How to Build Your Twitch Streaming Setup

So you’re really into the Twitch gaming community, and you’d like to stream gameplay yourself. Great! But maybe you’re wondering how to get started, especially when it comes to putting together a Twitch streaming setup.

No need to worry. We’ve got you covered when it comes to Twitch streaming equipment.

The good thing is that there’s plenty of gear and software out there, and several different streaming setups to choose from. Depending on your individual needs, this could include anything from high-end to cheap streaming setups and everything in between.

Let’s explore some of the essential gear for a Twitch stream setup that any beginning Twitcher will need to get started live-streaming their gameplay.

Basic Twitch streaming setup for beginners

At the bare minimum, a basic Twitch streaming setup for beginners should have the following:

• A gaming PC and monitor (or at least a very powerful workhorse computer) to handle the high workload that gaming and streaming demand.
• A streaming camera or webcam so your audience can watch your reactions in real time.
• A good lighting setup so it’s easier to see you in a dark setting.
• A capture card to convert your audiovisuals into a live stream (without this, you won’t be able to stream!)
• A microphone and headset for high-quality audio, so your audience can enjoy the stream and understand what you’re saying at all times.
• A comfortable chair for those longer hours of gameplay.
• Access to royalty-free music so you don’t encounter copyright strikes and takedown notices.

You don’t have to break the bank for any of these items, as there are plenty of mid- to low-range options that are still really high-quality. Below, we’ll go through each in a bit more detail.

Gaming PC and monitor

There are a few main elements to look for in PCs for Twitch – you want a high-performance multi-core CPU, a powerful GPU, at least 16GB of RAM, a fast SSD for storage, and reliable cooling solutions.

If you’re putting together a Twitch streaming setup, you should have a workhorse gaming computer with some serious CPU and a graphics engine, as well as a monitor (preferably two).

What’s great for aspiring game streamers is that there are many options for gaming computers, from laptops to desktops, for any type of budget. The same goes for monitors.

To start your streaming setup right, invest what you can in a gaming PC and monitor. If you’re already a serious gamer, you probably have this gear. If you don’t, get started finding the best combo for your needs. It doesn’t have to break the bank when you’re first getting started – it just has to be capable of handling a gaming and streaming workload.

Streaming camera or webcam

There are a few main elements to look for in webcams for Twitch – you’ll want to prioritize high resolution (1080p or higher), good low-light performance, a high frame rate (at least 30fps), a wide field of view, and compatibility with your streaming setup.

The next piece of essential gear for any Twitch gaming setup is the streaming camera or webcam. As a novice Twitcher, selecting the right camera for your live stream production will put you well on your way to assembling the best Twitch stream setup for you.

Any budding Twitch stream will want the best live stream visuals to embed alongside the gameplay. And that means finding a really good webcam or some other type of camera that can be optimized in a Twitch gaming setup. High-resolution and quality video will make it that much easier to attract and engage an audience when sharing your streaming adventures, whether you’re beating a difficult level, acquiring new avatar skins, or just cracking a joke.

Although gameplay is fun, it’s ultimately the Twitch streamer’s reactions and entertainment that keep an audience coming back and help build that relationship. Make sure your fans can see you!

Logitech Streamcam

Source: Logitech

Longstream webcam manufacturer Logitech offers the Streamcam, a 1080p 60FPS camera that can be fixed to your monitor. The Logitech Streamcam is notable for its high resolution and autofocus feature (you need to stay in focus while you stream!) It also comes equipped with Logitech capture software (more on capture software below). Logitech also has some other webcams for Twitch streaming, so be sure to check out those products as well.

The Logitech Streamcam is also a great webcam for vlogging.

Razer Kiyo

Source: Razer

Another camera to consider is the Razer Kiyo, a budget webcam that can do either a 720p image at 60fps, or 1080p at 30fps. And yeah, the Kiyo is made by Razer (the gaming computer-makers), so you know it’s designed with gamers and Twitch streamers in mind. One advantage the Kiyo has over the Logitech Streamcam is that it comes with a ring light  —a type of circular LED light frequently used by YouTubers and Twitchers.

You could also consider some type of DSLR camera, whether it’s a Canon, Nikon, or a Sony mirrorless A6 or A7 series camera. Using a DSLR camera might take a bit more time integrating into your streaming setup, but the high resolution could be worth it. And with a Sony mirrorless camera, you’ll have the hardware that can handle low-light situations.

