Tutorial Building a Custom Streaming Setup for Content Creators and Streamers Creating Professional Live Streams

Quick Start Guide to Streaming on Twitch

1. If you dont have one already, youll need to create a Twitch account. Dont forget to turn on Two-Factor Authentication to keep your account safe. We also recommend downloading the Twitch app on your iOS or Android mobile device. Not only can you use it to watch streams wherever you are, you can also access your Creator Dashboard to modify basic settings, run ads, and even go live.

2. Review the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service fully. Its also recommended that you establish your Moderation and Safety settings before your first stream to ensure the best experience for you and your growing community. AutoMod is a great tool to serve as your first line of defense for moderation, with settings you can adjust to your preferences.

3. Customize your channel so new viewers know who you are when they find you. You can modify your profile photo and bio via your mobile device, or customize a number of additional settings via a web browser. Weve set up an entire Creator Camp page on Personal Branding to show you all of the places you can customize your channel page to reflect you and your brand.

4. Optimize your set up! Youll want to consider which hardware youll need to stream your audio and visuals. Weve created some helpful guides to help you get started in Setting Up Your Stream. Keep in mind, it doesnt have to be complicated! If youve got a Playstation or Xbox, its likely you could be live in just a matter of minutes.

5. Select and set up your broadcasting software so you can get your content out there! Twitch Studio, available on both Windows and Mac, is Twitchs first-party streaming software that makes it easy to set up a stream and go live in minutes. Guided onboarding helps automatically detect your microphone, webcam, and other technical aspects of a stream, and pre-loaded starter layouts help creators effortlessly personalize the look of their stream. Alerts and Chat are built-in, helping you easily monitor channel activity and interact with your community.

6. Add a few extensions to your channel. Visit your Creator Dashboard and navigate to the Extensions tab right above the Creator Camp link. As an example try out the CTRL+ and Sound Alerts extensions to enhance your community viewing experience and drive viewer participation.

Now, youre ready to go live, just dont forget to title, categorize, and tag your stream so viewers can find you! Below youll find a list of references to help you troubleshoot if you have issues. And, once youre ready to upgrade, weve got you covered with tutorials to help you with hardware, software, and strategies.

Resources

Introduction to Streaming Set Ups

Getting Started

When you start streaming, there are some basic essentials you need to get started, but you dont have to break the bank! Budgeting can be an issue for many hobby streamers, so if you have to prioritize which items to spend on and which to save for later, the most important things to consider are:

• A solid internet connection;
• Your streaming software;
• A machine that will run your content;
• And audio and visual peripherals.

Streaming Software

There are many options when it comes to streaming software. Twitch Studio is our free streaming app designed from the ground up to meet new streamers needs. It enables you to stream directly on Twitch and provides a guided and intuitive experience when setting up your stream. If youre thinking about becoming a streamer or tried and gave up because it was too difficult, Twitch Studio is for you! Its a great place to start as a beginner streamer, however, you can also run OBS, XSplit or others. You can dive deeper here in this help article to find the software thats right for you

Hardware

Your machine is the essential component needed when it comes to your stream. Running your stream software will be the main task on your PC, so you need to make sure its built with the minimum requirements for the software you use, in addition to encoding. Most mid-tier computers (including PCs and Macs) should be able to run a basic game, webcam/audio software, and your broadcasting software.

Audio

Providing good audio can significantly change the perception of your stream, and sometimes even make or break the entire viewing experience for your audience. From budget to high end to headset microphones, the cost and quality arent as impactful to your audio as how you set it up. To increase the quality of whichever microphone you use, make sure you assess the type of content you create and choose your microphone accordingly. Is the area you stream in noisy or soundproofed? A condensed microphone will pick up lots of environmental sound, while a dynamic microphone will pick only what is directed at it. With proper research and consideration, your audio will be great and your stream will thrive!

Video

While many streamers choose to show their facial reactions while they stream, you certainly dont have to! However, if you do plan to stream with a camera, you dont need to start with the most high-end option. What you should consider however, are aspects like camera location, angle, lighting, and positioning. These can enhance even the most basic camera without breaking the bank.

