So, this guide was amazing! I did run into a snag though. The OREI 4x1 multiplexor was not compatible with the cheap video capture card. The OREI website says this is the case also. I went with the AKASO v50 elite cameras. I was able to get one HDMI input to the capture card, but nothing through the OREI 4x1, even just straight to a TV. So, anyone else that is looking to follow this guide, just be aware that the OREI 4x1 did not work for me. I suspect some sort of HDCP issue, but I can't be sure. It's possible that it works with the GoPro Hero5, but not the AKASO v50 Elite. My solution was to get a 4 input HDMI capture card, and I have the PC hardware to handle that no problem. Thanks Constructed Chaos for this fantastic guide!
Glad this helped you get things working!! Sorry that the multiplexor didn’t really do it for ya! I do remember having an issue at the start too but I have to be honest in saying that I don’t remember how I resolved it. It may have even been as simple as changing some settings via the remote that came with it. Either way, I’ll pin this comment in case anyone else runs into a similar problem! Thanks again for sharing this with me!
A shotgun mic in a small space will cause more trouble than anything. Shotgun mics ARE used in pro production all over the place. Those productions take place on a soundstage or large space in a set warehouse. Shotgun mics are designed to reject sound sources coming from behind and beside the mic. Unfortunately in a small relatively untreated room, this will filter out frequency chunks of your intended sound source and consequently it will be "off" sounding because of that filtering effect. If you're not already a pro, use a dynamic mic with a cardioid pickup pattern, like the rode mics mentioned in the video. If you want really high quality and can put mics close to your people, a condenser mic with omni pickup pattern will probably sound more natural. Dynamics are much more forgiving for normal room sizes though. If you have a big open space, or have professionally treated your room, shotgun mics are great.
I'm someone who also had a background in Film production and recently started doing DnD streams and love this video. Great tutorial and I hope this helps a lot of people make some high quality content!
Welcome to the channel! And thanks for the accolades! I actually just got off of a 6week feature so it's taken me a while to respond but I really appreciate your comment! :)
Speaking as someone who's a graphic design major focused on advertising by trade, you're "geeking out over lighting" is EXACTLY the kind of perspective that makes videos like this so helpful. Sometimes the level of insight someone who works in an industry that has some cross over (cinematography and streaming for example) is so very lacking. Harris Heller of Alpha Gaming is a great example. He's was an audio engineer and also talks a lot about lighting. It really does make a massive difference. I say embrace it. Make an entire video on it! Honestly people DO need this info! Love the channel and keep making great content! You're the kind of creator I'd love to meet some day!
Thanks so much!! Harris Heller has definitely been a big help in learning as much as I could about streaming gear in the shortest time possible! Maybe I’ll go deeper into the topic in the future-but I did want to at least get this base-level knowledge out there to viewers. It’s so easy to get such a vastly different look with just a little diffusion and some know-how!
Stream settings and audio video equipment linking up the whole package is so much work but once it’s done you’ll get to enjoy the fluidity of the setup from all that hard work
Excellent video! I've been working toward getting my own actual play stream up and running, and this has definitely been the most helpful technical video I've found so far. I've got to applaud your engineering ingenuity! Your videography chops are clearly apparent in the quality of your work, and you break down the process and rationale behind your set-up very digestibly! PS - I'm pretty sure I saw that Yeti-recommending tutorial video you were lightly dunking on *right* before I watched this one, so I'm thankful I came across this when I did! ;)
Great video. I'm a Director of Photography myself and I've been looking for a simple way to start live streaming my in person games without putting up all my equipment that I use for my actual work. Thanks for this video
Thanks! I'm glad you found it helpful. I kinda need to make another one soon since the stream setup will be getting a major upgrade over the next few months.
@@ConstructedChaos I was actually going to suggest this after I commented, when I noticed that this video is over 2 years old. This field changes so quickly (which is why I don't buy certain gear anymore unless I have a show to rent it to immediately). Also, when you make a new video, it would be helpful, for me anyway, to get more wide shots of your setup. Thanks man!
@ haha absolutely. The next video will be MUCH more in depth as well. The whole room is changing so we’ll be talking about a few set building techniques as well.
@@ConstructedChaos I think this vid should be required watching for all of those dnd content creators who stream their games. i like how technical you get and i am learning alot of things. I also liked the focus on minimizing cost with minimal impact to quality. I can't say it can be of help to me now but i still enjoyed alot learning all of this stuff and i'm bookmarking it in case i do decide to dnd content in the future. moreover, i really appreciated how you took time to explain things but kept it simple so it wasn't overwhelming to absorb. lastly, man everything looks just so cool behind the scenes! would definitely want to play at that table with those well crafted minis and terrain! the only thing perhaps i'd suggest as an improvement to the setup would be a bigger table. the back-scratchers btw were a nice touch for moving around the minis. i think you can make this a series in case you get good mileage out of it. personally i would be interested in your setup for non-play like when you do your vids on classes, spells, etc. anyway just want to say kudos for such a cool and informative vid! looking forward to your next!
@@TheRobversion1 thanks so much for all those accolades, friend!! I’ve had a ton of experience talking about and teaching basic video practices so I’m glad that came into play here! I think the table will be getting an upgrade one day when we build a bigger space on our property here. There are definitely plans for it and I’ll be documenting that process much much better than with just iPhone photos haha! I’ll do another BTS video for my office setup at some point but it is much less impressive haha! 😂
@@ConstructedChaos cool. will look forward to that office setup vid. i think most of the concepts here apply there as well like with audio, lightning, noise cancellation, etc but i am curious of the scope and what you'd use for a more "personal" setup as i think if i ever do this as well, i'd probably start out with short vids that do spell analysis, spell/ability combos and eventually build vids. those are the things that interest me the most as a player as well as my areas of expertise. those i think would be fine with an office setup. i'd also be curious about your editing software aside from the setup/equipment.
