Live streaming has taken the internet by storm in recent years. Sharing your life with others in real time has opened up new opportunities for content creators and viewers alike. Video streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube have become incredibly popular, with millions of people tuning in to watch their favorite streamers daily.
Besides these, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms have also entered the fray with their live-streaming capabilities. Twitch is still the most popular live-streaming platform that facilitates IRL streaming. In 2016, Twitch launched the IRL (In Real Life) streaming category to let people stream their everyday lives. Since then, IRL streaming has become one of the most popular genres on Twitch.
In this guide, we’ll look at everything you need to know about IRL (In Real Life) streaming, from setting up your IRL streams to its benefits and suggest the best streaming equipment for a great live experience. Many Twitch streamers succeed with their gaming streams. So, if you are a video game streamer, you can play video games and engage your audience.
Hope that this guideline will help you to be a successful IRL streamer. Let’s dive in!
What is IRL Streaming?
In the video streaming world, IRL stands for In Real Life. IRL (In Real Life) streaming is a live stream where the content creator shares their everyday life with their audience. Twitch is the most popular streaming software for IRL (In Real Life) streaming.
Besides Twitch, IRL streaming has recently become popular on other platforms like YouTube and Facebook. The key difference between regular live streaming and IRL streaming is that the latter is unscripted and more spontaneous.
When you IRL (In Real Life) stream, you share your life with others in real-time. There is no structured format for your IRL stream. You can talk about anything and everything that’s going on in your life, whether it’s your thoughts on the current situation or what you’re doing for the day.
Since IRL streams are unscripted, they are often more personal and relatable than traditional live streams. Streaming is a great way to connect with your audience and build a strong community around your content. The audience doesn’t like scripted content for a live event because it feels inauthentic. To enjoy scripted shows, they love to watch movies, dramas, and shows rather than live streaming.
IRL streaming is a great way to be genuine with your fans. In this way, you can build a more personal relationship with your audience, which is essential for any content creator looking to grow their channel.
The Benefits of IRL Streaming
There are many benefits to IRL streaming, both for content creators and viewers.
For content creators, IRL (In Real Life) streaming is a great way to connect with your audience personally. It allows you to be more open and genuine with your fans, which can help you build a strong community around your channel. IRL streams are also more spontaneous and unscripted, making them more entertaining. This can help you attract new viewers to your channel who may not be interested in traditional live streams.
Since IRL streaming is still a relatively new phenomenon, there is less competition in this space than in other live stream genres. This allows you to grow your channel quickly if you can produce high-quality IRL content.
IRL (In Real Life) streaming is a more personal and relatable live stream form for viewers. It’s a great way to connect with your favorite content creators on a deeper level and feel like you’re a part of their lives. IRL streams are also usually more spontaneous and unplanned, making them more exciting to watch. You never know what will happen next in an IRL stream, which keeps viewers coming back for more.
How to Start IRL (In Real Life)Streaming?
Starting an IRL stream isn’t as difficult as it may seem. You don’t need expensive equipment to start, and you can even do it from home. Here’s what you need to know to get started with IRL streaming.
First, you’ll need to decide where you want to stream. There are a few options available, each with its benefits and drawbacks. You can stream from your home, public place, or even a dedicated streaming studio. If you’re starting, streaming from your home is probably best. This way, you won’t have to worry about setting up a dedicated space or dealing with the added cost of renting studio space.
Once you decide where you want to stream, it’s time to set up your equipment. You’ll need a webcam, a microphone, and a laptop or computer for IRL streaming. You can also use a capture card to stream from your gaming console.
If you’re streaming from your home, you can use any webcam. You’ll need to use a dedicated IRL camera if you’re streaming from a public place. These cameras are designed to be used in public, giving you the best possible quality.
Easy IRL Streaming Setup and Equipment
The best thing about IRL streaming is that you don’t need much expensive equipment to get started. Let’s see what you need to start your IRL streaming setup.
