EPTCan you stream?
You need a good computer and good Internet to stream. If you've tried streaming and it just lags your game or has terrible choppy video, chances are your PC isn't good enough or you went way overboard on the quality options.
You will want at least a quad core PC and at least 1mbps upload speed (use www.speedtest.net to California for an accurate assessment of your upload speed) that has no packet loss and low jitter (use www.pingtest.net to measure your packetloss and jitter). Modern Intel CPUs such as the i5/i7 are a lot more efficient than AMD offerings.
If you think your PC is good enough but you are still experiencing issues, read my stream quality guide for an idea of the settings you can adjust to try and fix things.
PC not good enough? Look at the Computer Build Resource Thread for upgrade options.
How To Stream
If you're completely new to streaming and want to know how to stream, by far the easiest way to get started is by using XSplit. XSplit captures your desktop and streams it to either JTV, Ustream, Livestream or a number of other services. It has a good number of options for controlling quality amongst other things.
Here's a guide to getting started with XSplit:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=195391
The more complicated option is to use Adobe's Flash Media Live Encoder with screen capture software such as VHScrCap or SCFH. ROOT's destiny wrote a guide to using FMLE with VHScrCap which you can find at http://root-destiny.com/newbies-guide-to-streaming
Having Problems?
If you are having issues that you absolutely can't solve yourself (after reading my stream quality guide and adjusting all relevant options), if you want to post a thread ensure you've at least done the following first:
- Ensure your upload speed is fast enough to support streaming (1mbps+)
- Ensure your CPU is fast enough to support streaming (quad core)
- Updated to the latest Tier3 version of XSplit (instructions) if applicable.
- Reduced resolution and bitrate to low levels to verify it's not a CPU or Internet issue.
- Searched TL using "Content Search" for error messages you may be receiving. Is XSplit telling you "Unable to synchronize settings with server"? Then search for it first!
If you still want to post a thread, include at very least the following information, or your thread will be closed:
- Streaming software used (Xsplit? FMLE? VAC? SCFH? VhScrCap?)
- CPU type/speed and amount of RAM (eg: Core i5 2500k 3.3 GHz, 4GB RAM). Not sure? Use CPUz.
- Windows version (eg: Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit)
- Download / upload speed as measured by www.speedtest.net to California, USA (eg 15000 down / 5250 up kbps) and ping, packet loss and jitter as measured by www.pingtest.net to California, USA. Connection type - wired / wireless?
- Settings used in all your streaming software (take a screenshot if you're lazy - you can upload screenshots directly to TL using the 'upload image' link when making a post).
Make sure at very minimum the following information is available / visible: Resolution, bitrate, frame rate (fps), quality options.
Make note NOT to show your stream ID / key, as this is private data that lets anyone stream to your channel. - Streaming service used (eg: Justin.TV, UStream, own3d, etc)
- If posting about video issues or something visible, a link to a recording / VOD of the problem exhibiting itself. Almost all streaming services auto-record VODs, so link to the VOD where you had problems.
Obviously not all these will apply to all types of questions - there's no point testing your Internet speed if you can't even install your streaming program for example. But please include as much detail as possible. No one can help you if you didn't provide the necessary information.
