Make your streaming setup work.
Connect your camera, mic and computer for streaming. See which cables and settings you need, using the gear you already have.
What are you streaming?
Every connection
- Webcam USB outUSB cable → A USB port on your computer
- Microphone USB outUSB cable → A USB port on your computer
- Microphone / interface headphone out3.5 mm or 6.3 mm headphone connection → Headphones (what you hear)
- Computer Ethernet portEthernet cable → router; your upload → Platform (check the stream preview)
- Wall socketThe maker’s power supply, or USB power → Computer and devices that need their own power
On one PC, send the game straight to OBS. A capture card usually adds no useful step.
Choose a streaming setup
New to streaming? Start with what you need to start streaming.
Game and stream
on one computer
Capture your game in OBS, connect a microphone and leave your PC enough capacity to run both the game and stream.
Plan a single-PC setup →02 / ConsoleStream your
console gameplay
Separate the HDMI display path from USB capture, then give party chat its own route.
Plan a console setup →03 / ConversationStream a
video podcast
Connect each speaker’s microphone and camera, and stop remote guests from hearing an echo of their own voice.
Plan a video podcast →Test one part
of your setup
Check your camera, microphone or bitrate in the browser, without rebuilding the whole setup. Nothing leaves your device.
See all tools →Is your webcam ready?
See the picture, resolution, frame rate and brightness, with notes on what to fix.
Does your microphone sound right?
Check your level against OBS’s meter, then record and play it back.
What bitrate should you use?
Get the figure to type into OBS for your platform and output.
Where does your audio go?
Choose what your viewers, headphones and remote guest will hear.
Does your upload cover it?
Calculate the upload speed your stream needs.
Can this camera stay live?
Check whether your camera can send live video for the whole stream.
Set your stream
Find your bitrate
Get the figure to type into OBS for your platform and output.
Check your upload
Calculate the upload speed your stream needs.
Compare gear
Stream Deck
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Compare these →Elgato capture
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Compare these →Audio interfaces
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Compare these →USB microphones
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Compare these →XLR microphones
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Compare these →USB/XLR microphones
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Compare these →Mixers
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Compare these →Lights
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Compare these →A USB-C port tells you its shape.
It does not tell you its speed.
A camera, capture card and microphone can fit the sockets and still need different data rates, power or software. Check the speed and power each device needs before choosing a cable or hub.
Understand the ports in your setup →Test your stream before going live
Make a recording, listen to the mix and test the network with everything connected.