Question / Help Building the Streaming ONLY PC! (Dodgepong halp!)

[mmorabe]

Hey guys, I've been streaming for over a year and I love it! I've build 2 gaming rigs (1 got sold to my work for Wirecast work) and I wanted to get a streaming/encoding PC build to be able to accomplish a few things (which is why I come to you):

1) Ability to capture inputs from 2 PC's
2) SSD for Main OS
3) SSD for Recording
4) HDD for Archiving footage

My question for everyone, if money was not an issue, what recommended builds/capture cards/cases would be best to maximize quality of my recordings/stream to my channel? I have the audio gear setup already so that is not an issue. I just can't decide which Case to start off with and if I'll need two separate capture cards for bringing in two PC's into OBS (for a splitscreen Scene I'll use with my roommate for Let's Play episodes.

Let the madness begin!

 

[Jack0r]

I personally choose the Case as the last thing. I first need to know what I want to put into it.
If money is no problem:
I7-5930 or 5960
8-16GB Ram (DDR4)
256GB SSD for your OS
2x2TB in Raid or just one 2TB HDD for recording/archive stuff (an SSD gives no benefit for storage)
Datapath VisionAV-HD with 2 inputs for example as the capture card

An extra GPU is probably not needed, so you could fit everything into an ITX case if you want to. Then its up to what you like, where you want to place it, how much room you have available and how you want to cool it!

 

[mmorabe]

This is what I ended up buildling (not including my mic/stands/Avermedia's etc.)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($389.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($110.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X99-UD4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($259.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($304.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital WD Black 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($290.95 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Air 540 ATX Mid Tower Case ($107.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($124.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($64.95 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($148.89 @ Amazon)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($148.89 @ Amazon)
Total: $2280.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-24 12:39 EST-0500

 

[OminousZ]

This is what I ended up buildling (not including my mic/stands/Avermedia's etc.)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($389.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($110.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X99-UD4 ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($259.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($304.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital WD Black 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($290.95 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Air 540 ATX Mid Tower Case ($107.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($124.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($64.95 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($148.89 @ Amazon)
Monitor: BenQ GL2460HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($148.89 @ Amazon)
Total: $2280.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-24 12:39 EST-0500

Hey man, just wanted to say thank you again...the audio is working good. I wanted to ask though, i use my gaming headset to the phones in for monitoring everything, but should i be using a more professional DJ like headphones or doesn't really matter?

 

[mmorabe]

Hey OminousZ! It's all dependent on if you're really critical on what everything sounds like going to the Stream. I personally have moved from my A40's (lots of low end bass) to my Studio MDR headsets. I use them for my professional video production job so that's what I'm comfortable with because what I hear on my headset is what is going to the stream through the mixer!

 

[OminousZ]

Hey OminousZ! It's all dependent on if you're really critical on what everything sounds like going to the Stream. I personally have moved from my A40's (lots of low end bass) to my Studio MDR headsets. I use them for my professional video production job so that's what I'm comfortable with because what I hear on my headset is what is going to the stream through the mixer!

Agreed. I just have to see what works best because my studio headphones are heavier than my gaming.

 

[mmorabe]

Go with what you like. I love my studio headphones because the older model is nice and light. Everyone hears differently on their end of the stream so it doesn't matter as long as levels and quality are to your liking!

 

[OminousZ]

Go with what you like. I love my studio headphones because the older model is nice and light. Everyone hears differently on their end of the stream so it doesn't matter as long as levels and quality are to your liking!

I hear ya thanks. You know...I'm getting noise feedback from my mic coming from background noise from the PC fans, A/C. I'm using an AT2020 XLR with my mixer. I know these things are going to happen unless i have the mic. like 6" from my mouth, but is there any other way to reduce that noise? The mic right now is approx. 1 foot away so it doesn't show up on camera, but i may have to bring it slightly closer and have it show just a little. Hey, it's looks cool.. ;)

I wonder if i should just go with a dynamic mic, but then i wouldn't i need to turn up the gain anyway and maybe still get 'white' noise?

