Technical aspects and internet connection

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Hardware:

Are you using a Mac or a PC?

  • To begin with, you should know that either option will work just fabulously. Even though there have been times where certain programs have trouble firing on Windows, it's nothing to really worry about. One of these programs is actually the main one required to operate visual settings on your webcam- Logitech.
  • If you're using a Mac and you have some problems with Logitech, try to use Bootcam to install Windows. You can find this link here: https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/usingbootcamp/

What's better? Desktop or laptop?

  • Try not to use a netbook. Unfortunately, their systems don't have the necessary power to get the job done.
  • Think about what kinds of shows you'll be doing. If you're planning to make shows that are primarily just in one room, then a desktop will work just fine. If you plan to be more mobile and move around during your shows, then a laptop is a much better option.
  • For both options, a low-quality model isn't going to get the job done very well. More specifically, it won't be enough to stream, record, or edit in 1080 HD quality. You don't necessarily need an extremely high quality PC system to stream, but you will need a system that will be able to run your webcam at 1080, and to stream and upload the material. The more CPU that your computer has, the better. i5 or i7 is the best option for streaming. Memory capacity can also be an issue if you are running on low amounts. Most PC's run on at least 8GB of RAM, which will work just fine for any video streaming or recording. The perfect solution for this would be an SSD. The ideal solution would be to run one SSD for your OS and one SSD for your recordings. If you feel like you can't afford this, then one SSD should be enough. This doesn't mean that an HDD isn't sufficient, because it is. SSD's are typically the better choice because they run at quicker speeds and make your operations a lot more stable and smoother.

Your accessories

  • Having an external speaker system is usually helpful. This comes in handy if you're planning to use background music or sounds during your shows. Otherwise, your sound quality may not be as good. This is up to your personal preferences, however.
  • Using a wireless keyboard and/or mouse is also useful. This way, you can operate some technical aspects of your show without having to reach for the computer itself. Many cam girls prefer this option, but if you're always recording from a stable location, then this may not be necessary. Wireless equipment choices are very diverse, and they mainly depend on their various brands and features. A place where you can find all kinds of equipment of this sort is PC Peripherals. A note though: here, you really do get what you paid for. If you buy a $12 keyboard, then you should expect to get something that won't work quite as well as a $55 one.
  • Your webcam. As we've already mentioned, the Logitech C920 is the most commonly used model among the camming world. It has 1080 streaming capacity, includes an internal microphone, a long cord, and is of very high quality, generally speaking. Some sites, however, do not stream their videos in HD, so if you have a lower quality camera then that should be fine, at least if you're just starting out. If you do want to stream in 1080 HD, you will be required to have an stable upload bandwidth and internet connection for it to work efficiently.
  • Your microphone is also an important part of your technical equipment. The webcams that we recommended on this site all have very good built-in internal microphones, so if you choose one of these then you should be fine. If not, then you can opt for a separate microphone that will help improve your sound quality. Many cam girls decide to go for a Yeti microphone option, which you can also consider if not using one of our recommended cameras.

Other useful software and applications

Cam splitters

  • VerySoft is a very good splitter option, which is probably the best out of the bunch. It operates at a very high quality and is perfect if you are planning to record in HD.
  • Manycam is a commonly used option and is perfect for sites that don't necessarily stream in HD. This lets you do some fun things with your recordings, like add text, timers, or graphics. You can also use picture-in-picture with dual webcams.
  • A splitter will be necessary if you plan to cam on more than one site. This is also handy if you want to record and stream at the same time. A splitter is also just a personal preference, however—you don't necessary need one to cam.

HD encoding systems

  • Check out the instructions for Streamate's encoder below, or visit their website. streamate.com

Streamate encoder

This is a easy to use guide to help you set up your media encoder and broadcast in HD on Streamate.

Options

This is where you'll be setting the camera up.

  • Device-here, you need to choose which camera you want to use. Check that you've chosen the correct one before moving on.
  • Format. Make sure that the format is always H264. It is the only one that Streamate operates on. If you'd like see Advanced Encoder Settings, you can click on the wrench icon.
  • Frame Rate. Ultimately, a video is just a large collection of photos that are displayed at a very fast speed, back to back. A greater frame rate will translate to a greater number of pictures. Streamate isn't able to support anything above a frame rate of 29.97, so make sure you don't exceed this limit. DO, however, always try to go as high as your system and connection will allow you.
  • Input size. This can be slightly tricky for some people. Your input size is actually the size of the video that is going directly from your camera into the encoder.
  • Output size and bit-rate. The quality of the video that you uploaded from your camera into the encoder will be affected by these two things. The higher the bit-rate, the better. Do however be careful not overdo it, otherwise you could end up with a skipping or damaged feed. The suggested rate is 800kbps.

