Let’s Prepare for Streaming Games on YouTube with OBS

Gather Necessary Equipment

If you’re thinking “Let’s start streaming games on YouTube!”, you might wonder what equipment you need. Of course, you can stream with just a smartphone, but if you want to stream PC games, deliver your unique voice, or showcase your play style to the audience, aiming for high-quality streaming by getting some equipment is recommended.

Equipment	Description	Notes
Computer	Necessary for running the streaming software.	Higher specs can stabilize the image quality and processing speed during game streaming.
Streaming Software (OBS)	Software for streaming your PC screen and audio to YouTube.	It’s free to use and popular among streamers, so there is a lot of information on how to use it.
Microphone	Delivers your enthusiastic commentary and calm explanations clearly to viewers.	There are various types, such as earphone mics, headset mics, and condenser mics.
Camera	Brings you closer to your audience by showing your presence.	You can use the built-in camera, but an external webcam is recommended for better quality.
Game Capture Card	Required for streaming games played on consoles like the PS5.	The HDMI ports built into computers are usually input-only, so you can’t directly connect and stream from gaming consoles.
Others	Prepare as needed depending on your streaming environment.	For instance, lighting can enhance the visual appeal of your stream. A green screen is convenient if you wish to conceal the background.

These pieces of equipment are not mandatory, but having them can help ensure high-quality streaming that viewers will enjoy.

Set Up Your YouTube Channel for Streaming and Prepare Live Streaming Settings

To stream games on YouTube, you need to first create a channel and set up your streaming preferences.

If you don’t have a channel yet, follow these steps to create one.

① Log in to YouTube.
② Click your account icon at the top right and select “Create a Channel”.
③ Choose whether to set up a personal channel or a brand account.
④ Set up your channel name and icon, then click “Create”.

If you already have a channel or after creating one, enable live streaming by following these steps.

① Log into YouTube Studio.
② Select “Content” from the left menu and open the “Live” tab.
③ If this is your first live stream, click “Get Started” and complete account verification via phone number.
④ Once verified, the live streaming settings screen will appear.
⑤ Configure the stream’s title, description, and thumbnail image.

⑥ Set detailed streaming settings like visibility and monetization options.

⑦ After configuration, click the “Start Streaming” button to begin your live stream.

Link Your Google Account with OBS

Open the OBS settings and set the service to “YouTube – RTMPS” in the streaming settings section.
Next, link OBS with the YouTube account you will use for streaming.

Here’s the specific procedure:

① Launch OBS and click “Settings”.
② Click “Stream”, the second from the top in the left column.
③ Click “Service” and choose “YouTube – RTMPS”.
④ Click “Connect Account”.
⑤ The Google account login screen will appear. Choose the account you want to link with OBS and sign in.

Configure Video and Audio Settings for YouTube Live Streaming with OBS

After launching OBS Studio, first set up the video and audio settings suitable for YouTube Live streaming. OBS Studio has various setting options such as streaming service, resolution, bitrate, encoder, frame rate, and audio input.

Streaming Settings

Open the “Settings” menu in OBS Studio and select “Stream”.

• Select Streaming Service
• In the “Service” section, select “YouTube / YouTube Gaming”.

• Input the Stream Key
  Get the stream key from the YouTube Studio’s streaming dashboard and enter it in the “Stream Key” field in OBS Studio.

Output Settings

Open the “Output” tab and set the “Output Mode” to “Advanced”.

• Select Encoder
  Choose the appropriate encoder based on your PC’s specs. If you have a high-performance graphics card, select a hardware encoder like “NVIDIA NVENC” or “AMD Video Coding Engine” to achieve high-quality streams without putting too much load on the CPU.

• Set Bitrate
  The “Bitrate” indicates the amount of data for streaming video. Higher bitrate is necessary for high-quality streaming.

