Since its inception, Twitch has grown to be a social media powerhouse. The platform has amassed 2.6 million average daily viewers and has emerged as the most popular streaming platform. The loyal fan base of Twitch has been created by talented streamers who stream gaming and lifestyle videos.
However, certain individuals want to keep their streams private and only cater to their select audience. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of this feature and struggle to conduct a private stream.
Therefore, this comprehensive guide is going to explore the basics and how you can conduct your own private Twitch stream.
What is Twitch?
Before exploring the world of private Twitch stream, you need to have a basic understanding of the Twitch platform and its features.
Twitch is a streaming platform that mostly broadcasts video game live streams and eSports contests. In addition to gaming, it transmits music, innovative, artistic, and factual information, as well as more recent “in real life” streaming.
It was founded by Justin Kan in 2011. It grew from an idea that struck him to livestream his daily life, which piqued the interest of others who wanted to do the same. It was acquired by Amazon in 2014, marking the start of its journey to become the leading live-streaming platform on the internet.
Twitch Tracker said that it attracted roughly 590,000 daily average active users in 2016. By 2018, the number of live viewers has nearly doubled to 1,070,000 per day. In February 2020, it attracted 3 million broadcasters every month, 15 million daily active users, and an average of 1.4 million concurrent users.
Later, in July 2020, watching time on this platform increased by 83.1% year on year, with 5 billion hours of viewing recorded in Q2 2020. Between the middle of January and May 2020, about 3.5 million people began streaming on it.
Why Create Private Twitch Streams?
As mentioned, certain streamers may want to conduct a specialized stream only for a selected few, and this is where private Twitch streams come into play.
Aside from keeping your live stream confined to a select audience, private streaming on Twitch offers other benefits. The following are some of the key advantages of a private Twitch stream:
- You can start a private stream on-demand for your subscribers and make a profit through it.
- Start a private stream dedicated solely to your subscribers so they feel appreciated and intrigue the rest of your audience to subscribe.
- It helps avoid copyright infringement if you’re using someone else’s content in your Live Stream.
- You can conduct a giveaway or a contest on your account and, subsequently, set up a live stream so you can interact with the winners.
- By interacting with a specific audience to watch your livestream, you get to bond with them on an intimate level, which helps you understand the audience and improve your content.
How to Set Up a Twitch Stream Like A Pro
Now that you have learned about the basics of private Twitch streams let’s learn how to set up a stream. Once you’ve ensured that your gear and software are up to date, you’re almost ready to go live. While these are necessary for high-quality streaming, there are further steps you may take to seem more professional:
1. Background Set Up
For instance, consider how your background will be seen on your face cam. Most streamers have their own area to broadcast from, but as a newbie, you may not have that option.
Even if you’re simply in your bedroom, keep the space neat behind you and position fascinating things in front of the camera. Turning off your lights and hanging glittering lights behind you are two easy methods that may liven up wherever you stream from.
It may appear easy, but spectators will only be focused on two things: the gameplay and your camera. Making what they see more intriguing will pique their attention and provide them with something to discuss in conversation.
2. Crystal Clear Audio
Streaming games with excellent audio is a hand-in-hand affair. You may use a simple 3.5mm gaming headset, such as the HyperX or Sennheiser PC series, but the audio quality is average at best. If you truly want to up your mic game, you’ll need a broadcast mic like an SM7B or RE20.
Of course, you’ll need an interface with high-quality preamps; an Apollo Arrow or Apollo Twin are preferred, but a Focusrite 2i2 would suffice if you don’t want to spend a lot of money.
3. Stream Interface
While your game and face cam will take up most of your stream, you may make minor changes to the broadcast to make it more visually appealing. Many broadcasters use an overlay on their broadcast that is mainly decorative but may make the show stand out.
The most typical example is a trim around the screen’s edges, and you may add windows with the names of recent followers and donations to the overlay to increase viewer interaction.
In addition, consider creating a personalized logo or having someone else develop one for you. Creating a logo exclusive to your channel is a simple yet powerful method to establish a distinctive brand.
Conclusion
Twitch remains one of the most popular and rapidly growing streaming platforms. The wide array of interactive features and devoted fan base have taken the platform to new heights. While Twitch holds the record for highest viewership, streamers sometimes want to create niche content for their audience, or a group of people may want to conduct a personal watch party.
In those cases, private streams emerge as the best option that allows streamers to have a limited audience. There are different ways to conduct a private stream that depends on your needs. Moreover, you must evaluate your Twitch stream interface, audio, and background to give your viewers the best streaming experience.
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