TikTok, the social media giant, is no doubt interested in live streaming. In fact, some accounts are able already able to go live but it’s still a limited feature. While the content is currently still mostly focused on the short form TikTok is known for you will find more and more live streams among it. So, let’s discuss how and why you should be streaming to TikTok.
Why would you want to stream there?
TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media sites around at the moment. The growth TikTok has seen has been huge! As noted by Hootsuite, “Eight new users join TikTok every second, with an average of 650,000 new users joining daily.” They also noted that user retention is far higher than many of its competitors, meaning people are using the app for longer.
It has also been noted that organic audience growth is currently much more open than on many other platforms. Some have likened it to the early days of YouTube when there was a much higher chance your content would get served to people. This could be down to a huge demand with fewer content creators out there to serve these needs. So, at the time of writing, it really would be a great time to get on board and start not only creating content but streaming!
While going live from the app can be easy, going live from your desktop requires a few more steps. Firstly, you’ll need your custom RTMP info. There are no clear guidelines yet on how TikTok distributes access, but hopefully, it opens up to more users in the future.
If you have access, go into the TikTok app, either on your phone or the desktop app. Click go live and enter details like Title, Topic, Cover Image/Thumbnail. If you want to enable sub-only mode and if you want your video to end when the stream stops. If you have a shaky internet connection I wouldn’t enable the last item. You’ll then be taken to a screen where you can see your server URL and stream key.
Next, you’ll need some live stream software for your PC, like XSplit Broadcaster. In Broadcaster, open up the Custom RTMP broadcast plugin. Title your output, then put in your RTMP URL and stream key.
In terms of stream settings, I’d recommend going with 1280×720 resolution, 30 fps, and a bitrate of 3000 to start. TikTok live streams are in landscape mode, so you don’t have to orient your content vertically like you would with pre-recorded content.
From there, you’re ready to stream to TikTok from your PC! This platform is only going to continue to grow and we will be sure to keep an eye on it here on our blog!
The term “VTuber” or “Virtual YouTuber” was originally created in reference to the virtual online personality Kizuna AI in 2016. Until a couple of years ago, VTubers were limited to just a handful of accounts. Due to the complications involved in rendering and animating the character model in real-time. However, recent advances in cheap and well-designed motion capture software have made creating and using a virtual avatar while streaming accessible to almost anyone. Want to try it yourself? Here’s how to stream a VTuber!
How to stream a VTuber: Creating an avatar
Creating the 3D model that will represent you while you’re on stream is the first step to streaming a VTuber. For this guide, we’re going to use an online app called ReadyPlayerMe. This program lets you create a 3D model right in your web browser. It’s admittedly not the most powerful or detailed creation tool you can find, but it’s pretty good, very easy to use, and free.
You start your avatar by choosing a body type you want to model with. Next, upload a photo of yourself (or take one with your webcam) and customize it using the app, which lets you adjust things like skin color as well as hair color and length. You can also add some accessories if you wish, like glasses. Once you’re happy with how you look, click “Next” and download your avatar file somewhere where you can find it easily.
The next step is to get your avatar animated. We’re going to use a program called Animaze. This is the evolution of a program you may have heard of called FaceRig. Animaze is free to use on Steam, but it doesn’t natively support the model format that ReadyPlayerMe generates. So, we’ll have to run through a couple of quick steps to convert it.
Once you’ve downloaded and installed Animaze, you’ll find a program called “Animaze Editor” in the Tools section of your Steam library. You’ll need to run this program first, and use it to open the avatar you created by going to the Assets menu tab, clicking on “Import 3D Object” and selecting the file you downloaded from ReadyPlayerMe.
After a bit of loading time, you’ll see your avatar pop up on the main screen. You can use Animaze Editor to fine-tune your avatar, but if you’d rather just move on to the fun part, right-click on your avatar’s file name in the Hierarchy Panel on the left-hand side and select “Bundle”. Choose a folder to export to, and once you get the confirmation dialogue, open the main Animaze program from the Software section of your Steam library.
Get that model moving
Now it’s time to meet your virtual self! From the main Animaze screen, click the Avatars icon on the navigation bar on the left-hand side, and then choose “Imports” from the pop-out window. Then click the big plus button, and select the file you saved in the previous step. It ends in “.avatar” – be careful not to confuse it with ReadyPlayerMe file which ends with “.glb”.
After the import completes, you’ll see your virtual self on the main program screen. Make sure that the camera window (upper right by default) is showing your main camera. If it’s not, click the drop-down arrow to change it. Once you’ve got your avatar loaded and the right camera selected, just hit “Calibrate” and follow the directions to get your model moving more accurately with your actions.
