Live streaming is a great platform for sharing your passions, connecting with audiences, and even turning your hobbies into lucrative careers. If you’re looking to dive into the world of streaming, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from understanding the basics to setting up your first broadcast. We’ll cover:
What is streaming?
Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is streaming? Streaming usually refers to the real-time delivery of content over the internet. Unlike downloading, where you save a file to your device, streaming allows you to consume content as it’s delivered. However, if you’re reading this guide, you’re probably more interested in live streaming.
Live streaming is a form of streaming where content is broadcast in real-time. This allows audiences to participate as the action unfolds, creating a sense of immediacy and community. Popular types of live streaming include gaming, music performances, tutorials, and “just chatting” sessions. It’s often simply referred to as ‘streaming’ rather than live streaming.
A streamer is someone who broadcasts this live content to an online audience. This can be done on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or Kick. Streamers often interact with their audience through live chat, making the experience more engaging and personal.
How does streaming work?
Streaming involves encoding your video and audio using software (e.g., OBS Studio) and transmitting it to a platform via the internet. Viewers then receive the data as a live feed, often with minimal delay, similar to an online lesson or lecture.
How to start streaming?
Starting your streaming journey might seem daunting, but breaking it into steps makes it manageable.
Step 1: Choose your platform
The first step is selecting a platform for your streams. Popular platforms include Twitch, which is ideal for gaming and creative content; YouTube, which caters to a broader audience including gaming, tutorials, and vlogs; Kick, a newer platform gaining traction among gamers; and Facebook Gaming, which is perfect if you already have an established Facebook audience.
Step 2: Select your niche
Deciding on the type of content you’ll stream is crucial. Popular niches include gaming, music, cooking, art, and “just chatting” sessions where you engage directly with your viewers. You’ll likely already have an idea of what kind of content you’re interested in creating, but remember to check trending topics and formats if you want to engage with a new audience. Want tips on content creation from an established streamer? Our video series with Cadea could be just what you’re looking for.
Step 3: Gather Equipment
To stream professionally, you need reliable equipment. Start with your computer — a high-performance gaming PC or laptop is essential for smooth streaming. To become a professional, full-time streamer, you should consider a dedicated streaming PC. You’ll also need a quality microphone for clear audio, a HD webcam, and a decent headset to reduce background noise and enhance audio clarity. Proper lighting, such as softbox or ring lights, significantly improves video quality, and an external capture card is necessary for streaming console games. You can find tips and advice for arranging all these peripherals in our guide to gaming setups.
Here is a checklist of essentials for starting your streaming career, including hardware:
- PC
- Microphone
- Webcam
- Headset
- Gaming mouse and keyboard
- Capture card
- Ergonomic gaming chair and desk
Step 4: Setup Streaming Software
Setting up streaming software like OBS Studio or Streamlabs allows you to manage overlays, audio, and video. Take the time to familiarise yourself with these features before you start using them live on camera. You should configure your settings to balance quality and performance based on your internet speed and PC specifications.
Your internet connection should have a minimum upload speed of 3 Mbps for 720p at 30fps streaming. Remember to create streaming accounts on your chosen platforms and customise your stream with overlays and alerts to enhance its appearance.
Step 5: Test Your Setup
It’s important to run test streams to ensure your equipment, software, and internet connection are working smoothly. Try hosting private streaming sessions with your friends and ask for their feedback on things like audio quality, lighting, or content. Or, if there’s a streamer whose content you admire, you could get in touch and try asking them for tips.
Step 6: Go Live!
Once everything is set up and tested, you can hit the “Go Live” button and start your streaming journey. It may take a while to get used to streaming, find your rhythm, or establish a streaming style, and it may take even longer to accumulate an audience. But keep at it and remember to have fun — the best way to get views is organically, through time and effort!
Streaming Tips & Troubleshooting
Once you’ve been streaming for a while and want to improve, the following tips can help you get more viewers, subscribers, and eventually revenue from your stream.
- Consistency is key, so make sure you stream on a regular schedule.
- Engage with your audience by interacting with them during your streams to help build a loyal community.
- Promote your stream on social media to attract more viewers.
- Invest in good equipment to ensure better quality streams.
- Continuously learn and improve your skills and setup to help you stay ahead.
- If you experience low viewership, engaging with other streamers and communities can help grow your audience.
- If Discord crashes when you are streaming, updating the application and ensuring compatibility with your streaming software often resolves the issue.
- A black screen in OBS can be fixed by checking your display capture settings.
- On all platforms and software, buffering issues may occur if your internet speed doesn’t meet requirements.
FAQs
How do I start streaming on Twitch?
To begin streaming on Twitch, you need to create an account, set up OBS Studio, and connect it to your Twitch account. It’s a good idea to test your setup before going live.
How much does it cost to start streaming?
Starting streaming can cost between £500 and £1000 for a basic setup, but if you already own a capable PC or laptop, you can start with less. Why not speak to our team about a custom build? That way, you can personalise your PC and focus on what features you need for your streaming career.
How much does Twitch pay?
According to Twitch, streamers keep 50% of the value of a subscription from one of their followers, after fees. If it’s a Prime Gaming sub (which is free for Amazon Prime users), the payout varies per country (in the UK it’s $1.80). You can supplement this income via schemes like the Amazon Associates program, and additional revenue streams include ads, donations, and sponsorships, the value of which can vary widely too.
How do beginners get views on Twitch?
Beginners can attract viewers by networking with other streamers, promoting their channel on social media, and engaging with their audience during streams. Most streamers will tell you that the key to success is to be consistent, keep a regular streaming schedule, and produce high-quality content.
Ready to start streaming? With the right equipment and preparation, anyone can become a successful streamer. Explore our range of custom gaming PCs and streaming accessories to get started today, or browse our blog for more tips!