If you’re a Mac user looking to get started with streaming on Twitch, you may have found that there aren’t many options available for you when it comes to streaming software. However, Twitch recently released an app called Twitch Studio that’s free to use, has everything you need to get started, and works on both Macs and PCs.
Twitch Studio includes support for stream alerts right inside the app, and they’ve really made the process of getting started streaming very easy by simplifying the whole setup into a four-step wizard process. You simply select the mic you’d like to use for streaming and choose any additional audio features you’d like to add. Then, choose the webcam you’d like to use for your stream and set up your layouts. Each layout is used for different segments of your stream, whether you’re gaming, taking a break, or just chatting with your viewers.
The predefined layouts Twitch Studio gives you are actually a great start, but you can feel free to add more if you like later. You can even check out the customized layouts if you’d like to tweak any of the colors or personalize it to your own taste.
Finally, the most helpful step in this process is the stream quality settings. Streaming requires a lot from your computer in order to convert your video into a format suitable for streaming, and a solid internet connection is required in order to then upload it to Twitch. The great part about Twitch Studio is that it automatically checks the capabilities of both your computer and internet connection in order to determine the best settings for your stream. This is a huge time saver considering there are several videos out there dedicated to discussing how to choose the right settings.
Once you’ve gone through the setup process, you’re pretty much ready to hit the start streaming button and go live. You can set the title of your stream and interact with your viewers using the chat built right into the app.
If you’re interested in more, there are a few additional things you can do with the app. By default, the main layout will show whatever application you have in full-screen mode. You can change that by editing the layout and going to game capture and changing the application it’s broadcasting. If you’re using a capture card to stream from a console, you’ll need to delete the game capture layer and add a new webcam layer where you choose your capture card as the input.
Finally, you have an option to record a local copy of your stream to your computer. This is great for editing clips later after the stream, but make sure you record to a secondary hard drive. You can change the location of your recording by clicking on settings, going to the recording tab, and selecting a directory on your secondary hard drive.
Overall, Twitch Studio is a great option for Mac users looking to get started with streaming on Twitch. With minimal configuration and in only a few minutes, you can be up and running. So why not give it a try and see how you like it?