The final step is getting your VTuber into XSplit Broadcaster so you can go live with it and introduce your audience to the new you. Within Animaze, simply click the big button at the bottom of the screen labeled “Enable Virtual Camera”. Then switch back over to XSplit Broadcaster and use the Add Source menu to add the Animaze Virtual Camera, which can be found in the Devices section. You should see your VTuber pop right up on the screen, and you’re good to go. Note that if you’re planning to use a chroma key background for your avatar coming out of Animaze, you’ll need to activate the chroma key option on the Animaze Virtual Camera input within Broadcaster. For it to work properly right-click the input name and go to the “Color” tab of the menu for chroma options.
This guide showed just one of many possible ways to model a VTuber for use in your livestreams. Looking for other ways to invest in your stream? Check out our guide to the top streaming upgrades of 2021 for some great ideas.
Everyone who’s been working from home for quite some time surely has participated in a form of video conferencing whether it’s a periodic check-in meeting with your team, a sales presentation with a client, or even just a casual video chat with your friends. The need for virtual webcam backgrounds, using programs like our own XSplit VCam, has more than tripled as most people do not enjoy the luxury of having a great space let alone their own room to conduct online calls.
Should You Use Virtual Webcam Backgrounds? When ‘TO’ & When ‘NOT TO’?
A fun virtual webcam background is a great idea for many occasions but there are still a few cases when it should probably be avoided! For example, a sales call, an interview, or any meeting where you want to impress someone. Using them while you’re chatting with family, in an informal meeting, or taking part in the next online pub quiz can honestly make add a layer of fun that wasn’t possible before!
As an educator teaching young children you might find it’s fun to have an interesting background as a talking point for your class or to compliment what you’re discussing! With XSplit VCam you can also use video so if you’re discussing the ocean, you could be under the sea using a YouTube video for your online class. If you’re in an interview situation, however, you might not want your Simpsons couch background! In this instance, you should use XSplit VCams background blur feature. This will add a layer of choice and security by controlling what people can see while also remaining professional.
Free Webcam Backgrounds
With all the free time that we have, we thought why not scour the internet for the best webcam backgrounds, categorize and list them all in an article, so that maybe you can use some of them for your next work meeting or even for recreational fun with your friends!
For those who want to maintain that clear boundary between home and work, these backgrounds will surely make you feel like you’re still in a work environment!
Maybe not as suitable for work as it is for general recreation activities with your friends but these fun and wacky ones will surely bring some smiles!
You’ll find more of these fun and wacky backgrounds here.
I hope you like the backgrounds that we’ve listed here and would find them useful for your next call. Now if you’re already using some backgrounds that you feel should be included here, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
When to Choose Which?
When it comes to webcam backgrounds different situations suit different backgrounds, so for example, an employee might use a background containing the branding or logo of your company. This would make the most sense if you are representing your company at, for example, a virtual conference.
Now, take some of the more fun ones above, they would work great if you’re going to be chatting with friends or you’re going to be hosting a quiz based on the specific theme the background comes from. Most of the time, the more formal the situation the more formal you want your webcam background to be, and the same can be said with it being more fun or informal. If you’re making a first impression, go for a more natural background, if it’s an old friend, something fun!
Do You “NEED” a Green Screen to Use a Virtual Webcam Background?
It used to be that you needed to have a green screen and a program with the ability to chroma key yourself out of the green background in order to have a virtual background for your webcam. This was not only a complicated process but could be an expensive one! Not only that, a green screen is a pretty big commitment of space in your home!
Now, with XSplit VCam you don’t need any of those things. The app does all the dirty work by replacing your current background regardless of your setup using AI to digitally remove your background! All you have to do is select your new webcam background in the app, choose XSplit VCam as your camera in your video conferencing app of choice and you’re all set!
To end this, I know some video conferencing apps such as Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams have this built-in (though some only added it recently) but trust me when I say theirs are not as good as what VCam has to offer. Try it for yourself for free!
Out of all the streamers in the world, not very many are doing it full time. Not everyone can stream their content for 16 hours a day because of just life generally getting in the way – whether it’s a full-time job or just other hobbies. There are non-full time streamers who still want to take their content to the next level, and they’re the same people who might want to optimize what little time they have to stream.
We took the liberty of taking a look at the data to try and give you some insight so you can choose the best time that works for you. Please take note that these times are all based on the UTC timezone, so adjust accordingly.
When are there the most viewers on Twitch?
To maximize your streaming time, it might make sense to take a look at when there are the most viewers on Twitch. Since Twitch has the most available data, let’s take a look at when their viewers are on.
According to TwitchTracker, over the last week, viewer behavior and peak times are different for weekdays and weekends.
