The Best PC Gaming Streaming Hardware: What You Need To Know.
If you’re looking to become a professional streamer or just want to share your gaming sessions with friends and family, then PC gaming streaming hardware is essential. Streaming hardware can help make your streams better, smoother and more visually impressive. From the best streaming consoles to the must-have software, this blog post has everything you need to know about PC gaming streaming hardware.
The Basics: What Is PC Gaming Streaming Hardware?
At its core, PC gaming streaming hardware is a combination of several components that allow you to record and broadcast your gaming sessions. It consists of a capture card, a console, a mic, and a streaming software. Capture cards are the most important piece of PC gaming streaming hardware, as they capture the video being displayed on your PC and turn it into a digital file that can be streamed. Consoles are also important for streaming as they allow you to add filters and graphics to your stream to make it look more professional. The microphone picks up your voice and the streaming software combines the audio and video together to create the stream.
Choosing the Right Capture Card
When it comes to the capture card, there are a few things you need to consider. Firstly, you need to make sure the card is compatible with your PC. Secondly, you need to make sure it has the necessary ports to connect to both your console and your PC. Lastly, you should consider the type of card you need. For example, if you are streaming console games, you’ll need an HDMI capture card. If you’re streaming PC games, you’ll need a displayport or DVI capture card.
When it comes to choosing the right capture card, there are a few popular brands that are well known for their quality. Elgato is the most popular brand, and they have a range of capture cards available. Roxio and Avermedia also make quality capture cards, as does Hauppauge.
Finding the Right Console
While consoles are not essential for streaming PC games, they are very useful when it comes to console games. Consoles, such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, allow you to play games in high definition and can be used to add graphics and filters to your stream. If you are planning on streaming console games, then it is important to find the right console for your needs. The PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X are the best consoles for streaming, as they both support 4K resolution.
Getting the Right Microphone
When it comes to mics, there are a few different types available. USB mics are the most popular, as they plug directly into your PC and don’t require any additional hardware. Headset mics are also popular, and they offer better sound quality than USB mics. The best headset mics are the Logitech G930 and the Razer Kraken Pro V2. Finally, condenser mics are the most accurate option, but they require an audio interface to connect to your PC.
Selecting the Right Software
Streaming software is one of the most important pieces of PC gaming streaming hardware, as it’s what allows you to display your stream to the viewers. There are several popular software programs that are easy to use and are packed with features. OBS Studio is the most popular option, as it’s free and allows for a great deal of customization. XSplit is another popular choice, although it has a free version that’s more limited in features. Streamlabs OBS is a newer software that offers more clean and user-friendly setup than OBS Studio.
Streaming Graphics and Video Encoding
Graphics are an important element of streaming, as they help to make your stream look more professional. You can purchase a service that creates custom graphics for your stream, such as TwitchOverlay, or create them yourself using Photoshop. Once you have your graphics created, you need to encode them into the stream. Video encoding is a process in which the video and graphics are converted into a format that can be streamed. There are several video encoding software options, such as Adobe Media Encoder and Sorenson Squeeze, that allow you to encode your stream.
Wrapping Up
Having the right PC gaming streaming hardware is essential for becoming a professional streamer or just streaming for fun. A good capture card is the most important piece of hardware, as it captures the video and converts it into a digital file that can be streamed. You should also invest in a console and a good mic, as these two items will greatly enhance your stream. Finally, you should select a quality streaming software, as this is what will actually display the stream. With the right streaming hardware, you can become a successful streamer and have a great time doing it.
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