5 (Mostly) Free Pieces of Software for New Creators

 

5 (Mostly Free) Pieces of Software for New Creators

Starting out streaming is pretty daunting. There are so many pieces of software all in varying levels of quality, and having the right tool for the job can make all of the difference when you’re starting out. From broadcasting on twitch to recording an apology video these programs are the best that I have found to start learning as a beginner.

 

1. OBS Studio – The Gold Standard Streaming Software

OBS Studio on Steam

OBS Studio is at #1 on this list for a reason. It is free and open-source in the streaming industry; OBS is the standard tool used for recording and streaming. It allows you to make multiple scenes at a time using things such as a screen capture, a webcam, or even an image/.gif for input. From there you can layer the scenes over top of one another to create your own layout.

Another great thing is OBS has integration with all of the major live streaming platforms. After linking your account in OBS you are able to stream directly to those platforms simply by pressing “Start Streaming”. The integration also allows for you to read chat messages real time in the app so there it's not necessary to waste extra processing power on running an extra copy of your stream!

OBS Studio is an absolute must have and can be downloaded through Steam!

 

2. NVIDIA Broadcast – AI-Powered Audio Filter & Video Editor

NVIDIA Broadcast

If you've got an NVIDIA GPU this program is a must. Broadcast uses AI to filter background noise like keyboard clacks or room echo from your microphone audio in real time. It also has the amazing capability for “Eye Tracking” in video which will take any webcam input and using AI edit the video so that your eyes are always locked on the camera even if you are reading off of a script on the other monitor! In addition to the eye tracking there is a bunch of other features such as the Virtual Keylight and Auto Focus that really elevate the production feel of your webcam content.

NVIDIA Broadcast is essential in my opinion if you have a loud mechanical keyboard. Its Noise Filtering is very impressive and vastly improves my own audio quality on a regular basis. 

3. Medal.tv – For Quick Game Clips

Medal.tv

Medal is perfect for capturing clips or highlights when you are gaming but not “Live On-Air”. I use it all the time when I am playing casually but have something funny or exciting happen. I have Medal launch when my computer boots up so if I ever need to, I can clip the last 2 minutes with the press of a button.

From there you are able to edit your videos and then upload them to Medals growing social media platform. The clips posted this way are great to share on other sites like reddit or can be downloaded and reuploaded elsewhere.

 

4. Discord – Your Digital Third Space

Discord

Discord is essential for streamers. It is the main place where communities are able to meet and grow on the internet currently and because of its easy-to-use interface it is really applicable for any kind of group. You are able to create text and voice channels as well as different roles for members so your Mods can have the power to kick members who are causing problems. The Voice chats are awesome, super easy to enter and leave and private channels can be created.

Many creators use discord as a place for their fans to meet and discuss their content or meet other community members. Remember growing a great server can take time but if you put in the work of making a community the growth will be natural.

 

5. Adobe Photoshop – For Graphics & Thumbnails

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop is an incredible program and for the purposes of creating thumbnails and memes it is able to accomplish the job with no sweat. I list it here because I am able to get free access by being a student. I wanted to encourage others to see if they are able to get free access to the adobe suite. Otherwise, I want to let beginners know Photoshop is great, but it can be overkill for what you need to get started. Free programs like Paint, Canva, and PowerPoint can be used to make basic edits to images like what is usually needed to create thumbnails.

Closing Advice

Getting started streaming or creating online can be daunting, but now you have the right tools. If you are new to streaming, I would tell you to download all of the above programs right now. Begin to work with them and understand how they all work together. Doing so will set your content out from the crowd. Adobe programs in particular are