Here's how to stream on Twitch on PC

Nowadays, streaming PC games on Twitch is more accessible than ever. You can create your Tic account, download free software and start streaming your favorite game.

However, there is one nuance you will need to learn, and while it may seem overwhelming at first, it's worth the effort to make sure you're doing everything the right way.

Fortunately, there is a lot of information out there for newcomers, and most streaming programs are free. They are also becoming more user-friendly. So, if you want to start broadcasting on Twitch through your PC, here's how.

Make sure your PC can handle streaming

Screenshot via Epic Games

First of all, before you download Open Broadcaster software or any other live streaming program, you will need a platform that can handle streaming. Streaming on a low-end computer is incredibly difficult because rendering a game, saving it, and downloading it from the internet is a demanding process on a weak CPU, RAM, and GPU. So if your computer struggles with 3D games like Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or Dota 2, then you'll want to buy a better computer before you start your Twitch career.

Below you'll find the hardware specs Twitch needs for their own streaming software, with gameplay also taken into account.

Minimum system requirements for Twitch Studio:

• Operating System: Windows 7 64 bit
• GPU: compatible DirectX 11
• RAM: 4+ Go (2 Go gratuits)
• Processor: Intel or AMD 4-core

Specs recommended by Twitch Studio:

• Operating System: Windows 10 64 bit
• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 10 series or newer
• RAM: 8 Go +
• CPU: Intel or AMD 8-wire

These might be a bit dated now, so a better way to look at it is that you need a PC that can comfortably play the game you want to play, and have a little bit of power to go. support the streaming side. things too. Streaming is pretty intensive on your PC, so the better your build, the more time it will have to deal with the demands you put on it.

Keep in mind that these system requirements are for streaming only. You might need a better computer to stream more intensive games like Rainbow Six: Siege or Grand Theft Auto V. However, 2D PC games are not as PC intensive as 3D titles, so Mid-range computer owners may be able to stream games like Hearthstone or indie titles like The Isaac Bond and Into the Breach just fine on Twitch. But if you're interested in long-term Twitch streaming, start saving money on a gaming PC right now, even if it's just a pre-built one.

In addition to your PC hardware, you'll want to make sure that your internet connection is also designed for Twitch streaming. Internet connections with low bandwidth or heavy traffic may have difficulty sending download data to Twitch. For newcomers, Tic recommends setting the streaming software encoding presets to "Very Fast" for a less demanding experience on both the broadcaster's PC and their Internet connection.

Get some decent gear

Screen capture via blue microphones

As a bare minimum, each streamer should have at least one microphone and a headset or earphones. You will want the former to interact with your viewers and the latter to reduce game audio while streaming. After all, the last thing you want is an annoyed audience to complain about the audio echoing from your cheap $ 10 microphone.

For a beginner mic, the Blue Snowball offers great sound quality at an affordable price, and it connects to your computer through its USB port, making it versatile enough for any gaming PC case. You're looking for a headset with a built-in microphone, the HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset is a popular choice among new and old Twitch streamers for a headset of just under $ 100.

You might also want to get a webcam show that you can stream yourself while playing the game. Many viewers on Twitch appreciate this personal touch and it helps to connect with the audience. You can go for something like a Logitech C920 when you first boot up, as it's a very respectable webcam.

If your broadcast starts to take off, you can upgrade your gear to your liking, opting for new microphones, headsets, cameras or even purchasing lights like the Elgato Key Light or an Elgato Stream Deck to boost your values. production. However, it's normally a bad idea to start investing in all of this before you have an audience.

Identify the games you want to stream and your style

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Twitch is a personality and gameplay-focused streaming service, which means you'll want to cultivate your audience around a specific type of brand. Are you funny, charismatic, and goofy, or are you a laid back gamer who enjoys spending time with your viewers? Or maybe you're a Fortnite gamer who rages in front of the camera when he loses games? There's plenty of room for all kinds of people on Twitch, so determine your goals first and develop your onscreen personality from there.

Also consider what type of games you want to stream. Action-packed multiplayer games are always a great choice, and battle royale titles like Fortnite, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and Kingdom Royale have huge online following. Competitive first-person shooters such as Overwatch and Battlefield V are also great choices, as are MOBAs like Dota 2 and League of Legends.

You should also understand that finding an audience for an already well-known game, with many popular streamers, is going to be difficult. Unless you are a mechanical god who plays at the highest level, you are unlikely to break through. As such, it may be a good idea to focus on a game that you love that doesn't have a lot of people streaming, or even cover an upcoming game that has some hype around it when playing. its launch.

Configuring Your Streaming Schedule

Now that you have the hardware, games, and gear to start streaming, there are a few streaming programs worth checking out to get your Twitch stream started. We'll take a look at three of the most popular Twitch recommended: Twitch Studio Beta, Open Broadcaster Software, and XSplit.

To use any of these products, you will need your Twitch Stream key. To find it, open your Twitch settings by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click the Channels & Videos tab. At the very top you will see "Primary Stream Key", click on the Copy button to be able to quickly paste it into your streaming software.

Twitch Studio Beta

Twitch has its own software called Twitch Studio Beta. It is designed to be as simple as possible and holds the hand well throughout the initial setup.

Open Broadcaster software

Image via OBS

Also known as OBS, Open Broadcaster Software is one of the most popular (and powerful) Twitch streaming programs available. While OBS requires more setup than Bebo, it gives streamers the ability to truly own and personalize their streaming experience, from advanced overlays to personalized subscriber alerts. And for power users looking to play with their encoding settings, OBS is a beast of the program.

Before you begin, go to your Twitch user account dashboard and check out the Channel tab in the sidebar under Settings. To use OBS, you need to copy your stream key, which is a unique set of characters that Twitch uses to authorize third-party programs to broadcast on a specific user's Twitch channel.

If you want to stream with OBS, here's our quick start guide to setting up your channel.

1. Run the OBS automatic configuration wizard. This will give you a basic configuration for using OBS and basic encoding settings that your system can handle.
2. On the main screen, click the plus sign in