How to Start a Live Stream
Television is rapidly losing its popularity – most people are becoming disinterested in TV content. Video hosting services have also been rapidly developing in recent years. Content for every taste is available there, and you can freely choose it as you wish. On video hosting sites, you can get information, as they say, first-hand, listen to music directly from the authors, and special subscriptions will help you get rid of annoying ads.
In addition to recorded video content, live broadcasts – streams – are also held on hosting sites. Any user can start such a stream, talk about what's bothering them, share something interesting with subscribers. Starting a stream is not difficult, if you know the instructions and have the necessary software. In this article, we will analyze in detail how to start a stream on YouTube, what software is needed for this, how to set up a live broadcast via OBS Studio, and also how to stream from a mobile phone on Android and iOS.
The material will be useful for both aspiring bloggers who just want to try their hand at live broadcasts, and experienced streamers who are looking for more convenient ways to broadcast.
What are YouTube streams and why are they needed
A stream on a popular video hosting service is a live broadcast, a real-time transmission. It can be compared to a football match. Football is always broadcast live. A stream is the same live broadcast, only instead of a game, it can be the blogger himself. Viewers watch what is happening in real time, can write comments, ask questions, and donate.
Main types of YouTube streams
There are several popular live broadcast formats. The first is answering viewer questions. These can be questions in chat mode or questions that viewers wrote in advance under previous videos. The second is unboxings and reviews. Bloggers unbox packages from subscribers, products from sponsors, or simply new tech gadgets. The third is prize draws among viewers who are on the stream. The fourth is game streams with chats and comments. This is the most popular format among gamers and esports players.
How streamers make money on live broadcasts
Most often, bloggers earn money on streams. There is always a so-called "donation" – a donation button – on the broadcast. By clicking this button, a viewer can transfer a certain amount of money to the stream's author. Donations can be accompanied by voice or visual effects, as well as messages that the streamer reads out. In addition to donations, earnings come from channel subscriptions, advertising integrations, and paid content.
YouTube requirements for launching streams
Before understanding how to start a stream on YouTube, you need to check if your channel meets the platform's requirements. In 2020, YouTube changed the conditions for conducting live broadcasts. Now, in order to start a stream on YouTube, the channel must meet the following criteria.
- First. The channel must have 1000 subscribers or more. This is the main requirement. If you have less than a thousand subscribers, the streaming function may be unavailable or limited.
- Second. A phone number with verification must be linked to the account. This is done to confirm identity and combat bots.
- Third. The channel must not have active violations of YouTube rules, strikes, or warnings. If you have blocks or complaints, access to streams may be temporarily restricted.
If these requirements are met, then it's time to move on to the settings and learn how to start a stream on YouTube.
Software and streaming services for YouTube
If you need to start a YouTube stream, you'll need special software. Without it, it's impossible to broadcast your screen, a game, or a webcam live. The most popular streaming software is presented below.
OBS Studio – the best choice for most streamers
OBS Studio is an extremely popular product among streamers and YouTubers. The program is simple, has an intuitive interface, and powerful capabilities for video and audio settings. OBS Studio has a built-in donation system via browser sources. The software is free and available on the developers' official website. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. We will use OBS Studio in this guide to start a YouTube stream.
XSplit Broadcaster – for professionals
The peculiarity of this software is that you can work with several video hosting sites simultaneously. For example, the broadcast can be watched separately on YouTube, separately on Twitch, separately on VK Play. This is called multistreaming. To use this package, a license is required – its maximum price is about 1500 rubles. A free trial mode is also available, but with limitations.
FFSplit – for advanced users
FFSplit is software with extensive functionality but an unclear interface. Video is only uploaded in one format – FLV, which is not always convenient. The program also features long installation and complex setup. Beginners should not start with it, but with OBS Studio.
How to start a YouTube stream from your computer using OBS Studio
Now we move on to the most important thing – how to start a YouTube stream using OBS Studio. The process consists of two parts: setting up YouTube itself and setting up the streaming program.
Part 1. Setting up a live broadcast on YouTube
First, you need to enable streaming on your channel. Go to YouTube, click on your avatar in the upper right corner, and select "YouTube Studio." In the left menu, find the "Live streams" section. If you see this menu, then the streaming function is available to you.
The sequence of steps to activate a stream is as follows.
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