People have been wanting info about my streaming setup, so here's a bit of information about it... It's nothing masterful, but I do what I can because I must. ;) (Somewhat long #thread) Obligatory stream link: twitch.tv/mattlewellyn #SupportSmallStreamers
First, my stream art. My art usually starts somehow based on a @streamlabs theme, even if only for inspiration or to make my custom CSS/JS a lot easier to wrangle. The text is usually done w/ custom browser sources. For more info on Streamlabs OBS visit streamlabs.com/slobs/d/103698…
For custom fonts, I override whatever font selection is made via custom CSS. I embed my fonts as base 64 in the CSS thanks to @FontSquirrel's webfont generator. Base 64 seems to perform the best for locally-hosted HTML files with inline CSS even. Probably because no caching.
I try to theme every widget I can, so that they look consistent. Even Quest Mode, which is the platform I use for viewers to subscribe and tip without cost to themselves, I've done custom skins for. Quest Mode: questmo.de/f438c Custom skin example: randomstuff.byethost5.com/bitboss-skins/…
I use free-to-use movie assets and stingers from various sources until I start shooting my own. I do occasional editing on them in @MediaComposer First. I do not embed my text, so that I have freedom to reposition if needed to accommodate stream art.
As for the stream PC itself, it is a Ryzen 5 2400G with 16 GB of DDR4 3200. Most graphics are processed with the onboard APU. I have an Nvidia GT710 installed as a second GPU for PhysX processing and NVENC hardware stream encoding. (Both seen in @americanmcgee Alice 2 streams.)
I am currently collecting donations toward an @NVIDIAGeForce RTX2080 to replace both current graphics processors. This will make the stream look better in a great number of ways. Obligatory donation link: streamlabs.com/mattlewellyn
For non-PC games, I use either my @HauppaugeHQ Colossus 2 PCI-e card or my Hauppauge Digital TV Tuner. Due to a huge number of limitations with the Colossus 2 for my needs, I'm trying to obtain an @AJAVideo Kona card so that I can add support for it to SLOBS.
For composite ("yellow" plug), S-Video, and component ("red/blue/green" plug) inputs, I have switchboxes to ease my life. I also have a Bandridge manual SCART switchbox for my RGB consoles, which feeds into an HDMI converter (no-name, so no link, and I can't find another).
My HDMI sources then go to a set of switches, culminating in a matrix switch (which can output to 2 things at once). This is how I can switch quickly between a Sega Genesis and a PS3 game, for instance. I'm still working on handling my intermittent HDCP problems.
Unfortunately, I do not currently have a setup for VGA capture. I want to resolve that soonish (for e.g. Dreamcast). Once I get the RTX 2080, I'll move the GT710 back into the retrogaming box I took it from (a Pentium 4) so that I can capture its DVI-D output via HDMI converter.
It's been noted repeatedly that I have no webcam. Sadly, my current living arrangements plus the complex wiring setup keep me from using my crappy webcam. Once I move someplace bigger, where I have room for my setup to live better, I'll set up a webcam.
As for audio, I'm currently swapping back and forth between a couple of relatively cheap gaming headsets. My good headsets don't pick up my voice as well. Once I'm set up for capturing an XLR mic, I'll use my @beatsbydre Studio headphones plus @Electro_Voice 670V microphone.
All of this is currently handled on a single 4K screen, due to aforementioned lack of living space. I have a second 1080p screen which I will be using as well, once I'm resituated and have a better video card. So full screen games relegate me to a tablet for watching chat.
I try very hard to keep my setup as straightforward as possible. But with the wide array of just "stuff", it can never be as simple as setups by people who stream only one or two platforms. But it works pretty well, most of the time. It cooperates usually.
As streaming isn't a moneymaker for me (yet?), I have had to make some compromises that I wish I didn't have to (such as my graphics card situation). I do have a wishlist of things which would make it better, but this thread listed the top items on it.
Hopefully this gives some insight into my setup and why I have to make certain choices about what to stream. I'd love to be able to stream anything at any time, but I'm not quite there yet. Longish-term, I hope to have a way for subscribers to directly influence my game schedule.
The reality is that viewers donating to my goals will get my setup as close to perfect as quickly as possible. My donation bar will always have the biggest enhancement to the stream as the goal. Subs/tips/donations (even free Quest Mode stuff) directly make the stream better.
The point of this thread wasn't to beg for donations (though they are always nice), show off my cool toys, or anything of the sort. As I get a lot of questions about my setup, and it is fairly complex, I decided a Twitter thread was the best way to communicate how it works. 💟
I realize I glossed over a LOT. But that was for the interests of thread length. I'm more than happy to answer any replies with specifics. I've learned a lot about many things and I'm happy to share the knowledge. Everyone who wants to share their love of games should be able to.
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