You want to start live streaming on Twitch or YouTube, but you don't know what gear is best?
Don't worry!
This article will go over some of the most popular and highly-recommended pieces streamer gear available right now.
Your camera, microphone, and streamer deck are all part of a streamer's arsenal.
Understanding which product best suits that category is vital and something that we will thoroughly explain so that you may start your journey as a streamer on the right foot.
If you are confused about where to start and how to become a streamer in the first place, then be sure to check out our beginners guide here.
Enough talk, let's dive in.
| Showcase | Product | Used For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Webcam For Streaming  | Razer Kiyo Streaming Webcam
| 9.6 | Check Prices |
Best Audio Recorder For Streaming  | Blue Yeti USB Streaming Microphone
| 9.6 | Check Prices |
Best Lighting For Streaming  | Elgato Professional Studio Key Light
| 9.6 | Check Prices |
Best Budget Alternative For Lighting  | Neewer RGB Ring Light
| 8.8 | Check Prices |
Best Streaming Accessory For Productivity  | Elgato Stream Deck
| 8.6 | Check Prices |
Best Game Capture Card  | Elgato HD60 S+ Capture Card (For Consoles)
| 8.2 | Check Prices |
When it comes to webcams, the Razer Kiyo outperforms all others in terms of streaming quality. It provides both 1080p 60fps HD video calling as well as 720p.
It's compatible with windows, and a whole variety of software such as OBS and Xsplit.
An added feature of this webcam that makes it stand out is the fact that it has its own built-in lighting feature.
This removes the need to purchase extra lighting equipment or going through the hassle of placing them around the camera.
It is especially good for dark-lit rooms as gamers tend to prefer a darker environment to add to the immersiveness experience of the video game.
Without compromising that environment this webcam further brings out the details by reducing graininess making it optimal for streaming purposes.
The Blue Yeti Microphone is the perfect gear for both recordings as well as streaming purposes.
It comes with a wide array of options and pickup patterns that make it ideal not only for streaming but also for calling, podcasting and music.
The microphone offers a professional level of audio quality that connects you directly to your audience, improving your overall audio interface.
To further remove any disturbances in audio you can move the microphone around as it has an adjustable pivot.
When it comes to streaming you want a microphone that is capable of producing and broadcasting quality sounds, which the Blue Yeti Microphone definitely offers.
Before you start streaming, you are gonna have to make sure that you are in an environment where your webcam is able to record your facial expressions.
That means no dim lighting and no shadow cast should be present. This is often hard to replicate on its own. This is why we recommend you Elgato key light.
The Elgato key light is a professional studio LED panel that provides adjustable lighting to fit your requirement.
It can be mounted on your desk or placed as is to provide lighting wherever needed. The 2800 Lumens offer ultra-bright lighting which can also be fully dimmed.
It offers a versatile range of lighting temperatures from 2900 to 7000K both cold and warm white.
The opal glass provides a glare-free diffusion which balances the overall lighting.
Capture cards may be an optional add-on for streamers but they very much so are worth their price as they help you record and stream in high definition when you are gaming via your console.
Similarly, the Elgato HD60 S+ captures your gameplay in a 1080p 60FPS HD quality.
Additionally, you can play on your 4K screen and the capture card will convert the video with zero lag passthrough.
It's especially useful for gamers who prefer consoles such as PS5, PS4, Xbox series, or Xbox One.
The capture card offers ultra-low latency which makes instant game viewing possible.
It is an instant plug-and-play!
If that wasn't enough the capture card is also capable of uploading the recording directly onto your hard drive which means that you don't need to worry about the hassle of storage and can continue streaming on twitch to your heart's content.
Distinguishing between the absolute necessity and a luxury item to buy can most often be a troublesome task.
After all, you don't want to spend all your cash buying items you don't need instead of items that you do!
By following this guide you'll not only understand the functions that each of the recommended gears provides but also how to utilize them to your utmost capacity making sure that you get the most out of your investment in them.
Recommended PC Requirements:
The minimum PC requirements that you need as a streamer may not look too much but if you go above and beyond you are likely to experience better streaming quality and performance.
Ideally you will want a PC that is worth $1,000 or higher. This ensures your PC components are good enough to run games while streaming.
You can intentionally build for the sake of streaming and save money, and below we will show you what we would recommend to get the best value for your money.
Recently, CPU's have lowered in price, but have upgraded in quality and performance.
Games like Fornite require at least a 2.8GHz Core-i5 processor (or AMD equivalent), which are the minimum recommended specs that your PC should have.
For RAM the bare minimum to get away with streaming and gaming is 4GB.
But note that AAA games which are graphic-heavy use up to 8GB of RAM to run the game alone. So we would recommend getting 16GB to have some room to play with.
Your stream doesn't use your GPU at all, however, your GPU will affect the graphic quality of your game.
So if you want high-quality graphics for yourself, and your viewers, then getting a medium-high tier graphics card is essential. A GTX 1660Ti would be the bare minimum.
However, veteran CS-pros play their games on the lowest settings to increase performance, so it's really up to you on how you choose to play your games.
