Gaming has gone from a hobby to a legitimate profession for the players who are able to establish themselves as popular streamers. However, there is a lot of competition in the industry, and it can be difficult to succeed if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s particularly important to make sure you have the equipment and hardware to create a clear, audible stream that viewers will enjoy watching. There are a lot of things that go into determining the success of a stream, and many of them are hard to predict, but one thing you can control is what tools you use to broadcast. There are few pieces of equipment that are more essential than your webcam. Read on to learn more about three characteristics of a high-quality streaming webcam.
1. Lens
If you’re looking for the best webcam for streaming, there are several different factors that you should consider, including what type of lens your camera uses. Your lens is what will determine your camera’s field of view. There are two main types of lenses to choose from: fixed focus and autofocus. A fixed-focus lens is good if you don’t intend to move around and want a close-up shot. An autofocus lens will allow you to worry less about positioning and showing documents, as the lens will adjust on its own to keep the picture clear.
There are few things more integral to creating an engaging stream that helps attract more subscribers than making sure that your viewers can hear and see you clearly. Some streamers feel anxious about using a webcam rather than just using a capture card to stream gameplay, but the reality is that it’s much easier to connect and build an audience if you let your viewers learn more about you. All the most successful streamers make use of webcams to include their own face superimposed over the game footage.
2. High Frame Rate (FPS)
Frames per second (FPS), otherwise known as frame rate, will play a major role in the quality of your video. Since most streamers are recording true-to-life videos, the ideal choice is a webcam with 60 FPS. If you’re not sure how to evaluate webcams based on their frame rate, keep in mind that when it comes to frame rate, the bigger the better. This is also true of the systems you use to play your games on. For example, many gamers have said that PC gaming can be beneficial because having a high-end system enables you to play the game at a higher frame rate than you would be able to achieve on a console.
3. Integrated Microphone
Audio quality is just as important as video quality if you want to provide the best possible experience for viewers. When it comes to shopping for a webcam, you should be looking for a camera with an integrated mic with stereo or multichannel input. The reason for this is that it will capture more realistic sound. Many new streamers make the mistake of trying to get by with the built-in webcam and microphone on their computer, but with so much competition for attention, it’ll be extremely difficult to attract a significant number of viewers without investing in the equipment you need.
Though streaming can seem simple at first, if you want to make it your career, you’ll need to get the right equipment to support your stream. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available online that can help you find the right model to suit your needs. Make sure you read reviews and experiences and learn about what specs you need to deliver the best possible broadcast to your subscribers. If you’re ready to take the next step in your streaming career, buying a high-quality streaming webcam should be one of your top priorities.