What You Need to Stream on Twitch
Twitch is the most popular online streaming platform in the world with thousands of users broadcasting footage of themselves talking, singing, playing video games, and using apps every single hour. Building a Twitch streaming setup doesn’t require much investment though you will need a few things before you can get started.
Necessary
A free Twitch account. This is where all your content will be hosted and broadcast from.A computer for broadcasting. You can use the same computer that you’re playing videos games on or a separate device if you wish.A broadcasting app. Twitch Studio, the official Twitch desktop app for Windows and Mac, is the easiest to use.
Optional
A capture card. If you’re planning on streaming footage from another computer or an Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch console, you will need a capture card. A microphone. Any headset you have lying around will do the trick though there are also high quality microphones available that can take your Twitch stream to the next level. A webcam. You can use the built-in one on your computer if it has one but it’s worth investing in a stand-alone webcam so that you can change its angle. Lighting. You don’t need to invest in lighting but doing so will make your streams look a lot better. A cheap ring light is a good place to start.
Creating and Managing a Twitch Account
A Twitch account is essentially a social media profile where you’ll be streaming and posting videos from. Other users will be able to follow your account (referred to as a Twitch channel), comment on your streams via the chat, and even support you financially when your channel grows more down the road. You will need to create a Twitch account to stream on Twitch.
Choose and Set up a Broadcasting App
While you can stream to Twitch directly from PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X consoles, if you want a broadcast with a fancy layout and alerts, you’ll need to stream from a computer using a dedicated streaming app. You’ll also need to stream from a computer via an app if you’re planning on streaming PC or Mac video games or titles played on a Nintendo Switch. This is where people will be watching your streams from both on the Twitch website and on the various Twitch apps on smartphones, smart TVs, and video game consoles. Click Stream. We’ll come back to the stream key later. For now, you’re ready to move on to the next stage of getting your Twitch stream set up. Here are three of the most popular Twitch streaming apps.
Twitch Studio: Twitch Studio is the official Twitch desktop app for Windows and Mac users. Compared to its third-party rivals, Twitch Studio is very beginner-friendly with a simple UI and built-in guides for customizing scene overlays and broadcast settings. Twitch Studio is completely free. OBS Studio: OBS Studio is arguably the most popular app for Twitch streamers due to its comprehensive settings that can be adjusted for any type of broadcast project. OBS Studio is also free. Streamlabs: This Twitch streaming app features a streamlined interface and built-in support for Streamlabs’ various layout and alert services. Streamlabs is free to download and use though a paid upgrade plan is required to access its various custom overlay and alert designs.
How to Set up Twitch Studio and Customize Your Twitch Stream
Setting up the Twitch desktop app for streaming on Twitch is very straightforward and be done in less than five minutes.
How to Customize Your Twitch Stream With OBS Studio
OBS Studio is an incredibly comprehensive streaming app that boasts a massive amount of settings and features. Due to this, we’ve created a dedicated guide for streaming on Twitch with OBS Studio that covers all aspects of setting the app up, connecting it Twitch, customizing your overlay, and starting your first Twitch stream. Once you’ve finished making changes to your Twitch overlay layout, click Save. OBS Studio may seem intimidating at first but it’s considered by many to be the best streaming program available and is genuinely easy to use after the initial, admittedly complex, setup process. If you’re planning on making a career out of being a streamer, you should definitely give it a look.
How to Set up Streamlabs and Customize Your Twitch Stream
While based on the tech that powers OBS Studio, Streamlabs’ interface is very different with streamlined controls and integrated support for Streamlabs’ own features.
What Next?
There’s an almost endless list of ways to enhance your Twitch stream, build your audience, and take your broadcasts to the next level. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
Check your Twitch dashboard. The Creator Dashboard on the Twitch website is the place to go for insights on your channel and audience. Make your own Twitch overlay. When you’re ready to really make your stream your own, why not try your hand at designing your own Twitch layout? Add custom alerts. There are several ways to add fun notifications to your streams. Make some money. There are numerous ways to make money as a Twitch streamer. Add a chatbot. Chatbots are a great way to enhance your Twitch chat. Protect your account. The last thing you want is for someone to hack your account and ruin all of your hard work. Enable 2FA on Twitch asap.
