Events

We are excited you want to stream with us.  Our goal is to provide everyone with an easy to use process to get you up and running. Here are a few things you need to know to ensure a smooth and fun show.

Requirements

First please read and make sure you can meet the requirements and configuration for streaming here https://nyms.love/2020/04/26/how-to-stream-to-twitch-from-your-computer/

Scheduling & Sign Up

Red = NYMS Monthly Showcase. This is curated by NYMS founders. Sign up is not open, but we encourage you to contact a Discord admin and ask to play. 

Blue = Satellite Shows.  These are curated by various NYMS members. Sign up is not open, but we encourage you contact the show producers to ask to play.

Yellow = Open sign up, streaming directly to twitch.  You’ll need to ask for a key from an admin.  You should be a trusted member of the community. Like any community we would expect to know a new neighbor before we hand out keys to our home. The same goes for streaming keys.

RED & BLUE SHOWS

Streaming key and ingest URL will be issued when your show is confirmed and listed on the site.

PROMOTION

We will create graphic assets for the stream. We will deliver social graphics to you to promote on your social channels before the show. Feel free to create your own promotions as well.

Testing

We will ask you to test your stream with us 1-5 days before the event.  We ask that you setup for the test be exactly the same as it will for your performance.  Same camera, same audio inputs, same network etc.

Performance Process

On the night of the performance you need to have access to Discord.  You will be invited to the channel #green-room.  This is where we will communicate with you about when to start streaming and start performing.  The process is this:

• You will be asked to start streaming roughly 10-15 minutes before your set begins and wait on standby.
• We will confirm we are receiving your stream. 
  • If you are experiencing streaming issues that cannot be resolved quickly, we may have to move to the next artist. 
• While the previous artist wraps up, remain on standby.
• We will put up your UP NEXT CARD and let you know in Discord you will be going live shortly.
• We will then send a message that you are live and should begin your set

YELLOW SHOWS

Testing 

We want you to test your stream on your personal twitch channel before your event.  You should ensure there are no audio drops.  Test for at least 10 minutes to be sure.  Ask anyone on Discord to help if you need someone to watch the streaming test.

Performance Process

This process is pretty loose and open.  Start your stream on time.  If someone else is booked after you, be respectful of their start time and make sure you end on time.

You are responsible for your own opening screens.  If you would like a lower third NYMS name badge, please ask @dysonant.

We will need the email you used to sign up with twitch to issue you a streaming key.  The key should remain valid indefinitely.  However, sometimes we need to issue new keys.  So yours may stop working.  Contact us with any issues.

You need to visit the website to list your event.  Visit https://nyms.love/register/ and register an account.  Then visit https://nyms.love/events-directory/ to list you event.  Look for the “List Your Stream” button and follow the  form instructions.

We want you to stream and for viewers to see the amazing art you are creating. Of course, we do expect you to be a part of our community and get to know you a little. Make sure you join us on Discord and participate. Please read through this guide to get set up and ready to go.

Tech Requirements

• You must stream using a computer running OBS. No mobile devices allowed.
• You need a camera that can connect to OBS.
• You must be hardwired via ethernet cable. No WiFi allowed.

Streaming Specs

• 720p (1280×720 pixels) 30fps
• video: H.264 1500kb/s to 4000kb/s
• audio: AAC 160kb/s, Sample Rate: 44.1kHz, Stereo

Basic Performance tips

• Set your camera to 720p (higher settings will not improve quality, it will only make the encoder work harder)
• Set your audio interface to 44.1kHz (again, higher settings will not improve final output quality and only make your computer work harder)
• Quit and close applications or services you are not using. Like Anti-virus, back-up services or anything that uses CPU and network.

Initial Set Up

1. Join us on Discord and introduce yourself. This is a community and like any community we would expect to know a new neighbor before we hand out keys to our home. The same goes for streaming keys.
2. Register an account on twitch.
3. Follow https://www.twitch.tv/newyorkmodularsociety
4. Download OBS – Open Broadcaster Software https://obsproject.com

Configure OBS

1. Skip the Auto Configuration
2. Open Settings

3. Streaming service setup
   1. Select “Stream” from the sidebar.
   2. Select “Custom” from the “Service” drop down
   3. Input the ingest server URL
   4. Copy and paste your stream key (be careful to select the whole thing)

4. Test you upload speed at https://www.speedtest.net

5. OBS Output Settings (see below image)
   1. Select “Output” in the settings sidebar
   2. Select “Advanced” from the Output Mode dropdown
   3. Select “x264” from the Encoder drop down.  (If you have a modern Nvidia or ATI GPU in your computer, selecting “Hardware Encoder” will improve encoding, CPU usage and speed.)
   4. Do not check this box. Your video settings everywhere should be 1280×720 so you should not need to downscale the output.
   5. Select “CBR” from the Rate Control drop down
   6. Depending on your upload speed, this should be set to 1500-4500Kbps.  Ensure you are only using 75% of you upload speed.  For example, if you upload speed is 4.5Mbps (4500Kbps) then you should set this to “3375 Kbps”.  If you set it higher then you may get frame drops and cause audio skipping.
   7. Set Keyframe Interval to “2”.  Setting this higher makes it worse.
   8. Start by selecting “Very Fast” for CPU Usage Preset.  Setting this higher sends lower quality but improves performance.  It should be somewhere between medium – very fast.
   9. Leave this alone, but sometimes setting it to animation can help with quality.

