You don’t need sophisticated technology to broadcast gaming from a PlayStation 4 to dedicated spectators. Because Sony’s console supports the feature, you don’t need a capture card to stream content from a PlayStation 4 to a personal computer. Although they provide improved quality, capture cards can be quite pricey. There is also the possibility of using Remote Play. However, this method is not without its drawbacks. Streaming is more popular than ever, and content creators are racing to share their experiences playing popular video games such as Fortnite, PUBG, Overwatch, and others. In this tutorial, we will show those of you who are fans of Sony how to stream on PlayStation 4 by using a capture card in conjunction with the PS4’s built-in streaming features. Okay, so here we go:
How to Setup Stream on PS4
Using a capture card:
The use of a capture card is the way that is recommended for streaming on a PlayStation 4, particularly if you are serious about doing so. Streaming on a console is significantly more convenient but offers a much more restricted experience. It is impossible to add overlays to your stream; webcams are supported, but not in a way that allows for customization, and you have very limited control over the parameters of your broadcast.
Put the capture card in the slot. The data from your PlayStation 4 (PS4) that is ordinarily outputted to your television can be used with your computer if you have one of these handy small dongles. Since the video is being streamed to your operating system, you can utilize any third-party broadcast software, which will provide you with significantly greater control over your stream.
In addition to this, you will have less of a burden on the computer. As was said before, streaming demands its dedicated processing resources, which must be added to the work that your PS4 is currently doing to render the content. Assuming that you have your video settings adjusted appropriately, streaming on a powerful computer with your PlayStation 4 will provide a stream of much greater quality than streaming on a mobile device.
1. Connect every piece of equipment.
When using a capture card, half the battle is won simply by ensuring everything is plugged in correctly. The plan is to first connect your PlayStation 4 (PS4) to the capture card and then have the resulting video stream routed to your personal computer (PC). In most configurations, the capture card acts as a go-between, transmitting the data flowing between your gaming console and your personal computer.
2: However, there are a few other configurations that you may use, and we will demonstrate each one with the assistance of some visuals provided by AVerMedia using the company’s AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus capture card.
3: If you merely want to broadcast your gameplay, you will need to connect your PlayStation 4 (PS4) to the capture card using an HDMI cable, your capture card to a display using an HDMI cable, and the capture card to your computer that you will be using for streaming using a USB cable.
4: The easiest way to get commentary while playing is to link your PS4 to your capture card and your capture card to your computer. This is the solution for individuals who want commentary while playing. Because the Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus comes equipped with both a connection for headphones and a connection for a microphone, you will have no trouble capturing your voice while you are playing.
5: Even if the device you’re using to record gameplay, such as the Elgato Game Capture HD60S, doesn’t have an input for a microphone, you may still provide live commentary on it. You will have to configure that within your streaming client to proceed.
6: Set up your streaming client in the sixth step.
With streaming clients, you will need to use a different piece of software to stream when utilizing a capture card. Most capture cards are sold with some streaming or editing software already pre-installed on the device. OBS comes highly recommended from our end. It is free, easy to use, has a high degree of flexibility, and is based on an open-source platform.
7: You may use it to set up many scenes, add transitions to those scenes, and perform picture-in-picture effects. The more nuanced aspects of the software will be left up to you to figure out on your own. To accomplish the goals of this tutorial, we will demonstrate how to get your PS4 up and running. To begin streaming, you must first link your accounts, which you can accomplish by following the instructions below.
8: Launch OBS and navigate to the Settings menu.
9: The ninth step is to choose a stream.
10: The tenth step is to select a streaming provider and link your account to that service.
OBS supports various streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, among many others. You do not have to connect your account to use OBS; however, you can do so if you choose to. All that is required to use OBS is a stream key, which can be located in your account on Twitch or any similar platform.
11: You will still need to adjust the video controls under the settings. Ensure that your process’s priority is set to High or Above Normal under the tab labeled Advanced. This will cause OBS to consume more energy to broadcast your stream. If your experience is choppy, shutting down some programs running in the background can also help.
12: If the previous step was unsuccessful, you must change the settings under the Video and Output tabs. When it comes to the former, you have the option of setting both your basic resolution and a scaled resolution. For instance, you may record in 4K and then reduce the resolution to 1080p for streaming purposes. You may also alter the downscale filter and your frame rate per second in this section.
However, the output is the most significant part of this portion. You must change two significant settings in this section: your bitrate and encoder. The total quality of your broadcast is determined by the bitrate of your video, with a greater number representing a higher quality. Your video bitrate should be calculated by halving your upload speed. This calls for some trial and error, but as a general rule of thumb, this is how it should be done. Because the video bitrate is displayed in OBS in kilobits per second, you must convert the megabits per second reading you are obtaining to determine your upload speed.
13: The next step is to configure your encoder’s settings. OBS allows you to encode videos using either hardware or software. The processing power of your central processing unit is required for hardware encoding, while your graphics card is utilized for software encoding. Which one you choose is wholly determined by the computer you will use to watch the stream on.
14: The use of hardware encoding is typically superior for individuals without adequate GPU.
15: However, if you have a good gaming PC, you should be able to get away with using software encoding. This is because your PlayStation 4 is responsible for rendering the game, which requires a lot of processing power.
16: At this point, you are free to exit the settings. The next step is to configure your stream, so get ready. You will need to include the input from your capture card as a source in OBS; this may be accomplished by selecting the Plus button inside the program’s Sources portion. When it comes to new sources, there are a few different configurations that you can play about with, but it’s probably best to leave everything on its default setting.
