Audio
A USB microphone
The first thing worth buying. USB plugs straight into your computer, with no mixer or audio interface to learn.
Shop USB microphonesStreaming Setup for Beginners: What to Buy and How to Start
You can start with the phone and computer you already own. Fix your sound first, then your light, then your camera.
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What to buy first
- $0: your phone as a camera, a window facing you for light, and free software.
- First purchase: a USB microphone.
- Second: a soft key light.
- Third: a webcam, if your phone setup gets in the way.
- Only if you need them: a capture card, a second monitor or a stream controller.
Beginner streaming gear
Audio
A boom arm and pop filter
A boom arm gets the mic close to your mouth and off the desk, so it picks up less typing and thumping.
Shop boom armsLight
A soft key light
Place it in front of you, a little above eye level. Good light often improves a picture more than a new camera.
Shop key lightsVideo
A 1080p webcam
Worth it once your phone setup gets annoying. Clip it at eye level or slightly above.
Shop webcamsVideo
A phone mount
If your phone is your camera, a steady mount is the only part you need to buy.
Shop phone mountsConsole
A capture card
You need one to stream from a console through a computer. Check that it supports your console's output.
Shop capture cardsNetwork
An Ethernet cable
A wired connection is one of the cheapest ways to reduce dropped frames from unstable Wi-Fi.
Shop Ethernet cablesExtras
A stream deck or macro pad
Nice to have, not necessary. Hotkeys in your streaming software do the same job for free.
Shop stream controllersStreaming software
All three of these are free to start. You only need one streaming app.
Free
OBS Studio
Free and open source, on Windows, Mac and Linux. It takes more setup, and it's what most guides explain.
Go to OBSFree
Streamlabs Desktop
Built with alerts and overlays ready to use, so it can be quicker to get started. Some features are paid.
Go to StreamlabsPhone
Iriun Webcam
Uses your phone as a webcam over USB or Wi-Fi, so you can try camera angles before buying anything.
Go to IriunHow to go live for the first time
- Pick one platform. Start on Twitch, YouTube or Kick and learn it before you add others.
- Install your software and run its setup wizard. Let it test your connection and suggest settings.
- Make three scenes: starting soon, live, and be right back.
- Connect your stream key or account through the software's settings.
- Record a short test first. Watch it back with headphones. Check your voice and game sound levels.
- Go live on a schedule you can keep. A short, regular stream is easier to sustain than long random ones.
Common problems and fixes
- Dropped frames: switch to a wired connection, then lower your bitrate.
- Lag while gaming: lower the output resolution or frame rate, and close background apps.
- No sound on stream: check that the audio meters move in your software and that the right device is selected.
- Echo: use headphones so your microphone doesn't pick up your speakers.
- Dark or grainy picture: add light before changing cameras.