As with audio, the type of content you create may help determine how much effort and budget you place into your camera. For example, if you plan on streaming to Just Chatting or stream non-gaming content like Art & Illustration, you may want to consider investing more in a camera or lighting since this is your primary content. If the majority of your stream focuses on a game you are playing, the camera you choose will have less of an impact on the overall quality of your stream.

The Definitive Streaming Setup Guide How to Set Up a Live Stream

Live streaming is an important tool for businesses and organizations across many industries. It helps brands to connect with their target audience, schools to facilitate distance learning, organizations to work with remote teams, and more.

Successful streams require the support of a solid streaming setup. However, setup requirements for streaming vary depending on the level of streaming you hope to achieve.

In this post, we are going to cover everything you need to know to create the most effectivestreaming setupsfor different scenarios in 2023. We will start by reviewing some of the basics of live streaming before we dive into our in-depth guide on creating the perfect streaming setup for different levels of broadcasting.

In this guide, welltake a close look at the necessary equipment, software, and support for beginner, intermediate, and advanced broadcasters.

Live Streaming in2023: The Basics

Online audio and video content streaming makes it possible for businesses and organizations to connect with their audiences while bypassing location limitations. Live streaming, in particular, creates a lifelike experience that is truly engaging.

It has also given rise to the creator economy where numerous beginner and experienced streamers go online to connect with their audience and engage them. These include gamers, beauty, and fashion influencers, among others.

Over the past few years, leaps and bounds have been made in the online video streaming industry. Broadcasters with different levels of experience can create high-quality streams thanks to the development of powerfulstreaming platformsand related equipment.

Several highly technical processes run behind the scenes to poweronline video streams. However, most professional streaming solutions take care of the technicalities and make it possible for broadcasters to operate their streams with an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI).

Luckily, these streaming tools are more affordable and accessible than ever. Broadcasters can create effectivestreaming setups on any budget.

Uses for Live Streaming

There are many professional uses forlive streamingin 2023. Since this type of style of video distribution is known to be engaging and lifelike, brands harness those perks to connect with their audiences.

Some of the top uses for live streaming include:

• Virtual events: conferences, webinars
• Education: remote learning, lectures,
• Sports: games, matches, championships, tournaments
• Church: services, charity events, choir concerts, small group meetings
• Sales& marketing: product launches, demos, sales pitches
• Government: town hall meetings, city-sponsored events, archives

The beauty of live streaming is that brands can get creative as theyd like to leverage this type of video content. There are truly no limits on how video streaming can be used.

How to Set Up a Live Stream

Creating the perfect live streaming setup looks different to every broadcaster. Since live streaming is used for so many different purposes across so many industries, there are different things to consider when creating the best streaming setup for your organization.

Although each streaming setup will look different, there are a few considerations that remain the same: software requirements, necessary equipment, and expert support needs. Lets take a look at how to set up a live stream for streaming at different levels

Basic Streaming Setupfor Beginners

Some broadcasts can be done with a basic streaming setup and a small budget. A simple streaming setup will suffice for independent creators(beginners)and small businesses. Educators can also usually get by with a basic streaming setup as long as they havea beginner-levelstreaming software that supports screen sharing and stream recording.

That said, lets look at the components of abasic live streaming setup.

Software

First and foremost, youre going to need the support of avideo streaming platformto host your stream. Dacastis a great option because plans start as low as $39/month.

If you are streaming at a very basic leveland play games, you may be able to get by with a free streaming site, like YouTube or Dailymotion. However, if video monetization,white-label streaming, reliable video privacy and security, and other streaming features are important to you, its worth investing in a basic plan from a professional solution.

Youll also likely need support frombasic encoding software. OBS Studiois a great option for beginners because it is free and basic, but it gets the job done.

Otherstreaming softwaremay be necessary for some basic streaming setups, such as a simulcasting tool or simple mixing and production software.

Equipment

There are a few pieces ofstreaming equipmentthat are necessary for any broadcasting, including a camera and a laptop or computer to operate the streaming solution on.

A basic streaming setupfor beginnersrequires the support of a webcam or a basic camera. An even simpler setup can make do with just a smartphone or tablet. If youre streaming with a smartphone or tablet, you wont even need a computer.

If yourea beginnerstreaming with a webcam or mobile device, you might not need toset up anencoder. Your streaming setup could be as simple as a laptop, webcam, and a professional video hosting platform.

