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Twitch streaming has always been popular to an extent, but after the pandemic in 2020, when people were spending more time at home, Twitch literally exploded. Hikaru Nakamura, the 2nd best chess player in the world and the best chess Twitch streamer, reported that the number of viewers has gone up multiple times since that time, and it has stayed that way.
That’s why more and more people are looking to turn to streaming as a career. If you are one of them, this article will help you find a solid software solution that will help you stream content every single day.
If you stick around until the end of the text, we will give you a video editing recommendation that will help you make promotional video content quickly.
Let’s get into it.
In this article
OBS - Best for Tech-Savvy Streamers
Availability: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
OBS stands for Open Broadcast Software, and this tool has been around ever since streaming became a thing. One of the best things we can say about it is the fact that it is an open-source piece of software, meaning that anyone can rummage around the code and create something unique. That’s why the community around OBS Studio is very big, and whenever you have issues, someone will come forward and help you.
Another neat thing is that OBS Studio supports all sorts of plugins. If you start looking at tutorials on YouTube, you will quickly notice that everyone has a different version of OBS. That’s because people choose to add different plugins depending on their preference, and they then customize their version of OBS to suit their specific needs.
The downside, though, is that if you are not tech-savvy, you might need some time to figure out how everything works. Yes, the community will help you to an extent, but you will need to put in hours to figure out how everything works before you can say that you are ready for your first stream.
Features:
- You can capture and broadcast video and audio from various sources simultaneously.
- You can create a unique scene that will set you apart from other streamers.
- Video encoding in OBS is top notch, meaning that you won’t lose any stream quality due to bad compression.
- You can stream on multiple platforms simultaneously. Therefore, you can stream on Twitch and YouTube at the same time.
Best for tech-savvy streamers: This tool is designed not to hold your hand. You need to put an effort into understanding how it works, but when you do, you will have full control over your stream.
Streamlabs (desktop) - Best for Young Streamers
Availability: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
The team at Streamlabs saw that OBS Studio is a bit challenging for people who don’t have a background in computers. That's why they decided to create a platform similar to OBS, yet more user-friendly and designed to be used instantly after installation. There is no option to add plugins and customize the user experience, though, but that is also the point. Their claim is that you get everything you need right away.
When you open Streamlabs for the first time, you get an easy interface with integrated features. These include chat management tools, various alerts, and several plugins. You also get support for streaming on multiple platforms simultaneously (just like OBS). What OBS lacks in comparison to Streamlabs is a mobile app that lets you stream while you’re traveling.
However, Streamlabs cannot run on just any computer. The fact that it comes packed with features means that you will need solid processing power to run it. There is no option to remove certain processes to free up processing power, as the platform is not open-source. If you have a solid gaming PC or laptop, you can rest assured that it will work just fine.
Features:
- The interface is easy to navigate, and you will intuitively know where to click.
- The integrated features are handy, and you can spend time exploring them.
- It allows you to stream on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Trovo simultaneously.
- The mobile app is a very handy addition to the streamer’s toolset.
Best for young gamers: Veteran gamers will have experience with complex computer programs, but the younger generation will have issues. That’s why Streamlabs is great for young streamers. They will find their way around it more easily.
XSplit - Best for corporate streamers
Availability: Windows
When people think of streaming, they usually think about gaming, food, fashion, or something else that is considered fun by a majority of the population. But that’s not everything that streaming is about. In the corporate world, you also need a good streaming solution for conferences, webinars, and all sorts of other things. The team at SplitmediaLabs understood this and developed XSplit.
In terms of complexity, this platform is somewhere between OBS Studio and Streamlabs. It is not as complicated as OBS, but it is certainly not as easy as Streamlabs. One of the best features offered to users is the video mixer tool, which lets you alter between scenes quickly and dynamically to keep the viewer’s retention intact. This means that you can seamlessly switch between live streaming and streaming pre-prepared content.
The main downside, however, is that this tool is only available for Windows users, which alienates a large chunk of the population. Mac and Linux users, as well as users who want a mobile app to stream on the go, will not be able to use XSplit and will need to consider an alternative.
Features:
- The tool is designed for quick Q&A real-time sessions with your team.
- You can prepare and host virtual conferences almost effortlessly.
- The option to design and preview a scene helps users make the perfect visuals.
- You can share videos on popular streaming platforms fast.
Best for corporate streamers: XSplit can work well for casual streaming, but it is geared toward the corporate world, where conference streaming and employee education can be streamlined and improved.
vMix - Best for Live Video Production
Availability: Windows
vMix is considered a premium option compared to OBS (which is entirely free), and one might argue that streaming is not the primary function of this tool. vMax is better defined as a live video production tool with streaming capabilities. A statement to this fact is that it comes with 13 transition effects out of the box, along with more than 100 animated title effects, scoreboards, and other neat tools.
