Best Streaming Gear for Beginners

A professional-looking stream comes down to four things: clean audio, soft light, a decent camera, and a way to get it all into your PC. Here’s the gear that covers each, without the streamer-tax markup.

The beginner streaming stack

1. Microphone, audio quality is what keeps viewers. Start here.
2. Key light, one soft light transforms a webcam image.
3. Camera, a mirrorless camera over clean HDMI, or a good webcam to start.
4. Capture, a capture card if you’re bringing in a camera or console.

Related content

• Best streaming setup for beginners (full guide)
• Lighting category
• Audio category

Frequently asked questions

What streaming gear should a beginner buy first?

The microphone. This page’s beginner stack puts audio first because audio quality is what keeps viewers, followed by a key light, one soft light transforms a webcam image, then a camera, meaning a mirrorless camera over clean HDMI or a good webcam to start, and finally a capture card if you are bringing in a camera or console.

Which microphone does this page rate highest?

The Shure SM7B, rated 5/5 and described as the endgame stream mic. The page credits it with unmatched voice clarity and room rejection, and says that if your stream has one premium piece, it should be the mic.

Which light does this page recommend for streaming?

The Elgato Key Light, rated 4.5/5 and described as the streamer’s key light. It is the light you see in half of all Twitch setups, with edge-lit softness, app control and clean desk mounting.

Have the capture cards and stream controllers been reviewed yet?

Not yet, that card is marked ’On the test bench’. Popular capture cards and macro keypads for stream control are currently being tested, with full reviews coming soon; in the meantime this page links to the beginner streaming setup guide.