Desktop broadcasting

From Jtvcommunity

This is a quick and relatively easy way to broadcast PC games to Justin.tv

Contents 1 Desktop Capture Software 1.1 Capture Tab 1.2 Settings tab 2 Sound 3 Streaming

Desktop Capture Software

There are a lot of programs out there that you can use to capture your desktop and broadcast it, such as: Manycam, Webcammax and Super Webcam. For the purposes of this tutorial we're going to show you how to do it with VH Screen Capture Driver

To configure VHSCD, head to your Start menu, click on Hmeylyoff Labs, VHScrCap and select the Config application.

Capture Tab

The settings here change if you’re playing in Windowed or Fullscreen mode. If you’re playing in Windowed mode, open your game and tab out so that it sits in your taskbar. In VHSCD, click on the Track Window button and, from the Select Window pulldown menu, choose your game. If you’re playing in Fullscreen, you’ll have to check the Track Screen option instead. Note that screen tracking is problematic if you’re using dual or triple monitors like.

Settings tab

• Frame rate: start off at 10 frames. You’ll see why when you’re playing. The higher the frame rate here, the more resources VHSCD will consume. Ideally, 20 frames per second offers a solid quality versus performance ratio, but may be too much for slightly older machines.
• Border Color: change this option to black. This is the color fill that will be used to fill in gaps in your videos (e.g., you’re playing in 16:9, broadcasting in 4:3)
• Show mouse: does exactly what it sounds like. Either keep it on or turn it off. I like to keep it, but that’s a personal choice.
• Optimize screen capture: turn this option off! While this is great for capture static images (e.g., Windows desktop), it will muck up your game and create long ’skips’.
• Resize to output size: check this option and the 32bit linear resizing option. This will scale the video using a 32bit algorithm, making it smoother and cleaner than a ‘plain’ shrink.
• Specify output size: Enter either 640×480 if you pack a solid processor, or 320×240 which is faster but lower quality.

Once you’re done with your settings, simply close down VHSCD. Your settings will be loaded when we select it as an input source later.

Sound

There are a couple of ways of getting your audio to play over your stream if you're broadcasting from your PC.

1. Letting your microphone pick up your speakers sound
2. Using a 3.5mm to 3.5mm Cable from your Line out to your line in.
3. If you’re using Windows XP, most drivers include the stereo mixer (known as “What u hear” on Creative cards) which works perfectly.
4. Virtual Audio Cable: Once installed Line 1 (Virtual Audio Cable) should be available as an audio source. If you’re using Windows Vista 64bit, you’ll need to read the help file included with the application on how to install the driver, since Vista doesn’t like unsigned, unverified drivers. In Windows XP, mic playback should be automatic when a mic is plugged in, and that’s all you should need. In Windows Vista however, this was disabled. Instead, we can use Virtual Cable’s mixer application to include it in the stream. Open your Start menu, and select Audio Repeater under the Virtual Audio Cable folder. Change the Wave in device to your microphone and the Wave Out to Line 1. Press Start, and the mixing will begin. To change your mic’s volume, simply change the slider in your normal recording panel.

Streaming

Log into your Justin.tv account and click on the Red Broadcast button in the upper right hand corner. You can select the Best tab and install the streaming plugin if you’ve never done so before (you’ll be prompted to do so). You’ll run a few quick tests to check your upload speeds and such. Once those are done, you’ll need to select VHScreenCap as your video input and your stereo mixer as audio input.

Click the broadcast button and that should be it.