@@TheRobversion1 Well, awesome!! I suppose I could go into more detail about how to properly light a green screen! And I can tell you that DaVinci Resolve is the way to go for editing. Nothing else comes close. Oh, and you asked the other day if you'd see any difference in the video quality with the new editing machine? I was able to really fine-tune my keying for the green screen since the video played back in the editor more smoothly so this is about as good as it gets now haha!
AWESOME advice! Chapter markings in this video would be AMAZING. I've come back to this video three or four times, and finding the right piece of advice each time has been a minor annoyance. There's just too much good advice!
Thanks so much and I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'll definitely see if I can find some time to go back and add chapters to this one for ya. And you'll be happy to know that I'm planning some very similar videos that take a lot of these themes to the next level. Expect those to hit the channel before the end of the year!
Audio engineer here. For a guy who claims not to know much about audio, you're doing pretty well :) If I may offer one suggestion, you could plug your laptop into your mixer if you've got a spare stereo channel. That way you further reduce the number of audio sources you need to mix in software and gain fader control for a nicer sounding transition between segments if you want it.
Hmmm I do actually like that suggestion a lot. The only reason I haven’t done it yet is so that I can monitor the audio levels separately from our voice stuff since it can sometimes be hard to judge the volume correctly just based on how loud the sound is in the room. Jumping between “combat” and “mood” music can sometimes cause issues if I’m not double checking myself. That said, I was a musician before I was a cinematographer so I do know a little 😅. It was really only ever enough to write music inside of a DAW before taking rough tracks to the studio.
@@ConstructedChaos Well I only just learned what an f-stop is last year, so I found your guide on the visual stuff very insightful! I have endless respect for a good DoP :) As for monitoring, welcome to the exciting world of hybrid analogue/digital workflows! In principle you can set up a mix-minus by sending the stream PC's audio into its own channel on the desk. That way you can give yourself a monitor mix and also switch to monitor off-bus with the headphones plugged into the mixer. Not sure exactly how you'd do that with your particular mixer and how they configure things in Windows though.
A treasure trove of information! Thank you for this amazing insight (and the shout-out!), Any chance on adding chapters to the video so I can come back to sections easily?
Also had a question about the multiplexer, is the final output just a 1080 resolution, or is it 4k so I can scale the video for individual sources to be full screen in OBS?
Haha thanks man!! You know I had to give ya credit!! The multiplexor is 1080p but you can get better ones! That is the one downside to this setup but I don’t find that I often use a scene that’s just me. Maybe one day haha. As for chapters, that’s a great idea! I can see where that’s be really helpful on this video!
@@ConstructedChaos Yeppers, i can see there are some 4k ones. this sounds like a fantastic way on saving some processing power. I have a goal of filming some in person games for the channel so any places i can save on processing power are a must.
Dude! Great video. I didn't take quite this route but a LOT of the similar ideas back when I used to do around-the-table games vs VTT. Definitely enjoyed the geeking out
Happy to be of service!! I know many of these tips weren't available for me when I started out haha. That said, if there's anything you need more detail on, don't hesitate to ask!
Awsome video! I have been toying with the idea of streaming my games. I used gopros to film crafting and mini painting videos for my channel this is a great use for them! I’ve been taking a break since 2020 but I’de love to see more about your set up for sure.
This is a very helpful video. I’m sorry there aren’t separate videos doing deep dives on cameras, mixers, microphones etc., in a gaming/streaming environment.
If only I had found this video months ago! My friends and I have been streaming our sessions for a while now and you've given me solutions to problems I didn't even know existed. Opened my eyes to new possibilities with all the lighting, cameras, audio. We fell victims of the Yeti hype and now have 3 of them attempting to get them to work together. Honestly i've watched this video 2-3 times a day for the last week and every time its sent me down a rabbit hole of hours of research because I didn't know all this equipment existed or could even be used in this hobby. All I can say is THANK YOU!!! I know these videos don't gain a lot of traction but this is hands down my favorite video on RUclips right now. Like did you know OBS has a "Virtual webcam"? Because thats how im currently using four webcams. 🤦♂
Wow!! Thanks so much for the stellar comment, friend! It's stuff like this that motivates me to keep creating. As an extra thank you, I just found this deal for an Elgato camlink pro! It basically cuts out the need for a multiplexor and another video capture card. They usually run like $350 so I got one myself and plan to install it this week haha. www.adorama.com/eg10gaw9901.html
I am NEVER going to steam any RPG or be on one so guess what… I was just geeking out looking at your set up. So nice considering what you paid for it. Very solid and you explained it well.
I can totally understand where you’re coming from! As long as you’re enjoying the game, that’s what really matters! And I’m glad you still enjoyed the video, all that aside!
Waited for this video for a few months! Good one Alex! I got you beaten on a budget, mine was 3 times lower :) I have to make similar video Balkan style budget! :) p.s. I maybe like this set better over the green screen! :)
Haha glad you enjoyed it!! I’d definitely be interested to see how others handle some of this stuff! And I like this and the green screen set about the same. The real difference is that this set takes a lot more time to put together and involves using some gear that I have to use for work 😅
Happy to help!! This was one a lot of people were requesting and I was glad to oblige! I know we had to do a lot of this figuring out on our own when we started haha
Thanks for a great and very informativ video, i learnt a ton. Im thinking about setting up a similar setup for my school, but im wondering about the fisheye in the gopro. How do you get around that? Wont the two persons in each shot be bent?
