Remember that time when I told you that I finally figured out what the problem was on my stream? And that I knew how to fix it? Yeah, I was wrong about that last part.
streaming
Streaming and My Lip Sync Battle
Having pushed my existing streaming setup to the limit, I decided to take the next step by purchasing a graphics card. Doing so would ease the burden on my CPU and ideally allow me to stream higher quality video without my computer melting. At first, it seemed like it was working just fine. But then, a more nefarious issue began happening that has been racking my brain and wrecking my streams for the past month.
Elgato Stream Deck Review
Before I began streaming, I dismissed the Elgato Stream Deck as an expensive gimmick. At its regular price of $150 US/$220 CAD, you are paying a lot for what simply appears to be nothing more than 15 buttons. Once I started getting into streaming, I felt that I could manage my stream just fine with a keyboard and mouse.
With many hours of streaming under my belt now, I’ve begun to understand where a device like the Stream Deck could come in handy. I use my keyboard for hot keys, but I can’t unbind them from their default functions. For example, I want to type in a new numerical value to adjust the volume of the game. All of a sudden, my scene quickly flashes and ends on the wrong view because those same numbers are mapped to my different scenes. I’ve streamed for far too long with a muted mic because I didn’t realize it was muted. For a production-heavy show like Boss Rush, where I’m the host and the producer, I spend too much time not engaging with the crew or the audience because I’m too busy looking at the screen trying to cue up the next video or manage all of the visual elements that go into our game shows.
At this point in my streaming career, I knew that I needed more buttons. There are alternatives to the pricey Stream Deck, such as phone apps that offer similar functionality, or DIY solutions that can be done for much cheaper. You can even buy a cheaper Stream Deck featuring only six buttons. But when the original 15-button model went on sale as part of Black Friday, I scooped one up immediately.
Streaming to a younger audience and the greater discussion of how one’s work can impact the world
In Third Person at its core has always been a personal outlet. Taking my deep thoughts and feelings around video games and translating them into text, I didn’t really pay any mind to who was on the receiving end of my content. When I started making YouTube videos, I got a bit of a better idea of who that was. Based on their demographic data, the audience for videos was 99% male, ages 18-34. Regardless of what demographic gravitated towards my work, I always felt like the thoughts and feelings I wanted to share in the moment were more important than trying to appeal to an audience.
Things are a little different on Twitch. While I’m pretty sure the vast majority of my followers are male, I’ve chatted with a number of viewers who have identified themselves as being high school or elementary school students. It has caused me to think more about those on the receiving end and the impact I was making on the world.
The Making of and Post-Mortem of Our Extra Life 25-Hour Marathon
For years, I’ve batted around the idea of putting together an Extra Life marathon. It always seemed like a cool way of partaking in an activity I loved while making a positive impact on the world. After sitting on the sidelines for many years, I finally decided to give it a shot while bringing my friends and family with me.
So glad we did it! We raised a lot of money for a wonderful cause and had a great time doing it. My body might still be reeling from the stress and adverse effects from all of the work that went into it, which culminated in a day of virtually no sleep. But it was all worth it in the end.
Right now, I’m itching to write down a bunch of the behind-the-scenes stuff that made the show what it was. Join me as I peel back the curtain a little bit on our Extra Life marathon!
My Failed Attempt at Upgrading My Streaming PC
For months now, I’ve been preparing to upgrade my PC. Though I’ve never done anything of the sort, I’ve had friends coach me on what parts to buy and how to install everything. As soon as all of the parts came in, I cleared off the kitchen table, got a screwdriver, and got to work. This is my story of PC upgrading failure.
Observations Regarding the Streaming Experience
It’s been a bit over a year since I began this journey into the world of live streaming. It has been a very bumpy road filled with technical hiccups, dead air, and a strong sense of doubt for whether I should even pursue this avenue at all. However, the lessons I’ve learned throughout this process has helped improve my output while better setting myself up for the future. Also hoping to have entertained you along the way! Here are a few things I’ve noted during my time as a streamer that maybe could be of value to you.
Expectations for Streaming and Other Lofty Goals
A thread on r/twitch garnered a lot of momentum and caught my eye a little while back. Titled “It is ok to give up.“, u/LostLibrary details the story of his friend who has ruined his life in hopes of chasing his dream to become a streaming superstar. Giving up on work and school, yet not being able to get his streaming venture off the ground, has put his friend in a really tight spot. He now finds himself homeless, living with his friend while working a fast food job in an attempt to get his life back on track.
I’m sure his story isn’t the first of its kind and certainly won’t be the last. Reading the thread got me thinking about my expectations for streaming, for In Third Person as a whole, and the concept of expectations relative to chasing lofty goals.
I (Still) Have a Retro Game Video/Streaming Problem
Part of my push towards video included retro games. I want to be able to broadcast and capture video from old classics. For quite some time, I struggled with the technical logistics of getting my computer to read analog signals. Eventually, I figured it out. Or so I thought.
DIY Cheap Custom Lighting Solution For Streaming
Over the last few months, I’ve made a concerted effort to improve my video and streaming output. Much of my focus has gone towards hardware, such as a microphone and webcam, but that’s only a part of the picture. One key element to making sure you look your best is to have the right lighting in your room. I’ve struggled with getting the right picture due to broadcasting from a dimly-lit basement where the primary light fixture is directly behind my head, which only made me look really dark on camera. On top of that, there’s very little room in front of me to install lighting in front of me due to my desk being close to a wall outlet.
With the help of my wife, we were able to create a custom lighting solution that does a tremendous job of providing my face with an even light source that doesn’t break the bank. Maybe this solution is what you need to take your stream to the next level!
In Third Person 