Chapter 1: Introduction to Livestreaming

As a producer of electronic music under the name LUCKYKAT, I've delved deeply into livestreaming. My home studio serves as the backdrop for this journey, and I realized it was the perfect chance to share my creative process with fans. After exploring various platforms like Twitch, D-Live, and Caffeine, I encountered a major challenge: my powerful PC, which runs Ableton Live 11, lacks a built-in HD camera. Although I have a Mac for live performances, the compatibility issues between MacOS and Windows posed a significant hurdle.

I wanted to avoid spending over $500 on an HDR camera that would primarily serve for livestreaming. Additionally, the webcams I had tried previously offered disappointing resolutions. To make my setup work, I knew I would need two screens—one for displaying my Ableton programming and the other to utilize the Facetime HD camera on my Mac as a webcam. The goal was to have both cameras operate simultaneously within Streamlabs OBS.

Initially, I attempted to connect the Mac to my PC via USB, but that approach fell flat. Next, I tried linking both computers through Bluetooth while running OBS, but that also proved fruitless. It seemed I had hit a dead end.

In the video, "How to live stream with face to camera overlay using OBS for Mac and Windows," the creator provides helpful instructions on setting up a dual-camera livestreaming environment, perfect for those facing similar hurdles.

Chapter 2: The Solution Unfolds

After browsing through a Stack Exchange thread and some Reddit discussions, I stumbled upon a potentially effective method. Here’s the process I followed:

1. Visit the NDI Tools website.
2. Download all necessary files and drivers for Mac.
3. Install the three downloaded programs.
4. Get OBS (not Streamlabs OBS) on your iMac.
5. Download the NDI runtime and OBS NDI plugin from GitHub.
6. Restart your computer.

Once NDI and OBS were installed, I created a new scene in OBS and set it up to recognize my webcam. After ensuring the video was full-screen, I navigated to Tools > NDI Output Settings and checked the ‘main output’ box. This would make the Mac’s output available to the Windows machine. Upon reopening Streamlabs OBS on my PC, I created a new source and selected NDI.

The video "How To Stream On A MAC - Your Complete OBS Studio Tutorial" offers a thorough walkthrough of using OBS on a Mac, detailing the necessary settings for a successful stream.

Chapter 3: Testing the Setup

Despite my excitement, I hit another snag—uncertainty about whether the Mac needed to be connected to the PC. After some trial and error, I opted to use OBS Ninja on my Mac. This free tool allowed me to generate a URL by selecting “Add your camera to OBS.”

Returning to my PC, I opened Streamlabs OBS and repeated the process, adding a new source via the “+” symbol. I selected “Browser Source” and pasted the URL from OBS Ninja. By hitting “Start Virtual Camera” in OBS, I finally saw the webcam feed from my Mac on my PC. This virtual camera setup provided low latency and excellent quality.

This method not only saved me money by eliminating the need for a new camera but also maximized the equipment I already owned.

Chapter 4: Enhancing the Livestream Experience

I chose to use Streamlabs OBS for my Twitch streams because it offers additional widgets for monetization. This allows viewers to subscribe, tip, and purchase merchandise, which is essential for supporting my music career. My ambition is to fully dedicate my time to music production by December 2022.

For my viewers, I prioritized making Ableton the main focus on-screen, with a small webcam feed in the corner to maintain a personal touch. I also included pop-up notifications for new subscribers and tips.

However, one unexpected challenge arose: transmitting sound from my desktop to Twitch viewers. Initially, I attempted to add an “Audio Output Capture” in Streamlabs, but it didn’t yield results. After some troubleshooting, I discovered Voicemeeter Banana, a virtual audio interface that proved invaluable.

I set it up with the following configuration:

• Left Fader: Selected A1, B1, and B2.
• Right Fader: Selected A1 and B1.

It’s crucial to keep the Voicemeeter window open while streaming to avoid losing audio. After adjusting the audio monitoring settings in Streamlabs, I tested my setup by playing a YouTube video. The audio signal appeared in Streamlabs, confirming that I was ready for my first Twitch livestream!

I plan to create a video tutorial to further assist others in this process. If you find this guide helpful, feel free to share your experiences in the comments.

To support my music journey, consider checking out my Patreon and Bandcamp pages.