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Streaming rig help

huggers

huggers

Registered
5Years
Joined
Sep 22, 2016
Messages
3,288
Location
West Dorset
Morning gents. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas etc. So, I was thinking I might do a bit more streaming on Twitch next year. I did a short stream on Facebook yesterday just using my phone but it looked sh1te. What stand do people use for capturing the play field footage. I see people with these really flash rigs and I quite fancy one. Also advice on cameras appreciated. I don't want to spend the earth but need to know what sort of cam I can get away with. Do people stream at 60fps? Anyway yeah, any tips and help much appreciated, especially regarding camera stands.
 
Logitech C920 webcam is a good camera.
Forget 60fps most cams only pretend to be able to do it, 720p30 is what you're aiming for, unless you have a complex enough setup.
Best of luck.. looking forward to watching!
 
I use the following:

Custom made rig from a company I will find the details of. I think the rig cost me something like £200.

I use an i7 Laptop with 16GB Ram, Windows and OBS Studio. About £1300, but I use it for work too so, not really a rig cost.

Playfield is running a HD camera, into HDMI capture card. Another £200.

Score is also a HD camera into another HDMI capture card. Another £200.

Audio is dual input, captures my voice and I use a direct input from game noise on a seperate channel. The mixing deck was about £200 and the mic similar, but I am still not happy with this, it captures way too much background noise even now. For a long time I just used a Yeti Nano USB mic, I would argue at a £400 upgrade, I have only marginal gains.

Facecam is just a logitech 1080 one that @strobey has pointed out. You can get for £90 on ebay, shot up in price at the moment due to COVID.

Lighting is important, but I find a good invisiglass sheet will solve more than any light. £200.

It is a rabbit hole after rabbit hole to get into, you can do it on 3 Logitec cams and a Yeti.
 
Key requirement is a decent PC or Laptop. I my view atleast i7 or recent Ryzen 16G memory and 1Tb disc.

Also do you have a lot of games or only one?

If you want to move between games then a rig with wheels made of something out of 8020 aluminium, or you could make one out of hard timber. This is what I use:

Screenshot 2020-12-28 at 12.26.47.png

Screenshot 2020-12-28 at 12.26.34.png

If its just for one game You can use microphone booms - I recommend this type:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004N1G268/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stage-Stan...id=1609158584&sprefix=onstage+,aps,150&sr=8-5

Use these mounts on my frame:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N64SZ4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thse on the frame and on the boom stand:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SIRAGOC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These on the boom stand for face/dmd camera
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EKQC88C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also use one for DMD/scores camera on the frame (I have a 80s Stern).

Something to mount your iPad or computer closely so you can see what's going on in chat.

Then a decent microphone - I use an XLR mic into a GOXLR which I can also grab sounds from elsewhere and mix them really easily. But to start with just a USB mic on a stand will be fine.

Some sort of light to illuminate the Playfield and you. Lots of folks just goto pincrapiums but they don't help with your light of your face.

Camera wise You can go USB as noted above but over time they are a wasted investment as you really need to get to 60fps. If I was going to spend money I'd get HDMI USB encoders lots of folks use the camlinks but I use Magewell personally speaking. I'd look for the Sony 405 camcorder. Just be gentle with its HDMI port as I've had a few of them go after a while. Better yet connect a mini HDMI to HDMI female connector and don't ever remove it. I now use Canon M6 MII with Sigma 16mm F1.4 lens. I also use wireless rig setup now so I can move it around without unplugging and use tons of RAVPower batteries and USB power for everything on the stand. I also use a desktop server with 24 HDMI ports on it and have all the Stern games LCD wired direct along with TNA, DI, CGC games direct feed. Also have Wirless sound setup for capture game audio.

I saw a guy doing a stream with used phones which was better than I expected.

Cheers,
Neil.
 

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one other thing - the working from home contingent in buying cameras has seen prices sky rocket.
 
My streams over the last three years:

Screenshot 2020-12-28 at 12.55.45.png

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Screenshot 2020-12-28 at 12.58.46.png


Screenshot 2020-12-28 at 13.00.02.png

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I've been having a weird issue with Xsplit that I haven't worked out with frame rates so my recent streams have been a bit bare but you can see the camera quality difference:

Screenshot 2020-12-28 at 13.07.31.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
also I've started to order cameras from the US, as they have 60fps support rather then 50fps.

Neil
 
Neil you should probably just put in to context that your recommendations ate based of having a spare 5-10k handy.

Start with logitech cams, buy a mic stand to mount it, download free OBS software and have some fun.

If you get the bug, slowly upgrade your rig, that'd be my 2 pence..

Tim
 
strobey said:
Neil you should probably just put in to context that your recommendations ate based of having a spare 5-10k handy.

Start with logitech cams, buy a mic stand to mount it, download free OBS software and have some fun.

