Super Beginners’ Guide

So you’ve decided to take up streaming on twitch? AWESOME! This guide is broken up into sections so that, whatever level you are at, you can jump in where needed and move along!

Step 0: Getting started

Before you start streaming you have to have a moment with yourself: Why do you want to stream? Are you looking for fame and fortune? Because being real now, if you are in a stream to zero people, a dream to be the next [add super famous and rich streamer here later Maya] is not gonna give you comfort. I know folks who took years to reach affiliate status—that means they took years to reach an average of three people in chat and fifty followers! You need to create because it makes you happy. You get to play games! You get to show off your passions with the world! The act of content creation brings joy. Building friendships with others, whether streamers or chat members, is why you create. Also, what are you going to do? You can play games for sure, but what games? Are there games you enjoy—scary, retro, etc.? And remember, if gaming isn’t your main jam, Twitch is a home for everyone! Do you like crafting, knitting, drawing, raising chickens, or gardening? Whatever brings you joy—Twitch is the place where you can do it all! You are your own boss here, and if you’re having fun, your audience will too. Once you have the why and what settled, it’s time to set up the how.

1. You will need a tool to stream with.

   This can be a PS4, computer, laptop, or smartphone—you need a way to connect your content to the world.

2. A way to speak with your audience.
   1. Most folks assume... They assume you need an expensive microphone, but that isn’t true. You can use a rock band USB mic, a corded headphone mic, or a beginner mic from Amazon. For example, the Blue Snowball (view on Amazon) costs about $50 and is often on sale—even the white version has been as low as $27.
   2. But using a mic is not the only way... You can use TTS to speak your words to your audience.
   3. You can just type on screen! Open a notepad or use your chat box directly. For extra personality, here’s an option available for $20! (OSChat Widget)
3. Have something to represent you.
   1. The most popular way is a camera—a phone camera, webcam, or digital camera (see YouTube tutorials).
   2. Another option is PNGtubing: choose an image that reacts when you speak.
   3. Vtubing is growing—use an avatar (often anime‑style) that’s more expressive than a PNG.
4. You will need a Twitch account!

   https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/creating-an-account-with-twitch?language=en_US

   A Twitch account is essential—even if you only chat on other streams. It’s also beginner‑friendly and offers discoverability.

Step 1: Streaming software!

To show what’s on your computer on Twitch, you need streaming software. OBS Studio is an excellent starting point; other programs like Streamlabs are based on OBS but might hide fees.

OBS lets you control every aspect of your stream. Although it might require extra effort initially, you’ll be able to troubleshoot on your own—and future you will be proud of your setup.

This guide uses OBS Studio, though similar software should work too.

Step 2: Let’s make the channel ours!

Personalize your Twitch channel so that the algorithm recommends you. Visit your channel (append “/yourusername” to twitch.tv or click your icon and select “channel”) and work on your panels. Organize panels for chat rules, socials, “about me,” etc. Use images no wider than 320 pixels and be sure to save your changes!

I recommend looking up “free vtuber assets” and “free vtuber overlays list” on Twitter—many creators offer free resources for credit.

Next, edit your bio and links by clicking “edit about and links.” Customize your bio, adjust your username’s capitalization, and link your socials. The bio section is essential!

Finally, set up a tip page (donations/tips) so that viewers can support you once you’re an affiliate.

Step 3: Welcome to StreamElements!

Once your channel is set up, head to StreamElements—a fantastic resource for streamers. Click “get started,” sign in with Twitch, and after verification, you’ll access the StreamElements hub.

Next, select “tipping settings” under the revenue drop‑down to set up your donation page. Copy that URL for use in your panels.

When you receive donations, click SE.Pay and withdraw funds (minimum $5 per donation).

Step 4: It’s time to open OBS!

Download OBS from obsproject.com/download.

During your initial setup, OBS will run a configuration wizard. Set it for streaming optimization, 1080p at 60 FPS, and connect it to your Twitch account. (Note: Stream in 1080p even if your monitor supports 4K, since some features unlock only for partners.)

OBS will run a bandwidth test; if it shows a high number (e.g., 6k), reduce your bitrate to 4k or 3k for smoother streaming—especially for mobile viewers.

You can also adjust visual settings in OBS—change the video bitrate in Output settings to 4000 (or adjust to 4500/3000 as needed).

After connecting your Twitch account, OBS displays two windows (stream info and chat) that you can drag and stack. Customize your docks, then click “lock docks” to secure your layout.

Here’s the layout I enjoy for streaming: [Insert image or description of preferred layout]

Step 5: Select an Overlay!

An overlay is everything on your stream besides your content—it adds style and draws viewers. I recommend searching for free overlays on Twitter rather than buying expensive ones. (Free resources are labeled “F2U” and paid ones “P2U”.)

For example, check out: twitter.com/freevtuberasset and twitter.com/VTResources.

Etsy also has overlays, though many are AI‑generated and paid.

Step 6: Set up your new layout!

Now it’s time to implement your elements. Go back to StreamElements, then to “streaming tools” > “Overlays” and click “New Overlay.” Start with Alerts (custom alerts can be skipped) by setting the resolution to 1080p on a blank canvas.

Within the overlay, create an Alert Box by selecting the blue circle with the white plus icon under “alerts.” This will display animations and sounds for donations, followers, raids, etc.

Adjust the alert animations using “change video” and “Variation settings.” Save your overlay when you’re happy with it.

Next, create your main overlay scene. Click “New Overlay,” choose “Static/Custom,” and add a new image.

