5 Things every streamer needs
- A Good Microphone
For a streamer to talk to his viewers and followers a good microphone is required. The streamer needs to have great audio with clear voice when entertaining. Without this the viewers could be put off by muffled or audio with static / or background interference.
Some quality brands are the Elgato Wave Microphone, Rode NT-USB or the HyperX.
- A Good Internet Connection
A good download speed is good for streaming but more importantly is the upload speed of your internet connection. Upload is important as its the speed and quality of the data that is sent to the streaming service for your viewers to see. This will determine the resolution you can stream in whether it me 1080p / 720p or lower. Which out a good connection the stream may be pixelated, buffer alot and not be a good viewing experience for your viewers. Make sure that if you have a low upload speed that nothing else is using the bandwidth.
- A Good Camera (if using one).
If you intend to use a camera to highlight your emotions and facial expressions whilst streaming and interact with your viewers a decent quality camera is well worth the investment. There are many quality brands available and worth investigating to achieve the best results.
- Game Capture Device
If you are intending to use a PC or 2nd PC to capture your gameplay then a good capture device is required. A device that will cause no image deterioration of what you are playing but be able to capture your gaming to its maximum. Brands like Razor, Elgato and Avermedia all make quality products if you are prepared to pay for the privilege. Some devices are external and connect via USB whilst others are installed to the motherboard for maximum performance.
- 2nd monitor or device for monitoring chat.
The best streamers interact with chat and their viewers throughout the stream. The best way to achieve is to have a second screen or device to keep constant updates of chat is vitally important. It allows the streamer to be on top of everything going on without having to interrupt their gameplay or entertainment. It will also allow the streamer to be able to control their streaming program i.e. OBS or Streamlabs OBS.