Hardware encoder settings in below image:

10. Select the Audio tab and make sure all tracks Audio Bitrate are set to 160

6. OBS Video settings
   1. Select the “Video” tab in the settings sidebar
   2. Select 1280×720 from the Base Resolution dropdown
   3. Select 1280×720 from the Output Resolution dropdown
   4. If steps 2 & 3 are followed, this becomes less necessary, since you will not be doing any video downscaling.  Selecting “Bicubic” should be fine.
   5. Select “30” form the Common FPS Values dropdown

7. OBS Audio settings
   1. Select “Audio” in the settings sidebar
   2. Select “44.1kHz” from the Sample  Rate dropdown
   3. Select “Stereo” from the Channels dropdown

8. Click “OK”

Set up your Stream Scene

1. Right click on “Scene” in the lower left of the OBS screen and select “Rename”

2. Click “+” in the lower left “Sources” section.

3. Select “Video Capture Device”

4. Rename the device in the “Create New” input field. Then click “OK”

5. Select your camera source.

6. You should see video.  If you do, Click “OK”. If not, check you camera connection.

Setting Up an Audio Source

This is where things get complicated and specific to your system.  If you are sending a stereo signal to your audio interface you may be able to just select it from the “Audio Input Capture” source “Device” drop down in OBS.  If you are running more channels or sending audio through your DAW then you will need to create a virtual Input on your Operating System.  You can do that with these utilities:

Mac OS

• https://rogueamoeba.com/loopback/ (PAID)
• https://github.com/ExistentialAudio/BlackHole (FREE)
• https://jackaudio.org/downloads/ (FREE)

Windows

• https://www.nerds.de/en/loopbeaudio.html (PAID)
• https://jackaudio.org/downloads/ (FREE)
• https://github.com/rdp/virtual-audio-capture-grabber-device (FREE)

1. Click the “+” in the “Sources” section of OBS and select “Audio Input Capture”

2. Select your interface or virtual audio device from the “Device” drop down. Then click OK. I this case I have a virtual device named “Modular Audio”

3. Set your gain structure.  Turn up the audio from your Modular pretty loud but ensure it is not clipping and you have some headroom. Then using the OBS Audio Mixer make sure your loudest noises are hitting the RED but never go more than 1/2 into RED.  OBS audio meter is a little weird in that it is not clipping if in RED.  The bottom of RED is about -9dB.

4. Ensure you are not double monitoring the audio. Click on the gear icon “⚙“ and select “Advanced Audio Properties”

5. From the “Audio Monitoring” column, make sure you select “Monitor Off” for all of your audio sources.

Test your stream

Before you can send ream to our channel you need to ensure you are not dropping any frames to ensure audio quality.  Audio is more important than video for the experience.  Test by streaming to your own twitch channel.  You will need to change the streaming service and key to do this.

1. Click “Start Streaming”

2. In your Menu Bar  select “View > Stats”

3. Review your stats
   1. This should always say 0/### (0.0%) 
   2. This should always say 0/### (0.0%) 
   3. This should always say 0/### (0.0%) 
   4. This is an indicator of your network capacity and what you are trying to send.

BAD EXAMPLE

GOOD EXAMPLE

Ready to Stream

By now you should be ready to stream.  A few last steps will help ensure a smooth show.

1. Make sure you join the #streaming channel on Discord. 
   1. Admins will let you know when it is good to start streaming.
2. Make sure you have a browser window open to the NYMS Twitch channel during your stream. MAKE SURE YOU MUTE THIS VIDEO ON TWITCH. Issues can arise during a stream and people in the chat will usually mention these.
   1. You can view and engage with chat.  
   2. You can see if your stream is working as expected.
3. Be respectful of time slots.  If someone is coming up after you, try to finish a few minutes early.
4. In OBS, click “Start Streaming”

5. After your performance let the stream continue for about 2 minutes.
6. Join the twitch chat and bask in the glory of the accolades you will receive.

Helpful Resources

• OBS Known Conflicts
• OBS Dropped Frames And General Connection Issues
• OBS General Performance And Encoding Issues

Recommended Gear

There are many options out there, these suggestions are simply to get you started.

• Anker USB C to Ethernet Adapter
• Cat 6 Flat Ethernet Cable 50 ft White (obviously get the length you need)
• Use your iPhone as a webcam with OBS Camera
• Amazon Search Webcam
• Great Quality GoPro Hero5 Black
• AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag

Updated July 18th, 2020