The Top Streaming Equipment for Every Twitch Streamer

Twitch and similar platforms have given gamers and content creators a way to interact with their audiences — and make a bit of money while they do it.  There are more than 3.3 million active Twitch streamers every month, with more than 1.1 million viewers consuming content at any given time.  Starting on Twitch doesn’t take much more than a gaming PC or console and a decent internet connection, but building an audience and making affiliate or partner on the site, upgrading your gear quickly becomes a necessity.  Let’s take a look at some of the top streaming equipment — both hardware and software — for every Twitch streamer, regardless of experience or audience size.  We’ll list some budget-friendly options as well as some top-of-the-line choices so you’ve got some options. 

Cameras

Now it’s important to note before we begin that cameras and face reveals are *not* strictly necessary to be a successful streamer on Twitch. Some of the biggest gaming streamers, like Corpse Husband, have never shown their face on stream or even on social media, instead choosing to exist in their internet space without ever using a camera. That being said, if you’re interested in using a face-cam or a green screen on your stream, you’ll need a decent camera to make sure that everyone in your audience can see your smiling face. 

Look for a camera that has a decent field of view and high resolution for both recording and streaming.  These cameras tick all the boxes for us. Also note that while most of these cameras have built-in microphones but for the sake of argument, we’re going to choose to ignore these. 

Logitech C922 Pro — $75.99

Logitech is one of our favorite brands for affordable high-quality PC peripherals, and their webcams are some of the best on the market for both casual and professional streamers.  The C922 Pro, in particular, offers 1080p resolution when recording and up to 720p when live streaming, making it ideal for streamers.  It records or streams at 30 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and 60 fps at 720p. 

Razer Kiyo – $63.99

Lighting is just as important as having a high-quality camera, and if you don’t have a lot of extra plugs or USB ports, having a light that is integrated into your webcam can save you an extra plug.  Like the 922 Pro, this webcam can work or record in both 1080p and 720p and match the same FPS at each resolution.  

Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro – $164.95

And we’re back to Logitech, but this is going to be one of the more expensive options on our list but is worth the investment. In addition to offering 720p and 1080p, this camera is capable of recording in 4K Ultra HD.  You’ll get a frame rate of 30fps in 4K, 60fps in 1080p, and 30fps in 4K. You may want to pass on this one if you don’t have a need for ultra-high-definition video.  In most cases, 1080p is more than sufficient, especially considering the bandwidth necessary to stream in 4K.

Microphones

A good camera might be important if you’re planning to use a face cam but perhaps more important is a high-quality microphone. Your audience needs to be able to hear what you’re saying clearly — especially if you’re playing horror games or screams are part of your streaming persona.  The last thing you want is a microphone that cuts out whenever you start raising your voice or raging at a boss fight. 

The pandemic and the need for clear Zoom conversations have led to a rise in high-quality microphones that won’t break the bank, but if you’re looking for the best streaming mics out there, you may still want to invest some serious coin. 

Shure MV7 Podcast Microphone – $249

This is the sort of thing we’re talking about when it comes to investing in a high-quality mic.  It uses a USB and XLR combo to provide excellent sound quality and the software is easy to install and use.  The only downsides, aside from the price, are the fact that it doesn’t come with a mic stand and relies on micro-USB rather than standard. 

HyperX SoloCast – $49.99

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly mic that doesn’t sacrifice quality in favor of price, the HyperX SoloCast is going to be the best option. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, like the RGB lighting that you might see on the HyperX QuadCast mic, but it does offer high-quality audio because HyperX decided to focus on sound rather than accessories. 

Rode NT-USB-Mini – $99

You don’t need the biggest mic on the planet, especially if you’re just starting out. The Rode NT-USB-Mini is the perfect choice for compact broadcasting spaces, providing great sound with a design that won’t take up a lot of desk space.  The only downside is that its software is proprietary — meaning it will only work with the NT-Mini instead of Rode’s entire lineup — and the mic does tend to pick up the background noise. 