While you can get a decent quality stream with a smartphone or tabletas a beginner, the quality wont be as good as streaming with a basic camera and a laptop. Smartphones are best suited formobile streaming.

You should also ensure that your smartphone is in a region where the internet speed is high. Itll ensure a superior quality stream and better viewing experience.

Expert Support

A basic streaming setupfor beginnersshouldnt require the support of an expert. You may need some help creating a website andembedding your video player, but if you stream with a solution that offers customizable streaming galleries, this isnt necessary.

Full Streaming Setup

Many live streams need a bit of a more sophisticated setup to achieve a higher-quality end result. A full streaming setup is necessary for situations where more professionalism is required but the extravagance of a TV-grade stream is unnecessary.

Virtual events, product demos, and corporate webinars are examples of streams that benefit from a full streaming setup. With that in mind, lets take a close look at some of the essential elements for this type of streaming setup.

Software

Anonline video hosting manageris essential for a full streaming setup. A basic to mid-level plan should suffice. Youll also need encoding software, a switcher, and production software.

Equipment

A full streaming setup typically involves a powerful computer, a high-quality camera, audio capture equipment, and potentially, a hardware encoder.

While a professional camcorder would help you create a higher-quality stream, they are expensive and are not absolutely necessary. A DSLR camera with4K streaming capabilitiesshould get the job done.

Depending on the scenario, you may also need a green screen, a backdrop, studio lighting, tripods, and other studio equipment.

Youd also need reliable internet connection with a high bandwidth to ensure your stream is transmitted in higher resolution.

Expert Support

The most complex you make your streaming setup, the more expert support youll need. A full streaming setup will likely require a small camera crew. It is also beneficial to have somebody in charge of production who knows the ins and outs of switching and mixing.

Advanced Streaming Setup

Advance streaming setups are necessary for TV-grade streaming.Now, lets shift gears to advanced streaming. By advanced we mean professional or TV-grade streaming. Think of newscasts orsports broadcasts. These types of streams are often broadcasted to large audiences that are depending on your stream to catch a piece of the action.

That creates a lot of expectations and puts pressure on advanced broadcasters, which means the streaming setup must be impeccable and infallible. With that in mind, lets take a look at some of the essential components of a professional streaming setup.

Software

Like the other streaming setups we discussed, a professional stream requires the support of a professionalonline video platform.

For the other streaming setups, we said that basic or mid-level online video platform plans would suffice. However, with a more professional streaming setup, your needs are much more advanced, so youll likely need a custom-built enterprise plan.

Like a full streaming setup, an advanced streaming setup will need the support ofencoding software, switching software, production software, and mixing and editing software.

In addition, there are now setups and platforms that allow streaming a single feed to multiple destinations simultaneously. Multicasting requiresamultistreamingsoftwaresetup that allows for simulcasting to multiple sources. The main benefit of multistreaming is that it helps broadcasters reach a larger audience. By streaming to multiple sites like Twitchor Youtube, its possible to tap into your existing audience and grow your community.

Equipment

Professional setups require more advancedstreaming equipment. Youre going to need the studio equipment we mentioned in the full streaming setup, plus some other tools. Depending on your unique streaming needs, you may opt for a hardware encoderrather than a software encoder.

More advanced cameras, like professional camcorders, are also a must. The number of cameras required will also depend on your unique streaming needs, but you will definitely needmultiple cameras.

If you are on-site, like at a game or event, a studio setup will not be necessary. However, youre going to need a powerful streaming setup that is optimized for mobile streaming. Some additional equipment requirements would be gimbals, stabilizers, and advancedaudio capture equipment.

Expert Support

Streaming at an advanced level requires a lot of expertsupport. TV-grade streaming, for example, requires producers, dedicated camera operators, lighting specialists, and more.

Large events need a team to monitor the streams in the event that the stream needs to be suddenly cut because something unstreamable is recorded. Knowledgeable assistants will also likely come in handy to keep everything running smoothly.

More Live Streaming Setup Considerations

As you map out your streaming setup, there are a few more things to consider. Lets take a look at some considerations that apply to broadcasting at any level.

