You might have heard of the famous streaming platform called Twitch. If you have, then you may have thought of streaming your guitar on it as well.
But then the next question is, how do I exactly do that?
In this short guide, I will list everything you need and need to know in order to start playing your guitar, or streaming your music online on Twitch, or on any other platform such as YouTube. This guide contains everything you need to know to get started
First of all, I would like to quickly list down the things you would need to know in order to stream online.
- Microphone
- Audio Interface
- Headphones
- Webcam
- Streaming Software
- Computer and a Guitar
Quick Setup
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$169.00
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$99.99
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$39.99
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Recommend Starter Setup
Below, I have listed all the items you might need to start streaming your music.
This list is not meant for professionals – it is targeted toward beginners and hobbyist guitar players.
Microphone
This is one of the most important investments you need to make.
A good microphone makes or breaks your stream. I recommend the BM-900. This microphone can be used for anything; be it vocals, drumming, or for your guitar. If you invest in this microphone, it will last you for the foreseeable future. Honestly, you’ll likely use it until the end of its life 😉.
I would personally recommend buying the bundle for it, as it contains everything you need regarding your mic. You can check out its price here.
Audio Port:
Now, we need an audio interface.
But first, what is an audio interface? It is a device that allows you to plug your microphone into your computer. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, then it is technically an analog-to-digital converter. In my opinion, Scarlett is the best audio interface. Not only is it by Focusrite – a company with one of the best drivers in the market, but this device can be used for your electric guitars to electric pianos.
Headphones:
You need a good pair of headphones in order to hear the full range of sound. Not to mention what your listeners are hearing. If you have terrible, or low-quality headphones, then you might think you’re playing badly (or even worse, good!), or there is something wrong with the transmission.
There is no need to go and buy the most expensive headphones in the market. You should just get decent, affordable ones that will not limit your playing.
If you still need to purchase headphones then check out Kross R-80. They are over the ear, with good sound, and comfortability, at a solid price.
If you can invest a bit more into your headphones, then buy a pair with noise canceling. Check out this pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT
Webcam:
Music streams should be more focused on the audio quality of the stream, rather than the video quality. However, to have a good stream you need decent video output as well if only to keep your audience engaged.
There are many affordable webcams out there. Logitech is one of the most popular brands, they have options at any price point. You can get Logitech C922x. It is a full HD camera, designed and optimized for streaming. The NexiGo N930AF is slightly cheaper, but still a great choice; I use it almost daily and its auto-focus is superb.
Foot Pedal – a Luxury Item:
If you are willing to go the extra mile, then you might be interested in a foot pedal. Why would you want a foot pedal in the first place? A foot pedal allows you to control the backing track. With it you can seamlessly start/stop rather than needing to do something a little more clumsy (and obvious) like set a delay to give you time before grabbing your guitar.
Dunlop has great foot pedals, if you are interested, then you can get one from this link.
Software:
There are several software options, but I would recommend OBS Studio.
OBS is a free software that you can use to broadcast your stream. There are many helpful video tutorials for it, check out the following one to see how easy it is to use:
The Obvious Stuff:
Well, it is quite obvious that need a computer for it. You can run OBS Studio on both macOS and Windows machines.
Next, you would need your guitar. You can honestly use can kind of guitar, to be honest. Even classical guitars would do great.
Checkout some of our other guides on selecting a guitar:
Ending Note
Streaming live music is not expensive. You could get started with a decent streaming setup for $150-200 (assuming you already have a computer). You can go even cheaper, and get a small setup for $50. It all depends on your budget.
As it is with most things, start small and build up as you need more!
You just need to have the dedication and time for it.
Minimum Required Setup
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$169.00
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$99.99
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$39.99
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