WHEN IT COMES TO STREAMING, THESE PERIPHERALS WILL SET YOU OFF ON THE RIGHT PATH TO T WITCH STARDOM

Now you are up to date with the history of Twitch live streaming and understand this sector of the gaming industry better, do you still fancy your chances at becoming a live streamer? Whether you think you have what it takes to make a living from streaming, or just want to do it as a hobby, there are a few things you need to know before setting up your channel.

One of the main issues is the hardware. We know the saying ‘all the gear, no idea’, but the right kit can get your channel off to a strong start, giving you an advantage over the many competing for attention. Here are just some of the essential peripherals you need to start live streaming.

FACECAM

We get that the internet can be a scary place, and not everyone wants to show their face online, however, most live streamers use a webcam to connect with their audience. Having a face to pair with your voice as you chat about the game you’re playing is intriguing and is definitely character-building. Elgato’s Facecam is one of the best webcams we have tested and is simple to set up and use. Straight out of the box, it has superb image quality and with the accompanying software, it can easily be tweaked.

• $200 www.elgato.com

MICROPHONE

What good are gameplay and a facecam without any microphone audio? Your voice adds so much value to a live stream—it’s how you build a character and communicate with your audience, so naturally, a mic is one of the most important parts of kit you need.

The Elgato Wave:3 microphone is a brilliant choice to let your audience hear your voice. The last thing you want is a tinny unpleasant sound and this microphone won’t give you that—unless you are R2-D2.

This broadcast-grade microphone is extremely clear, plugs directly into your setup, and also has a mixer, so you can easily blend your audio sources.