If you are just starting out in the world of live streaming or a seasoned veteran you might be asking yourself. What are the most important streaming essentials for getting to the top
If you’re new to live streaming then you might be wondering what equipment/ essentials items are needed to get started on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook.
Building a full streaming setup is no easy task. You have tons of different products you can start with to build your setup to a
Building a full-stream set-up might seem like a simple task at first – but with so many different tools and peripherals to choose from, selecting the right essentials for your needs can become an even greater challenge.
In this post, we will cover all of the latest hardware, ranging from switchers to stream decks, and mixers to microphones that will enable you to advance your channel.
So, whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned full-time streamer, you’ll love this useful list.
What essentials do I need for streaming?
Streaming PC
After getting into streaming the first thing that you will need is a good streaming PC. Its fun to play demanding games but running a demanding game which is streaming at 1080p while being recorded as well can put a load on the PC. If you PC is not capable of running all these tasks simultaneously, your streaming will suffer a lot. You would a lot of lags, frame drops and pixilation issues.
You can do things like using a wired internet connection and changing the bit rate to improve your stream. As far as the specs are required for streaming you will be able to stream with a core i5 and 8GB of ram. If you want your stream to run smooth you at least need a core i7 or AMD’s Ryzen 7 which can take the load of streaming and gaming at the same time.
If you are looking for a great starter PC and not looking to spends tons of money. You may be interested in any computer made by IBUYPOWER. Our personal favorite is iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop Element 9260
You can read our full guide on the best streaming pc’s and choose from anyone of the options.
Microphone
The very first thing you want to do is grab yourself a USB mic, you might have a built-in mic in your PC but it well not sound that good. You need a microphone which has a crisp sound. You can use a good quality headphone, but it won’t deliver the sound that a USB mic would. Generally, there is no need to spend a lot of money on a mic, unless you do a lot of commentary in your stream, or you are a professional.
There are two different types of microphones that you can get, dynamic mic and condenser mic. Mostly you would want a mic which blocks all the other sounds and only focuses on your voice. It totally depends on your personal preference that which kind of mic you want to buy. Dynamic mics are good for cancelling background noises and condenser mics are good for picking up sounds.
If you are looking for the top Microphones on the market chances are you have heard of Elgato which is considered the best microphone for streamers. After purchasing a PC, the next most important thing is a microphone. When streaming it is very important that people hear your voice perfectly. We have a full guide on the best microphones for streamers that deserves a look.
Pop filter
The main job of microphone pop filter is to reduce plosives. Plosives is when a puff of wind or your breath hits the diaphragm of the microphone and causes it to distort, so these pop filters are used to reduce the air to make your voice sound better.
Pop filters sure are useful and effective but they are not required for streaming because the pop filter might block your view.
The top Pop filter on the market has to be the Stedman Corporation Proscreen XL skips nylon and other fabrics and uses a patented metal material to protect your microphone from unnecessary distortions. It is one of the few filters in the market that’s designed to keep the requirements of digital recording in mind.
Mic Stand / Boom Arm
Getting a Mic stand / Boom arm might be the best decision you make. You can position the mic where you feel it will pick up the sound best. It makes you feel much more professional, and it frees up a lot of space as well. They can be easily attached to your desk. But a single mic boom arm can not do the job if you have a heavy mic you will have to buy a more sturdier boom arm to hold the mic.
Prices pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Heil PL-2T is our top choice when it comes to Boom Arms and can be set up in about 2 minutes: simply tighten the voice to your desk and place the boom arm into the hole. The Heli PL-2T can rotate 360 degrees and will hold your microphone steady in any position perfect for any streamer looking for an easy to adjust microphone. One of the coolest features even though simple is the area on top perfectly hides your microphone cable. Making this perfect for any of you who don’t like any wires showing.
The boom arm segments are both 20″ long, which gives you that little bit of extra reach you need for the right placement. They also hide the springs for a nice clean look.
Accessories
If what the basic package provides is not quiet doing it for you, you have a range of accessories they provide to keep your microphone more secure:
- Flush Mount (DT-1) – sits flush inside desk
- Wall Mount (WM-1) – vertical wall mount
- Flange Mount (FL-1) – sits on top of desk
- 12″ Riser (RS-1) – sits on top of desk
This is a strong Boom Arm which is strong enough to hold a Blue Yeti with a shock mount, which is the heaviest you can get. No reason to worry about it not your microphone.
