The introduction of Twitch in 2011 marked the beginning of a new era in the entertainment industry. The platform has brought together professional players, ordinary video game fans, and even those who are not interested in games at all: those who create music, draw, sing, and even discuss politics also stream. Many of those who are now watched by thousands of people started from the very bottom: everyone has a chance to get through to the stars, and it is not necessary to have expensive equipment with five monitors to do so. If you have ever thought about starting to stream (but have always been afraid or put off), our guide will help you understand the basic points that need to be taken into account.
Technical aspects
First, let's go through the technical part. It is important to remember that you need to have a sufficiently powerful computer for streaming, because you will not only play, but also broadcast the entire process, and this requires resources. Some streamers use two computers at once: one runs games, and the other deals directly with the stream. But for a beginner, one device will be enough.
It is preferable to use stationary PC with processors of at least the Intel Core i7 / Ryzen 7 family and a fairly large amount of RAM (8 GB and more) to ensure optimal performance. The same goes for the GPU, as well as to the sound card (some technical experts recommend having a video card no weaker than GeForce GTX 1660 Ti).
You can stream not only with a PC, but also with a laptop (it must also be powerful enough). If you don't have a computer, but you still want to stream, there is also a way out. Twitch makes it possible to organize broadcasts from PlayStaion, Xbox, and even from smartphones.
Another important point is the quality of Internet connection. The Internet must be fast enough (from 100 Mbps), otherwise there will be problems with both the data transfer speed and the image quality on the broadcast.
In streaming you can not do without a microphone: at the initial stage, you can use a gaming headset, that will be quite enough. You can even do without a webcam: many popular streamers started and succeeded without showing their faces: for example, LIRIK.
What software is required?
In addition to a fairly powerful computer, you need a program for recording video and streaming, since not all games support in-game streaming.
There are a great many of helper programs, but most streamers prefer Open Broadcaster Software Studio (OBS Studio). It is absolutely free and is easy to use for both professionals and beginners.
Setting up OBS Studio is a delicate matter and depends on the configuration of your computer and the devices used (webcam, microphone, etc.). Don't be intimidated by the program's interface, it's actually quite simple. If there are any difficulties, the Internet is always at your service!
Detailed guide on setting up OBS from the How To Tech channel
In addition to OBS Studio, there are other programs for recording and processing video — XSplit, OBS from Streamlabs, vMix, and others. If for some reason you are not satisfied with OBS Studio, you can turn to one of the listed options, but remember: not all of them are free!
It is important to understand what you will stream and why
The technical side of the issue is only half the battle. You also need to understand what exactly you want to broadcast to potential viewers. There are extremely popular content-makers in the streaming industry who can afford to just communicate with the audience one day, and try some indie games few people are interested in the other day: little-known and novice streamers can not afford this.
If you have no ambitions to become a new xQc or Ninja, you can stream anything. But otherwise, it is better to decide in advance on a specific game (popular in the long run) or at least a genre. Of course, the competition in shooters is incredibly high, and it will be much easier to find an initial audience in for example collectible card games.
You don't have to play video games on the stream. You can also stream IRL content on Twitch, which is what many content makers do. Are you good at drawing? Great! Do you play the guitar masterly? Perfect! Do you like to collect puzzles? The audience may be interested in this too!
Hype games can help you promote your channel. When a long-awaited title is released, it will be streamed (and watched!) by a lot of people. In short, do not neglect new products, with their help you can also attract viewers.
Don't be silent and be yourself!
You can stream without a webcam, but it is strictly forbidden to stream in silence. Even if very few people (or no one at all) are watching you, be sure to comment on what is happening on the screen. Imagine that a stray Twitch user accidentally drops in on your stream — you will have only a few seconds to entice him to stay on the channel.
There is nothing wrong with "talking into the void". This way you will not only develop your speaking skills, but also be able to notice speech errors (for yourself or with the help of the audience). In addition, in some games (especially not the most dynamic ones) this will be extremely useful — there is less chance of mistakes when making a particular decision in a game.
The second important point — do not try to please everyone at once, it is impossible. You don't need to flirt with the audience on purpose and do things you don't like, in general. The viewer always recognizes a fake: be yourself, people like it that way.
Think about what can become your channel's thing. For example, the streamer Theonemanny attracted the audience using a special filter on the webcam: instead of the content maker's face, viewers saw a smiling dog. However, anything can be your thing (just don't overdo it).
Promote your channel...
No one will ever know about you if you don't tell everyone about your stream yourself. First, ask your friends to rate the stream: they will give you the first feedback and tell you about the mistakes or what they liked / disliked. This is very useful information that will help you in the future.
... and follow the rules
Do not ignore the Twitch's rules. Before you start, be sure to visit this page and read everything carefully. Violation of some rules may result in an immediate permanent ban without the possibility of restoring the channel.
It is not difficult to start streaming, the main thing is to know what exactly you want to show to the audience. Think about your strengths and weaknesses, weigh everything, and hit the road! You should not be afraid, no one is immune from making mistakes. Moreover, it need to be done in order to improve.
More detailed streaming guides will be released on Streams Charts in the near future: we will focus on technical issues, the most common mistakes of beginner streamers, and various non-obvious nuances of streaming. And for now, subscribe to our social networks so as not to miss any announcement.
