The first thing before even the idea of the material, is to be aware of the universe in which you launch yourself. The world of streaming is special. From the moment you are ready to get started, that you have projects in mind, this is where I come into action!
• What kind of material?
• Do I need professional equipment or is the minimum sufficient for me?
• What if it doesn’t work?
• What budget for a good setup?
• What are the differences between the different setups?

All of these questions can quickly be overwhelming and it can take a lot of time and research to be properly informed. With this blog I will save you a lot of research, to make it as simple as possible to start streaming.

What better way to start?

The advantage of streaming is that there is no particular setup to have. We see everywhere on streaming platforms, that streamers have very different configurations. Finally, their only common point is equipment and settings adapted to each. The most important thing is that you are pleasant to listen to, because you are the center of attention. It is therefore necessary to make sure that you are audible so that your audience takes pleasure in listening to you.

Before giving ideas for specific products, you should know that there are two ways to use a microphone on your computer: the first is via USB . This is the easiest way: the microphone is directly connected to the computer without any other hardware. The second is XLR . The problem with XLR connections is that you need an external audio interface (built into USB microphones), a sound card or a mixer with USB connection. This is why in this blog, I will not dwell on the XLR connection which is more complex and can become expensive, it is not necessary for streaming.

But what material?

It is absolutely not necessary to buy professional equipment because it requires more work for the settings. The Viewers are not stuck on the details of the sound recording, it is especially in the music or the radio, all the events, which are much more strict on the quality of the sound.

I am going to give you two very reliable and high quality brands for streaming, there are many others but these two brands are safe values and offer very interesting ranges.

A well-known brand in this environment is Rode . This brand offers very good quality equipment and in all ranges. The easiest microphones to use are the NT-USB or its big brother the USB Podcaster because they do not require additional equipment for their operation . The second was designed especially for podcasts or streams.

Another brand is “Beyerdynamic” very well known in music, especially for their high quality headphones. The brand has a USB microphone, the Beyerdynamic Fox model, which is perfect for gamers, podcasters and musicians. These 3 microphones can be placed on an articulated arm but the NT-USB and the Fox can be placed on the table thanks to their support supplied with.

And the essential accessory for streamers who want to optimize space on their desks is the PSA1 , also from the “Rode” brand. It is an articulated arm to be fixed on the table. Today, it is the reference for articulated arms because it is at an affordable price. It is robust and functional over a very long period of time as long as the weight of the microphone (between 700g – 1.1kg) is not exceeded.

Finally, the headphone

Having a good microphone is important so that your viewers enjoy listening to you. But you also need to have a good experience yourself, some headphones can become disturbing over time if you spend several hours in the stream. It can be really unpleasant. For that, an audio headset recognized by many as being one of the best, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro 80 Ohm . An essential reference, very comfortable, excellent sound over the entire frequency range. It’s the ideal headset for your streams!

Finally, what budget to start?

With the products offered above, it runs between 440 – 460 CHF. Depending on your needs, plan between 300 – 600 CHF to have quality equipment without going overboard. Of course, as said above, your setup can vary enormously. This list is not to be taken literally, it is only one example among others. On the internet, you can hear everything and its opposite, which is why it is important, as far as possible, to try the equipment if you have the possibility, so that you can find the kit that suits you.

Do not hesitate to come to Boullard Musique. I will be happy to have you try our products for a complete experience. All the products presented are on our site and or in the store. You can also contact me by phone at +41 21 811 28 85 or by email at osias@boullard.ch

Do not hesitate to get started in streaming, it is a little known field but which is becoming more and more important, and which is better and better recognized!

Osias