Streamer Starting Gear
What is This?
There are a million videos out there that tell you to buy XYZ or ABC but most of them have a finical motivation like an affiliate link, got the gear as part of a sponsorship, and aren't working on a budget like most people are when they start streaming. Hence I created this page, no bullshit, no fluff; Just solid recommendations and advice on gear.
- A microphone
- Some decent lighting
- A webcam
- Optionally a cool backdrop
I've seen a lot of comments and videos that recommend using the steam game My Dream Setup to plan out their room design before committing 100%. Being priced at just $6USD thats a steal compared to other planning software like CAD that also have an immense learning curve.
Microphone
Provided your microphone isn't complete dog water you can easily make it sound good. Almost ALL microphones sound mediocre without any adjustments. I personally use a cheap boom mic from amazon but I know plenty of people who swear by the FIFINE K688.
You can check the OBS Spec Sheet for how I set my audio channels and effects on my microphone.
Lighting
No matter what anyone says you don't need expensive lighting. There are plenty of cheap options that will do. What's important is understanding the theory of good lighting so you can decide what type of lights you need to get the most from your webcam.
I personally use the Neewer GLC25B as my key light, two Ulanzi VL49 RGBas accent lights, and a smart blub in a paper lantern hung overhead for ambient lighting. Between these three I'm able to get plenty of light without straining my eyes.
Webcam
For webcams I personally use the Logitech C920 HD and I know plenty of people who also use the Logitech C922. Unless you plan to spend the majority of your time with your webcam full screen something basic will more than suffice.
Once you have your lighting all set and your webcam plugged in you'll need to adjust some settings for the best picture. By default all cameras will try to auto correct, but it's easier to manually configure it yourself. I highly recommend the video below by Stream Scheme where he gives a full breakdown of lighting and webcam settings.
Backdrop
Now that your webcam looks nice it's time to fill in the background with some of your favorite items or cool shit. Legit you can make your backdrop just about anything you want. Especially if you're willing to put in a bit of DIY elbow grease.
You can find thousands of videos if you Google/YouTube "office setup", "diy office", or something similar. Almost all of them have some type of DIY Bookshelf Lighting but the esthetic will depend on the vibe you're going for.