That's a very astute observation! The gopro5 (and every one after it I think) has a crop feature that allows you to crop into the image in camera and still export a high res image. I think we use the "linear" preset. This crops out those distored edges to a large extent. You can still see some on the very edge but not enough that it gets noticed!
Late to the party but thank you for this video. I am still running a mixed group in person and online players. One of my in person players is visually impaired and needs a good deal of light to be able to make out her character sheet, dice, etc... Due to that, the current lighting is pretty unforgiving. Since we do have a dedicated room for gaming, I've been searching for better ideas for overall lighting configuration. Your video has given me quite a bit to chew on. Again, thank you.
Hmmm I've had that thought myself before but I'm not sure how cameras like that would output video signal. Do any just output one really large resolution to cover the whole 360 degrees?
@@ConstructedChaos late reply, but, my thought was to have one Insta360 ONE-RS as the main camera, mounted above the table, then create multiple instances of it on obs-studios. and have the player cameras, and also a top-down board camera. then i was thinking of even adding mirrors, pointed at the board, so i can have an instance of the camera looking at the board from a side-ways angle. I dont know how the mirror would turn out, and i could invest in a second camera, or use my phone. but i think it would personally save the costs, and it would give me a nice side project to tune as i test it out.
Thanks!! And that's a great question! I use these handy little thread adaptors from camivate as well as a (sortof expensive) fast mount for a monitor made by atomos! www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1539642-REG/camvate_c2475_thread_screw_set_1_4_20f.html www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1493128-REG/atomos_atomxmmqr1_atomx_5_and_7.html
We are at 720p. Using the capture card in the link. I ordered a new hdmi cable that is rated for 4k to go from the splitter to computer. It was an older hdmi hoping that might fix it
@@farmboyEN That certainly could be the issue! Notably, I've never done 4K on that capture card even though it's rated for it. You may also want to make sure that the capture card is plugged into a USB 3.0 port if possible.
Thanks so much i learned so much from your video. I ended up getting three gopros from ebay for $100 a piece and 4 dynamic mic and 1 condenser mic. Hoping to convert to all condensers but they are so expensive. Do you have any videos on the technical side like what it looks like for you guys to run a session?
@@farmboyEN I'm glad this video helped!! I put it out after so many of my friends in the space asked for something like this! Sounds like I might have to do another deep dive soon since this is the only video like it on my channel. Still, I'm happy to answer any other questions you have about running the game live here if you'd like!
The GoPros are *near* the center of the table so that’d put them roughly 22” from the players (the GoPros are spaced out from center an inch or two depending on which one.
@@DiceDragondnd they’re just above eye level but they do get in the way a bit. It’s just a downside of this setup but, honestly, I forget they’re there most of the time
Hey love the video. It’s been a great start to get my channel up and running. I’m running into a snag with the audio. You said you guys ran your audio through discord. How did you get the audio on discord. My issue is discord will only pick up one of my mics at a time, instead of them all being live at once. I tried using usb mics but heard that was a bad idea. So I got an audio interface and some xlr mics but still seem to have the same problem. Should I have gotten a mixer instead of an audio interface? Any help to get that audio up and running would be awesome.
Hey! Sorry for any confusion there! I think I said that we ran our audio through discord when we had to run our sessions remotely during the pandemic. So, in that setup, each person had an audio interface and a mic hooked up to their own computer. I didn't really detail much about that in this video since the main focus is running for in person games. If you already have an audio interface, I'd recommend getting a regular mixer with good preamps that you can run into that interface on one signal. Our mixer doubles as an audio interface essentially but you'd just be separating those two devices and getting pretty much the same result.
@@ConstructedChaos thank you so much for the quick response! One more question for you: is there a program on your streaming pc that turns all the mics into a single audio input or is that what the mixer is for? I could probably return the interface I have and grab a good mixing board if that’s a smarter move. I have 3 players in person and 3 players in different cities so we’re trying to find an away to get all the people in person’s voices to be heard clearly on stream lol. The players not in person have their own setups so they’re good. Thanks again for the help!
@@TheWarCouncilTable no problem! I know it can be stressful to set all this stuff up. We’ve actually been working on a big expansion of our setup as well so I’ve been in the weeds lately haha. I personally prefer having a mixer that can just interface directly and that would make all of your mics one signal, yes! For what it’s worth, running a separate mixer through your audio interface would do that as well. The good news is that you might be able to get a mixer with less channels than mine since you’d only be running a few mics through it!
@@ConstructedChaos Awesome. I’ll look into getting a mixer. Thanks so much for the help! I thought the video would be the hard part, and then I started the audio hahaha
It’s funny you mention that! I’ve never had that problem but one of them did finally die on me this week after about 3-4 years of them being plugged up all the time haha. It’s about time for a camera upgrade anyway so I’m moving on from them soon.
@@ConstructedChaos if I may ask? Are you planning on sticking with gopro's? If so what are you upgrading to? I'm personally looking into Gopro hero 8's
@@lordimor8016 we’ve had a lot of success with the canon m200 for our table cam and they’re going for a lot less than they used to now that they’re not being made anymore. So, we’ll be moving away from gopro altogether here soon. Planning on some big upgrades to our stream setup this year so this is just the logical next step. I will say be weary of gopro models that don’t have HDMI out on the body! I know some you can get the little media accessory but that’s like an extra $70 I think.