Stable Internet Connection:
First and foremost, you need a stable internet connection. IRL streaming is live, which means that any lag or interruptions will be immediately noticeable to your viewers. If you’re streaming from home, the best way to ensure a stable connection is to connect your computer directly to your router with an Ethernet cable. This will give you the fastest and most reliable connection possible.
If you stream outdoors, you’ll need to find the best mobile internet connection available. Besides, you can carry an IRL backpack with a built-in battery and mobile hotspot. This will let you stream for hours without worrying about your connection.
A Device to Stream from:
You can stream IRL using a laptop, desktop computer, or gaming console. We recommend using a laptop or desktop computer if you’re just starting. These devices are easier to set up and use, giving you the best possible quality. Choose a device you’re comfortable using with enough power to run the streaming software.
The configuration of the CPU, GPU, and RAM is also important. But you don’t need a highly configured laptop for IRL streaming. A mid-range device with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a GTX 1050 Ti graphics card will be enough to get started.
A Camera or Webcam:
For IRL streaming, you’ll need a camera or webcam. This will allow your viewers to see you and your surroundings as you stream. Many laptops come with a built-in webcam, or you can purchase an external webcam that plugs into your computer. Using a smartphone or tablet, you can use the camera built into these devices. When choosing a camera or webcam, you’ll want to consider image quality, the field of view, frame rate, and low-light performance.
Image quality is important for IRL streaming because you want your viewers to be able to see you clearly. The field of view is the camera’s angle of view, and a wider field of view will allow your viewers to see more of your surroundings. Frame rate is the number of frames per second that the camera can capture, and a higher frame rate will result in a smoother video.
Video Streaming Encoder and Decoder :
In order to decode IRL streaming, you will need a decoder compatible with the codecs used by the IRL stream. For example, if the IRL stream uses the H.264 codec, you will need a decoder to decode H.264 video. Many popular media players, such as VLC and Media Player Classic, have built-in support for decoding H.264 video.
Similarly, you will need a video streaming encoder to encode IRL streaming. This software program will take the video and audio from your camera and microphone and encode it into a format that can be streamed over the internet. Many different video streaming encoders are available, and your choice will depend on your specific needs.
Microphone:
To be heard by your viewers, you will need a microphone. You can use a headset with a built-in microphone or purchase a separate microphone plugged into your devices. If you’re using a smartphone or tablet, you can use the built-in microphone that these devices have. When choosing a microphone, you’ll want to consider the sensitivity, frequency response, and directionality.
The sensitivity of a microphone is the amount of sound it can pick up. The frequency response is the range of frequencies that the microphone can reproduce. And the directionality is how well the microphone can pick up sound from different directions.
Headphones:
To hear your viewers, you will need headphones. You can use any headphones that you want, but we recommend using closed-back headphones. These headphones will block out environmental noise so that you can focus on your stream.
HDMI Cables and USB Cables:
If you’re using a laptop or desktop computer to stream IRL, you’ll need to use HDMI cables and USB cables to connect your devices.
HDMI cables are used to connect your computer to your camera or webcam. And USB cables are used to connect your microphone and headphones to your computer.
An IRL Streaming Service:
You’ll need to sign up for an IRL streaming service to stream IRL. There are many streaming services available, but we recommend using Twitch.
With Twitch, you’ll be able to stream IRL to a wide audience of viewers. Plus, you’ll have access to features like Twitch chat and the ability to donate money to support your favorite streamers.
IRL Streaming Software:
You need streaming software to stream IRL. This software will allow you to capture and encode your video and audio for streaming. Many popular streaming services, such as Twitch, and YouTube Live, have their streaming software.
But, you can also use standalone streaming software, such as OBS Studio. These programs will give you more control over your stream, but they can be more challenging to use. You can use Castr to live stream your pre-recorded video content.
Best IRL Live Streaming Platforms
Twitch
For new IRL streamers, Twitch is a great platform to start on. There are millions of users each month, and it is the most popular live streaming platform. Although video game streaming is the most popular thing on the platform, IRL streaming is overgrowing.