Your output size reflects the size of the video that your users will actually be able to view. If you can, you should try to match this to the size of your input, so that you don't overwork the encoder.

  • Audio. Similarly to your video, make sure that you have chosen the correct audio device. You'll be required to use the setting that Streamate operates on. These can be copied.
  • Stream area. This is where you'll be able to copy and paste the FMS url, as well as the stream from Streamates popup. Before you can do this, however, the Stream to Flash Media Server has to be checked, so make sure that this is done.
  • Auto adjust. The program will ask you to ckeck this, but it's not exactly necessary. The purpose of this function is to alter your feed quality according to your speed. If the programs reads your speed incorrectly, however, it can result in a worse feed quality or video skipping. This is only recommended in situations where your speed is very unstable.
  • Save to file area. This is where you'll be able to record and save your video feed while you are streaming in real-time. It's a perfect option for making videos, but you have to make sure that you've checked it before you start to cam.

The encoding log (2nd tab)

  • Under the second tab, you'll find the encoding log. This is where you can find information regarding when you log in and out, etc. It's also where you can find out if you're having any kinds of feed issues, because it will keep track of reconnection attempts and display them for you in the log.
  • The current streaming information is where you will find details about your audio and video.
  • The duration will show you the exact time that you have been online. It's ideal for knowing when you have a pause or finding out the length of a current show.
  • The bit-rate will display your current bit-rate that you chose back in the first tab. If you chose 800kbps, for example, then it should stay in or around this number at all times.
  • The FPS, or your input, will show you how many frames or “pictures” your film is recording per second. This was also set up back in the first tab, if you remember. This will simply show you the current number that is being recorded.
  • Drops will show you the number of frames that are being dropped via the auto adjust. If you're not actually using auto adjust (which is probably the case), then this is really irrelevant.
  • The FPS (output) is very similar to the input, but it displays the number of frames per second that are being generated out of the encoder.
  • The Average is where you'll find information concerning the average of you overall time online.

Tab 2B is where you can find out about the status of your quality. If your picture seems to be freezing up or breaking, then this is where you can find out exactly why!

  • The Bandwidth shows you the speed at which your feed is being transmitted.
  • The Buffer will help you find out if your video is skipping or lagging. If the buffer is any number other than zero, then you're probably having some issues in this area. This means that there's some kind of problem with your computer or isp, and most likely not anything related to the Streamate site itself. To fix this issue, you need to go to your settings and lower them, and of course check out if there's anything going on with your computer or connection. The buffer number is key to figuring out and troubleshooting a problem.
  • The Frame Drops will show you how many frames are being discarded. If you have anything above zero in this area, then it means that your video is most likely skipping. The bigger the number is, the greater the skipping. To fix this issue, you need to lower your quality settings and make sure that your auto adjust is turned off.

Using Music

  • To add a little bit extra flavor to your video, you could opt to add in some music. A popular option for many cam girls is to use music streaming apps like Spotify, Slacker, Last.fm, or Pandora. You should remember that some of these apps, especially in the free versions, will have ads that could potentially reveal your area.
  • If you're worried about using copyrighted material in your videos, you could think about going with “royalty free music”. You can find lots of sources for this music online if you'd like.

Internet and connection

Speed

  • If you want to stream, you really should be using broadband internet. It's practically required for efficient upload and download speeds. There are many reasonably priced options for broadband internet (cable, fiber, satellite), and you should easily be able to find something in the area where you live. You should also keep in mind that speed and quality will be affected depending the kind of place that you live. If you're working from a very populated area, then you need to go for a higher speed. If you're living in a less-populated one, then a basic package will typically work just fine.

Using WiFi

  • If you decide to go for WiFi, you'll need to apply the same restrictions as for broadband. WiFi set ups are very common today and are great for cam girls because they give them the option to record from any location in or around their home network. All you really need is a transmitter and a wireless adapter (which can be found in basically any laptop). Nowadays, it's very common to be able to stream at speeds equal to wired-in options. If you feel like going wireless is slowing you down, however, then try plugging in directly to your modem to increase your speed.

Hot Spots

  • A lot like WiFi, hot spots allow you to be more mobile in your camming and even work outside the boundaries of your home network. Just remember that if you plan to use a hot spot, you can still keep a stable, secure broadband speed for both uploads and downloads. If you've got that, then a hot spot can really be a great choice.