I agree with most of the comments here. This is one of the best TTRPG Live Stream set-up guides I have seen and I have been watching A LOT of them. Thank you very much for that! I am still a touch confused on a few issues though. If I want to go 4k 30fps, do I need to upgrade both the Multiplexer AND the capture card? Also, I assume all cameras are hardwired to power and not using their batteries? Thank you.
You’re correct on both assumptions! The GoPros are all plugged up to an independently powered USB hub (it needs to plug into an outlet and not just your computer or something) and then you would have to upgrade your capture card and the multiplexor if you wanted to do 4K.
@constructedchaos. Are you available by any chance to be hired for consultant work? I am attempting to create a similar set-up and believe, in the long run, it would cost me less to make the correct choices first and receive some specific advice and consultation regarding my specifics. Thank you.
@@brettsflyndad9945 no need for all that! Feel free to pop into our discord and ask me any questions you may have and I’ll help out as much as I can. We have a channel in there dedicated to this kind of thing exactly! discord.gg/zq5BrJqwtR
Considering how poorly the videos typically do, they'll continue to be an "every once in a while" kind of thing. But, I do intend to make more as I see a need for them! Is there anything in particular that you'd like to see covered in the next one?
@@ConstructedChaos I would LOVE to see some of the digital side of things! Like what is an interesting overlay? How do you update damage on the screen during combat. Setting up ambience with the Stream Deck, and things like that!
@@JakinShaw My buddy, Atmoseeker actually goes over some of this kind of thing in his videos too. So, if it takes me a bit too long to cover any of that, you may want to check out his channel!
@@rollpropelledgamers Yea that was a really big one for our setup. It killed me a little not to use my cinema cameras and DSLRs but I've come to love the look of this GoPro setup!
Well, truthfully, there doesn't have to be! Many other channels have also had success in just streaming with the gear they have via zoom or discord. That tends to be a lot cheaper and it's how we got started too. But I'm a bit of a perfectionist and this is the best I can do with what I have right now haha.
great video but all of this is definitely NOT for your average starting dnd streamer... The budget for this setup has to be a couple thousand dollars easily..
Your hand gestures off screen are very distracting. Do you have to pee? Are you doing something inappropriate? Are you working out with a shake weight? Food for thought
Haha sorry about that Nick! I talk with my hands and I’ve been trying to break the habit for this very reason! That said, I appreciate your concern that yourself and other might assume the worst and not just that I talk with my hands 😂
So, this guide was amazing! I did run into a snag though. The OREI 4x1 multiplexor was not compatible with the cheap video capture card. The OREI website says this is the case also. I went with the AKASO v50 elite cameras. I was able to get one HDMI input to the capture card, but nothing through the OREI 4x1, even just straight to a TV. So, anyone else that is looking to follow this guide, just be aware that the OREI 4x1 did not work for me. I suspect some sort of HDCP issue, but I can't be sure. It's possible that it works with the GoPro Hero5, but not the AKASO v50 Elite. My solution was to get a 4 input HDMI capture card, and I have the PC hardware to handle that no problem. Thanks Constructed Chaos for this fantastic guide!
Glad this helped you get things working!! Sorry that the multiplexor didn’t really do it for ya! I do remember having an issue at the start too but I have to be honest in saying that I don’t remember how I resolved it. It may have even been as simple as changing some settings via the remote that came with it.
Either way, I’ll pin this comment in case anyone else runs into a similar problem! Thanks again for sharing this with me!
A shotgun mic in a small space will cause more trouble than anything. Shotgun mics ARE used in pro production all over the place. Those productions take place on a soundstage or large space in a set warehouse. Shotgun mics are designed to reject sound sources coming from behind and beside the mic. Unfortunately in a small relatively untreated room, this will filter out frequency chunks of your intended sound source and consequently it will be "off" sounding because of that filtering effect. If you're not already a pro, use a dynamic mic with a cardioid pickup pattern, like the rode mics mentioned in the video. If you want really high quality and can put mics close to your people, a condenser mic with omni pickup pattern will probably sound more natural. Dynamics are much more forgiving for normal room sizes though. If you have a big open space, or have professionally treated your room, shotgun mics are great.
Very well explained and reasoned out! Thanks for adding your expertise to the conversation!
I'm someone who also had a background in Film production and recently started doing DnD streams and love this video. Great tutorial and I hope this helps a lot of people make some high quality content!
Welcome to the channel! And thanks for the accolades! I actually just got off of a 6week feature so it's taken me a while to respond but I really appreciate your comment! :)
Speaking as someone who's a graphic design major focused on advertising by trade, you're "geeking out over lighting" is EXACTLY the kind of perspective that makes videos like this so helpful. Sometimes the level of insight someone who works in an industry that has some cross over (cinematography and streaming for example) is so very lacking. Harris Heller of Alpha Gaming is a great example. He's was an audio engineer and also talks a lot about lighting. It really does make a massive difference.
I say embrace it. Make an entire video on it! Honestly people DO need this info! Love the channel and keep making great content! You're the kind of creator I'd love to meet some day!
Thanks so much!! Harris Heller has definitely been a big help in learning as much as I could about streaming gear in the shortest time possible!
Maybe I’ll go deeper into the topic in the future-but I did want to at least get this base-level knowledge out there to viewers. It’s so easy to get such a vastly different look with just a little diffusion and some know-how!