Another good thing about vMax is that it packs power but is well-optimized, meaning that you can run it with zero issues on a relatively modest PC build. You can use it to stream videos directly or record videos, edit them, and post them on your platform of choice. The built-in audio mixer is also very handy, allowing you to adjust audio settings during the stream easily.
However, like XSplit, this tool is not available for Mac or Linux users, and you can only use it effectively on Windows. If we want to be completely honest, there is an option to use it on Mac through the Boot Camp app, which allows Windows programs to be installed on Mac devices, but this is not optimal, and there might be unexpected issues.
Features:
- Organize several video inputs (cameras, video files, DVDs, audio files, etc.) simultaneously.
- Use the built-in scene transition effects to keep the viewers engaged.
- There is a vMix call feature that lets you call and add up to 8 guests to your stream.
- There is an Instant Replay feature that is excellent for sports streaming.
Best for live video production: Unlike the other tools on the list, this one has video editing features that allow users to produce the video while they are streaming. If you are an avid video editor, this one’s for you.
Lightstream Studio - Best for Console Gamers
Availability: Browser tool
Streaming requires a lot of RAM and processing power. If you have an old PC or laptop, streaming videos now is virtually impossible. That’s what Lightstream developers understood, and that’s why they created a streaming platform that is entirely on the cloud. All the processing power is, therefore, located on their servers. You just need an internet connection, and you’re good to go.
In terms of features, Lightstream is most certainly geared toward gamers. A better way to put it would be to say that it is dedicated to console gamers in particular. If you are a PC gamer, you will probably want to go with a tool that’s not so light, but if you are streaming from your Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo console, you have limited options, and Lighstream comes as an easy solution.
The downside of having everything in the cloud is that if the servers go down or if you are having issues with your internet connection, you will have to pause until the connection resumes, which is not the case with platforms that require an installation. Nevertheless, LightStream Studio is a fine option for gamers.
Features:
- Console streaming is now easy. You just open LightStream studio on your console’s browser, and you’re good to go.
- It comes with a solid set of features like integrated overlays and alerts.
- You can stream multiplayer games by adding more people to the stream.
- You can stream on all popular streaming platforms, including Twitch and YouTube.
Best for console gamers: Streaming from your console can be complicated. You have to connect everything to your PC, and it can be daunting to set up. Doing it from your browser is ideal for consoles.
BONUS: Use Filmora to Edit Videos for Other Platforms
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Given that there are so many streamers out there and more people are realizing that this is a viable career option, standing out among the crowd as a streamer has never been more challenging. That’s why you need a tool that allows for quick video editing so that you can prepare video marketing materials for your channel. The best tool to do that is Wondershare Filmora, and we’ll explain why right away.
As opposed to traditional video editing software solutions, Filmora is designed with a user-friendly UI in mind. Video editing tools can be complicated, but Filmora is very easy. Cutting, trimming, and splitting your videos, adding keyframes, and adjusting the timeline is as easy as you can expect. Adding animated titles, stickers, transitions, filters, and effects is always a simple 3-4-step process.
In addition, you get access to a wide selection of AI tools that streamline the workflow. We would like to mention three AI tools that are excellent for streaming.
Smart Short Clips
This AI feature is specifically designed for streamers and podcasters. You upload a long video and let the AI know what you want it to focus on. If you are a game streamer, you want the AI to extract and highlight important moments from the stream. You can tell the AI to watch out for yelling and laughing, and it will extract segments of the stream and organize them into small clips that are ready for posting on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
AI Video Enhancer
Suppose that your stream had some resolution or frame-rate issues. Resolving these issues live is next to impossible, but later, you can upload that video to Filmora and click literally one button to activate the feature. Filmora’s AI algorithms will analyze your video and improve the resolution, colors, and frame rate, which will improve it and make it ready for posting on social media.
Smart BGM Generation
Some parts of your stream might be silent, which is okay when you’re streaming, but converting a stream into a video clip for YouTube, for example, will be a bit boring if you don’t have music. Instead of finding a royalty-free track, you can use Filmora’s Smart BGM Generation feature to create background music based on the mood of the video, which is awesome, to say the least.
Conclusion
Streaming is a very exciting career choice. If you manage to do it right, after some time, you will have a stable number of followers who will look forward to you tuning in every single day. With a solid video editing tool like Filmora by your side, you will be able to create stunning marketing materials to promote your channel and grow your audience. If you do everything right, you can become an online celebrity.