Just make sure you have a minimum of 60 FPS for whatever game you are playing.
Ideally, you will want a monitor with the least amount of input lag available.
Hence getting a monitor with a high refresh rate should be essential.
Any monitor with a 120Hz or higher will be highly responsive, and will perform better than any regular 60Hz monitor.
Recommended Upload Speeds:
Internet bandwidth is important when it comes to streaming.
A bad internet could end up limiting your streaming quality which makes your 1080p resolution pointless, to begin with.
You can have the best PC but if your internet is not able to keep up with it then all your equipment and gear become worthless.
Faster internet means a higher upload speed.
The faster you upload, the better quality your streams will have.
A minimum of 3mbps is generally acceptable for a 720p stream.
However, if you are planning to stream at 1080p 60FPS then you might need to consider a 5mbps internet.
For 4K resolution, 25mbps is a must for zero lag stream.
Prioritizing video and sound quality will pay off in the long term as those are the necessary tools you will need in your arsenal as a streamer.
A video camera is not only responsible for broadcasting your image to your audience but also for giving them a reason to connect with you.
Your followers are often interested in your reactions to a moment or how you perceive a threat while gaming.
It's their method of understanding and projecting their own selves onto you, and also allows them to be entertained through your reactions.
When selecting a camera you will need to make sure that it's in sync with your internet connection.
There is little to no point in buying a 1080p camera if your internet can only handle 720p.
Understanding the difference between ordinary webcams and streaming webcams is important in order to distinguish between them.
Streaming webcams are a grade above in terms of quality and the resolution they provide.
You can choose to spend a fair bit of your budget for this portion of the equipment as it will definitely pay off for your streams in the long run.
Your microphone is what keeps you connected with your audience.
This means that you need to make sure you buy one that captures your audio in the best way possible.
Normal headphones won't cut it here because there is far too much detail that they tend to capture that a microphone will remove such as background noise or create filters as per your preference.
You should not compromise in terms of budget when it comes to a microphone.
Having crystal clear audio without any stutter or static conveys a sense of quality to your followers.
Which is precisely what you want to be associated with your streams.
A good webcam will only capture what's already there in your room.
But to further enhance that experience you will need lighting as an added accessory.
Lighting can often be tricky which requires careful planning.
Your goal is to illuminate your face and shoulders while avoiding creating shadows. When done right, it can make your video even sharper and highlight your presence.
The correct amount of lighting displays a sense of professionalism in your streams which further illuminates its quality.
Be sure to check out this video in order to further understand lighting and what different styles you can adopt:
Some products you don't need to get from the get-go.
Rather, we would recommend you to buy them later on as you start to gain traction on your channel.
A stream deck is not exactly something you need but it is definitely a must-have so that you can enhance your experience even further.
So make sure this is among the last on your list of purchases to make.
A stream deck is essentially your assistant when it comes to handling multiple functions at the same time.
Broadcasting on twitch and YouTube is no easy task, you are required to multi-task without losing your focus.
This can prove to be challenging especially when your audience is already demanding your undivided attention.
One of the best things about the recommended products is that your Elgato stream deck is highly compatible with the Elgato capture card.
And once you get the hang of it, it will be like an extended arm to you. A keyboard that you can optimize as per your own preference.
There are already many streamers out there and to make yourself stand out, you will need to convey a sense of professionalism to your audience.
For this, you need the ideal studio to record your Youtube videos in, or even for live streaming purposes.
That sounds a bit difficult, doesn't it? Hang on, we have the perfect solution for you.
You can instead buy a green screen that you can place behind you and then later place any background of your choice in it. And no, this is not the same as placing a green cloth or chart sheet behind you.
You might also want to consider buying a second monitor like the ASUS 27" VA27EHE to help you keep an eye on your chat, monitor your stream, and work on other tasks simultaneously.
Additionally, it's perfect for gaming due to its low latency and amazing response time.
Streamers tend to use a variety of equipment to suit their needs.
We have mentioned five of the most important equipment needed and also recommended the best products for them to save you the hassle of hunting for them.
These streamer gadgets are designed to ease your troubles and allow you to connect with your audience in a way that assures quality and efficiency for your streams.
An average popular streamer can expect to make somewhere from $2,000 to $5,000 dollars per month.
If you include the Ad revenues that you can generate through Youtube and twitch then this figure can go even higher.
Most streamers realize this as a part-time job and work around 40 hours a week.
As a beginner, you can earn anywhere from $0 to up to $3,000.
Don't think streaming is just a walk in the park.
Becoming a serious streamer is indeed a business, and if you're looking to earn money from streaming, you have to act as a business owner.
There are many streamers out there who do it for fun, and that's perfectly fine.
But don't dedicate your time to streaming expecting a big payday. You have to put in the work.
By now you should know exactly what products you need to start a quality stream.
Streaming can be both fun and rewarding, but it can also take a lot of work and dedication.
Regardless, the products in this list are designed to last you a long time and to be easy to work with.
Again, if you need help with getting started, check out our guide on how you can start growing your stream fast.
If you decided to start your stream using our guides, be sure to send us an email so we can subscribe to you.
Happy streaming!