Stream Setup

HARDWARE VERDICT

You have a Ryzen 7 5800X, 32GB RAM, and an RTX 3070, which places you in the high-end tier for encoding. The RTX 3070 allows for hardware encoding via NVENC, which is the recommended encoder for your setup. However, it's noted that you're streaming from the same machine you use for coding, which may impact performance if resource-intensive tasks are running in the background.

ENCODER SETTINGS

For your high-end setup with an RTX 3070, the recommended encoder settings are:

• Encoder: NVENC (H.264)
• Preset: Quality or Performance, depending on your specific needs and the complexity of your streams
• Bitrate: This will be determined by your upload speed (see UPLOAD MATH section)
• Resolution: 1080p or 936p/720p60, depending on the content type and your internet upload speed
• Frame Rate: 60fps for fast-paced content like gameplay, or 30fps for more static content like Just Chatting or creative streams
• Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
• Rate Control: CBR (Constant Bit Rate) for consistency

UPLOAD MATH

Given your upload speed is 18 Mbps, the maximum bitrate for streaming should not exceed half of this, which is:
18 Mbps * 1000 kbps/Mbps / 2 = 9000 kbps

However, considering the high-end tier's bitrate band (6,000–8,000 kbps) and to ensure stability and quality, a bitrate of 6,000 kbps could be a more conservative and suitable target for 1080p60 content, keeping in mind the specific requirements of your content and the performance of your hardware.

SCENE SET

Given the clarkbuilds streamer's creative coding and generative art focus, with a calm and studio-like brand vibe, the following scene set is designed to enhance the viewer experience:

SCENE: Starting Soon
Purpose: Displayed while viewers arrive, before the stream goes live
Sources (bottom to top):

1. Image - 0%, 0%, 100%, 100% (static graphic with channel name, socials, and a muted background)
2. Text - 40%, 40%, 20%, 10% (countdown timer)
   Changes from previous scene: N/A, this is the first scene

SCENE: Just Chatting
Purpose: Viewer interaction before main content, with a focus on chat
Sources (bottom to top):

1. Camera - 10%, 10%, 80%, 80% (Sony ZV-E10 webcam feed)
2. Chat widget - 80%, 10%, 20%, 80% (positioned for easy reading)
   Changes from previous scene: Replaces static graphic with camera feed, adds chat widget

SCENE: Main Content
Purpose: Primary stream content, such as coding or generative art
Sources (bottom to top):

1. Screen capture - 0%, 0%, 100%, 100% (focused on the coding or art area)
2. Chat widget - 0%, 0%, 20%, 80% (kept on screen for continuous interaction)
3. Alert box - 80%, 0%, 20%, 10% (for subscriptions, donations, etc.)
   Changes from previous scene: Moves focus to main content, keeps chat visible

MIXER LEVELS

To check these levels, speak at a normal volume and observe where the meter sits. Then, shout once to confirm that the peak does not hit the red. Adjust the microphone level while talking quietly into it to avoid a level that's too low, which is a common issue with first streams.

FILTER CHAIN

For the microphone in OBS, apply the following filters in this order:

1. Noise Gate: Set the close threshold below your quiet speaking level to prevent clipping of your first syllable.
2. Noise Suppression: Use the RNNoise filter for a free and effective solution. Paid options like the GPU-vendor ones offer cleaner suppression for constant noises.
3. Compressor: Apply a modest ratio to even out the gap between a whisper and a shout. Avoid heavy compression, which can make your stream sound like a call centre.
4. Limiter: Always place this last, as it acts as a safety net to prevent one loud reaction from clipping the whole stream.

SOFTWARE SETTINGS

PRE-STREAM

1. Verify microphone level: speak at normal volume and confirm the meter sits near −12 dB, not in the red.
2. Check camera framing and lighting: ensure the camera captures your face and workspace clearly, and adjust lighting to minimize harsh shadows and glare.
3. Confirm every scene loads: test each scene to ensure all sources are visible and functioning as expected.
4. Ensure chat widget or second-screen chat is live: verify that chat is updating in real-time and is easily readable.
5. Close unnecessary applications: silence notifications and close any apps that may cause distractions or interfere with the stream.
6. Select the correct stream key: double-check that you're using the correct stream key for your account.
7. Enable recording or VOD saving: if desired, ensure that the stream will be recorded or saved for later use.
8. Set up the Starting Soon scene: confirm that this scene is live before the stream key goes live.
9. Prepare the go-live announcement: have the announcement ready to post when the stream goes live.
10. Enable captions: widen your audience and improve accessibility by enabling captions, which help in noisy rooms and can be clipped for short-form platforms.

GO LIVE