Gaming streaming on YouTube and Twitch has become very popular in the last few years. In fact, in the first quarter of 2021, a total of 8.8 billion hours of gaming streaming were watched around the world. Wow! This is up from 3.6 billion hours only two years ago! As a result, many gamers are becoming more and more interested in streaming their favourite games themselves.
If you’re looking to start game streaming, it can be confusing to know exactly what you need. This is where we step in here on the Best Buy Blog! Below, you’ll see, we’ve put together a list of everything you need to get the perfect PC gaming streaming setup. Regardless if you are an aspiring game streamer or currently game streaming and looking to enhance your current setup we’ve got you covered!
Video capture cards
If you are streaming games from your console, you’ll need a good quality video capture card. These devices take the audio and video from your PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch and feed them into your PC. From there you can then route the audio and video into programs such as OBS or Streamlabs that will then allow you to stream and record gameplay.
One of the best and most popular brands of video capture cards is Elgato. They offer a line up of internal PCIe and external USB video capture cards that are second to none. The Elgato HD60 X USB 3.0 Video Game Capture device connects to your Windows and Mac computer or laptop via USB making it easy to get connected and set up. It supports a wide variety of resolutions up to 4K and refresh rates up 240Hz!
Additionally, the Elgato Stream Deck MK2, Elgato Stream Deck +and Elgato Stream Deck Mini are popular tools used by content creators around the world. These devices allow you to automate basic tasks such as going live, switching scenes and cameras and so much more. Thus, allowing you to interact with your audience easier and more conveniently.
Click here for a complete list of video capture cards available at Bestbuy.ca
Webcams and cameras
The next piece of equipment that you will need to get the perfect PC gaming streaming setup is a webcam. Just like the video capture card, you will want to get a good quality webcam. A webcam is important because it allows you to connect with the people watching your streams. If your audience can see you and your reactions to games that you are streaming, they will feel more connected and part of the overall experience.
A popular webcam amongst game streamers is the Logitech C922 Pro Stream 1080p HD Webcam. It offers a good, clear image at resolutions up to 1080p 30 frames-per-second. If you want the cream of the crop webcam that offers a wide angle, vibrant colours and resolutions up to 1080p 60 frames-per-second the Razer Kiyo Pro 1080p HD Webcam is an excellent choice. It even comes with a built-in adaptive light sensor with low-light correction. This ensures that you’ll always look your best.
Alternatively, if you are looking to go all out, you can consider opting for DSLR or Mirrorless cameras such as the Sony Alpha a6100 Mirrorless Vlogger Camera with 16-50mm Lens Kit. They offer top-notch image quality and advanced capabilities. With these cameras, you can swap lenses, finely adjust settings like aperture and ISO, and so much more. While these cameras can be pricier than webcams, they offer unmatched versatility and precision for your streams.
Click here for a complete list of webcams available at Bestbuy.ca
Lighting and green screens
Next, on the list of things you need to get the perfect PC gaming streaming setup, is lighting. It’s very important that people watching your streams can see you properly. It doesn’t make sense to neglect lighting if you spent money to buy a webcam. You will need a light source that properly illuminates your face. Ring lights such as the Elgato 17″ WiFi LED Ring Light are extremely popular amongst game streamers as they are easy to set up and plug in.
Additionally, if you are looking to give your set up a unique look and feel, you should consider adding Nanoleaf smart lighting. They come in all different shapes and sizes, which allow you to be creative and come up with your own designs and patterns.
Another item that you will want to seriously consider getting is a green screen. A green screen provides a professional look to your streams as it removes the background from behind you. This allows you to seamlessly integrate into the game stream. My personal preference is the Elgato Green Screen. This portal green screen is super easy to set up and store away when not using. Simply pull the handle up and the green screen will automatically lock the green screen in place. Then, when you are done, you simply push down and collapse the green screen back into the aluminum case.
Click here for a complete list of lighting and green screens available at Bestbuy.ca
Audio
The final piece of the puzzle that you need to think about to get the perfect PC gaming streaming setup is audio. It is important that people watching your streams can clearly hear you. While most webcams come with a built in microphone, generally speaking they aren’t high quality. This means people watching your streams won’t be able to hear you properly or there will be a lot of background noise.
By using a microphone, you’ll provide your audience with crystal clear commentary for your streams. Blue Microphones and HyperX Microphones are very popular amongst streamers as they are designed with the game streamer in mind. Simply plug the microphone into a usb port on your computer and you are ready to go. Many microphones geared towards game streamers come equipped with filters to reduce ambient noise. Furthermore, microphones such as the HyperX QuadCast S RGB USB Condenser Microphone really make you stand out with the ability to select between 4 polar-patterns and customizable RGB lighting.
Click here for a complete list of microphones available at Bestbuy.ca
Everything you need to get the perfect PC gaming streaming setup
That about wraps it up! I hope you found this article on everything you need to get the perfect PC gaming streaming setup helpful. If you are interested in learning more about building your own PC gaming setup, check out this article by Matt Paligaru. He walks you through on how to create the ultimate PC gaming setup.
I recently got a device called the Genki Shadowcast that allows me to connect any HDMI device to a USB-c input on my computer. I don’t know if it is available in Best Buy. I think I might invest in an Elgato HD 60 S+ in the future.
If I get more viewers to my streams I definitely want to think about getting a green screen.
Currently I’m just using my headset for audio. I think it is working good for now, but I might look into a microphone later.
Thanks Jon, this is a great article!
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