 

[mmorabe]

Only real way to reduce that is to move the PC away and get a Dynamic mic that won't pick up a lot of the sound =/

Condenser mics like the AT2020 pick up a lot of the room noise, so if your computer is kind of loud and very close in proximity, you're going to hear it quite a bit =/

 

[mmorabe]

You can also use the Noise Gate in OBS to help reduce sound when you're not talking. It will only open up the mic to pick up sound when you reach a certain dB when you talk and turn off your mic when it is below the floor room dB that you want to reduce.

 

[OminousZ]

You can also use the Noise Gate in OBS to help reduce sound when you're not talking. It will only open up the mic to pick up sound when you reach a certain dB when you talk and turn off your mic when it is below the floor room dB that you want to reduce.

I thought about the noise gate, but since the mic. is into the IN of the mixer and the OUT goes to the streaming PC's IN, all the audio comes from the main speaker in OBS. I can't control the mic. in OBS because of the mixer..there's no mic source in OBS.

 

[mmorabe]

That's right! Well only thing to fix that is buy an actual Compressor =/

 

[mmorabe]

Below is the DBX Compressor I got for super cheap (but I'm replacing it now my new Streaming Rig is all here ready to be built!)

 

[OminousZ]

That's right! Well only thing to fix that is buy an actual Compressor =/

Well, I'm just replacing my mic. to a ATR2100 dynamic and should help considerably. Let me ask you another question...lol, sorry. The only way i can get OBS to hear the Gaming PC, is by going into the Streaming PC's audio menu, selecting the Line In menu, going to properties, and select the check box that says 'Listen to Device' Is this correct? OBS doesn't pick it up the gaming audio otherwise, but Windows does because i can see the audio level moving. But it works fine though...just wondering...

Oh...nice setup!! ;)

 

[mmorabe]

Ehh, you should have a 3.5mm to TRS so your Gaming PC audio will go through your Mixer. Then you just hear everything from the mixer and that will all go to your Streaming PC's Line In

 

[OminousZ]

Ehh, you should have a 3.5mm to TRS so your Gaming PC audio will go through your Mixer. Then you just hear everything from the mixer and that will all go to your Streaming PC's Line In

Yes sir...actually did that, and it works great. But it's just weird that i had to go into the Line in of the windows audio setting and check the 'listen to device' box so that OBS can receive the incoming audio. Hey..it works, ;) Just have to switch out my mic, and i'll be good. I may just get the compressor/gate just in case there's still fan noise coming through the dynamic mic.

Do you use a dynamic mic?

 

[Jack0r]

I currently use a Samson C01 Studio Condenser Mic connected to a Behringer Xenyx Q802USB. Using the USB connection of the Mixer I could minimize most noise but System Fan`s, CPU/GPU are still a problem as the Mic will pick them up. So I personally went for a software solution, I describe here:

And Xiuide here: https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/microphone-cleanup-with-adobe-audition-and-vac.7/

Other people use VST-Host and different VST Filters to do the same and in the future OBS-Studio might also include more options to add filters etc.

 

[OminousZ]

I currently use a Samson C01 Studio Condenser Mic connected to a Behringer Xenyx Q802USB. Using the USB connection of the Mixer I could minimize most noise but System Fan`s, CPU/GPU are still a problem as the Mic will pick them up. So I personally went for a software solution, I describe here:

And Xiuide here: https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/microphone-cleanup-with-adobe-audition-and-vac.7/

Other people use VST-Host and different VST Filters to do the same and in the future OBS-Studio might also include more options to add filters etc.

Thanks Jack. I actually tested a dynamic mic and it worked almost flawlessly. There was very minimal 'white' noise at all and the mic. was about 10" and slightly to the left so the camera wouldn't see it. Also, i think condenser mics. have too much of a sound pick-up radius which causes it to pick up everything, where a dynamic is more central with maybe a 45' angle of sound pick-up. I have the same mixer and i love it ;)