Stream settings and audio video equipment linking up the whole package is so much work but once it’s done you’ll get to enjoy the fluidity of the setup from all that hard work
Without a doubt!! We may be upgrading our stuff a bit soon and just thinking about it is making me nervous to change settings and stuff again 😂
This is EXACTLY what I needed for my upcoming recorded sessions. Thanks Alex!
Happy to help!!! That's the main reason I made this video. A lot of work went into it so I'm happy to see people making use of it!
Excellent video! I've been working toward getting my own actual play stream up and running, and this has definitely been the most helpful technical video I've found so far. I've got to applaud your engineering ingenuity! Your videography chops are clearly apparent in the quality of your work, and you break down the process and rationale behind your set-up very digestibly!
PS - I'm pretty sure I saw that Yeti-recommending tutorial video you were lightly dunking on *right* before I watched this one, so I'm thankful I came across this when I did! ;)
Happy to help haha!! Thanks for taking the time to watch and feel free to let me know if you have any further questions about setting something up! 😊
Great video. I'm a Director of Photography myself and I've been looking for a simple way to start live streaming my in person games without putting up all my equipment that I use for my actual work. Thanks for this video
Thanks! I'm glad you found it helpful. I kinda need to make another one soon since the stream setup will be getting a major upgrade over the next few months.
@@ConstructedChaos I was actually going to suggest this after I commented, when I noticed that this video is over 2 years old. This field changes so quickly (which is why I don't buy certain gear anymore unless I have a show to rent it to immediately). Also, when you make a new video, it would be helpful, for me anyway, to get more wide shots of your setup. Thanks man!
@ haha absolutely. The next video will be MUCH more in depth as well. The whole room is changing so we’ll be talking about a few set building techniques as well.
Was waiting for this! diving in!
Haha it's been a long time coming!! The longest video I've ever made for the channel is finally up!
@@ConstructedChaos I think this vid should be required watching for all of those dnd content creators who stream their games.
i like how technical you get and i am learning alot of things. I also liked the focus on minimizing cost with minimal impact to quality. I can't say it can be of help to me now but i still enjoyed alot learning all of this stuff and i'm bookmarking it in case i do decide to dnd content in the future. moreover, i really appreciated how you took time to explain things but kept it simple so it wasn't overwhelming to absorb. lastly, man everything looks just so cool behind the scenes! would definitely want to play at that table with those well crafted minis and terrain!
the only thing perhaps i'd suggest as an improvement to the setup would be a bigger table. the back-scratchers btw were a nice touch for moving around the minis. i think you can make this a series in case you get good mileage out of it. personally i would be interested in your setup for non-play like when you do your vids on classes, spells, etc.
anyway just want to say kudos for such a cool and informative vid! looking forward to your next!
@@TheRobversion1 thanks so much for all those accolades, friend!! I’ve had a ton of experience talking about and teaching basic video practices so I’m glad that came into play here!
I think the table will be getting an upgrade one day when we build a bigger space on our property here. There are definitely plans for it and I’ll be documenting that process much much better than with just iPhone photos haha!
I’ll do another BTS video for my office setup at some point but it is much less impressive haha! 😂
@@ConstructedChaos cool. will look forward to that office setup vid. i think most of the concepts here apply there as well like with audio, lightning, noise cancellation, etc but i am curious of the scope and what you'd use for a more "personal" setup as i think if i ever do this as well, i'd probably start out with short vids that do spell analysis, spell/ability combos and eventually build vids. those are the things that interest me the most as a player as well as my areas of expertise. those i think would be fine with an office setup.
i'd also be curious about your editing software aside from the setup/equipment.
@@TheRobversion1 Well, awesome!! I suppose I could go into more detail about how to properly light a green screen! And I can tell you that DaVinci Resolve is the way to go for editing. Nothing else comes close.
Oh, and you asked the other day if you'd see any difference in the video quality with the new editing machine? I was able to really fine-tune my keying for the green screen since the video played back in the editor more smoothly so this is about as good as it gets now haha!
AWESOME advice! Chapter markings in this video would be AMAZING. I've come back to this video three or four times, and finding the right piece of advice each time has been a minor annoyance. There's just too much good advice!
Thanks so much and I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'll definitely see if I can find some time to go back and add chapters to this one for ya. And you'll be happy to know that I'm planning some very similar videos that take a lot of these themes to the next level. Expect those to hit the channel before the end of the year!
@@ConstructedChaos Psyched to hear that!
Amazing video that I really haven't seen yet! Well done! Stream looks amazing!
Thanks so much!! It took a while to put together but I’m glad so many people are finding it useful!
Audio engineer here. For a guy who claims not to know much about audio, you're doing pretty well :)
If I may offer one suggestion, you could plug your laptop into your mixer if you've got a spare stereo channel. That way you further reduce the number of audio sources you need to mix in software and gain fader control for a nicer sounding transition between segments if you want it.
Hmmm I do actually like that suggestion a lot. The only reason I haven’t done it yet is so that I can monitor the audio levels separately from our voice stuff since it can sometimes be hard to judge the volume correctly just based on how loud the sound is in the room.
Jumping between “combat” and “mood” music can sometimes cause issues if I’m not double checking myself.
That said, I was a musician before I was a cinematographer so I do know a little 😅. It was really only ever enough to write music inside of a DAW before taking rough tracks to the studio.