On the weekdays, peak viewership is usually at around 6PM to 8PM at an average of 1.6 to 1.75 million viewers. It’s very likely because this is when adults just get back from work or kids just finish their homework and start to wind down. At around 8:30 – 9PM, it starts tapering down.
On the weekends, when more people have time in general. Peak times come earlier and there are generally more people watching. The most number of viewers are on from 4PM to 6:30PM with around 2.3 to 2.7 million viewers. However, during the weekends, you’ll also see that there are just generally more people starting 11AM and it just ramps up until the peak hours and then viewership tapers down at around 6:30PM.
Interestingly, regardless of the day of the week, the lowest viewership is usually in the morning, at around 7AM to 9AM.
So, just based off this information, it makes sense to just start streaming as soon as you get home at around 5PM and stay on until 9PM, right?
Well, not so fast. There are a lot of other factors to consider.
When are there the most other streamers?
There’s only so much time each viewer has to give. With more choices, you will have to compete with more streamers for eyeballs. It’s very likely that those streamers who have full time jobs or school will also have the same stream schedules. It might not be the best thing to try and jump in when there are the most number of people competing for attention and views.
And again, the streamer behavior is different for weekdays and weekends.
Unsurprisingly, the peak times for viewers are also the peak times for the streamers on weekdays. The most number of live channels are live 6PM to 8PM with around 60k live channels, except for Friday mornings! For some reason, after people stream on Thursday night, people come back on really early morning on Friday – the peak starts back up at 1AM to 2AM with around 63K live channels.
On weekends, when people generally have more time, the peak still starts at around 8PM, but with way more live channels at 72k to 73k live channels.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have those times when there’s barely anyone streaming. And surprisingly, no, it isn’t the wee hours of the morning. Across all days of the week, the time with the lowest number of live channels is 9AM. On the weekdays, there are about 22k to 23k live channels and on the weekends, there are 27 to 31k.
Basic logic would dictate that if there are very few live channels in the mornings, then it makes sense to stream then, right? Well, not exactly. Remember, viewership is also lowest at around those times.
What you should be aiming for is an ideal ratio between viewers, the demand, and the live channels, your competition.
When is the best viewer to streamer ratio?
See, if you consider the viewers as the demand, then the streamers are the supply. You, as a streamer, are part of the supply. You should consider all other live streamers are competition. When there are way too many live channels, and not enough viewers, each channel will have fewer viewers – assuming, of course, the viewership is equally divided, which we know isn’t really the case. But for the sake of just finding a good equilibrium, let’s just say the nuances of popularity and relevance are moot for now.
According to SullyGnome, the most viewers per channel on weekends is at 28 to 29 viewers per channel. It happens at around 4PM to 6PM. This is true for Mondays through Thursdays. It’s a little different for Fridays, where there are about 38 to 40 viewers per live channel at around 6PM to 7PM.
On Saturdays, peak viewers per channel happens usually at 12NN to 2PM with 40 to 45 viewers per page. It goes gangbusters on Sunday, though. It happens at the same time, from noon to 2PM, but with a peak of 50 to 60 viewers per page.
On the other side of the spectrum, the worst viewer to live channel ratio is usually at 1AM to 3AM on weekdays, with 18 to 19 viewers per channel from Monday to Thursday and 20 to 21 viewers per channel on Fridays.
On weekends, this happens a little later at around 3AM to 4AM with about 18 to 19 viewers per page.
Armed with this knowledge, we can see that some complexities and nuances starting to form. Do we stream when there are the fewest other streamers or do we follow the best viewer to live channel ratio? Not so fast, there’s quite a bit more to take into consideration.
Other factors to consider
If you look at purely just the numbers, then it looks like there are cut and dry answers, but each streamer is different and there are a multitude of other minute factors to considers.
One of the things you have to determine is who your audience is and what is the most likely time this type of person would be down to watch some streams.
Here are some things to consider:
What is the type of content you stream? Know your audience.
If it’s usually content for students, it might be best to stream after school hours. Working people? Might be good to go after working hours? It’s really hard to tell because an audience can get very varied.
Who is your main competition?
If you’re a Tekken streamer, maybe it might be good to pick a time that the most popular Tekken streamers aren’t on. Or maybe you can pick a time when your content complements the content of similar streamers. It’s up to you to devise a strategy.
What’s the most convenient time for you?
Your own schedule is going to be the most important factor, too. You’ll need to make sure whatever time you decide to stream fits your own lifestyle.
So what is the best time to stream?
After considering all these factors, the best time is going to be very specific to you and your schedule. There isn’t going to be a clear cut answer, but at least now you’ll be able to make a more informed decision.
If you have to hazard a bet though, you should at least give 4PM to 6PM UTC on weekdays because you’d have the most number of viewers with the least competition, and then work your way from there.
