With sites like Twitch hosting more than 30 million daily visitors, live streaming is more popular than ever. But diving into the world of live streaming can be intimidating. With so many mics, cameras and streaming software platforms to choose from, it can be challenging to find the right streaming setup for you—especially if you’re just getting started. In this article, we’ll outline the best streaming equipment for beginners to help you start streaming fast.
What Equipment Do You Need To Live Stream?
In any basic streaming setup, there are three essential pieces of equipment: a microphone, a camera and streaming software. More advanced setups might use additional equipment, such as lighting fixtures, desktop controllers and even multiple cameras for multi-cam streaming. But for a beginner streaming setup, the most important thing is to make sure your viewers can hear and see you clearly.
At first, you may be tempted to use your built-in computer microphone while streaming. Not only do these mics make your voice sound thin and harsh—some computers don’t even have a built-in microphone. That’s why upgrading to a quality USB microphone is one of the best investments you can make for your stream.
Blue Yeti is the best-selling USB microphone for content creators thanks to its crystal-clear sound quality, easy-to-use controls, and desktop-friendly design. Plus, Yeti includes Blue VO!CE vocal effects for enhancing the sound of your voice, and tons of useful presets to help get you started.
Now that you’ve got your stream sounding right, it’s time to upgrade your webcam to a proper streaming camera. Tailor-made for live streaming, StreamCam combines stunning 1080p HD video quality with smart features that make it easy to get professional-quality results.
StreamCam’s premium glass lens captures sharp content with smooth motion that looks natural on-screen, while the versatile auto-focus, auto-framing and intelligent exposure settings keep you looking good in any setting. Plus, StreamCam is optimized for all of your favorite streaming software, making it easier than ever to start streaming to Twitch, YouTube and more. Speaking of streaming software...
Streaming Software
The last piece of equipment in your streamer starter kit is the software platform you use to create and broadcast your stream. Not to be confused with your streaming destination, such as Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Gaming (more on that later), streaming software is used to assemble the individual components of your stream, such as audio and video feeds, gameplay footage in the case of game streaming, and other elements such as your chat window, overlay and notifications.
When it comes to streaming software, there are plenty of great options to choose from, such as Streamlabs Desktop, OBS Studio and XSplit. But, if you’re looking for the fastest and easiest way to start streaming, check out Melon. With Melon, you can go live on all of the most popular streaming sites in just five clicks. Plus, since Melon is a web-based streaming platform, it doesn’t require any downloads or installs and won’t bog down your computer with unnecessary processing.
For more info on the differences between popular streaming solutions, check out our article on the best streaming software for Twitch.
Is It Better To Stream on PC Or Console?
Bring this subject up at a convention and you’re likely to start a fight, but ultimately, there are pros and cons to both approaches.
The best-looking streams are typically made using PCs—even top-tier console gamers tend to use a dedicated computer to manage their stream. In addition to having limited processing power, most consoles also don’t support professional microphones or cameras and have limited processing power, which can negatively affect the quality of your stream.
However, it’s often more affordable to stream using a console—especially if you don’t already have a high-end PC. Depending on how you choose to set up your stream, it may require some extra steps, but you can absolutely create a quality streaming experience on a console.
Don’t worry, we won’t make you choose. In this section, we’ll walk you through how to start streaming from both PC and console.
How to Stream On PC
- Create an account on your desired streaming platform
- Log into Melon with one click using your streaming platform credentials (or create a Melon account)
- Plug in your USB mic and webcam, then enable them in the Melon app
- You may have to “allow” Melon to access these peripherals when logging in for the first time
- Hover over your camera stream on the left and click “show on stream” to add your video feed to the stream
- Gamers will need to add their gameplay footage to the stream as well by clicking “Share Screen” and “Show On Stream”
- Click “Go Live” at the bottom of the screen and select your preferred streaming destination(s)
For more info, check out our article on how to stream on Twitch.
How to Stream on PS4 and Xbox
- Connect your console to your computer using a capture card
- Create an account on your desired streaming platform
- Log into Melon with one click using your streaming platform credentials (or create a Melon account)
- Plug in your USB mic and webcam, then enable them in the Melon app
- You may have to “allow” Melon to access these peripherals when logging in for the first time
- Hover over your camera stream on the left and click “show on stream” to add your video feed to the stream
- Add your gameplay footage to the stream as well by clicking “Share Screen” and “Show On Stream”
- Click “Go Live” at the bottom of the screen and select your preferred streaming destination(s)
For more info, check out our article on streaming on PS4 and Xbox.
How to Prepare For a Live Stream
Before you start streaming, it’s a good idea to run through a quick checklist to make sure you’re prepared to entertain your adoring fans. Start by testing out all of your streaming equipment to make sure that everything is working properly—this includes restarting your computer and testing your internet connection.
Next, configure any overlays, chatbots or alerts you want to use during your stream, and come up with an interesting title to grab viewers searching for a stream. Finally, jot down a few notes of things you’d like to talk about on-stream to avoid awkward lulls and maximize the LOLs. Once you check your hair in the webcam preview and make sure there’s nothing in your teeth, it’s time to go live!
Ready to expand your streaming setup with lights, software and more? Check out our blog.
March 1, 2022
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