Resolution	Frame Rate	Bitrate (Recommended)
1080p	60fps	4,500–9,000 Kbps
720p	60fps	2,500–5,000 Kbps
480p	30fps	1,000–3,000 Kbps

Refer to this table to set an appropriate bitrate according to your streaming resolution and frame rate.

• Set Resolution and Frame Rate
  The “Output Resolution” determines the resolution of the streaming screen, and “Common FPS Values” determines the frame rate, which affects the smoothness of the video. High-quality streaming requires high resolution and frame rates but should be set according to viewers’ viewing environment and PC specs.
  
• Audio Settings
  Set up your microphone and desktop audio in the “Audio” tab.
  
• Configure Microphone
  Select the audio input device for streaming from “Desktop Audio” and “Mic/Auxiliary Audio”.
  
• Configure Desktop Audio
  Select an appropriate audio output device in “Desktop Audio” to include game sounds in your stream.
  
• Adjust Volume
  Adjust the volume levels for each audio input device for balanced audio.
  

By applying these settings, you can stream games on YouTube Live with suitable video and audio quality using OBS Studio.

Configure OBS to Capture Your Game Stream

The streaming screen is a crucial element that determines the impression of your streaming room. Aim for a layout that allows viewers to comfortably watch. OBS Studio enables you to freely create layouts by combining multiple sources like screens and images.

Instructions

① Click the “+” button under “Sources” and select “Game Capture”.

② Select “Create New” and click “OK”. Set the mode to “Capture Specific Window” and choose the game you want to stream.

④ Confirm that the game screen appears on the streaming display and click “OK”.

⑤ Similarly, select “Video Capture Device” from the “+” button and add your camera’s video.

⑥ If you want to add images or text, select “Image” or “Text” and configure each setting.

Each source can be freely resized and repositioned on the streaming screen. Drag and drop to move them, and resize by dragging the frame.

Tips

• Adjust the size to prevent the game screen from being cut off or shrunk too much in the streaming display.
• Display the camera video at the corner of the screen or overlay it on the game screen, adjusting according to your streaming style.
• Use images and text for titles, channel names, or comments display.

And for those who want to focus on the appearance of the streaming display, try “Alive Studio” for intuitive design of backgrounds and decorations.

Begin Your Game Streaming on YouTube Live

Once your streaming setup is complete, it’s time to start your game stream on YouTube Live. Be aware of some final checks before going live.

• Final Checks Before Streaming – Confirm there are no issues with audio, video, or the streaming screen before starting.

Item	Content
Audio	Ensure the microphone volume is appropriate and there’s no noise interference.
Video	Check the game screen moves smoothly and the image quality is satisfactory.
Streaming Screen	Verify the streaming layout is flawless and sensitive content is not displayed.

Without issues, you’re ready to start streaming.

• Start and End Streaming
  To start streaming, click the “Start Streaming” button in OBS. When ending your stream, click the “Stop Streaming” button.

Always stop your stream from OBS.

• Points to Consider During Streaming
  During the stream, maintain communication with viewers and stay calm in case of trouble.

Item	Content
Communication with Viewers	Engage with viewers by reading comments aloud and answering questions.
Handling Troubles	Stay calm to address any streaming interruptions or audio issues.
Managing Streaming Time	Stream within the planned timeframe by managing time carefully.

With these points in mind, aim for a comfortable and enjoyable stream for your viewers.

Post-Streaming Points for YouTube Live Game Streaming

After the stream ends, by focusing on a few key points, you can enhance your overall streaming activities.

Point	Content
Archive Check and Management	An archive is automatically generated after the stream ends. Make sure it’s properly saved and the visibility settings are appropriate.
Review the Stream	Analyze the number of viewers, comments, and chat liveliness to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Preparing for Future Streams	Based on the review, outline improvements for next streams and brainstorm new content ideas.
Promote the Stream	Use the archive for promotion on social media to attract more viewers.

By considering these points, you can improve viewer satisfaction and potentially increase your subscriber base.

After Preparing for YouTube Streaming, What’s Next?

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