What’s better than staying at home playing video games? For many, this path has become a reality and even a full-time job, but it takes more than simply being good at a game to succeed. The route taken most often is the Twitch route. Twitch provides an excellent service that allows gamers from all across the world to demonstrate their talents. However, before you start live streaming to millions of people, there are a couple of things you need to have in order to provide the best possible content.
The following list includes a detailed list of things to obtain before going live on your Twitch account.
Your Service Provider Matters
We’ve all been there, watching a gamer live streaming their way to that last achievement trophy only for the feed to begin lagging. Often times it is not an issue on the viewer’s side rather on the gamer’s service provider. Thus, it is important to choose the right internet provider in order to prevent any form of interruption when streaming during high-traffic times. The consistency of your internet speed will, no doubt, affect whether a viewer stays or leaves your live stream. Note, that in order to get the most out of your broadband speed, it is recommended to use an ethernet cable rather than relying on wifi alone. This will provide you with the best possible bit rate for a seamless streaming event. If you’re still wondering about what type of broadband service you should get, short term and no contract broadband options are the way to go. As you view this guide, you’ll know that short-term contracts give you the opportunity to try out a service without having to be locked in for 12 months or more. This is essentially the same deal you would get with a no-contract service with only a couple of limitations added such as speed and download limits by the service provider.
High-Quality Computer
You might hear some say that you don’t need a state of the art computer to begin live streaming, and although that may be somewhat true, it sure does help to use a higher-quality computer. Twitch has stated that users can live stream properly by using at least an Intel Core i5-4670 processor or better. However, if you are really serious about building up your Twitch channel, then you might have to start thinking beyond that recommendation. At the current moment, computer games are some of the most popular areas of Twitch. Understandably, if you’re looking to build your channel, then this is the route to take. It is crucial, however, to make sure that your computer has a graphics card strong enough to play your chosen game as well as able to run DirectX 10 and up.
Streaming Software
There is no doubt; presentation is everything when it comes to live streaming on Twitch. One of the most important things to have before even going live is broadcasting software. Streaming software allows you to not only create the layout of your live stream (How your viewers will see the gameplay & yourself) but showcase it to the entire world. There are multiple benefits to obtaining streaming software, such as controlling what your viewers see and what they hear. Fortunately, there is a plethora of streaming software programs out there for you to choose from.
Type of Mic and Camera you will be using.
Often times, gamers will catch you live streaming not just for the entertainment value, but also because you provide helpful tips for them to become better gamers. Although you can certainly get by with a standard gaming headset, you might want to invest in a higher-tier microphone in order for your viewers to hear you more clearly. Fortunately, there are plenty of choices out there that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. When it comes to the type of camera you will be using, it is important to utilize one that can capture video at 1080p.
Live Streaming on a Console
Not everyone can afford a fancy high-end PC and thus the reason why Twitch allows users to stream directly from their console. Often this is the best route for up and coming streamers who want to get their viewership up before transitioning to PC gaming. Those playing on an Xbox One console will need to download the Twitch app in order to go live. PS4 players can instantly begin streaming by pressing the share button on their controller.
Twitch is, no doubt, one of the fastest and most revered streaming gaming services out in the market today. There have been countless gamers who have started from nothing to becoming international superstars in their own right. Understandably, there are plenty of yearning to reach that same status. However, making sure you have the right things in place to be successful is a must. Thus, it is incredibly important to be prepared before live streaming your first gaming session with the tips posted above.
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