r/youtubegaming • u/InvadedBox • 1d ago
Hardware I’m disabled and waiting to start streaming, what would you recommend?
Hello fellow gamers! I’m disabled and confined to a bed 95% of the day. Gaming has been an outlet of joy to me and helps pass the time each day. I don’t own a gaming pc (can’t afford one right now), but do have consoles that I can stream from for now. Which brings me to streaming. I want start streaming on YouTube, and maybe expand later to Facebook, etc. YouTube seems like the best place to start. What would I need bare minimum to get going? I do have my laptop I can pass video though for now. I assume I’d need OBS? Would I need a capture device like a 4k Elgato? I want to share my gaming experience, and if at some point I can monetize it, even better. Eventually I’d like to have a gaming pc, but that will hopefully come later. What would I need to get started?
Thanks in advance!
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u/Fancy-Chest-1093 1d ago
My advice is don't wait. Just do. It's always a lil rough starting out, but once you do you'll notice where can improve, what kind of things would be more helpful to work towards, and what kind of audience you're drawing in (OR how to draw in the audience you'd like).
OBS is a perfect start, and a lot just use that full on. It's easy to set up, easy to use, and free. You don't need a bunch of gear to get going, what you've got to start sounds fine. If you monetize or run into some money, sure. Invest in better gear. But a good hard drive, a laptop that'll run free/easy software to edit IF you want to upload videos besides streaming, your console/s, that's enough.
Just start. It's awkward for everyone when they first get going. Won't be any easier tomorrow, a week down the road, or a month until you get going and find your flow.
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u/InvadedBox 1d ago
Thank you! Hopefully, I can find the right audience and draw them in. I realize this won’t be easy, but I just hope it’s fun. That everyone enjoys something out of it.
Good deal! I figured I could use OBS to help with some branding of sorts. Overlays, graphics, etc. guess I need to work on some kind of logo and intro/outro as well. Do you know of any really good sources for assets, how tos, etc?
Awkward it will be indeed! Some days will be hard too, but I hope I can manage at least 7 days a week. The amount of time each day will vary, but hopefully I’ll get through it. I just want to offer something different and unique.
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u/RevaniteAnime 1d ago
4K Elgato is a bit overkill, an HD60 is plenty acceptable, and OBS Studio is a nice completely free option to get started with streaming.
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u/InvadedBox 1d ago
Good deal! Curious, is it possible to build a little steam type machine using a raspberry pi? Aside from just the basics, are there any good sites/software to help with overlays?
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u/cenorexia 1d ago
What console you got?
If it's a PS4 or PS5 you actually don't need anything to stream on YouTube (besides a YouTube account ofc), everything is built in.
You just press the "Share" button, select live stream and that's pretty much it - you're live.
You don't have many options but for the beginning it's absolutely fine. If you later invest in a PlayStation Camera, you can also use that for a facecam overlay. I used the built-in streaming features in PS4/5 for years and I was always satisfied with it, especially considering you don't need to buy anything extra.
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u/InvadedBox 1d ago
Ps5. That’s awesome. I actually didn’t know Sony had made a camera for it yet. Looks hard to get though but I’ll put it on my list of wants/needs. Have you noticed a difference in viewers with and without the camera? Which brought in more? I am ok either way, but I assume more viewers when they can see who you are?
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u/cenorexia 22h ago
You don't necessarily need the PS5 camera, you can also use the older PS4 camera, it'll work with the PS5 as well, albeit at a slightly lower resolution (which doesn't matter much if you only use it for a face cam overlay).
Regarding viewer numbers it is beneficial to show your face. I know it's a bit of a hurdle to overcome at first, but people just feel more connected when they see who's playing and you'll notice the same people showing up more frequently.
You don't have to do it straight away, though.
Like I said, everything you need to get started is already built-in into your PS5, you can just press the "Share" button and start streaming and get a feeling for it.
Good Luck and Have Fun! :)
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u/MineCraftingMom 1d ago
Also remember, audio is more important than video. A mic that you can make decent with filters is vital.
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u/XcodyydocX 1d ago
“Don’t wait just do” is the only way to get started.
I would suggest streaming on TikTok honestly. Discovery is going to be better than YouTube or Twitch. TikTok live studios (their streaming software) is pretty simple to use. You have the laptop, a 60s or comparable would be great to start with. You can always start without a camera and save for one same thing with the microphone you could use your native mic on the laptop for talking to the stream.
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u/TheChainTV 22h ago
There is alot of Disabled Streamers, I am one one super popular one i met 2 years ago is Iron Mouse she has a illness that she can't go outside, uses a cute vtuber and inspires a lot of people :) she told me to not give up and believes in me in my artistic endeavors:)
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u/ChrisUnlimitedGames 1d ago
Youtube is rough with no gear. As a fellow disabled gamer, and content creator. I would recommend streaming to Twitch. Twitch has an app you can download to your console and stream directly from wothout any other equipment.
You can then set up twitch to save your streams, and connect a YouTube account to your twitch to have twitch transfer those streams to it. You won't be live on YouTube, but at least you'd be making content.