Guide for beginners
Start streaming: step by step
Everything you need for your first stream – from hardware and OBS to the rules in Germany. No jargon, in the order you'll need it.
1. What you need
- A Windows PC that runs your game smoothly. Streaming takes extra power; a graphics card with its own encoder (NVIDIA, AMD or Intel) takes a lot of load off the processor.
- Enough upload. What matters is your connection's upload, not its download. For a good 720p picture, 4 to 5 Mbit/s of upload is a solid start; for 1080p at 60 frames per second, more like 8 Mbit/s. A network cable is more stable than Wi-Fi.
- A microphone. Viewers forgive an average picture sooner than bad audio. Even a simple USB mic is a big step up from a headset mic.
- A camera, if you like. Many people stay longer when they can see who's talking. A simple webcam is enough to start.
- OBS Studio – free from obsproject.com. It captures your picture and sound and sends them to the platform.
2. Set up OBS
On first launch, OBS offers the auto-configuration wizard. Choose “Optimize for streaming” and let it test your connection. Then build your scenes:
- A scene in OBS is a finished layout, such as “In-game” or “Break”. You switch between scenes during your stream.
- Sources are the parts of a scene: “Game Capture” or “Display Capture” for the game, “Video Capture Device” for the camera, plus your microphone under Settings → Audio.
- Overlays such as alerts, chat or a countdown are added as a browser source. In GlowCast, copy an address in the “Overlays” tab and paste it into OBS. With GlowCast Pro, the app creates every scene in one click.
A typical starter set: a starting scene with a countdown, an in-game scene, a break scene and an ending scene.
3. Platform and stream key
The stream key is the password that lets OBS broadcast to your channel. Never share it and never show it on stream. Anyone who has it can stream on your channel.
Twitch
The easiest way is to connect your Twitch account directly in OBS under Settings → Stream. Alternatively, you'll find the key in the Creator Dashboard under Settings → Stream.
YouTube
In YouTube Studio via “Create” → “Go live”. The very first time, YouTube enables live streaming for your channel, which can take up to 24 hours – so don't start right before your planned stream.
Kick
You'll find the stream URL and key in Kick's Creator Dashboard under the stream settings, and enter both in OBS as a custom service.
TikTok LIVE
TikTok usually allows LIVE from age 18 and, in many countries, also requires a minimum number of followers, often 1,000. The app shows you whether your account is eligible. From a PC you stream via TikTok LIVE Studio or, if your account gets a stream key, via OBS.
Several platforms at once? Send the video to all of them with OBS (multiple outputs) or a restream service. GlowCast merges chat and alerts from every platform into the same overlays. Keep in mind: every extra platform needs its own share of upload.
4. Video and audio
The most important setting is the video bitrate (OBS: Settings → Output). If it's higher than your connection can handle, the stream stutters for every viewer. Twitch's guidelines:
| Picture | Video bitrate | Upload of at least about |
|---|---|---|
| 720p, 30 fps | 3,000 kbps | 4.5 Mbit/s |
| 720p, 60 fps | 4,500 kbps | 6.5 Mbit/s |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 6,000 kbps | 8.5 Mbit/s |
Leave about a quarter of your upload free for audio, chat and fluctuations. The tech check in GlowCast measures your upload and tells you the right bitrate.
Audio
- Mic close to your mouth, about a hand's width away, out of the airflow of fans.
- In the OBS audio mixer, your voice should reach the yellow range when you talk normally, but not hit red.
- OBS has filters built in: right-click your microphone → Filters → “Noise Suppression” removes fan and keyboard noise.
- Keep game audio quieter than your voice – viewers want to understand you.
Lighting
Light from the front, not from behind: don't sit with your back to a window. A lamp behind your monitor that lights you from the front does more than an expensive camera.
5. Your first stream
- Practice without an audience. Do a practice stream first: switch scenes, talk, keep an eye on chat. GlowCast has a practice mode with made-up chat for exactly that.
- Open with your starting scene. A three- to five-minute countdown gives viewers time to arrive.
- Talk, even if nobody types. Say what you're doing and thinking. Silence feels longer on stream than it is. New viewers rarely type right away.
- Greet people by name. Anyone who writes in chat wants to be seen.
- Plan a clear ending. Say thanks, mention your next stream and send your viewers to another channel with a raid.
6. Growing
- Regular beats a lot. Fixed days and times help viewers come back. Three times a week at the same time beats streaming at random.
- Twitch Affiliate is the first big milestone. According to Twitch, since June 2026 you need: 25 followers, 4 hours streamed on 4 different days and an average of at least 3 viewers on 4 days, counted over the last 30 days. Twitch shows your official progress in the Creator Dashboard under “Achievements”.
- Clips and short videos of your best moments bring new people to your channel.
- Raids connect you with other streamers – and the next community gets to know you.
7. Rules in Germany
Not legal advice: this is an overview for streamers in Germany. When in doubt, ask a lawyer or your state media authority.
Legal notice (Impressum)
Anyone offering a digital service on a business-like basis needs a legal notice (§ 5 Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz). For a purely private channel without income this often doesn't apply. If you earn money – subscriptions, donations, ads, partner links – you usually need one. On Twitch, a clearly visible panel below your stream works.
Music
You can't simply play well-known songs on stream. Without a license you risk videos being removed and your channel being suspended. Use music that is explicitly cleared for streaming or licensed libraries.
Broadcasting
Live streams can legally count as broadcasting. You don't need a license, though, as long as you reach fewer than 20,000 concurrent viewers on average over six months (§ 54 Medienstaatsvertrag). For beginners this isn't an issue.
Advertising
If you get money or products for a mention, you have to label it as advertising.
8. How GlowCast helps
The app has its own “Start” tab for getting started, all included in the free version:
- Ready in 7 steps: a checklist from your name to a practice stream.
- Tech check: measures your upload, recommends a bitrate and checks whether your overlays are in OBS. With Pro, it also checks your mic, levels, bitrate and performance directly in OBS.
- Practice stream: five minutes of practice with made-up chat and test alerts in your real overlays.
- Conversation starters: questions and topics for when chat is quiet.
- Path to Twitch Affiliate: how far along you are on followers, stream time and viewers.
- Recap after your stream: when most viewers were watching and what to try next time.
Sources
- Twitch: Monetization for All (May 13, 2026) – Affiliate requirements
- § 5 Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz – general information duties (German)
- Medienstaatsvertrag (§ 54, license exemption) – die medienanstalten (German)
- OBS Studio
Last updated: October 30, 2026