On streaming

Scenes? What should I have?

• Starting Soon Scene: This is your chance to build anticipation before the actual content starts. Consider adding a countdown timer to build up the excitement. You could also show some highlights from previous streams, mention your social media handles, or even play some background music.

• Be Right Back (BRB) Scene: This scene is useful when you need to take a quick break but don't want to lose your audience. Adding a countdown timer indicating when you'll be back can be a good idea. Alternatively, displaying chat messages or a fun mini-game for viewers to participate in can keep them entertained during your absence.

• Gameplay Scene: This is where most of the action happens. Make sure your webcam (if you use one) is appropriately sized and positioned so as not to obscure any important elements of the game. Some streamers have multiple versions of this scene with the camera in different positions, for use with different games. Consider also having overlays showing recent subscribers, your social media handles, etc.

• Just Chatting Scene: If you have periods of time where you just chat with the audience, it might be nice to have a specific scene for this. Maybe it's just you fullscreen, or maybe there's a layout that includes chat, recent events, etc.

• Ending Scene: Use this scene to wrap up your stream, thank your viewers for watching, and perhaps preview what you'll be doing in the next stream. Some streamers use this opportunity to ask for follows or promote their social media.

• Stream Offline Scene: Don't forget about when you're offline! Twitch allows you to upload an image that will be displayed when your channel is visited while you're not streaming. This is another good place to mention your social media or streaming schedule.

Should I stream in 720p for 1080p? 

The ideal resolution and bitrate for your Twitch stream will depend on a few factors: your internet upload speed, your streaming software, your computer's processing power, and your audience's download speed. In your case, with 40 Mbps upload speed, you certainly have more than enough to handle either 720p or 1080p.

Twitch's maximum bitrate is indeed 6000 Kbps, which is more than sufficient for a high-quality 720p stream, and quite adequate for a decent 1080p stream. However, bitrate doesn't just influence resolution but also the video quality at any given resolution. For instance, a 720p stream at 6000 Kbps will often look better than a 1080p stream at the same bitrate because there's more data available per pixel.

This comes into play when you consider your viewers. Not all viewers will have high-speed internet connections that can smoothly handle a 1080p stream at 6000 Kbps. Streaming at a higher resolution can lead to buffering issues for viewers with slower connections. Twitch does offer quality options for viewers to downscale the resolution, but this feature is not always available for all streams, especially for smaller or non-partnered streamers.

You also noted correctly that most users don't watch in fullscreen mode, and the difference between 720p and 1080p becomes less noticeable on smaller screens. Moreover, most mobile devices and tablets, which constitute a significant portion of Twitch viewership, do not require a resolution higher than 720p.

Given these factors, streaming at 720p might indeed be the better option for you. This resolution provides a good balance between quality and performance, and is less likely to cause issues for viewers with slower internet speeds. You could use a higher bitrate (up to 6000 Kbps) to improve the overall quality at this resolution.

Do we have any idea how much of a visual improvement streaming at 6000kbps at 720p is over 1080p?

Generally, visual improvement isn't so much about the absolute resolution as it is about the ratio of bitrate to resolution, which affects the amount of data that's available for each pixel of the video. A higher bitrate allows for more details and less visible compression artifacts at any given resolution.

When you stream at 1080p with a bitrate of 6000 Kbps, you are spreading the available data across more pixels compared to streaming at 720p at the same bitrate. This means that each individual pixel in the 1080p stream is getting less data, which can result in a less detailed, slightly more "blocky" or pixelated image, especially in scenes with a lot of motion or intricate details.

Conversely, streaming at 720p at 6000 Kbps means each pixel gets more data, potentially leading to a sharper, more detailed image even though the overall resolution is lower.

However, the exact visual difference can be subjective and hard to quantify. It depends on a variety of factors including the quality of the source material, the efficiency of the encoder, the complexity of the visual data (for example, a simple static image would likely look identical at either setting), the size and quality of the viewer's display, and even individual viewer perception.

There is a point of diminishing returns, though. In some cases, viewers might not notice the difference between a 720p stream at a high bitrate and a 1080p stream at the same bitrate, especially if they're not watching on a very large screen. However, the 720p stream is more likely to be smooth and free of buffering issues for viewers with slower internet connections, which can greatly improve their viewing experience.

So, while there may be a visual improvement with streaming 720p at 6000 Kbps compared to 1080p at the same bitrate, it's difficult to say exactly how much without testing it with your specific setup and content. It might be worthwhile to do a few test streams at both settings and ask for feedback from your viewers, or record and review the streams yourself.

You mentioned ratio, do we know what the ratio is?

The "ratio" in this context refers to the relationship between the bitrate of the video stream and its resolution. When we talk about this ratio, we're generally talking about the number of bits per pixel (bpp) used to encode the video.

However, the exact bitrate-to-resolution ratio that's considered "good" can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as the complexity of the video, the efficiency of the encoder, and the viewing conditions.

Here's how to calculate bits per pixel:

• First, calculate the total number of pixels in the frame. For a 720p frame, that's 1280 pixels (width) * 720 pixels (height) = 921,600 pixels. For a 1080p frame, it's 1920 pixels * 1080 pixels = 2,073,600 pixels.

