Streaming checklist for new streamers

Hey all! Its your special projects manager, here to give you a few tips. The other officers and I are trying to get a few people to stream on our club stream, www.twitch.tv/socialgamingclub. As we are expecting a large number of new streamers, I thought that it would be useful for me to create a streaming checklist for new streamers!

This guide is missing the first few steps; that is, actually downloading the software and getting access to our stream. We still want you to come talk to us regarding these things, partially because we don't want to put club passwords out in the public. But once all the software is set up and you're about to hit the "broadcast" button, make sure that all of these things are in order:


1. Don't embarrass yourself

Make sure that there is nothing incriminating visible on your computer. This means your browser tabs should not include any sort of pornography, there should be no strange open programs, your desktop background should not be questionable, and there should be nothing in your desktop icons that you wouldn't want your mother to ask about. This is something that is pretty obvious, but I've seen so many streamers forget about this, and its always extremely awkward when they realize that they forgot. Pay special attention to pop-unders: pop-ups that appear behind your main browser window, so you only notice them when you close your browser.

There are other things that you will want to shield from the general public. If one of the officers, or another one of your friends, has just told you sensitive information in private facebook/skype chat, be sure that that window is closed as well. 

For instance, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this desktop window.

2. Make sure your computer can handle it

Don't be afraid to test your streaming capabilities before announcing that you are online. Just be sure to tell somebody to delete your test streams after you are done with it. If it turns out your internet connection is not good enough, or your graphics card is overloaded, don't be afraid to lower the resolution or framerate. In general, 360p (XXXx360 pixels, generally around ~640x360) is considered the minimum acceptable quality, as is 10fps for strategy games, and 20fps for first-person-shooters. This is not the fps that you are playing at, just the fps that you are streaming at. You'd be surprised how much lower the fps can be when you're just watching the game, as opposed to playing it. On that note, make sure that your (playing) fps does not drop to unplayable levels, especially during large fights which can be more taxing for your graphics card.

If your computer looks like this, please don't try to stream.

3. Close out of torrents and streams

This is, again, pretty obvious, but its something that people forget.

One question I always get asked is: what about my own stream? Do I close out of that as well? If you are confident your internet can handle it, feel free to watch your own stream to make sure that it does not go down, and to interact with the chat. If not, you are able to "pop-out" the chat, and xsplit will tell you if your stream goes down; it will tell you that it is dropping frames. When this happens, just stop streaming and turn it back on as soon as you notice it.

4. Make sure your game actually works when you stream it

Fullscreen games generally have to be put into "fullscreen windowed" to work with xsplit. This is generally not a default setting, so make sure you set it as such. Even if your game is not fullscreen, there are certain games that do not work with xsplit. If this is the case, try fiddling with the settings, and if that doesn't work, get someone to help you.

In League of Legends, this mode is called "borderless".

5. If you are viewing your own stream, be sure to mute it

Otherwise it will feedback. It is very annoying. This could have been grouped with #3, but its so important that I felt that it deserved its own section, as this is the thing that people are most likely to forget.

This button. Press it.

6. Ensure that your microphone is working properly

If you are using a microphone, be sure that it is plugged in and functional. Also, if you are using a headset or desktop microphone, be sure that your computer is recognizing that one, rather than a built-in laptop microphone.

7. Close out of Steam, Skype and other programs

These programs always manage to alert you at all the wrong times, making sounds and clogging up the bottom right of the screen. Close out of them. Of course, you should ignore this section if your stream content relies on these programs. But if it does, be sure to change the settings appropriately.

Outside of these, there are a few advanced topics:

1. Ensure that your sound is correctly balanced

If you are playing music in between games, be sure that it is loud enough to obscure any stray noises from your microphone. If you are playing music during games, be sure that it is soft enough to not detract from the stream as a whole. Also, make sure that your commentary does not drown out the game sounds and vice versa.

2.  Ensure that your overlays and webcam do not obscure important game information

Many of us have had that moment where you realize that your overlay or webcam obscures the minimap. Make sure this doesn't happen to you.

If you don't have overlays, consider making some! A few minutes in photoshop will work wonders.

3. Utilize your second monitor, if you have one

Xsplit and the stream chat can be placed on a second monitor so that you don't have to tab out in order to check on your stream. If you don't have a second monitor, don't worry about it.