armada.fullsail.edu
FULL SAIL ARMADA’S
HOW-TO
GUIDE FOR
STREAMERS
STARTED
How to Get
Follow along with this guide
to get started on your
adventures in streaming.
Streamers and online content creators cover a wide variety of topics including gaming,
cooking, fashion, and beauty; some simply chat with their audience. While this guide
focuses on gaming, many suggestions can be applied to several dierent types of streams.
What you’ll need:
• A PC or gaming console
• An internet connection
• A microphone or gaming headset
Optional:
High Denition Capture Card
High Denition Camera or Web Cam
First Steps
1
Choose a Platform:
Choose where you want to host your streams on platforms
like Twitch or YouTube — these are FREE services.
2
Create an Account:
Account creation is straightforward. When creating
a username, keep in mind it will also serve as the
name for your channel and for your unique URL,
e.g. twitch.tv/fullsailarmada
3
Choose a Broadcasting Application:
Applications like OBS Project, Streamlabs OBS (SLOBS),
and OBS LIVE are recommended if using a PC.
On console, these applications are not necessary when
streaming directly through the Twitch app. However,
streaming directly from a console will limit your ability
to customize your stream.*
*Xbox is currently in development of overlay options for console streamers.
How to Stream
1
Once you’ve set up your account and downloaded your streaming
program of choice, you’ll want to locate your stream key that can
be found on Twitch or YouTube in your channel preferences.
You may also link your Twitch account directly to your selected
broadcast application, allowing you to see stream stats, follower
and subscription counts, and notications. Stream keys are not
necessary when linking accounts.
Connecting your stream key to your program of choice will allow
you to launch your streams directly from the application.
2
Set your streaming bitrate no higher than 75% of your internet’s
upload speed. It’s important to check your upload and download
speeds with a simple internet speed test.
While Twitch has a cap of 6,000 kbps for bitrate, new Twitch
streamers and Aliates should not stream at 6,000 kbps. Non-
partnered Twitch streamers are not guaranteed encoder options
that allow a stream to downsample or upsample quality based on
the viewer’s internet speed. This means if the bitrate is too high,
viewers with slower internet connections will not be able to watch
the stream.
The recommended bitrate for non-partnered Twitch streamers is
around 3,000-3,500 kbps, but it should also be based on the range
of your upload speed.
3
Once you’re ready to stream, you’ll need to choose your stream
title on the Twitch Dashboard, as well as a going live notication
and the game you’ll be streaming.
You’ll want to set your bitrate in SLOBS; the easiest way is to
use the Auto Optimize option found under the settings tab.
Setting Title and Game:
You can choose your stream title, going live
notication, and the game you’ll be streaming
in this section of the Twitch Dashboard.
This can also be done in SLOBS but you won’t
be able to set your going live notication.
FOLLOWERS
Building
VIEWERS
Engaging
&
If you can’t convince your friends
to come watch, why should anyone
else? This is always a good mindset
to have. You have to be your biggest
cheerleader. While promoting your
channel is key, it’s important that you
promote yourself in the right ways.
Tell Everyone
You Know!
For example, going into someone else’s stream
and promoting your own channel is not only
rude, but will more than likely to get you
banned or timed out in that channel.
Creating Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok,
and/or Facebook accounts are all great ways
to share your content with your network.
When you rst start streaming, it’s likely
there won’t be many viewers. But don’t
let that get you down! This is a great time
to start to practice. Work on keeping the
conversation going. Dead air isn’t great and
when a viewer does pop in, they’ll likely
leave if you’re not keeping them engaged.
Don’t Be
Discouraged
The worst thing a new streamer can
do is miss when someone is trying
to interact with them. Get used to
looking at your other screen while
playing the game. This will help
you build relationships and
convert viewers to followers.
Always Keep an
Eye on the Chat
Twitch oers an excellent creator camp to
help new streamers get up and running
that we recommend checking out.
Twitch Creator Camp
twitch.tv/creatorcamp
FOLLOWERS
VIEWERS
entertainment | media | arts | technology
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