Diablo 3 Beta streaming

[fnaxqtr]

If you get a beta key, will you stream ? or not?

[MrMegaProphet]

Stream as in livestream? If so, i wouldn't since my connection wouldn't allow something like that a even 720p :P

I would try to make some youtube videos though.

[ursustas]

Some videos/streams look amazing that people upload .. some make your eyes bleed.

If anyone has experience streaming or recording, encoding and uploading .. can you post up some info on your setup .. ie open source stuff to do this for good quality video's ..

Possible topics:

How to setup your game (res, graphical settings)

Then,

How to stream
or

How to record (vh screen capture vs, settings, etc) http://www.splitmedialabs.com/media-toolkits/vh-video-sdk/vh-screen-capture
How to compress
How/where to upload (youtube, etc)

[Namik]

If I got to beta, then I would not stream. And not becouse I am ******* or something, but my 0.5Mb/s upload would not allow it.

[HARD]

hey all

nope, current rig wont handle it, but if i dont get into beta i might watch a few now and then

[Muggs]

I streamed in SC2 for a bit and also did it for some raids in wow. My connection is fine I have 5mbps up. I used to use Justin.tv and never really had much of an issue. But they did start adding tons and I mean TONS of commercial breaks into my streams which sort of killed it for me.

If I get D3 beta and I have time, the second part is key, I will stream again.

[Arkanna]

I would definitely stream if I got in the Beta. I would view it as almost an obligation to the community.

[MagisterMan]

I probably will stream a bit. I have 100mbit up and down so connection won't be an issue...

[Muggs]

I probably will stream a bit. I have 100mbit up and down so connection won't be an issue...

Would you like a roomate? :whistling:


And I should add I will stream if I have time to actually play the beta.

[Sixline]

I will be streaming the beta in 720p or 1080p, IF I get a beta invite. I just ordered all the parts so I can build my new i7 computer as my current Core 2 Duo e8400 doesn't cut it when it comes to HD streaming, especially 1080p. Not trying to advertise but I also stream League of Legends and I will be streaming the DotA 2 beta if anyone likes those types of games. I might also stream Battlefield 3. Of course if I do get into the Diablo 3 Beta, that will be 24/7 until it's over.:jig:

http://www.justin.tv/s1xline

[ForceStrategyGaming]

Hey everyone!

Here are the basics for game streaming / recording.

Game settings:

1. Quality


There are two major things you need to be aware of, and that is resolution and quality. Quality will obviously depend on your rig and what it is capable of. A general suggestion is to make sure you are running at a smooth FPS (30+ suggested!). If you drop below that, cut back on the graphics settings for favor of smoother gameplay, you and your viewers will appreciate it.

2. 16:9 Aspect Ratio


This is the standard and you must ensure you hit this aspect ratio to fit in with the parameters of most streaming / video hosting sites. You want your game resolution as well as your monitor to be at a 16:9 ratio. Examples of 16:9 resolutions are:

1920x1080 HD Standard
1600x900
1280×720 HD Standard

While a 16:10 ratio is considered better by many gamers, it isn't the standard for HD recording, and so any of the major sites you post to (YouTube / Justin.tv) will leave you with black bars on the side of your video...people don't like black bars =*(

3. Full Screen


If possible avoid running the game in windowed mode. Many streaming programs wont register a game running in windowed mode, and as such you'll end up with a black or technicolor stream. Play full screen to avoid this headache. If this means you must break the 16:9 aspect ratio (because your monitor has a different resolution), then so be it. Dealing with black bars on the side beats an entirely black screen.



How to stream:

1. Find a program


When I began doing SC2 commentary, the main stay program being used was XSplit (www.xsplit.com). It is still in Public Beta and available for free. Very strong streaming software with a host of great options. It's gone through constant iteration (sound familiar?) and in its current state is better then it's ever been.

2. Find a streaming site


YouTube offers streaming to Partners, so unless you have a partnership you may be out of luck there. Fret not, plenty of other great sites.

Justin.tv (slowly migrating over to twitch.tv) is one of the most well known streaming sites. Easy to use and given its popularity means you'll be able to pull in more viewers.