Plan Ahead

The key to creating a successful streaming setup is to plan ahead. Map out exactly what you want to do and what you want to achieve.

Think about your audience and why you want to reach them. What sort of results are you looking for? Think beyond a specific viewer count. Do you want your viewers to become customers? Are you simply trying to share information, or is there something that youre looking for in return?

Determine what you need to bring your streaming vision to life.

Monetization

Many broadcasters live stream with the intention of generating revenue. The three most popularvideo monetizationmodels are advertising, subscriptions, and pay-per-view.

Determine what sort ofvideo monetization strategyyou want to use and find an online video platformthat offers the necessary support. Typically, free platforms like YouTube and Twitch leave you with few options to monetize your streams, but theyre great for beginners who dont have a big budget. So consider the pros and cons of each before deciding on your streaming platform.

Promotion

In order to maximize your reach, youre going to want to properly promote your stream. The way that you promote your stream will depend on your specific audience.

You can use different digital marketing and advertising techniques to promote your steam. Some approaches you can take include:

Make your stream discoverable and encourage viewers to RSVP so you have some sort of idea of who will show up.

Track Results

It is very important to track the results of your stream. Pay attention to how many viewers you had and how long they engaged with your stream. Make note of where your viewers tuned in from and if your turnout was on par with your expectations.

In order to do this, youre going to need to choose an online video platform with powerfulreporting and analytics. If youre embedding the video playerin your website, it is also wise to set up Google Analytics to give you even more insights on your page views.

Internet Connection

Internet connection plays an important role in online video streaming. Ethernet is the most reliable type ofinternet connection for streaming. WiFi can work, but wireless connections tend to be less consistent and reliable.

Cellular data should only be used as a last resort because it is significantly slower and less reliable.

FAQ

1. What do you need for a streaming setup?

The things that you need for a streaming setup depend on the type of streaming setup you want to build. For a basic one for beginners, all youd need is a streaming platform, camera, and a decent microphone. But for a more advanced setup, youd need multiple cameras, a multistreaming software, numerous high-sensitivity microphones, studio environment, and lighting setup.

2. How much do I need for a streaming setup?

For a very basic streaming setup, you wont have to spend a lot. A smartphone with a decent microphone would be good enough for beginners. But if youre looking for a more professional setup with a dedicated camera and microphone, it could cost you above $500. And if youre looking to set up an advanced streaming setup with multiple cameras, your costs could go into thousands of dollars.

3. Do I need 2 PCs to stream?

Not necessarily. A single PC is enough to stream your content. But if youre planning to stream your games, it may help to have a second PC as a single one could get burdened with video streaming and game processing. That said, this is only applicable if youve got a slightly old PC. Newer ones with superior processors and RAMs wont require you to invest in a second one.

4. What equipment is needed to live stream a church service?

To live stream a church service, all you need is a smartphone with good internet connectivity. But if youd like to have a superior quality stream, you could invest in dedicated cameras and microphones. You can also get a switcher to shift between cameras and a streaming platform to host your streams.

5. How much can a beginner streamer make?

As a beginner, you will likely make no money when you start off. Once youve got a few followers and attract a decent number of viewers to your streams, you can expect to make anywhere between $50 to $1000 per month. As you grow, your revenue from live streaming will increase too. Your revenue will also depend on your streaming niche and the monetization method you opt for.

Final Thoughts

Howyoucraft your live streaming setup will depend on your unique streaming goals and needs. Different broadcasters will need different equipment, software, and support to create a live stream that works for their brand. Plan your stream ahead of time and map out your goals so that you can create the best streaming setup to reach your audience.

Are you looking for a powerfulstreaming solutionto complete your streaming setup? Dacast may be the option for you. Our professional live streaming solution is designed to make professional live streaming seamless and efficient.

With plans starting at $39/month, our solution is built to support broadcasters at both the beginner and professional levels. Unlike other online video hosts, ourlive streaming platformprovides access to almost all of our professional features, including white-label streaming, live and VOD, video monetization, and 24/7 support, on every single plan.

Try Dacast risk-free for 14 days to test all of our professional features for yourself. Sign up today to start streaming in no time. No credit card is required.

GET STARTED FOR FREE

For regularlive streaming tipsand exclusive offers, we invite you to join our LinkedIn group.