If you get the bug, slowly upgrade your rig, that'd be my 2 pence..

Tim
Click to expand...

not that much but I get your point :D

but actually trying to avoid wasting money. I think the USB webcams are a waste of money in the medium term as they just aren't good enough. We got away with them in the early days because there was three streamers now there is about 50 so if you want people to watch you do need to put a bit of effort into the quality of the steam . As a minimum for the playfield I strongly recommend the Sony 405 Handycam and a Camlink at least. then maybe use the USB cameras for face/scores.

Or If you have a phone start with that. https://obs.camera

Cheers,
Neil.
 
Neil's setup more complex than NASA! V cool. I dig.

Cheers for all the tips and stuff chaps. Yeah I'm only a one or two pin man at any one time as I'm both short of space and a peasant. I do however have a decent Mac and PC plus after introducing my old phone to the pavement I just a brand new Pixel blower so maybe I can do things on something of a budget. I hadn't realised you could use your phone like that with OBS.
 
Neil McRae said:
Key requirement is a decent PC or Laptop. I my view atleast i7 or recent Ryzen 16G memory and 1Tb disc.

Also do you have a lot of games or only one?

If you want to move between games then a rig with wheels made of something out of 8020 aluminium, or you could make one out of hard timber. This is what I use:

View attachment 128792

View attachment 128794

If its just for one game You can use microphone booms - I recommend this type:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004N1G268/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stage-Stands-MS7701B-Tripod-Microphone/dp/B00OOQUUGK/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2UWYFAPDNE0B9&dchild=1&keywords=onstage+ms7701b&qid=1609158584&sprefix=onstage+,aps,150&sr=8-5

Use these mounts on my frame:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N64SZ4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thse on the frame and on the boom stand:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SIRAGOC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These on the boom stand for face/dmd camera
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EKQC88C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also use one for DMD/scores camera on the frame (I have a 80s Stern).

Something to mount your iPad or computer closely so you can see what's going on in chat.

Then a decent microphone - I use an XLR mic into a GOXLR which I can also grab sounds from elsewhere and mix them really easily. But to start with just a USB mic on a stand will be fine.

Some sort of light to illuminate the Playfield and you. Lots of folks just goto pincrapiums but they don't help with your light of your face.

Camera wise You can go USB as noted above but over time they are a wasted investment as you really need to get to 60fps. If I was going to spend money I'd get HDMI USB encoders lots of folks use the camlinks but I use Magewell personally speaking. I'd look for the Sony 405 camcorder. Just be gentle with its HDMI port as I've had a few of them go after a while. Better yet connect a mini HDMI to HDMI female connector and don't ever remove it. I now use Canon M6 MII with Sigma 16mm F1.4 lens. I also use wireless rig setup now so I can move it around without unplugging and use tons of RAVPower batteries and USB power for everything on the stand. I also use a desktop server with 24 HDMI ports on it and have all the Stern games LCD wired direct along with TNA, DI, CGC games direct feed. Also have Wirless sound setup for capture game audio.

I saw a guy doing a stream with used phones which was better than I expected.

Cheers,
Neil.
Click to expand...

Just had a proper chance to look through this. Super helpful cheers geez
 
James said:
I use the following:

Custom made rig from a company I will find the details of. I think the rig cost me something like £200.

I use an i7 Laptop with 16GB Ram, Windows and OBS Studio. About £1300, but I use it for work too so, not really a rig cost.

Playfield is running a HD camera, into HDMI capture card. Another £200.

Score is also a HD camera into another HDMI capture card. Another £200.

Audio is dual input, captures my voice and I use a direct input from game noise on a seperate channel. The mixing deck was about £200 and the mic similar, but I am still not happy with this, it captures way too much background noise even now. For a long time I just used a Yeti Nano USB mic, I would argue at a £400 upgrade, I have only marginal gains.

Facecam is just a logitech 1080 one that @strobey has pointed out. You can get for £90 on ebay, shot up in price at the moment due to COVID.

Lighting is important, but I find a good invisiglass sheet will solve more than any light. £200.

It is a rabbit hole after rabbit hole to get into, you can do it on 3 Logitec cams and a Yeti.
Click to expand...

All that for 3 viewers 😂🙃
 
Tilt_Birmingham said:
All that for 3 viewers 😂🙃
Click to expand...
Not everything in life is about having to be the best, or the one with the highest number, or necessarily for someone else. If you spend your time trying to be better than everyone else, you may end up being let down and end up not even being the best version of yourself. I’ve found that true with the biggest things in life (money, job,car etc.) down to the trivial things (pogs, ballroom dancing, competitive pinball etc.), none more so than streaming.

Through streaming I found a way to chill out, relax and spend time, (mainly pre-lockdown) at least with one of my friends who I’ve known since uni. It became a tradition to stream, drink and catch up on all manner of things.

