Category: Content Creation

It’s never too late to jump on the streaming bandwagon, but to do so you’ll need a few basic things. This can include a webcam coupled with a microphone, a reliable internet connection, streaming software, and a PC to run it on. Let’s look through the options available so that you’re clued up on how to stream games quickly and without any fuss.

Do you need a webcam to stream games?

While you can stream games to Twitch without a webcam, putting a face to your name can boost your brand as a streamer. So you may want a quality webcam to help you achieve that. Logitech is perhaps one of the biggest names in the business, and both their StreamCam and C922 HD Pro models offer excellent picture quality even in low light.

You may not even need to buy a webcam if you already have an existing digital camera. Many manufacturers including Canon and Panasonic have made it possible to use DSLRs as webcams, which will give your streams a polished look. You could of course also use your mobile phone as a webcam. XSplit Connect: Webcam is a handy tool that lets you do this. All you need to do is download the XSplit Connect Mobile App, XSplit VCam for your PC, and you’re good to go in seconds.

The other alternative is that you don’t actually need a webcam at all. There are plenty of streamers that connect with their audiences without showing their face. Lately, using a virtual avatar in place of your face is also becoming increasingly popular.

The importance of sound

Regardless of what type of camera you use, your audience will want to hear your commentary as they follow your gameplay on screen. Often players will utilize the mic built into their gaming headsets. These are mostly designed for the chat within the game itself. For streaming, it’s preferable that you use a separate mic that offers higher sound quality. A headset is more likely to muffle your voice you don’t want viewers to be put off by bad audio and background noise!

USB microphones have risen in popularity largely due to podcasting, but these can also be used for streaming. The Blue Yeti X is one of the most widely used. If you’re keen to give your stream a bit more dazzle, check out the HyperX Quadcast S that comes complete with built-in lighting.

PC specs and internet speeds

If you’re planning to stream games to places like Twitch, the first thing you should do is check out some hardware recommendations. Ideally, you’ll need a processor that can run at least 3.4Ghz with 8GB of RAM.

For streaming, a hard-wired internet connection is highly recommended. Also, finding a service provider that offers 7 to 11 Mbps upload speeds for consistent 720p streaming at 60fps. This will probably be one of the premium options and can depend on your location and supplier rather than your hardware.

Which streaming software to use

You’ll be surprised to learn, we recommend XSplit Broadcaster! You can use it for free and it comes with stream integration for Twitch, as well as other streaming services like YouTube and Facebook. It has a Chroma key feature to remove backgrounds, scene transitions and even allows for source and extension plug-ins. This means that you can customize your steams and style them around your personality, gaming preference, or brand.

You can opt for the premium version that not only removes the watermarks that are embedded in the free version but opens up the possibilities of simultaneous broadcast, stream delay, and more audio options.

Streaming on PC VS Streaming on consoles

What if you want to learn how to stream games from a console instead of straight from a PC? There are a couple of options. The last-gen and current-gen consoles are able to stream natively from the console. However, with the PS4 or PS5, a standard webcam will not work. This means buying the official Sony camera, which can be expensive for a single-use camera.

Alternatively, you can run the stream from a console through your PC using a capture card. Elgato has upgraded its HD60 S with the HD 60S+ to support the more recent consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series X.

With these essentials, you should be able to stream games to Twitch in no time. Not only that, but this setup can be used to stream other content beyond video games, such as tabletop games, music, and even podcasts. Check out Things to stream: More Than Just Gaming to expand your streaming horizons.

If you’re looking to upgrade your streaming setup to a more professional camera or to bring console gameplay into your stream this year, you’re going to need a capture card. But with new products and technology upgrades hitting the market each year, choosing the right card can be tricky. Fortunately, in this blog, we’ve got our expert breakdown of the best capture cards of 2022 for a variety of streaming needs.

The best external capture cards for console gamers

A name you’re going to see show up a lot on this list is Elgato – and for good reason. They’ve been making cards since 1992 and are considered the top brand by most streamers. Their current model aimed to console streamers is the HD60 S, widely hailed as one of the most reliable 1080p 60fps (frames per second) game capture cards on the market.

