Over the years, live streaming has become an avenue for the creative demographic and gamers alike. Many streaming veterans have found careers in streaming and are doing what they love as a job.
And perhaps now you’ve decided to take a chance and dive into the world of live streaming. But what equipment do you need and what should you expect? Luckily, you’re in good hands. Here is how to choose your live streaming equipment for your next streaming event.
Your Streaming PC
Before jumping headfirst into live streaming, it’s important to know how to choose your live streaming equipment. The right equipment depends on what kind of content you wish to broadcast into the world, so be sure to know what type of production you want and set a budget. It’s good to consider specifics you want to include, even down to your mouse and keyboard choices. Be sure that your PC is optimal and runs consistently with little to no hiccups.
A basic setup overview includes a quality web camera, monitors, your PC and specs, headphones, a quality mic, desk accessories, and lighting equipment. You can go as intense as you need, but the basics come down to only a few things. From there, you can add to your setup and find an internet connection that can handle large internet usage. Depending on the content you stream, internet handling is important.
Your Streaming Environment
Now that you have the PC you’re looking for, it’s good to know where you wish to host your streams. If you’re just starting out, find a room in your home that’s fairly soundproof to minimize outside noises; the room should also have good airflow. You don’t want your running PC to make your room uncomfortably warm.
Additionally, find a chair you can sit in for long periods. There are ergonomic chairs meant for an extended period of use that help support the lower back. Lastly, have strong Wi-Fi to cast for long periods without interruptions. You can also consider painting a green screen to add a background behind you during your stream to increase immersion for you and your audience.
Platforms and Programs
Lastly, it’s good to know where to stream and what programs you can find. Luckily, there are many free websites where you can host your streams. Try to find a category on these streaming sites that fits your demographic; it’s there that you’ll find your target audience.
As for programs, you need to have an excellent streaming program to handle your stream, the audience chat, customizable add-ons, and so much more. Again, you can incorporate a few free programs into your streams to make them run properly. You can even save your stream and upload it to other video platforms to further reach your audience.
As you can see from this basic overview of streaming, it’s not as complicated as you’d think. Whether you wish to stream video games you enjoy, creating digital drawings, or even just talk to your audience, there’s so much to offer with streaming. So, turn on that webcam and say hello to the viewers in your chat log.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