Lighting

Unless you’re planning on streaming as a V-Tuber — which is absolutely an option if you’d prefer not to show your face — you will want people to be able to see your smiling face as you play.  In most rooms, overhead lighting isn’t going to be sufficient for that. You want something bright that you can direct at your face from behind the camera so to provide optimal illumination.  RGB-capable setups are a plus because they make it easier to create some extra ambiance, but it isn’t strictly necessary, especially for new streamers. 

Opt for soft lighting that won’t provide such a garish glow, but will ensure that your audience will be able to see you easily.

Neewer Bi-Color Dimmable LED Softbox Lighting Kit – $69.90

A softbox lighting kit might look more at home in a photography studio, but it can provide the same sort of soft lighting for a streamer just as easily.  They use 85w bulbs which might seem bright, but the light is diffused by rectangular 20” x 28” reflectors.  You can buy them individually or in sets, depending on your lighting needs and the size of your streaming space.

Ubeesize Ring Light – $33.99

Ring Lights are popular for influencers of all kinds, regardless of their platform, because they provide soft targeted light a few feet from their surface.  They’re portable, lightweight, and perfect if you only need to light up a small space. This particular model offers up to 33 different lighting settings, with three modes and 11 levels of brightness in each mode. 

Elgato Key Light – $199.99

If you’re looking for something built specifically for streaming, the Elgato Key Light is a professional LED panel that ticks all the boxes.  It’s color adjustable, app-controlled, and comes with a desk mount option so you can clip it to any flat surface. The opal glass face prevents glare and keeps the lighting balanced, and the light itself is fully dimmable and offers a number of options ranging from cold to warm lighting. 

Mixers

If you’re planning to get serious about streaming, or are working with multiple video or audio sources, then you need to invest in an audio mixer.  These devices give you complete control over the audio inputs coming from various sources, without having to adjust each one manually. There are two primary options when you’re looking for mixers — analog and digital.  Analog mixers are more traditional, with the dials and sliders you’re used to seeing but they also have a bit of a learning curve.  Digital mixers can be a better option for new users, but they have their limitations as well. 

GoXLR – $549

Analog mixers aren’t always affordable, especially for new streamers, but if you’re planning to invest in one, you can’t do better than the GoXLR.  This compact audio mixer has four channels, multiple voice effects and+48V of phantom power. It’s lightweight, portable and easy to use, even for beginners.  The only downside of this mixer is the price. 

Adobe Audition – $20.99/month

Adobe Audition is considered one of the best digital audio mixers on the market.  Unfortunately, Adobe also has a reputation for being expensive at best, and a garbage company at worst, so for streamers who are just starting out, it’s often out of their price range. 

Voicemeeter Banana – Free

For those that don’t have a lot of disposable income to invest in an audio mixer or Adobe software, there is Voicemeeter Banana. It is marketed as donationware — pay what you want or can afford — and is free for the average user. 

Encoders 

Most computers aren’t designed to stream content right out of the box, and you need an encoder to act as a go-between to translate your content into video data that your audience can enjoy. There are a lot of options out there and most of them are free or very affordable.  The thing you need to double-check before you make your decision is whether or not the encoder is compatible with your streaming platform of choice. 

Open Broadcaster Studio (OBS) — Free

Open Broadcaster Studios or OBS is probably one of the most well-known video encoders on the market today.  It’s free open-source software, so you never have to worry about purchasing licenses.  It’s compatible with a variety of different operating systems and streaming platforms, though it doesn’t support multi-bitrate streaming.

VidBlasterX ($9-999/year)

For those looking for a professional-quality video streaming encoder, VidBlasterX is a great option.  It comes with three different options — Home, Studio, and Broadcast — which each support more modules and add additional features for professional streamers. 

vMix (Free – $1,200)

vMix is a program that is useful for streamers who might not be using a typical streaming setup. This encoder is capable of providing support for everything from webcams and cameras to capture cards, console decks, and more. The only downside is that it is only compatible with Windows operating systems, so Mac users will need to look elsewhere. 

Getting Started

Getting started as a Twitch streamer doesn’t mean breaking the bank, but if you’re planning to pursue this as a more long-term option, investing in high-quality hardware and software can make all the difference.