Another card to check out for console streaming is AVerMedia’s Live Gamer Portable 2 PLUS. This is an excellent card with an easy setup and some interesting features, including an audio jack to capture console party chat directly from the game itself. It also tends to price out lower than the HD60 S.

The best external capture cards for cameras

Elgato also makes a dongle-sized capture device called the Cam Link 4K. Cheaper than their HD60 S, it lacks the HDCP decryption chip required to pass through but can pass a camera signal at resolutions up to 4K at 30 fps (frames per second). The Cam Link uses the UVC or Universal Video Class driver, meaning that cameras plugged into the device will be compatible with nearly every app, allowing for stress-free integration into any streamer’s setup.

Also of note in this category is Blackmagic Design, a company that has for years created professional-grade studio equipment and cameras. Recently they’ve channeled that knowledge into a pocket-sized combination HDMI and SDI capture device, the Ultrastudio Recorder 3G. Combining impressive capture quality with a competitive price, this card should be on every streamer’s list to consider. But be aware that to get the most out of this device, you’ll need to have a USB-C input on your computer.

Why not both?

Many content creators will need to add both a camera input and gameplay capture as they level up their live streams. For those who do, we recommend checking out the first internal card on our list, the AVerMedia Live Gamer Duo. Combining two inputs with 1080p60 capture capability on a single PCI Express card, the Live Gamer Duo provides a reliable way to bring both the stream’s talent and gameplay together in full HD, all while providing 4K60 fps pass-through to your monitor. This means that even while streaming at a lower resolution, you’re still enjoying the game on your own monitor at max settings.

The best 4K capture cards

While you’re probably not currently streaming in 4K, you might want to be ready to flip that switch when the time comes. To do that, you’ll need a card that can not just display but actually capture your gameplay at the highest possible resolution.

Also from Elgato is the second internal card on our list, the 4K60 Pro. Taking full advantage of the blazing speed of an onboard PCIe slot, the 4K60 Pro provides steady reliability and incredible capture quality with almost no latency, even with HDR (high dynamic range) video at the highest resolutions. Because of the speed and processing power advantages, we highly recommend going with an internal card for 4K capture.

But if internal cards aren’t a fit for your setup? Meet the Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S+, an external card that can capture at resolutions up to 4K at 60 fps, and also supports HDR video. This card is about as future-proof as you can get at the moment and supports onboard recording to an SD card. It can be a little tricky to set up, however.

You don’t need to add physical inputs to get more cameras on your stream. XSplit Connect: Webcam lets you wirelessly integrate your phone’s camera within any software like XSplit Broadcaster – an inexpensive option to increase production value. Now your capture card is sorted, find your next upgrade in our guide to the top streaming upgrades.

If you’re streaming games, your choice of keyboard can seem just as important as your PC specs. Keyboards not suited to gaming requirements can cause ghosting where your keystrokes don’t register. This can lead to frustration for players and those watching live streams. There is also a divide in people who like the ASMR qualities of a mechanical keyboard versus those who can’t stand it! However, a decent gaming keyboard doesn’t have to break the bank. Let’s have a look at which features you should prioritize when buying an affordable gaming keyboard.

Mechanical switches vs membrane affordable gaming keyboard

A cheap gaming keyboard will likely use keycaps that press down into a thin membrane layer to activate the circuit underneath. This means you can only register one keystroke at a time. On the other hand, mechanical keys have individual switches, which offer better feedback and a distinct click, but also mean you can enter several keystrokes in advance.

For streaming, however, having a noisy mechanical keyboard may not be the best solution. Logitech has solved this issue with the G413, an affordable gaming keyboard that comes with Romer-G switches, or the Corsair K68 with Cherry MX Red Switches (which are considered the quieter ones along with brown, the Cherry MX Silent, and black). Both offer the benefits of mechanical switches while also being quiet to the touch.

Programmable keys and macros

Keyboards that allow you to map certain functions to keys can be a literal game-changer, allowing you to pull off complex commands at the press of a button. Razer has made it easy to program thanks to its Synapse 3 software.