Other well known sites include: Own3d, Ustream, Multistream, etc. A google search will provide you with more, I strongly suggest Justin.tv or Own3d. Both are streaming sites focused on gaming.

3. Link the two


Once you find a site you want to stream on, and software you want to use. Its simply a matter of setting up an account on your streaming site, and then linking the stream information to your streaming program. In Xsplit you simply add a 'Channel', it asks for you Justin.tv (as an example) account name, and then links whatever you are streaming to your Justin.tv page. Easy as pie.



How to record:

1. Screen Capture


If you are looking to record and upload gameplay, which often yields higher quality and better results (especially if you have a lackluster upload speed) then you need to start with a screen capture program.

FRAPS (www.fraps.com) is widely considered the best program. It runs at around $40, but is well worth the price. It simply records everything on screen while playing a game.

2. Storage and FPS


You could have the worlds beefiest computer, if you try to record footage on the same HDD that your Operating System and game are running on, you WILL experience an FPS bog down. My rig was custom built on newegg and cost me around $2,000. I normally run games on ultra between 70-100 FPS. When I started recording and saved to a single HDD, my FPS dropped down to around 25. Fraps is notorious for this.

Ideally you want a second internal hard drive and save all of your gameplay files there. If this isn't in your budget you can try using an external USB hard drive. But realize that the transfer rate through USB is junk, and you will still experience a decrease in FPS (albeit not as bad as recording to a single HDD). If game recording is something you are serious about, invest in a second internal HDD, and ideally one with a transfer rate greater then 3gbs/sec.



How to compress:


Most content producers on YouTube use either Adobe Premier Elements, or Sony Vegas for video editing and compressing. Both programs will cost $100+, but for the basics, there is no need to drop a dime.

Download Windows Movie Maker, its free and does everything you need it to. Just like your game settings, be sure to render in 720 or 1080p (16:9). Basic rule of thumb, higher bitrate means better quality but longer render times and vice versa. If you don't mind waiting around an hour for a 15 minute video to render, then set the bitrate to 6,000+. For passable quality and quicker render times, 4-5,000 will do.

Just like recording with FRAPS, you ideally want the raw footage to be on a separate HDD from the program doing the compressing, once again going back the the greatness of having a second internal HDD. It will cut down render times significantly.



Hope this helps!

- Force

[remodemo]

thank you! :)

[MagisterMan]

Very nice write up Force =)

[MLVII]

Thank you for the guide :thumbup:

Is there a specific codec you need to install for WMM in order to render the raw data into great quality?

Like Xvid or something?

[fnaxqtr]

nice info force, ty

[Trinity]

i'd probably would stream if i get a Beta key just to give feedback to the community since i have a good enough rig to stream and a fast connection to do it

[Trump]

I'm a Starcraft 2 streamer but come time I get my hands on Diablo 3 beta there will definitely be a lot of Diablo streaming. ;)

[tvc]

I'm a Starcraft 2 streamer but come time I get my hands on Diablo 3 beta there will definitely be a lot of Diablo streaming. ;)

Trump :D I used to watch you alot in the beginning of SC2. Will be reallly glad to see you stream the D3 beta if you get in!

[ForceStrategyGaming]

I'm a Starcraft 2 streamer but come time I get my hands on Diablo 3 beta there will definitely be a lot of Diablo streaming. ;)

Heya Trump!

You picked up quite a following on Justin.tv from what I remember, happy to hear you will be moving into D3. Best of luck getting into the Beta bud!

[AGTJ]

Ya, thanks Force.

I wish my upload was fast enough to stream, otherwise I'd have a great computer for it :(

[Trump]

Heya Trump!

You picked up quite a following on Justin.tv from what I remember, happy to hear you will be moving into D3. Best of luck getting into the Beta bud!

You are all around awesome from what I remember. Best of luck to you too. (Unless you're already in. :jig:)

[ursustas]

Great work force :) Exactly what I was after. My upload will not allow me to stream but I will take the time to upload a few clips.

[Trinity]

nice and simple guide to streaming, thanks Force! and keep up the D3 vids when beta comes out :D

[fnaxqtr]

anyone streaming something diablo3 related atm ? :P