@@ConstructedChaos Well I only just learned what an f-stop is last year, so I found your guide on the visual stuff very insightful! I have endless respect for a good DoP :)
As for monitoring, welcome to the exciting world of hybrid analogue/digital workflows! In principle you can set up a mix-minus by sending the stream PC's audio into its own channel on the desk. That way you can give yourself a monitor mix and also switch to monitor off-bus with the headphones plugged into the mixer. Not sure exactly how you'd do that with your particular mixer and how they configure things in Windows though.
@@MrSpeakerCone ooooohhhhh that’s something I hadn’t thought of!! I think I’d be able to do that with what I’ve got, actually!
@@ConstructedChaos Hope it works out! You paid for an impressive amount of routing capability with that mixer, may as well use it, right?
A treasure trove of information! Thank you for this amazing insight (and the shout-out!), Any chance on adding chapters to the video so I can come back to sections easily?
Also had a question about the multiplexer, is the final output just a 1080 resolution, or is it 4k so I can scale the video for individual sources to be full screen in OBS?
Haha thanks man!! You know I had to give ya credit!! The multiplexor is 1080p but you can get better ones!
That is the one downside to this setup but I don’t find that I often use a scene that’s just me. Maybe one day haha.
As for chapters, that’s a great idea! I can see where that’s be really helpful on this video!
@@ConstructedChaos Yeppers, i can see there are some 4k ones. this sounds like a fantastic way on saving some processing power. I have a goal of filming some in person games for the channel so any places i can save on processing power are a must.
@@Atmoseeker if I remember right, the 4K ones were a good bit more expensive. Have they come down in price at all? Maybe I’ll do a little upgrading!
@@ConstructedChaos yeah it looks like an extra 100-150 bucks.
Dude! Great video. I didn't take quite this route but a LOT of the similar ideas back when I used to do around-the-table games vs VTT. Definitely enjoyed the geeking out
Hell yeah!! I'm glad you liked it! I'll have to make another one again one day to go over some of what I've upgraded since this haha.
We want the hour-long lighting seminar. Haha!
Haha Maybe one day!
This video is actually fantastic. You're underrated bro.
Thanks so much! I'm glad you found it helpful! I can't wait to upgrade the setup even further and share what I've learned with everyone!
Such an awesome video!! Thank you!! It was great to get a peak behind the curtain at constructed chaos.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Hedge! It's been a labor of love over the last couple years getting it to this point haha
@@ConstructedChaos all your time and effort really shows. Not only in your streams but in all the great RUclips content you've been producing
@@TheRowanPortal it means a TON to hear that from you! Thank you! ❤️
My friends and I want to start streaming a new campaign so this is literally a video I NEED to watch! Thank you!!
Happy to be of service!! I know many of these tips weren't available for me when I started out haha. That said, if there's anything you need more detail on, don't hesitate to ask!
Awsome video! I have been toying with the idea of streaming my games. I used gopros to film crafting and mini painting videos for my channel this is a great use for them! I’ve been taking a break since 2020 but I’de love to see more about your set up for sure.
Thanks so much!! I’m glad that you found it useful! 😊
This is a very helpful video. I’m sorry there aren’t separate videos doing deep dives on cameras, mixers, microphones etc., in a gaming/streaming environment.
We’re actually in the middle of upgrading many components of our setup so a follow up video may be in order eventually!
This is a MASTERCLASS in tabletop game video production. Well done!
Thanks so much Bill!! I hope you found it useful! Feel free to ask any questions you might have!
If only I had found this video months ago! My friends and I have been streaming our sessions for a while now and you've given me solutions to problems I didn't even know existed. Opened my eyes to new possibilities with all the lighting, cameras, audio. We fell victims of the Yeti hype and now have 3 of them attempting to get them to work together. Honestly i've watched this video 2-3 times a day for the last week and every time its sent me down a rabbit hole of hours of research because I didn't know all this equipment existed or could even be used in this hobby. All I can say is THANK YOU!!! I know these videos don't gain a lot of traction but this is hands down my favorite video on RUclips right now. Like did you know OBS has a "Virtual webcam"? Because thats how im currently using four webcams. 🤦♂
Wow!! Thanks so much for the stellar comment, friend! It's stuff like this that motivates me to keep creating. As an extra thank you, I just found this deal for an Elgato camlink pro! It basically cuts out the need for a multiplexor and another video capture card. They usually run like $350 so I got one myself and plan to install it this week haha.
www.adorama.com/eg10gaw9901.html
@@ConstructedChaos Thats awesome thank you! Unfortunately we wont be able to use it until we upgrade from usb webcams but thank you!
@@SixDSix Oh right! I forgot you'd mentioned that!
I am NEVER going to steam any RPG or be on one so guess what… I was just geeking out looking at your set up. So nice considering what you paid for it. Very solid and you explained it well.
I can totally understand where you’re coming from! As long as you’re enjoying the game, that’s what really matters! And I’m glad you still enjoyed the video, all that aside!
Waited for this video for a few months! Good one Alex! I got you beaten on a budget, mine was 3 times lower :) I have to make similar video Balkan style budget! :) p.s. I maybe like this set better over the green screen! :)
Haha glad you enjoyed it!! I’d definitely be interested to see how others handle some of this stuff!
And I like this and the green screen set about the same. The real difference is that this set takes a lot more time to put together and involves using some gear that I have to use for work 😅
Fantastic and helpful video! We're just now getting our footing as a new streamer and appreciate amazing tutorials like these. 🥰
Happy to help!! This was one a lot of people were requesting and I was glad to oblige! I know we had to do a lot of this figuring out on our own when we started haha
Great Thumb & Promise- great video!!
Thanks!! I’m glad everyone seems to be enjoying it and getting a lot out of it!