For an affordable gaming keyboard with programmable buttons, check out the Razer Cynosa V2 or its cheaper sibling, the Razer Cynosa Lite. Both allow you to map the functions and macros you need and then save different gaming profiles. This means you can switch between them depending on the game you’re playing. Synapse 3 also allows you to coordinate the color of the keys with the functions you have given them.

The benefits of backlighting in an affordable gaming keyboard

Keyboards with RGB backlighting not only look very attractive, but they can also be very useful. Even an affordable gaming keyboard, such as the SteelSeries Apex 3 or the Aukey KM-G12, allows for full customization with various lighting zones. This means you can split your keyboard up into sections depending on what game you are playing.

Depending on your streaming setup or if you are doing more video work than streaming games, your audience might be able to see your keyboard, so it adds a bit more style. As an added bonus, it makes them much easier to see if you’re playing in the dark.

Keyboard integration in your stream

Having an affordable keyboard with a backlight is one thing, but having it react to the game you’re playing can take your stream to the next level. Corsair is a premium brand, so the Corsair K60 comes in at the high end of the affordable gaming keyboard spectrum. It comes with per-key backlighting, meaning each key has its own programmable light.

These lights can be used in conjunction with Corsair’s software for key remapping and macro programming. However, the RGB lighting can also be integrated into the game thanks to Corsair’s iCUE technology. This means that the lights will change color to react to the action within the game. Logitech offers a similar software called Lightsync, which is available on the affordable G213 Prodigy keyboard.

There are many affordable gaming keyboards out there with some or all of the features you may prioritize. If you opt for one with RGB lighting, for example, you can make it react to streaming events. This not only makes your streams look more visual and professional but can also help indicate events if you have taken your eye off the action.

From time to time, you may want to run your stream with guests, perhaps because they’re keen to join you in a game or as part of a collaboration with other streamers. A lot of viewers get a lot out of their favorite streamers playing together. It’s also a great way to introduce your audience to creators you like! The good news is that, with the help of XSplit Broadcaster, it’s easier than ever to make them become a real part of the stream!

Where should their feed come from?

Since XSplit Broadcaster can capture any window on your computer, it doesn’t really matter what program you use to get their webcam feed to you. Your options include capturing a direct feed from using NDI on platforms like Zoom or Skype. You could also screen capture another platform such as Discord, Teams, or even a second Twitch stream if that’s more convenient for you.

However, we would strongly recommend going the NDI route as you can easily add each person’s call as an individual source. You can then easily move and resize without having to worry about the screen capture element. This is especially true with multiple guests where someone leaving and others joining. This can mean resizing everything again with a screen capture.

If you’re including your webcam feed or something else in the background, the quality is less important as their webcam will appear smaller on the final broadcast, but keeping the inputs at the highest possible quality does reduce the risk of visible compression artifacts on the finished video.

How to stream with guests

The simplest way to have two presenters in a single stream is to split the screen between them, using the direct feed from their camera. If there’s something in the background that the presenters are reacting to, such as a game or another video, then using a plain background along with XSplit Broadcaster‘s chroma key option can allow you to just cut out the head and shoulders of the presenters, and place them in the bottom corners of the video.

XSplit Broadcaster also allows you to crop the feeds manually, even using custom masks. This is useful if you’re capturing from another application and want to remove any window decoration or user interface from around the edges, or even with the chroma key to remove unwanted distractions, such as a doorframe or picture on the wall.

Keep it balanced

When running a stream from multiple sources, it’s important to balance things. Regardless of whether you opt for a voice-only stream or not, the most important factor here is the audio – if you have two presenters in different locations, it’s very easy for one of them to be set much higher than the other, and quite hard to notice this during a stream. Make sure you’ve tested this in advance by listening to the feed when both presenters are talking normally.

A voice stream in something like Discord is also very easy to set up, by the way. Simply make sure XSplit Broadcaster is capturing desktop audio and the call will easily come through. Discord even has a plugin that shows who is speaking on screen!

Similarly, with the video, you want to ensure that both presenters appear roughly the same size (unless you’re deliberately emphasizing one – and then it should be obvious) and you should make sure that the two camera feeds are a similar brightness and ideally a similar video quality. If one presenter is well lit and sharp and the other is gloomy and blurred, it makes it more obvious that you’re not together, and this again makes the stream feel of lower quality. 