Lighting

There are a few main elements to look for in lighting options for Twitch. At the bare minimum, you’ll want to ensure you have adjustable brightness, color temperature control, even light distribution, minimal shadows, and flexible positioning options.

Unless Twitch game streaming will be your day job, you’ll likely be streaming at night. This means you’re going to need some lighting.

Before we recommend specific types of lighting, let’s be real for a second — you don’t need a Hollywood caliber lighting setup for your Twitch streaming setup.

As we noted above in talking about the Razer Kiyo webcam, a great option for a Twitch gaming setup is a ring light. Ring lights are usually budget-friendly and give streamers’ faces a nice, flat light for image capture.

If you get the Kiyo webcam, you’ll kill two birds with one stone (webcam + ring light). If you don’t go with the Kiyo, you’ll need to check out other ring light options. For the budget-minded, consider either the AIXPI 10-inch Ring or the ESDDI 18-inch ring light. If you can stretch the budget a little further, the Cordless Ring Light Pro from Lumecube is often touted as one of the best for professional streamers and content creators.

Additional lighting

If you’d like more flexible lighting for your streaming setup, you should look for a lighting kit that comes with at least two different lights. This will help you light your face and the background or give you both key light and fill light for your face.

And if you want to bring some color to your lighting, check out various programmable LED lighting strips and panels. A projector can also throw some colorful light and pattern on your background, making it a bit more interesting on the eye.

Capture card

There are a few main elements to look for in capture cards for Twitch — you need to ensure low latency, high-resolution support (1080p or 4K), high frame rate (60fps or higher), compatibility with your PC and streaming software, and reliable connectivity (USB 3.0 or PCIe).

A capture card is a device that captures video and audio from a gaming PC or console and converts them into digital data. Then it either records or live-streams the audiovisuals.

Capture cards can be plugged straight into a PC motherboard or external devices. For instance, if you’re playing on a game console, you’ll need an external capture card to connect the console to your PC for broadcast.

For an internal capture card for your Twitch streaming setup, check out the Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro. If you need an external capture card, consider Razer Ripsaw HD.

If you need some help choosing the right capture card for your game stream, we’ve got some useful ideas for capture cards too!

Microphone and headset

There are a few main elements to look for in microphone headsets for Twitch – you should prioritize clear audio quality, noise-canceling features, comfortable fit for long sessions, reliable connectivity (preferably wired or low-latency wireless), and a flexible, adjustable microphone.

To capture audio — particularly your speaking voice — for your streaming setup, there are two main options: microphone or headset setup.

A headset equipped with a microphone and headphones would be great for live-streaming and recording your voice. This would give you an all-in-one solution (headphone plus mic). Epos, Corsair, and Razer all make some good gaming headsets, but plenty of other options exist.

Alternatively, you could get a pair of headphones and either a studio mic or lavalier mic for your Twitch stream setup. And check out the best microphones for vloggers, podcasts and filmmakers for some additional guidance.

Chair

There are a few main elements to look for in a gaming chair for Twitch. Consider ergonomic design for comfort, adjustable features (such as armrests, height, and recline), durable materials, lumbar and neck support, and an overall build quality for long-lasting use.

Now, having a nice chair may seem like a bit of luxury, especially for someone trying to assemble a cheap streaming setup, but it’s always a good idea to have a comfortable chair. This is as true for gaming as it is for work and computer-based creative projects, like music and video production. Think of how many hours you’re going to spend sitting in this thing working — can you really afford to have bad posture and potential back and neck problems?

Some aspiring Twitch streamers will already have a good ergonomic chair for hours of gaming, but for those who don’t, just consider it. It’s a good investment for both your gaming and health!

Royalty-free music

Granted, this is not gear. Still, with all the copyright strikes and DMCA takedown notices handed out on Twitch in the last few years, any streamer should take a long look at the background music of their live stream. There are plenty of copyright-free music sources out there, but an Artlist license will give you the most comprehensive coverage, protecting you on any video streaming platform out there. And if you want to cover yourself only as a Twitch streamer, Artlist’s Music & SFX Social plan gives you what you need.

Some final thoughts

Remember, a good streaming setup can be found by balancing your specific Twitch stream needs with your budget.

If you’re just getting started as a game streamer, go for a Twitch streaming setup that doesn’t break the bank. You’ll be happy you did because you can always add more gear later. It’s better to take things slow and upgrade in the future with better webcams, graphics cards, computers, and other equipment. And, yes, that also includes upgrading your gaming chair!

Happy streaming!