{"id":522256,"date":"2024-07-12T14:30:54","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T12:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/?p=522256"},"modified":"2024-07-08T12:08:45","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T10:08:45","slug":"podcasting-and-streaming-101-beginner-setup-for-streamers-and-gamers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/gear\/podcasting-and-streaming-101-beginner-setup-for-streamers-and-gamers\/","title":{"rendered":"Podcasting and streaming 101 | Beginner setup for streamers and gamers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Putting together a setup for audio streaming isn\u2019t as difficult as it seems. No matter if you\u2019re looking for a setup for a podcast or vlog that features on-site or remote interview guests, for streaming songs as a musician, or for sharing tutorials and playthroughs as a gamer: Read this blog post to find out what you should look out for when putting together your audio streaming setup. \ud83d\udca5<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Your streaming hub: the audio interface<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The audio interface is the central hub of your streaming setup<\/strong>. That’s why it\u2019ll make several appearances in this blog article. If you want flexibility and a good sound, choose an interface that provides not just one but several microphone inputs<\/strong>. It should also offer studio-quality sound, i.e. a resolution of at least 24 bit and 48 kHz<\/strong>. To be able to sufficiently boost microphone signals while keeping the noise level low, it doesn\u2019t hurt if the interface offers preamps that provide more than 50 dB of gain<\/strong>. In addition to these basics, look for features that simplify your streaming<\/strong> workflow. For example, some interfaces have illuminated controls<\/strong> that are easy to operate even in a dimly lit gaming room. If you have limited space, the audio interface should be as compact<\/strong> as possible and have non-slip feet<\/strong> so it doesn\u2019t slide around on your desk. The single-channel audio interface Focusrite Vocaster One<\/strong><\/a> and its two-channel sibling Vocaster Two<\/strong><\/a> offer all of these features.<\/p>\n

\"Focusrite<\/a>
Focusrite Vocaster One<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Focusrite<\/a>
Focusrite Vocaster Two<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A particularly convenient \u2013 but also more expensive \u2013 solution is to choose a streaming interface that includes a mixer and multifunctional pads, such as the Rode Rodecaster Duo<\/strong><\/a> or the Roland Bridge Cast X<\/strong><\/a>, which is also suitable for video streaming<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Rode<\/a>
Rode Rodecaster Duo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Roland<\/a>
Roland Bridge Cast X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Your voice matters: pick the right microphone<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To pick up your voice while streaming<\/strong>, you need a microphone<\/strong>. A condenser mic<\/strong> that delivers a highly detailed sound, such as the Rode NT1<\/strong><\/a>, can be just as suitable as a dynamic mic<\/strong> that offers a classic broadcast sound, such as the Shure SM7B<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Shure<\/a>
Shure SM 7 B<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To ensure good microphone positioning while keeping your hands free for notes or a game controller, you can use a desktop stand<\/strong> or, even better, a microphone arm<\/strong>. If you don’t have a microphone yet, a microphone and arm bundle, such as the the t.bone MB 7 Beta Stand Bundle<\/strong><\/a>, is a great solution.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
the t.bone MB 7 Beta Stand Bundle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You should mute your microphone during pauses or when you need to clear your throat. This is more pleasant for your listeners and saves you the hassle of editing out unwanted sounds if you pre-record your stream. If your microphone does not have a mute function<\/strong>, you can opt for an audio interface with a mute button. It\u2019s also a plus if the interface not only has a level meter<\/strong> for its microphone inputs but also an auto-gain<\/strong> feature like the Focusrite Vocaster interfaces. This makes it easy to adjust the microphone levels for your guests or when changing microphones.<\/p>\n