Webcam
There are a lot more webcams and cameras then there are microphone. It can be pretty overwhelming when you look at the whole spectrum but for the most part you’re going to start with the basic, if you are a beginner. If you are a professional, you can go for a mirrorless camera as well. A lot of streamers use high quality webcams, but the quality of the image also depends on your internet quality.
Depending on how serious you want to become in streaming you want to make sure you get a good webcam. The chances are always higher if you show your face when streaming then if not. Of course there are always acceptations like Lirik who has built a big fan base with no webcam.
One of the best webcams for streaming is the Logitech C922x Pro is designed with specs that make it a reliable option for the gaming community. It provides a sharp resolution of 1080p and a frame rate of 30 FPS. This means it has the highest resolution among the cameras discussed in this list. It also implies it is a very good webcam for streaming videos, and is, therefore, worth the investment for professional streamers. You can read our guide on the best webcams for streaming to see other top options.
- Web camera specifically designed and optimized for professional quality video streaming on social gaming and entertainment sites like Twitch and YouTube
Prices pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Headset
A high-quality headset will give you an edge in gaming and help you concentrate a lot better. You can find tons of quality headsets but if you are looking for the best headsets for streamers, you should check out our guide. If you just want the best one on the market, the ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless Headset used by plenty of the top streamers.
- Astro Audio V2: Immersive Audio and sound experience that delivers dialogue, music and in game sound clearly
Prices pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Stream Deck
Other than the main essential items, there are some things that can make your life as a streamer easier. A Stream Deck is a customizable control pad for live-streaming that includes 15 LCD keys for switching scenes, launching media, and adjusting audio on the fly. You can trigger self-promotional tweets, chat commands, and a bunch of things you’d usually have to Alt-Tab to do.
The best stream deck on the market is the Elgato Stream Deck XL offers a no compromise option; with 32 keys, you will have absolutely no issues fitting on every command you could want, and it’s likely that you won’t find a use for some of them. It really is the best option for you in terms of getting the best for your money. If you are looking for some cheaper or free options; check out our guide on the best stream decks for streamers.
- Advanced live production: Easily control your favorite tools and platforms
- 32 customizable keys: Instantly trigger unlimited actions with a tap
- Powerful integrations: Elgato game capture, obs, stream labs, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, mixer, Spotify, Philips HUE, vMix, voice mod, and more
- One-touch operation: Change, scenes, launch media, switch cameras, Tweak lighting, adjust Audio, post tweets – anything
- Visual feedback: Know that your command has been executed
- Connectivity technology:
Prices pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Capture Card
The best capture cards are game changers for serious streamers. You can capture footage of your gameplay on your own system, but it will drain the resources when you want to deliver quality game content. This is where a capture card will help, they are build to reduce the burden on your PC/Xbox/PlayStation. You don’t have to be a seasoned Twitch or Youtuber to understand how important this is.
If you are looking for the best capture card on the market today then look no further than the Elgato HD60 S Capture Card. This capture card not only displays your game in 1080p with 60 fps and has a 4.8 rating with over 11,000+ reviews. This is the perfect card for anyone wanting to take their gameplay to streaming platforms with as little hassle as possible.
- Input: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (unencrypted HDMI)
Prices pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Lighting
Lighting is by far the most important thing if you want your setup to look good. You can get yourself a relatively inexpensive but versatile LED panel which can get the job done. It also helps to look professional and grabs a lot of attention.
Streamers use LED lights, soft lights or even illuminated backgrounds.
If you are looking for the best option we suggest soft lighting and one of the best setups is the MOUNTDOG Softbox Lighting Kit Photography Studio Light. If you are looking for other options please head over to our guide on the best lighting for streamers. We break out everything you would need to get your stream up and running.
- 【2 Softbox】: 2pcs 20 x 28inch MountDog softbox ultimately soften light stream and remove shadow to make perfect shooting; Silver internal face to minimize light loss and maximize light spread, with E27 socket,you can directly connect light bulbs,fluorescent lamps or slave flash to offer the light.
Prices pulled from Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Conclusion
Streaming has become much bigger over the past couple years. Getting all the proper streaming essentials for your setup is more important than ever. After you have got your stream up and running you can go ahead and check out our free twitch panels and alerts. We also have a collection of copyright free lo-fi music you can listen to on stream with no issues.
