Step-by-Step instructions on how to stream Descent to Twitch

[roncli]

LAST UPDATED: 12/28/15

Hey guys! I know that there are a few people interested in streaming, but don't have the patience to figure out how to use streaming software. So, I figured I'd put together a step-by-step guide. If I've missed anything here, let me know!

1) Sign up for a twitch.tv account.
a) From http://twitch.tv click the "Sign Up" button in the top right
b) Enter a username, password, birthday, and email, solve the reCAPTCHA, and click "Sign Up".
c) Wait for an email from Twitch to verify your email address.

2) Get your Twitch streaming key.
a) Visit http://twitch.tv/dashboard
b) Click the "Stream Key" tab
c) Click the "Show Key" button
d) Click the "I Understand" button
e) Your stream key is displayed. Copy and paste this to a same place, and treat it like a password!
f) Visit https://twitch.tv/settings
g) Under the "Channel & Videos" tab, ensure that the "Archive Broadcasts" box is checked, otherwise you will only stream and not have access to a video on demand of your stream afterwards! Twitch will now keep your streamed content for up to 2 weeks by default, and forever for any part of your videos you highlight, even full matches!

3) Download and install OBS MultiPlatform (If you have chocolatey installed, you can skip this section by typing "choco obs_mp --version 0.12.3" from an admin command line to install the default OBS MultiPlatform installation.)
a) Visit http://www.obsproject.com
b) Under "Get OBS MultiPlatform", click your appropriate operating system. NOTE: These instructions are for Windows, you'll need to improvise for other operating systems.
c) Save the installer to your hard drive and run it.
d) Click through with all of the default options.

4) Setup OBS to stream to Twitch
a) Open OBS from the Start Menu.
b) From the buttons on the bottom right, click "Settings".
c) Select "Stream" from the left menu.
d) Fill out the form to use the Stream Type of "Streaming Services", use the Service "Twitch", select the Server closest to you, and enter the Stream key that you copied from step 2e.
e) Select "Output" from the left menu, and change the Output Mode at the top to "Advanced".
f) For best quality, you will want to set the Bitrate to at least 2500 kbps. If you find that you are dropping frames when streaming, you can always come back here and lower this number to reduce quality but also reduce the bandwidth required to upload.
g) Ensure the Keyframe Interval is 2. I use CPU Usage Preset of fast and Profile of main.
h) Under the Recording tab of the Output window, you will want to set your Recording Path to where you want to save video, should you ever want to record your videos offline.
i) Under the Audio tab, ensure the Audio Bitrate of Track 1 is 160.
j) Select "Audio" from the left menu.
k) For Descent, you will want to ensure that you are recording the Channels "Stereo". You will also want to set all of your Audio Devices, both Desktop and Mic/Auxiliary, to "Disabled".
l) Select "Video" from the left menu.
m) Ensure that the Base (Canvas) Resolution and the Output (Scaled) Resolution are equal to the resolution you play Descent in.
n) Ensure that the "Common FPS Values" is at 30.
o) Click OK.

5) Create a scene in OBS that will play Descent.
a) If you do not have a default Scene under the "Scenes" window at the bottom, click the plus button to create one.
b) Under sources, begin by adding an "Audio Output Capture". Name this "Audio Output - Game" and click "OK". Then, select the device that plays your sound while in Descent and click "OK".
c) You can add additional sources if, for instance, you play your voice chat on a different Audio Output Capture such as a USB headset, or want to record your voice with an Audio Input Capture. You can add as many sources as you want, and balance the volume in OBS under the mixer separately for each device. Be sure to name each source differently so you can identify them.
d) Next, add a Game Capture source. You can leave the name the default of "Game Capture". Be sure "Capture any fullscreen application" and "Force Scaling" are both checked, and the Scale Resolution matches the resolution you play Descent at. You can type this in manually if necessary, for example I use "1920x1080". Click "OK".
e) Next, add a transform. Right click "Game Capture", go to the menu "Transform" and then "Edit Transform". In the window, change the Bounding Box Type to "Stretch to bounds", and ensure the Bounding Box Size is the same as the resolution you are playing at.

6) Test your settings.
a) Click "Start Recording". This will record a movie to your local hard drive that you setup in step 4h.
b) Open up Descent! It takes OBS a few moments to recognize that a full screen application is running, so there can be a delay of up to 15 seconds before you see Descent in the preview window.
c) When you do see it, go ahead and start flying around. Then, close your game, click "Stop Recording", and find the movie that was recorded, and watch it to ensure everything looks correct.

7) Stream some Descent!
a) Click "Start Streaming". This will start streaming to Twitch. Note that Twitch by default implements a 30 second delay to mitigate stream sniping (AKA having your opponent watch your stream while you're playing).
b) Open up Descent! Again, wait for the delay and then get into game and fly around.
c) When you're done, hit "Stop Streaming". You can then watch your recorded stream on Twitch by logging in to twitch.tv and going to the "Video Manager". There might be a short delay before you can view your most recent broadcast.
d) If you wish to keep any part of your video around forever, you have 2 weeks to highlight the portion or portions you want to keep. You can highlight the whole video, and even export the highlights to your YouTube account.

[Jediluke]

roncli, can you just remotely take over my computer and set all this up? That would be easier for me

[The@$$Man!]

Yes, Roncli could do this if he were nice to you and wanted to give you a xmas present! ( TeamViewer is free! )

[roncli]

Now taking bribes from any pilots who want me to mess with Jed's config....

[Lady Silver]

oh oh oh, pick me! **opens purse and gets out checkbook**

[Ashes]

[Wats]

Twenty to swap his bank left/right.

[Lady Silver]

$50
#1: Replace all his D1 files with D3.
#2: Make it so either his mouse OR his monitor is working, never both at the same time.
#3: Enable the *beep* whenever he swears on Mumble. Wait...then it would just sound like Morse code...

[Jediluke]

Hey...I resemeble that remark!!

[Mark392]

I literally laughed out loud looking at the offers received! You all do realize, even with those obstacles in place, he's still going to put the hurt on, right? I mean... One time, at a LAN, I unplugged his mouse before a championship tournament game... He still beat me.