I’d say to anyone streaming, focus on the fun. Not the numbers. That’s just my opinion of course.

Let me know your twitch channel @huggers - always happy to drop in.

PS, I don’t collect pogs nor am I into ballroom dancing. Some would question if my competitive pinball playing is up to much either, and I’d tend to agree 😂
 
Cheers Jim yeah I'm on there as huggiesretrocorner . I would be over the moon with as many as 3 viewers tbh...
 
Also - I have made my own lead up to upgrade the sound amp and speakers for spike 2 games.

Have shared this link with a couple of people I know who stream as to be honest, I looked at getting these made up so I could sell them but other things happened.

www.pinsound.org

Subwoofer & Line-Out connector for Stern SPIKE

Subwoofer and Line-out connectors for your STERN Spike 2 pinball machine! Connect your external subwoofer with the stereo L+R dedicated connector. 5 seconds easy installation.
www.pinsound.org www.pinsound.org

These give a DECENT DIRECT LINE OUT from the CN5 connector on the CPU, pop an earth loop isolation transformer in after.

VTOP Ground Loop Noise Isolator - Audio Noise Filter: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy VTOP Ground Loop Noise Isolator - Audio Noise Filter Eliminator with 3.5mm Audio Cable - for Car or Home Audio System, Radio, Cassette Player at Amazon UK.
www.amazon.co.uk

Use a decent stereo mixer with an XLR input and maybe a half decent Rode mic - but do not do what most people do - DONT forget the cradle or the pop shield.

www.pmtonline.co.uk

Rode NT1A Condenser Microphone Package

The Rode NT1-A microphone pack bundles an NT1A vocal microphone along with some great accessories so you can get professional vocal recordings in your home studio.
www.pmtonline.co.uk www.pmtonline.co.uk

A decent mixer will need to have at least one input for an XLR microphone with 48v phantom power. This is an el-cheapo one but is probably better than most mixers that cost £200+

www.pmtonline.co.uk

Wharfedale Connect 1202FX Mixer

The Wharfedale Connect 1202FX is a compact mixer with some great, professional-level features making it a great mixing desk for all sorts of applications.
www.pmtonline.co.uk www.pmtonline.co.uk

As for cameras - not my thing. Audio is. I am shocked that even Stern do not use a direct out for the live streams they do with Jack Dicker. I do not hear many streams with really good audio from the machine. Most stick a mic infront of the speaker and hope for the best.

You take take an audio out from bally/williams but it means soldering onto boards but you have to really boost the signal via a mixer so on another pinball game I would consider using a DI box (direct inject box) that can be hooked up on speaker terminals using crocodile clips. If anyone is interested - I can send you details.
 
yeah I don't stream to get a huge audience, if that happens then great but more and likely it doesn't, I just stream so you can natter whilst playing.
 
Neil McRae said:
yeah I don't stream to get a huge audience, if that happens then great but more and likely it doesn't, I just stream so you can natter whilst playing.
Click to expand...

Well, need to step up then Sir :)

Joking apart - my comments on bad sound are more directed to the game manufacturers than folks like you.

Imagine Disco Maidem in full stereo with you singing along while you play @Neil McRae . Maybe a few Travolta moves?
 
I was and am still down for one of your SPIKE 2 kits @Pick Holder - does it mean you won't be making them now??

I may go for a lapel style mic or headset mic like IE pinball, that seems to cut out the game noise. Tricky to get right.
 
James said:
I was and am still down for one of your SPIKE 2 kits @Pick Holder - does it mean you won't be making them now??

I may go for a lapel style mic or headset mic like IE pinball, that seems to cut out the game noise. Tricky to get right.
Click to expand...

Me too, the lack of an effective method to capture the screen images is definitely a hindrance.
 
I personally think the click/clack of the coils is key to the viewing experience you just don't want it too loud. I have direct sound out on all my stern spike 2 games now, TNA, DI. also have direct screen out for everything except legacy plasma like DMD's so the CGC remakes, DI, TNA, spike 2. I'm working on a way to get direct out from a colordmd board - watch this space.
 
Neil McRae said:
I personally think the click/clack of the coils is key to the viewing experience you just don't want it too loud.
Click to expand...
+1 - I have tried compression on the voice line to offset the coils but... it isn't easy to get right. Audio over visual is my biggest problem. Not saying the visual is that great. I may do a stream tonight even given all this chatter on it :p
 
James said:
There are options for direct out @Gonzo but I found if you are moving games about, as you are, it probably is more faff than trying to get a good camera on it. Different requirements I guess though, it certainly adds a bit of shine, but for Twitch, I have found a cam good enough.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08JTQWHDQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&ps
Click to expand...


Yeah cheers James. It's not for streaming as you know. I've just finished the AIQ videos and the only annoyance is the reflection on the glass of the LCD.
 
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