17: If you find yourself wanting more out of your streaming experience, there are a variety of ways in which you can improve the experience overall. One thing you can do to make what you’re doing more enjoyable is to experiment with using a variety of sources and settings. Users of OBS can resize sources and reposition them within the streaming window in whatever way they see fit. Because of this independence, you can effortlessly incorporate various exciting elements into your stream, including overlays, webcams, and comment tickers.
18: That’s not all; you can also utilize the Scenes area to sprinkle overlays throughout the opening portions of your stream and the rest of your transitions. This is all possible through the use of the Scenes section.
19: When you are ready to make your broadcast available to your audience and everything is functioning properly, click the Start Streaming button to make it official and go live.
Because of its adaptability, OBS has become the platform of choice for most serious streamers. Having said that, novices may be drawn to OBS because it is easy to use and makes the procedure more straightforward.
Streamlabs OBS is, without a doubt, our top pick. Because it comes packed with various cool features, such as an integrated chat, widget support, and free theme options, we wholeheartedly endorse it to everyone. While Streamlabs OBS and OBS both use the same source code, the design of Streamlabs OBS is unique in that it is tailored specifically for live broadcasting on Twitch and other platforms that provide a comparable experience. OBS is such a versatile tool that you can use it for virtually all of your streaming projects without any problems.
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Using the PS4’s Broadcast feature:
The “broadcast” feature is an integral part of the operating system of both the PS4 and the PS4 Pro. With it, you can immediately begin streaming your games to Twitch and YouTube with only a few clicks of the X button on your controller. Despite this, console streaming has a few drawbacks that should be considered.
Streaming demands the use of computational resources, and given that the PS4 already operates on the edge of its capabilities when it comes to rendering games, this could result in a choppy stream. In addition, there are a restricted number of parameters to choose from regarding the overall quality of your broadcast. Method two is our recommendation if you want more granular control over the broadcasting process.
Despite this, the broadcast option is useful since it provides a quick and easy way to share your games with the world. Follow the steps that are listed below to get set up.
You are required to join your accounts before you can start streaming. PlayStation 4 can link to many services, but only Twitch and YouTube can support live video feeds. The account connection area can be found by following these procedures in order.
1: First, navigate to the Settings menu by tapping the Home screen.
2: Pick the Account Management menu option.
3: Choose to Link With Other Services from the available options.
4: The fourth step is choosing the service you want to use. For this demonstration, we’ll be using Twitch.
5: To link your accounts, you must follow the instructions on the screen.
That pretty much sums it up. As mentioned earlier, the process entails little more than authorizing your PlayStation 4 to communicate with the services, so it is not particularly taxing. To verify your identity when using Twitch, you must either key in a code on your computer or use your mobile device to scan a QR code. After that, you will be able to begin streaming video and audio.
6: Adjust the settings for your video.
7: At this point, the only thing left to do is start a game.
8: When you have completed the previous step, you can access the “share” overlay by clicking the button labeled “Share” located on your controller. You can snap a screenshot with this overlay, share your gaming with a friend, and do other functions. To use the broadcast gameplay option for the sake of this guide, go here.
You shouldn’t be concerned because the streaming won’t begin immediately. The PlayStation 4 will inquire about the parameters for your video stream and the platform to which you wish to broadcast before sending you live. Even though there aren’t many options, you can still change the quality of the video, give your stream a name, and select whether or not you want to broadcast your PlayStation Camera and microphone.
9: The final step is to click the Start Broadcasting button, and then you will be broadcast live. You can play about with more complex options, but doing so isn’t necessary for most users.
10: The tenth step is to begin streaming. You are currently streaming. However, there are several options that you can continue to adjust even while you are live.
11: If you are having problems, you can open the share overlay once more, and you will see that the button labeled “Broadcast gameplay” has been changed with a button labeled “Broadcast Settings.”
12: From this screen, you will be able to make changes to your stream without having to go offline.
13: Perhaps most crucially, you can end your broadcast by going into the Broadcast Settings. You will want to ensure you do this whenever you are finished with your broadcast.
Additional FAQs
Can you stream PS4 without a capture card?
Although utilizing a capture card to stream your console games will provide you with additional possibilities to modify your live stream, it is essential to remember that capture cards are not required in any way to perform this function.
Can I use OBS on PS4?
OBS Studio is a 100% free gameplay recorder that you should consider using if you want to record your gaming sessions on a PS4 system. The PlayStation 4’s Remote Play Client makes it much simpler than other game consoles to link the PS4 to a personal computer. For most other gaming consoles, a capture card is required to connect to a computer.
What quality is PS4 streaming?
Depending on the broadcast service used and the available bandwidth, the PS4 Pro system can broadcast at up to 1080p at 60 frames per second. HDR is not supported in this system. The amount of traffic will determine the quality of your video on the YouTube network and can go as high as 1080p at 60 frames per second.
Is PS4 Full HD or 4K?
The base model of the PlayStation 4 does not support 4k resolution, yet it functions normally with both 4k and HD televisions. 4k resolution is only supported on the PS4 Pro. The PS4 Pro does, however, offer some degree of support for 4K resolution. For instance, the primary purpose of 4k is to upscale 1080p content to 4k, a task that the vast majority of 4k televisions can accomplish satisfactorily.