If you are interested in IRL streaming, I recommend starting with Twitch since its IRL streaming category is the most used platform and will allow you to get a feel for streaming. Since Twitch is so popular, a ton of support can help answer any questions you may have when you are just beginning.
After you feel comfortable streaming, and if you feel like a platform shift is a right move for you, you will be able to take everything with you to that new platform.
Twitch is great, but it is easy to feel like a small fish in a big pond on this platform. Twitch is a great place to start your live streaming journey for new IRL streamers.
Youtube Live
Some people think that Twitch is a better place for live streaming than Youtube. They say this because Twitch has a section for IRL streamers, while Youtube does not. I can’t entirely agree with this idea. I believe that Youtube is still the best place for new IRL streamers because it is much easier to create and upload videos on Youtube than on Twitch. Your subscribers will be notified when you go live on Youtube, but not when you do so on Twitch. This makes it tough to grow as an IRL streamer on Twitch. Therefore, I believe that Youtube is the best platform for new IRL streamers.
Facebook Live
Facebook Live is an excellent alternative to Twitch and Youtube for IRL streaming. You can IRL stream on Facebook Live by using their mobile app. When you are live streaming on Facebook from your computer, you will need to use a webcam. The quality of the live stream on Facebook Live is not as good as on Twitch or Youtube, but it is still good enough to watch. Facebook Live is a great way to connect with friends and family who might not be on Twitch or Youtube.
The great thing about Facebook Live is that all your friends and family on Facebook will be notified when you go live. This makes it easy to grow your audience on Facebook Live and increase engagement.
Instagram Live
Another great platform for In Real Life streaming is Instagram Live. Instagram is a popular platform for sharing photos and video content. Its live streaming feature is a great way to connect with your followers in real time.
Multistream Your IRL Streaming with Castr for A Maximum Reach
If you want to simulcast your IRL stream to multiple platforms, you can use Castr. Multistreaming is a great way to reach more people and grow your audience. When you multistream with Castr, your IRL stream will be live on all your platforms simultaneously. This means that you will only need to go live once, and your stream will be available on all your platforms.
Tips for Becoming a Successful IRL Streamer
Now that you know the best IRL live streaming platforms and how to multistream with Castr, it’s time to learn some tips for becoming a successful IRL streamer.
Be Yourself:
The best way to succeed as an IRL streamer is to be yourself. Be authentic and genuine, and your viewers will appreciate it. The audience always craves something new, so don’t try to be someone you’re not. Represent yourself in the best way possible, and your viewers will stick around.
Be Consistent:
It is important to be consistent when you are live streaming. If you only stream once in a while, it will be hard to grow your audience. Try to stream regularly, and let your viewers know when you will be live streaming. Maintain a consistent live streaming schedule; your viewers will know when to tune in.
Be Engaging:
Another important tip for IRL streamers is to be engaging. Talk to your viewers, and make sure to respond to their comments. Ask them questions, and start conversations. The more engaged you are with your audience, the more likely they are to stick around.
Have Fun:
Your content should be enjoyable for both you and your viewers. If you’re not having fun, it will be hard to keep your audience engaged. Remember to enjoy yourself, and your viewers will have a good time too.
Help Your Community:
One way to stand out like an IRL streamer is to help your community. If you can give back to your viewers, they will appreciate it. You can help your community by donating to charity or supporting a cause. For example, you can live stream the miserable livelihood of flood-affected people and help raise money for disaster relief. Your audience will be impressed by your kindness, and you will make a difference in the world.
Final Words
Finally, follow these tips to be a successful IRL streamer. Be yourself, be consistent, be engaging, have fun, and help your community. If you do all these things, you will be well to becoming a successful IRL streamer. Start live streaming today, and see where it takes you! Reach your large audience with castr.com’s easy-to-use live streaming tools. You can try our trial today. Happy streaming!