Can me and my dad play dnd 5e on twitch or some other stream with friends and take donations without getting in trouble?
Yep! That should be absolutely fine! If not, I’ve got a problem hahaha
I miss this place
Haha it misses you too!! We’ll have ya back sometime soon!
god dang dude, great, thorough explanation. thank you.
No problem!! I’m glad you found it useful!
Thanks for a great and very informativ video, i learnt a ton. Im thinking about setting up a similar setup for my school, but im wondering about the fisheye in the gopro. How do you get around that? Wont the two persons in each shot be bent?
That's a very astute observation! The gopro5 (and every one after it I think) has a crop feature that allows you to crop into the image in camera and still export a high res image. I think we use the "linear" preset. This crops out those distored edges to a large extent. You can still see some on the very edge but not enough that it gets noticed!
Late to the party but thank you for this video. I am still running a mixed group in person and online players. One of my in person players is visually impaired and needs a good deal of light to be able to make out her character sheet, dice, etc... Due to that, the current lighting is pretty unforgiving. Since we do have a dedicated room for gaming, I've been searching for better ideas for overall lighting configuration. Your video has given me quite a bit to chew on. Again, thank you.
Thank YOU for watching and I'm happy you've found it helpful! Happy adventuring!
im thinking about using a 360 camera instead of the go pros. do you think that would work with streaming.
Hmmm I've had that thought myself before but I'm not sure how cameras like that would output video signal. Do any just output one really large resolution to cover the whole 360 degrees?
@@ConstructedChaos late reply, but, my thought was to have one Insta360 ONE-RS as the main camera, mounted above the table, then create multiple instances of it on obs-studios. and have the player cameras, and also a top-down board camera. then i was thinking of even adding mirrors, pointed at the board, so i can have an instance of the camera looking at the board from a side-ways angle. I dont know how the mirror would turn out, and i could invest in a second camera, or use my phone. but i think it would personally save the costs, and it would give me a nice side project to tune as i test it out.
Wish I saw this a year and a half ago! Nice video!
The boom arm for your camera. How do you attach the camera to the boom.
Thanks!! And that's a great question! I use these handy little thread adaptors from camivate as well as a (sortof expensive) fast mount for a monitor made by atomos!
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1539642-REG/camvate_c2475_thread_screw_set_1_4_20f.html
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1493128-REG/atomos_atomxmmqr1_atomx_5_and_7.html
@@ConstructedChaos Thank you for getting back to me. This will be helpful :)
@@DungeonsAndDrams of course!! I’m happy to help!
We bought the rei 4k60 4x1 multiviewer and cant get that high resolution on obs any suggestions?
Sure thing! What resolution are you getting currently? And what capture card are you using?
We are at 720p. Using the capture card in the link. I ordered a new hdmi cable that is rated for 4k to go from the splitter to computer. It was an older hdmi hoping that might fix it
@@farmboyEN That certainly could be the issue! Notably, I've never done 4K on that capture card even though it's rated for it. You may also want to make sure that the capture card is plugged into a USB 3.0 port if possible.
Thanks so much i learned so much from your video. I ended up getting three gopros from ebay for $100 a piece and 4 dynamic mic and 1 condenser mic. Hoping to convert to all condensers but they are so expensive. Do you have any videos on the technical side like what it looks like for you guys to run a session?
@@farmboyEN I'm glad this video helped!! I put it out after so many of my friends in the space asked for something like this! Sounds like I might have to do another deep dive soon since this is the only video like it on my channel. Still, I'm happy to answer any other questions you have about running the game live here if you'd like!
Thanks. Ordered some things you suggested and made sure to use your affiliate links. Hope it blesses you. 😊
@@jc3777 much appreciated friend!! Feel free to reach out in the discord if you need any help with anything and happy adventuring!
I don’t see the products or Amazon link
Hmmm I'm not sure why! I'm seeing it in the description on my end!
Ohh that a really cool sponsor
YES! I was over the moon when I heard from them!
Came back to this video couple of times... You mind if i ask measures of the table, and how far are player from camera?
Of course!! The inner table is something like 32”x32” and then the table surface is 14” deep from there all the way around.
The GoPros are *near* the center of the table so that’d put them roughly 22” from the players (the GoPros are spaced out from center an inch or two depending on which one.
@@ConstructedChaos Thank you sir! :) Aren't gopros in the way for players to see each other? If they are in center/head level.
@@DiceDragondnd they’re just above eye level but they do get in the way a bit. It’s just a downside of this setup but, honestly, I forget they’re there most of the time
Hey love the video. It’s been a great start to get my channel up and running. I’m running into a snag with the audio. You said you guys ran your audio through discord. How did you get the audio on discord. My issue is discord will only pick up one of my mics at a time, instead of them all being live at once. I tried using usb mics but heard that was a bad idea. So I got an audio interface and some xlr mics but still seem to have the same problem. Should I have gotten a mixer instead of an audio interface? Any help to get that audio up and running would be awesome.
Hey! Sorry for any confusion there! I think I said that we ran our audio through discord when we had to run our sessions remotely during the pandemic. So, in that setup, each person had an audio interface and a mic hooked up to their own computer. I didn't really detail much about that in this video since the main focus is running for in person games. If you already have an audio interface, I'd recommend getting a regular mixer with good preamps that you can run into that interface on one signal. Our mixer doubles as an audio interface essentially but you'd just be separating those two devices and getting pretty much the same result.