Upload your gaming overlay image and use the position/size/style options to scale it to 1920×1080. This ensures it fills the canvas and reserves space for chat and info.

Notice the three icons provided by StreamElements: A heart (for follows), a star (for subscribers), and a dollar sign (for tips). Set these up in advance.

Open the “Layers” menu to ensure all elements appear above the overlay.

Add labels for subscriber info (e.g., “latest subscriber”) and adjust text settings as needed.

Duplicate elements as needed (using the duplicate icon) to group your sources, and mark the overlay as “main.”

The alert box should now be integrated in your main overlay. Use the emulate button to test it.

Lastly, set up the “chat” widget. Log into StreamElements, click this link, customize the widget (e.g., “Chat Bubbles by Zaytri”), and add it to your overlay.

Step 7: Add Sources!

Now it’s time to set up your OBS scenes with the overlays you’ve created. For example, you might have:

• Starting Soon: A scene to set up, load your game, test your mic, and display your socials.
• Just Chatting: A scene to interact with your audience (with camera, chat, and alerts).
• Main: The scene where you play your game, create art, or display your content.
• BRB: A backup scene for interruptions so that your chat isn’t left hanging.
• Stream Ending: A closing scene to say goodbye, possibly raid another channel, and wrap up your stream.

Rename your first OBS scene to “Starting Soon.” Then add your first source: copy the URL from your StreamElements overlay for the Starting Soon screen and add a new “browser source” in OBS (name it “Starting soon Overlay”) with dimensions 1920×1080. If you use a microphone, also add an “audio input capture” source named “Mic.”

Duplicate this scene, rename it “Just Chatting,” remove the “Starting soon overlay” source, and add your “Just Chatting overlay” instead.

I know it’s not enough to simply say “add your sources and let’s go!” so here is an explanation of each source type:

Step 8: Starting your first stream!

You did it! You are ready to start your first stream! Arrive at your desk a half‑hour early to set up. Check your scenes, ensure your sound is on, and verify your mic is active (the mic meter should be in the orange) — then, let’s go!

First, connect OBS to your Twitch by going to File>Settings, clicking the “stream” section, and signing in. Then fill in your stream details:

• Title: This is the Twitch thumbnail text. Change it every stream—the first 34 characters are visible. For collaborations, include the collaborator’s username (e.g., @AnotherInuFan).
• Go live notification: Your followers get notified when you go live—use sparingly.
• Category: List your game or activity. If not gaming, be creative (e.g., “Art” or “Makers and crafting”).
• Audience: Set to “Everyone” (since you likely have no subscribers yet).
• Tags: Use relevant tags (e.g., “vtuber,” “anime”) to help promote your stream.
• Stream Language: Specify your spoken language, and add it as a tag.
• Content Classification: If your content isn’t suitable for viewers under 13, set it to 18+ and explain why (or note that you target an older audience).
• The last two sections are checkboxes for previously recorded streams and promoted content.

Click “done” after updating your settings. Then, set the scene to “starting soon” and hit “start streaming” (or “start recording”) and go live!

Step 9: Raids and ending stream

When your stream is wrapping up, say goodbye to your chat. Switch to the “stream is ending” scene—but don’t hit “end stream” immediately! Use Twitch’s “Raiding” feature to transfer your chat to another channel. This benefits everyone: your chat stays engaged, you might gain followers, and you help promote the raided channel.

I recommend raiding channels with a small audience—even a single-person raid can brighten someone’s day. I usually scan the left side of Twitch for channels I follow. If a streamer’s icon is in full color, they’re online. I choose the channel with the lowest chat count. If you have no friends online, search by game or tag and pick someone interesting.

In chat, click on a person’s name to open a popup with options to add them as a friend, whisper, or gift a sub. Instead, click their name at the top of the popup (next to their icon).

A new window will open where you can click “follow!” This automatically adds them to your raid list.

Follow anyone who seems nice—if they’re recommended, raided, or if your chat loves them, that’s a follow. It’s free and promotes community.

Alternatively, if you have no friends to raid, search by game or tag and choose someone interesting. (I once got raided by a community of 30 simply because my stream was called “S O U P”.)

To start a raid, type /raid [username of the person you wanna raid] (without brackets). A ten‑second countdown begins, during which you can announce a “raid call” (for example, “fill the chat with these emotes!”). When the countdown ends, you and your chat are transferred to the new stream. If you’re in a hurry, say you must raid and run—but don’t vanish without saying goodbye!

Make sure you turn off your stream in OBS and you’re done! Congrats—you are a streamer!

Step 10: Final tips and tricks!

1. Undo works!
2. If you hold Alt and drag the red transformation bars, you can crop elements without using crop/pad filters.
3. If you change something (video speed, image opacity, etc.), check your preview for real‑time updates!
4. If your stream lags, right‑click the display and disable the preview to free up CPU usage.
5. If you’re concerned about DMCA, here is a collection of music with permission proof: DMCA FREE MUSIC WITH PERMISSION LINKS. It was made by Piefluff – if you want to thank her, follow her here.
6. If you use Spotify for music, consider this widget: Stream Widget for Spotify. It updates your on‑stream display automatically with each song.
7. YouTube is your friend! If you run into issues, you’ll likely find a free tutorial on YouTube.
8. If you need extra help, both OBS and StreamElements have friendly Discord communities.
9. Remember, no one starts as a pro—every streamer was once in your shoes. You can do this!

See ya next stream!

Your friend,
Maya!