Bringing guests into a stream can certainly be worthwhile. Why not check out these great tips we’ve put together on making your webcams look as good as possible to help give them the ultimate user experience?

It’s the email that every streamer dreads: the DMCA takedown notice. Remember, when it comes to copyright, Twitch has changed from a policy of muting audio to one of fully removing the offending clips. Repeat offenders run the risk of being banned completely, so streamers constantly need to be on their guard with the music and audio they’re allowing to go live on stream. Don’t worry though, we’ve got the tips and tools to help you avoid DMCA strikes on Twitch right here.

How to avoid a DMCA takedown on Twitch

After multiple massive, platform-wide DMCA headaches on Twitch in 2020 and 2021, it should be clear that you can’t use copyrighted music in your content. The most common way this has happened in the past is by listening to Spotify or some other music service during your livestream. But there are other ways that may not be as obvious for problematic audio to creep into your channel.

Got the football game on your tv in the background? If your mic picks it up, that’ll probably get flagged. Playing a trailer off YouTube that uses a pop song? A takedown notice could be headed your way. It’s important to keep your stream as clean as possible when it comes to audio. Come to mention it, if you need help getting your audio set up perfectly, we’ve got a guide for that too!

Will deleting clips and VODs protect your channel?

The DMCA rules on Twitch are in a constant state of flux. Early on, the platform would simply mute audio on VODs where it detected copyrighted music. There was no real way for live detection to happen. Technology and policies have both changed, however, and these days there is increasingly active live detection of copyright infringement. This is especially for TV and sports audio!

Twitch will remove or require the removal of any offending clips and VODs if flagged. It all adds up to potentially massive problems for streamers of all levels. Most importantly, the penalties for repeat offenders can still be very stringent, with permanent bans on the table. Really, the only thing to do is just be very diligent and make sure you’re sticking to music you have the rights to play.

So what can you safely play?

The good news is, there are a number of options out there that can provide music that’s safe for your channel to use. Gamecaster even has its own library of copyright-free music! Called Grooves, available for anyone to download and stream for free and use in their broadcasts. No registration or credit card is required, just click and go! There are more than 150 professionally produced tracks in a variety of genres that you can throw into your stream to set the mood without worrying about a DMCA claim ruining your day.

Music can be not only a great background to your content but sharing your favorite tracks with your community or other streamers can be a great way to connect further. Now that your channel is safe from the threat of DMCA strikes, learn how to secure the rest of your online life with our guide to protecting your privacy while streaming on Twitch.

Every streamer on Twitch is out there shooting to get their channel to the level where they snag a Twitch Partnership invitation. That purple checkmark is a badge of honor for the content creators who work on the platform. But the first step to your streaming success is probably the Twitch Affiliate program. Today we’re going to help you understand a little bit about what the Twitch Affiliate contract looks like and what you can and can’t do with the program.

How is an Affiliate different from a Partner?

The Affiliate program exists to allow early-stage streamers who are serious about their careers to start earning money on Twitch. The differences between Affiliate and Partner are primarily in how much they earn. It’s probably easiest to think of the Affiliate program as the younger sibling of the Partner program. Affiliates can…

• Receive payouts from viewers cheering bits on their channel
• Earn commissions on paid and Prime subscriptions
• Earn revenue on ads watched on their streams 
• Earn commissions on games and merch sold through their channels
• Activate channel points for viewers
• Run polls directly through Twitch chat
• Access five sub emotes

Partners get all of the above but also get custom Cheermotes, can access up to 60 emotes for subs, and earn ad revenue at a significantly higher rate than Affiliates.

What is ‘exclusivity’, and what does it mean for Affiliates?

The Twitch Affiliate contract has a clause that may be a little confusing, dealing with “exclusivity”. Essentially, it says that by becoming an Affiliate, you are giving up the right to go live on Twitch and another platform at the same time. That means Twitch has exclusive rights to your stream when you’re live. The important thing to understand, however, is that they only have exclusive rights to you when you’re live on Twitch. You’re free to end your Twitch stream then start a Facebook Gaming/YouTube multistream right after. You’re also allowed to embed your live Twitch stream on another site, such as your personal webpage, as many times as you like. Plus you can still upload any non-live content like VODs to other platforms as well.