@@ConstructedChaos thank you so much for the quick response! One more question for you: is there a program on your streaming pc that turns all the mics into a single audio input or is that what the mixer is for? I could probably return the interface I have and grab a good mixing board if that’s a smarter move.
I have 3 players in person and 3 players in different cities so we’re trying to find an away to get all the people in person’s voices to be heard clearly on stream lol. The players not in person have their own setups so they’re good. Thanks again for the help!
@@TheWarCouncilTable no problem! I know it can be stressful to set all this stuff up. We’ve actually been working on a big expansion of our setup as well so I’ve been in the weeds lately haha. I personally prefer having a mixer that can just interface directly and that would make all of your mics one signal, yes! For what it’s worth, running a separate mixer through your audio interface would do that as well. The good news is that you might be able to get a mixer with less channels than mine since you’d only be running a few mics through it!
@@ConstructedChaos Awesome. I’ll look into getting a mixer. Thanks so much for the help!
I thought the video would be the hard part, and then I started the audio hahaha
@@TheWarCouncilTable haha for sure! Audio is always the toughest part in my opinion!
amazing video! love it.
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Did you ever have problems with the gopro's overheating? That's honestly the only concern I have
It’s funny you mention that! I’ve never had that problem but one of them did finally die on me this week after about 3-4 years of them being plugged up all the time haha. It’s about time for a camera upgrade anyway so I’m moving on from them soon.
@@ConstructedChaos if I may ask? Are you planning on sticking with gopro's? If so what are you upgrading to? I'm personally looking into Gopro hero 8's
@@lordimor8016 we’ve had a lot of success with the canon m200 for our table cam and they’re going for a lot less than they used to now that they’re not being made anymore. So, we’ll be moving away from gopro altogether here soon.
Planning on some big upgrades to our stream setup this year so this is just the logical next step. I will say be weary of gopro models that don’t have HDMI out on the body! I know some you can get the little media accessory but that’s like an extra $70 I think.
@@ConstructedChaos I appreciate all the great help, I also appreciate the communication with your viewers!
I agree with most of the comments here. This is one of the best TTRPG Live Stream set-up guides I have seen and I have been watching A LOT of them. Thank you very much for that!
I am still a touch confused on a few issues though.
If I want to go 4k 30fps, do I need to upgrade both the Multiplexer AND the capture card? Also, I assume all cameras are hardwired to power and not using their batteries?
Thank you.
You’re correct on both assumptions! The GoPros are all plugged up to an independently powered USB hub (it needs to plug into an outlet and not just your computer or something) and then you would have to upgrade your capture card and the multiplexor if you wanted to do 4K.
@constructedchaos. Are you available by any chance to be hired for consultant work? I am attempting to create a similar set-up and believe, in the long run, it would cost me less to make the correct choices first and receive some specific advice and consultation regarding my specifics. Thank you.
@@brettsflyndad9945 no need for all that! Feel free to pop into our discord and ask me any questions you may have and I’ll help out as much as I can. We have a channel in there dedicated to this kind of thing exactly! discord.gg/zq5BrJqwtR
Fantastic!
Thank you!!
I don't even stream my games but I wanted to listen to what goes into it.
Well, thanks for watching!! I’m glad I was able to provide a bit of insight!
How expensive is all of these things you have done?
It's hard to get an exact number on everything but, including my streaming pc, lighting, gopros, mixer, mics, etc. I'd say something like $3K.
What are the chances we could get more behind the scenes stuff like this??
Considering how poorly the videos typically do, they'll continue to be an "every once in a while" kind of thing. But, I do intend to make more as I see a need for them! Is there anything in particular that you'd like to see covered in the next one?
@@ConstructedChaos I would LOVE to see some of the digital side of things! Like what is an interesting overlay? How do you update damage on the screen during combat. Setting up ambience with the Stream Deck, and things like that!
@@JakinShaw My buddy, Atmoseeker actually goes over some of this kind of thing in his videos too. So, if it takes me a bit too long to cover any of that, you may want to check out his channel!
Nice!
Thanks, friends! Some of this you may already know but I bet you'll really enjoy some of the cinematography tips in here!
@@ConstructedChaos It made me reconsider how I am going to wire all the cameras when I build a physical set up eventually
@@rollpropelledgamers Yea that was a really big one for our setup. It killed me a little not to use my cinema cameras and DSLRs but I've come to love the look of this GoPro setup!
I didn't realize there was so much involved in streaming dnd....
Well, truthfully, there doesn't have to be! Many other channels have also had success in just streaming with the gear they have via zoom or discord. That tends to be a lot cheaper and it's how we got started too. But I'm a bit of a perfectionist and this is the best I can do with what I have right now haha.
@@ConstructedChaos I know nothing of streaming and we have a podcast coming soon that we want to stream eventually or even at the start
@@thevoiceofchance For me, getting started was the hardest part but it's so much fun once you do!
Me taking notes
Haha please do!! And feel free to reach out if you have questions too!
great video but all of this is definitely NOT for your average starting dnd streamer... The budget for this setup has to be a couple thousand dollars easily..
I didn’t claim that it was. I said it was the most cost effective way I’ve found to stream dnd “like a pro”
Your hand gestures off screen are very distracting. Do you have to pee? Are you doing something inappropriate? Are you working out with a shake weight? Food for thought
Haha sorry about that Nick! I talk with my hands and I’ve been trying to break the habit for this very reason!
That said, I appreciate your concern that yourself and other might assume the worst and not just that I talk with my hands 😂
@@ConstructedChaos didn't answer the question... 😂
@@ScoundrelsDnD ….I don’t have to pee…. Anymore…