Have you decided that you want to start your own streaming channel on Twitch or Youtube? If so, you’re at the right place!
Many gamers are slowly starting to stream their gameplay on Twitch and on Youtube because, recently, streaming is one of the best ways to maintain an audience. That being said, streaming has become a lot easier in 2022 than it was in previous years. Streaming has become one of the best ways to share what you love doing on the Internet. It’s also a great pastime that can lead to a career if you’re good at it.
But because streaming has become a lot more accessible to the majority, you’re going to have to find a way to stand out from the crowd, especially if you’re planning to make this your career. If you want to stand out from all the other gaming streamers out there, you don’t necessarily need fancy and expensive equipment. All you need are the top 5 streaming equipment we’re going to list down below and a character/personality that will get your viewers hooked from the get-go.
Now, let’s get into it!
Why Should You Stream Your Gameplay?
Before anything else, you might be asking, “Why should I stream what I play/do?” Well, the reason varies from person to person. However, most of the time, people who stream usually find it fun and interesting to do. Another reason is to give other people motivation to try out the game.
Your reasons might be different from other game streamers, but all you should know is that you should do what makes you happy. And if that means that you’d stream your gameplay, then go right ahead!
Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the top 5 streaming equipment must-haves!
Top 5 Basic Game-Streaming Setup Equipment Must-Haves
Audio – Microphones & Headphones
First and foremost, you’re going to need audio equipment such as a good external microphone and headphones. But if you’re on a budget, you can also buy a high-quality headset.
Streaming is all about entertaining your audience, and sometimes (if we’re not gonna lie), your skills in gaming may not be enough. Usually, gamers tend to interact with their audience just enough to get them hooked and stay around. But it’s not only about interacting with them. Most of the time, you’re also creating a bond with them that will make them come around whenever you stream. A good bond between the streamer and the viewer is one of the best ways for you to have a greater audience.
Thus, having high-quality audio equipment is definitely essential. You can purchase an external microphone and headphones to ensure better audio quality. But if you’re on a tighter budget, try investing in a high-quality headset that has a good microphone. You can use your headset for both gaming and streaming.
Video – Webcam, DSLR Camera, Phone Camera
Next up is your video equipment. Whether that may be a webcam, a DSLR camera, or even your phone camera.
Unless you’re like Corpse Husband who’s a faceless streamer, then you’re going to need a high-quality webcam or a professional camera for your setup. The idea of using a great camera is to give your audience the best viewing experience of your reactions, facial expressions, and more.
Purchase a web camera with at least 1080p full HD or even a professional 4K DSLR camera. We know it’s expensive, but it’s really worth getting it if you’re looking to give your audience a better viewing experience. If you’re on a really tight budget, there are softwares you can use to make your phone your camera. But using your phone to stream may be a little bit too overwhelming and may cause your phone to overheat. So, use your phone with caution.
Streaming Software
You’re also going to need to download a streaming software.
There should be a streaming software downloaded to your gaming laptop or PC. Downloading a streaming software, like the popular OBS, will allow you to combine both your video and audio content from multiple sources into one single stream.
There are a lot of free softwares out there like OBS Studio, but if you’re looking for more advanced customization and features, then you’re probably going to have to buy a software. But, if you’re new to the streaming scene, then we highly recommend that you stay with the free softwares first before you upgrade to a paid one, just so that you can get the feel of it first before committing to a purchase.
PC or Laptop
Of course, the most important equipment is your gaming PC or gaming laptop. I mean, technically, you can stream using your smartphone or tablet, but it’s not really ideal. Using a phone or tablet may not be suitable for heavy streaming like games since phones and tablets are not exactly built for that kind of pressure.
So, getting a gaming PC or laptop is the best way to stream your games. You can use all the streaming platforms like Youtube and Twitch to stream without much hassle when you’re using a PC or laptop.
Desk/Space
Lastly, (although they’re not exactly equipment), you’re also going to need a good desk and space to stream.
You’re going to need a quiet space to enjoy a flawless streaming experience. And if you’re not a faceless streamer, having an aesthetic gaming setup is also something to think about.
You have to ensure that the space is quiet so that only your voice and the best sound are picked up by your microphone. Also, don’t forget to arrange the room as best as possible from the video perspective of the viewers. Make sure that they don’t see anything unnecessary (and weird). Plus, a good setup will also enhance your gaming experience and workflow.
Optional Streaming Equipment You Should Consider Buying
We’re also going to talk about a few optional streaming equipments you might want to consider buying if you’re going to be a full-fledged streamer. These include:
Dedicated Streaming PC
Having a dedicated streaming PC or laptop will remove a lot of pressure from your main PC/laptop. Playing games, especially hardcore ones, can put a lot of workload on your main PC or laptop. Thus, having a dedicated one just for streaming will make your main work a lot smoother, which will result in better and smoother gameplay.
Green Screen
If you don’t have the aesthetic space or room, or if you want to take your streaming to another level, you can also use a green screen.
Adding a green screen to your setup will allow you to add crazy and funny effects to the final footage. Making use of a green screen will help you edit these effects a lot easier and faster, with the help of an editing program. So, a green screen is really handy, even if you don’t want to use effects.
Lighting (RGB/Ring Light/ LED Lights)
In line with making an aesthetic space, you can make use of different kinds of light to add color and depth to your stream.
You can use both RGB and LED lights to make your gaming and streaming setup ten times cooler. Meanwhile, you can use a ring light to optimize your lighting setup to fit your needs.
Lights can not only set the ambiance for when you’re playing your game, but they can also set the ambiance for those who are watching.
Stream Deck
Another optional but highly recommended, streaming equipment you should consider purchasing, especially if you’re making streaming a career, is a stream deck.
A stream deck is a series of buttons that can be assigned to do various actions with just one push of a button. Instead of pressing multiple buttons or having to pull out and select different things on your screen, you can assign that certain action to your stream deck, and use it by just pushing a button.
Stream decks are very useful in helping you manage your stream. It also makes doing tasks that require you to push a lot of buttons or options much easier.
Good Gaming Peripherals
Before you even start streaming, you need to have good gaming peripherals. These include gaming chairs, gaming mice, and even gaming keyboards. They’re optional, but just like a stream deck, highly recommended.
These gaming peripherals will help enhance your gaming experience and boost your proficiency. Even if you’re not streaming, only gaming, having these gaming peripherals are a must to improve your overall gaming experience. These can also help you be successful in your gaming adventures.
Take note, all of these are just optional equipment, and it does not mean that if you don’t have them, you’re going to be unsuccessful. A good stream will always start with you and the game.
That’s a Wrap!
Streaming can be hard at first because you have to build your audience from scratch (unless you already have a following on a different platform), but these 5 equipments will help you start your streaming journey.
And as you gain a bigger audience, you can now start investing more in better and more equipment to make your setup even better than before.
Just remember that these equipment will only help you start your journey. What you really need is a whole lot of personality to make even the simplest things into something your audience will enjoy, laugh at, and love.
We hope this article helped you! If you want to check out more articles like this, you can check out our blog here.
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