It may seem a little limiting, but the tradeoff is being able to make money directly from your channel and start building towards Partner.

Twitch Affiliate requirements

Becoming an Affiliate does have some requirements, and technically there’s also an application process, but it’s more of a formality. Compare that to the Partner application, which, as most streamers know, is pretty heavily scrutinized. The Affiliate standards are:

• you’ve reached 50 followers
• you’ve streamed for eight hours total
• you’ve streamed on seven different days in the previous month
• you’ve averaged at least three viewers per stream

Once you’ve hit all of those milestones (it will track them on your dashboard in the ‘Road to Affiliate’ achievement) a button will appear on the page to let you apply to the Affiliate program. Just click that, wait a few days for a response, and you’ll be all set to start earning your keep as a professional streamer!

One big note we want to add is remember you still need to pay taxes, depending where you are located globally, on your Twitch earnings. So do keep this in mind!

It’s much easier to get on your streaming grind when you’re making a little money from your channel, and securing Twitch Affiliate is an important first step to becoming a Partner. Need help hitting those requirements? Check out our guide to finding your voice as a new streamer for ways to nudge that viewer count up.

It’s very tempting to reuse content by uploading the same footage to multiple sites, but is this actually a good idea? It feels sensible –⁠ after all, you’ve put all that effort into making your video or your stream. Why not try to show as many people as possible? There are definitely a few things to consider when it comes to multiplatform streaming, so let us take you through the options.

Different sites have different feels

The sort of content that viewers are looking for on different sites can vary. The greatest advantage of sites like Twitch is that it’s live and being able to interact with the streamer. People can then upload their VODs to places like YouTube. These polished videos are edited to show off the best bits, often with effects and overlays added. A live-stream viewer can sometimes treat a stream as background entertainment. Something that’s running on a secondary screen whilst they’re working on something else. But if someone is seeking out videos, they’re more likely to be concentrating on the show. They’re wanting a well-crafted story to follow –⁠ something which can hold their interest. So the content you upload to each site has to differ.

Then you have to consider social media channels, whether that’s Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok. All of these require the audience’s attention to be grabbed very quickly and typically expect very short videos that don’t need much setup or explanation. A brief pause in their scrolling, rather than a real-time investment.

Is there a way to reuse content?

A number of very successful Youtube producers take footage from their Twitch streams and produce highlight videos. Turning anything from an evening to a month’s worth of streaming into a ten or twenty-minute best-of video. Twitch itself has the Clips feature, allowing short chunks of a stream to be saved as a highlight to show on your channel. Editing your footage to a fraction of its length by pulling out the best bits is a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding. It also shows your stream at its best, skipping over the mistakes and the grind and focussing on the highlights, the hilarity, and the moments of pure skill or luck.

Depending on the content of your stream or videos, it may be possible to pull out a short chunk for social media. However, you need something that grabs attention quickly and doesn’t require time to set the scene. A perfect sniper shot in Warzone or a big jump or crash in a racing game could work. But, showing off a machine in Minecraft or Factorio is might be less likely to grab people’s attention. But this can really depend, it’s best to use your judgment here. We’ve seen some amazing Minecraft machines blow up on Twitter!

How do I change my content to suit a different service?

There are many pieces of video editing software available with a variety of features –⁠ some come preinstalled on smartphones, but only allow you to trim the start and end of a clip. Others are very expensive but allow movie-quality effects to be created. Personally, I use Kdenlive which is free and reasonably powerful, allowing clips to be cut up, rearranged, and layered. It doesn’t touch actual image processing that might be used, for example, to remove a mustache from a character.

Some streams may be suitable for multiplatform streaming, allowing you to broadcast on more than one service with the same feed. A tool such as XSplit Broadcaster makes this very easy, streaming to wherever you want and allowing for eye-catching effects and transitions so you can switch between different sources, play pre-recorded clips, and more!

There are definitely ways to reuse content on different platforms, however, it does take some thought. You can’t just upload the same video to multiple platforms. But, with some careful editing and targetting your content to specific platforms, you can certainly make it fit.