When you decide to stream, you want to ensure that your viewing experience is the best possible. It means having an excellent internet connection and access to some of the best video streaming software.
But what even is streaming and how can you make your experience enjoyable and flawless?
We’ll look into all that in this super simple guide.
Table of Contents
What is streaming?
Streaming is when you watch a video on your computer rather than downloading it from the internet. Streaming has many benefits, including watching the video in real-time, and often with fewer bandwidth requirements or no requirements at all.
What software should I use for streaming?
The best way to choose a streaming video player is by finding out which players are supported on the website you want to watch videos from. For example, YouTube and Hulu both support Flash videos. Sites like these only work with the Adobe Flash plugin and its associated player.
Flash is free to download and supported by almost all websites that offer streaming content. Adobe is the way to go for streaming videos online. It is a fast and reliable software solution trusted by millions around the world.
But there are some other things you can do to give yourself a real advantage over other streamers. The tips covered in this guide will help you stream better and have an excellent screen-time experience.
1. Get the right software for streaming
To start with, you need to make sure that your software is up to par. If you are already streaming, this means asking your viewers about their experiences and making quality changes as needed.
Streaming takes some powerful hardware. You’ll need a processor that can handle lots of activity without slowing down, at least 4GB of RAM, and a dedicated graphics card. You’ll also need plenty of storage space to save all your game footage.
With that being said, uploading and downloading data packets when streaming consumes a lot of bandwidth. This is why a lot of streamers complain about bandwidth throttling.
To avoid throttling issues by your ISP, pick a reliable VPN for streaming. This will stop your ISP from knowing what you do online. Therefore, they won’t have a reason to mess with your internet connection.
2. Set your stream up for success
Now that you’ve found the right streaming software, it’s time to optimize it for the best results. It means reading through the documentation or help files that come with your software and following the instructions.
Most streaming software comes with an option to limit bandwidth usage to ensure smooth playback. If your ISP is known to throttle connection. using such options would prove beneficial.
3. Get the proper internet connection
Next, ensure your internet is up to snuff for streaming. If it isn’t, you’ll notice that your stream starts buffering or cutting out completely when things get busy, slowing down your stream.
To make sure you encounter no issues whatsoever when streaming, it is often wise to upgrade your current plan or switch to a different internet service provider.
4. Get the right equipment
When you have everything right for streaming, all that’s left is getting the right equipment. It includes setting up your capture device and hooking it up to your computer. Then, you’ll need to set up the right kind of camera for streaming and decide on a microphone if necessary.
5. Get shoutouts from other gamers
Finally, one way to ensure better stream quality is by getting shoutouts from popular gamers who already have sizable audiences following them on Twitch or YouTube Gaming. If they mention your stream, it will help boost your viewership and audience engagement.
6. Set up a schedule
Start setting up a regular streaming schedule. Streaming daily is optimal, but even a weekly casting schedule can get you started on building an audience. Just remember to communicate your streaming schedule with your viewers to know when to tune in for the best viewing experience.
Streamer’s Tip: If you are looking for ways to enhance your streaming quality, you can use a VPN for streaming.
There are several reasons why gamers have turned to using VPNs. Here are some of them:
1. Gameplay enhancement:
A VPN will boost your gameplay by instantly increasing your connection speed and reducing your pings to game servers.
2. Anonymity and protection:
A VPN will protect yourself by anonymizing your data and establishing a secure connection between you and the gaming server.
3. Reduced lag time in games.:
A VPN will cut out any latency issues, allowing instant communication with other gamers when playing multiplayer games.
4. Protection from DDoS attacks:
A VPN will protect you from a DDoS attack by encrypting your connection and preventing it from being intercepted by hackers.
You’ll also be protected from stream snipers or overzealous law enforcement officials trying to censor gamers for their political views or artistic expression.
A VPN will provide you with all the benefits that you need: high-quality games, complete anonymity, and protection from pesky ISP throttling, and more.
Final Thoughts
With these hacks in hand, you’ll be able to stream like a pro in no time. Just follow the tips provided above and put them into practice today to experience unmatched steaming performance.