• Then, convert the bitrate from Kbps to bps by multiplying by 1,000. So, 6000 Kbps = 6,000,000 bps.

• Now, we can calculate the bits per pixel. In a 30 fps stream, for instance, divide the bitrate by the total number of pixels in the frame and again by the number of frames per second. For 720p at 6000 Kbps and 30 fps, this gives:
  6,000,000 bps / 921,600 pixels / 30 fps ≈ 0.22 bpp
  And for 1080p:
  6,000,000 bps / 2,073,600 pixels / 30 fps ≈ 0.10 bpp

As you can see, the 720p stream at the same bitrate and framerate has over twice as many bits per pixel, indicating it can potentially provide a more detailed and less compressed image.

Again, these are very basic calculations and there's a lot more that goes into determining the perceived quality of a video stream. But this does give you a rough idea of why a lower-resolution stream at the same bitrate could potentially look better than a higher-resolution one.

Webcam placement on stream?

• Webcam Position: The best spot for your webcam depends on the game you're playing. You want to avoid blocking important in-game information or gameplay with your camera feed. For instance, in many shooter games, the bottom corners of the screen are less likely to contain critical information, making them good locations for a facecam. The top corners could work too, depending on the game. Analyze the games you play most often and choose a position that interferes least with gameplay.

• Webcam Size: The size of your webcam feed on screen is also important. It needs to be large enough for viewers to see your reactions, but not so large that it becomes distracting or obscures too much of the game. You might need to experiment a bit to find the right balance.

• Overlay Information: Decide what other information to include on your overlay. Common elements include a recent followers or donations list, a chat window, social media handles, and a stream schedule. While these can enhance the viewer experience, too many elements can create visual clutter and distract from the main content.

• Consistent Design: Your overlay design should be consistent with your brand. Use colors and fonts that match your overall aesthetic. If you use transitions between scenes, make sure they also fit with your style.

• Dynamic Elements: Consider using dynamic elements in your overlay. For instance, alerts can pop up when someone follows, donates, or subscribes. Just make sure these are not too distracting or obtrusive.

• Use of Space: Ensure your game footage is the primary focus and occupies the majority of the screen real estate. Overlays and webcam feeds should be supplementary and not detract from the gameplay.

What goes into overlays?

Here are some common features you might see in overlays:

• Webcam Frame: This is where the streamer's face-cam is usually positioned. It's often customized to fit the stream's aesthetic and can include the streamer's logo or other branding.

• Chat Box: This shows chat messages from viewers in real-time. It's useful for viewers watching the stream after it has ended and allows viewers to see their own messages on the stream.

• Alerts and Notifications: These typically pop up when someone follows, subscribes, donates, or raids the channel. They are a good way to acknowledge and thank viewers for their support.

• Recent Events: This could include recent followers, top donors, current subscribers, and more. It's another way to recognize and incentivize viewer interaction.

• Social Media Handles: If you're active on other social media platforms, it's a good idea to include these handles in your overlay to encourage viewers to engage with you outside of Twitch.

• Now Playing: If you're playing music on your stream, this feature can show what song is currently playing.

• Sponsor Banners: If you have sponsors, their logos or other information can be displayed on your stream.

• Stream Information: This can include what game you're playing, the stream schedule, or any other information you want to share with your viewers.

• Viewer Count: Some streamers include a live viewer count in their overlay.

Starting soon scene?

• A good "Starting Soon" scene helps set the tone for your stream, build anticipation, and allows your viewers some time to tune in before the main content begins. It's essentially a warm-up phase before the main event, and it's a great opportunity to showcase your brand, personality, and past content. Here's what you could consider incorporating into your "Starting Soon" scene:

• Highlights Reel: As you mentioned, a montage of past stream highlights or funny moments can entertain early viewers and show newcomers what they can expect from your streams. This can include gameplay highlights, humorous incidents, community events, or any memorable interactions you've had on stream.

• Music: Background music can create an atmosphere for your stream. Depending on your stream's vibe, this could be chill lo-fi beats, energetic electronic music, or anything in between. Make sure any music you use is royalty-free or you have the rights to use it to avoid copyright issues.

• Countdown Timer: This adds anticipation and gives viewers a clear idea of when the stream will start.

• Stream Schedule/Upcoming Events: Use this space to inform your viewers about your regular streaming schedule or any special events coming up.

• Social Media Promotions: Promote your social media handles so that viewers can follow you on other platforms. You could also highlight any hashtags you use frequently.

• Sponsor/Partner Shout-outs: If you have any sponsors or partners, this could be a good time to display their logos or run a short ad.

• Channel Rules: Remind your viewers of the chat rules to help maintain a positive and respectful community.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, incorporate interactive elements like chat games or polls to engage your viewers during the wait.

• Keep your "Starting Soon" screen on for a reasonable amount of time - not too long to lose viewer interest and not too short that your viewers miss the beginning of your stream. 5-10 minutes is generally a good duration.