This blog is really just a hobby for me. By trade, I'm a digital marketing professional. I currently work for one of the pioneers of the live streaming industry, and I've learned quite a bit. One of the important things I've learned is that the single most important thing you need to be a successful streamer is charisma. However, while you don't need the best equipment to get started, you're still going to need a few basic things to get a decent stream going. Here's a quick list:
A console or a laptop capable of running streaming software
The console-only way
There are a number of routes you can go down here. The easiest and probably most basic way to do it is with a console. Using a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you can stream to Twitch or Mixer respectively. If you do this, you're a little limited - you can't set up alerts and customize your overlays. It'll be very basic. You can have a face cam and a mic, of course, but the choice in equipment will be limited to those that the consoles support.
For webcams, you can use the PlayStation Eye for the Playstation 4 but you can use whatevs good webcam for the Xbox One. More on that later.
PlayStation Camera - Php 2800 to Php 3000 (but on Amazon, you can get it as low as ~$40)
Console+Laptop
This is the more ideal way if you're going to play console games. You're going to need a laptop capable of running streaming software, like XSplit, or Streamlabs OBS and an external capture card to capture all the footage coming from your console. Here are a few capture cards that work well - arranged depending on how crazy you wanna go.
External Capture Cards
Y & H Video Capture Card - Php 2,800 to Php 2,900 (~$54.90)
Great for basic capturing. Some reports have come in that the colors are a little warm, but it's not too noticeable to me. It supports 1080p, 60fps recording, which should be more than enough for more streamers. A lot of streamers only stream at 900p, 60fps, because it's a good balance between performance and quality. The HDMI in and out means you won't need an HDMI splitter to split your signal to your laptop and TV.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus - Php 7,300 to Php 7,400 (On Amazon, you can find one at ~$120 to $130)
AVerMedia is a brand you can trust - rest assured that it won't fail you. And with the Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus, you can still play in 4K. It doesn't stream at 4K, though - just 1080p, 60fps, which is perfectly fine.
Elgato HD60 S - Php 9,485 - Php 9,550 (On Amazon, get it for $133 to $135)
Razer Ripsaw - Php 14,900 to Php 15,000 ($150 on Amazon)
Elgato is probably the most recognizable, most trusted brand when it comes to streaming hardware. They've recently been acquired by Corsair, so you know they're in good hands. It doesn't record in 4K but does a great job at capturing and recording at 1080p, 60fps.
PC + console
With a PC and console set-up, you're going to need a capture card. You can use any of the previously listed external capture cards, but if you've got space in your motherboard for an internal one, it just makes the process way more streamlined.
Internal Capture Cards
Elgato HD60 Pro - Php 10,700 to Php 10,800 (~$173 to $175 on Amazon)
With an extra PCIe slot, you can easily plug this in and have a dedicated card for capturing your console footage. It records and streams at 1080p, 60fps.
Mobile + Laptop
Using a mobile device, you can install a program on your PC called AirServer, which lets you broadcast your phone screen onto your PC, which then streams it. A license costs you roughly $19.99.
Microphones for clear audio
Nothing turns people off from streams more than bad audio. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, it makes a lot of sense to have a good microphone.
Right now, the industry standard for streaming when it comes to microphones are made by Blue, which has been recently acquired by Logitech.
Blue Yeti - Php 12,500 (On Amazon, they go for ~$120)
Great audio quality, but a little pricey. They're easy to use and set-up because they are USB-based. No need for mixers or phantom power.
Audio-Technica ATR-2500 - ~Php 4500 (right now, it's going for a whopping Php 8,800, but it really does go for only ~Php 5000. On Amazon, it goes for ~$80)
This is my personal mic, but I do get an annoying hum in it. It fixes itself after a while, though, so I don't really know what to do with it.
BM800 - Php 400 to Php 1500 for the full set
As a beginner streamer, you could go as low as the BM800 - good mic with some pretty okay audio quality. It won't be the best but it's a good starting point.
Webcams for your face
Having a face on your stream makes it that much more engaging. You're not some disembodied voice, you're an actual human being on the other end of the screen. A good webcam can do wonders for you.
Logitech C920 - Php 2,500 to Php 2,750 (Or $50 on Amazon)
Considered by many to be the webcam with the best price-to-performance ratio, the C920 is usually a streamer's first starter webcam. Some people use it exclusively, but some eventually move on to nice cameras with big sensors. The C920 outputs 1080p, 30 fps. For a smoother experience, get the Logitech C922, which outputs 720p, 60fps.
Lights, to make even bad webcams look awesome
Lighting makes all the difference when it comes to streaming. And for lighting, the choices are vast. You can go for something as cheap as ring lights or for something as audacious as an Elgato Key Light.
Selfie Ring Light - Php 400 to Php 1,500
Ring lights are awesome because they're cheap, can be powered by power banks, and usually adjustable.
Video LED lights for cameras - Php 500 to Php 900
Intense lighting, which can be powered by a number of ways.
Elgato Key Light - ~Php 12,000
This is expensive and it's great for pros, but not for beginners.
Green Screen to clear our your backgrounds
Green screens used to be very expensive. But now, they're easy to come by and they're cheapo. Most software can recognize green screens. Cheap ones don't usually have brackets, so you can ghetto-fix your own solution.
Green Screen without Brackets - Php 300 to 900
There you go - some basics to get you started. Of course there are way more options out there and even cooler ways to make your backdrop awesome like Nano Leaf lights, but if you're not making any money streaming just yet, might wanna pump the brakes on the spending. Hope you guys find this useful!