these dissemination software options likewise include screen recording functionality. If you prefer uploading edited to your Youtube channel to broadcasting live, both of these programs will yet work.
How Do I Start a Twitch Stream?
Later on you lot accept all of your equipment ready up, information technology's fourth dimension to start your stream. First, y'all will need to decide which platform you desire to use. There are quite a few alternatives to Twitch available, including Facebook Gaming and Youtube Alive, only in my opinion, Twitch is nonetheless the best for new streamers. Before yous go an affiliate, y'all can employ a Streamlabs premium license to simultaneously stream to multiple platforms. This might assistance y'all determine which live streaming platform is best for you.
Setting up a Twitch Account
Information technology's incredibly easy to first a stream on Twitch. Become to twitch.tv and create a free account. If you already accept a Twitch account, all you lot have to do is connect your account to your streaming software.
To do this, go into the settings in the "Controls" dock, and so add together in your primary stream fundamental from Twitch to go connected. OBS makes information technology actually easy – but brand sure you are logged into Twitch and click the "get my stream central" push button. It should take you straight to your channel dashboard.
Alternatively, you lot can go to Twitch, become to your settings, and go to your channel settings. Your stream code volition be hidden, merely yous can view it to re-create and past it into OBS. You don't e'er want to share your stream code with anyone, so make sure you aren't alive streaming while you're looking at it!
Now that you've connected Twitch and OBS, yous are fix to offset streaming! Hitting the "go-live" push and starting time your start stream!
How to Stream on Twitch: Viewers, Affiliation, and Monetizing
Striking that get-alive push button is but the first of your journey. To successfully stream on Twitch, you will need to go viewers, build a post-obit, become an chapter, and monetize your stream.
How to Go Viewers on Twitch
Hit that go-alive push is the start of your journey. The next step is to gain viewers on Twitch and build a following. Networking is the primal to this, particularly when yous are simply starting out. You will want to join Discord servers dedicated to helping streamers, network on Twitch itself, and promote yourself on social media. There are tons of ways to gain more Twitch viewers, and every streamer volition detect the things that work best for them.
Becoming a Twitch Affiliate
Condign a Twitch affiliate is the kickoff step towards monetizing your stream. In lodge to be an chapter, you need fifty followers, accept to meet a few time requirements, and need an average of three concurrent viewers.
Typically, the concurrent viewers are the hardest function. If you follow our guide on how to become a Twitch affiliate, y'all should be able to achieve this status in near xxx days.
Monetizing Your Stream
Once yous get a Twitch affiliate, you will be able to monetize your stream. Twitch affiliates make coin in a number of ways, but the easiest for new streamers is via bits and subscriptions.
Bits are in-app currency that allows viewers to cheer for you, and subscriptions are a way for your biggest fans to support y'all.
Across Learning How to Stream on Twitch
As you can see, learning how to stream on Twitch is just the showtime. Although a lot goes into setting your stream up, there's far more to beingness a successful streamer than configuring bitrate and ensuring that your audio mixer is perfect.
Well-nigh of the work in becoming a Twitch streamer comes after you get started. It'due south the endless hours of networking, perfecting your performance, learning how to engage with viewers. All these things accept fourth dimension and effort merely are important to becoming a successful streamer.
Source: https://partnersinfire.com/passion-fire-2/gaming/guide-to-starting-a-twitch-stream/
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