\"Focusrite
Focusrite Vocaster Two<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Monitoring: headphones or headset<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Of course, you need to be able to hear your own voice while streaming<\/strong>, but also music, interview partners, or game audio. Circumaural closed-back monitor headphones, such as the the t.bone HD 200<\/strong><\/a>, the AKG K-182<\/strong><\/a>, or the beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 Ohm<\/strong><\/a> are a good choice. They have the advantage that they help to prevent feedback<\/strong>. If you use monitor speakers instead, their sound can be picked up by the microphone, which causes feedback issues.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
the t.bone HD 200<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"beyerdynamic<\/a>
beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO\/80 Ohm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re looking for an extra-compact audio streaming<\/strong> solution, you can opt for a headset<\/strong> that combines closed-back headphones and a microphone in one device. The advantage of a headset is that the distance between the microphone and your mouth remains constant. This means that the volume and sound of your voice is consistent even when you move your head. Make sure that the microphone and headphone plugs of the headset match the inputs and outputs of your audio interface or that adapters are included with the headset. This is the case with the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS XLR<\/strong><\/a> and the Rode NTH-100M<\/strong><\/a> for example.<\/p>\n

\"Audio-Technica<\/a>
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS XLR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rode<\/a>
Rode NTH-100M<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quick setup \u2013 presets and bundles<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re a beginner<\/strong>, you\u2019ll probably prefer a solution that allows you to set up your microphone<\/strong> quickly and easily without the need for time-consuming fine-tuning in a DAW. In this case, choose an audio interface that offers software-controlled presets<\/strong> for processing your vocal sound. This is the case with the Focusrite Vocaster models for example. They allow you to select presets in the software which you can then apply independently to the two microphone channels at the touch of a button on the audio interface.
\nIf you don’t yet own any streaming equipment<\/strong>, putting together your setup will be much easier if you go for a complete bundle. For example, you can find the Rode Rodecaster Pro II Mic Bundle1<\/strong><\/a> in the Thomann shop. We also offer the Focusrite Vocaster One Studio<\/strong><\/a> and the Focusrite Vocaster Two Studio<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 single-channel or dual-channel bundles that include the aforementioned Focusrite streaming interfaces as well as closed-back headphones and a microphone.<\/p>\n

\"Rode<\/a>
Rode Rodecaster Pro II Mic Bundle1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Focusrite<\/a>
Focusrite Vocaster One Studio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additional features for easy streaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a smooth streaming workflow without a lot of effort, features like mix-minus<\/strong> and loopback<\/strong> can make your life a lot easier. If your stream includes an interview partner<\/strong> joining remotely over the internet<\/strong> or phone, the time lag between transmissions can become a problem. This latency can lead to the guest hearing their own voice with a delay, which makes talking very difficult. To avoid this problem, you can use an audio interface with a mix-minus feature<\/strong>. It ensures that your guest hears the monitor mix without the signal from their own microphone. This allows them to speak freely without interrupting themselves.<\/p>\n

\"IK<\/a>
IK Multimedia iRig ProQuattro I\/O<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another helpful feature is the loopback function<\/strong>. As a gaming streamer<\/strong>, you need to be able to listen to the game audio on your headphones while simultaneously transmitting it over the internet. If you don\u2019t have an external mixing desk, this can be quite complicated. This is where the loopback feature can save the day. It allows you to process the game sound latency-free in the computer while mixing it with the signals from your microphones. To do this, simply assign the audio output of a game<\/strong> to a virtual loopback input<\/strong>. Dedicated streaming interfaces<\/strong> such as the IK Multimedia iRig Pro Quattro I\/O<\/strong><\/a>, the Mackie M-Caster Studio<\/strong><\/a>, or the Focusrite Vocaster models offer a loopback function. With their convenient workflow, they\u2019re the perfect centerpiece of your audio streaming<\/strong> setup.<\/p>\n

\"Mackie<\/a>
Mackie M-Caster Studio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
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Feedback: Streaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What are your experiences with streaming equipment? Do you prefer near-field monitors to closed-back headphones for audio streaming, or do you have any other helpful tips for audio and game streaming? Let us know in the comments.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Find out how to set up an efficient audio streaming station with quality microphones, headphones, and audio interfaces \u25b6\ufe0e tailored for all streamers, podcasters, musicians, gamers. and content creators \u2713<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":522144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tblog_post_audio_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1083],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-522256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear"],"category_colors":{"color_key":"gear","css_classes":{"text":"cat-gear","text_light":"cat-gear-light","bg":"cat-bg-gear","bg_light":"cat-bg-gear-light","border":"cat-border-gear","text_on_bg":"cat-text-on-gear"}},"reading_time":{"minutes":6,"formatted":"6 min"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=522256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/522144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=522256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=522256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=522256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}