how to stream on mixer

Streaming has become an integral part of modern people’s lives so far. Video content is gaining much popularity, capturing attention better, and resonating emotionally with the audience. There is a myriad of live streaming platforms at present that it is really difficult sometimes to focus on one. Twitch is about to boast of its imperatorial laurels, because of its age and over 10 million daily active users. However, its competitor – Mixer is not going to surrender. How to stream on Mixer? What particular features distinguish it from Twitch?
If you want to learn more about this platform, you have come to the right place.

What is Mixer?

Mixer is a video game live streaming platform owned by Microsoft that was launched in 2016. At first, it was called Beam but was renamed Mixer in 2017. It is informally called “Microsoft’s answer to Twitch”, and it is also similar to YouTube Gaming. If you are familiar with Twitch and YouTube Gaming, it is easy to understand what people come to Mixer for: to stream games or to watch other people streaming. This month an American streamer Tyler “Ninja” moved to Mixer, and said goodbye to Twitch, and it doubled the app downloads in less than a week. Looks like Mixer will get to the top of the tree very soon.

Mixer Features

If the news about “Ninja” has not convinced you that live streaming on Mixer is definitely not worse than on Twitch, let’s look into its features. It is possible to have three concurrent streams, there are lots of emotes and GIFs similar to Twitch, and viewers are able to log into the official website or the iOS or Android app to watch the stream. There are both amateur streamers and professional esports players on Mixer. However, its main distinctive feature is interaction with the audience. Sometimes the viewers are given a right to rule the course of the game. They are allowed to control in-game characters, vote on story choices via a range of buttons. To activate interactive features, there is a special currency as Sparks that is given to users who follow the rules while watching a stream. It is a very powerful trump that helps to engage the audience and show them their importance.

Moreover, there are such features as:

  • FTL (or Faster Than Light) technology or zero-latency streams, just 10 – 20-second latency as on any other platform
  • co-streaming, up to four streamers are able to combine their broadcasts onto a single page
  • it is being integrated with Xbox One and Windows 10 dashboards
  • an opportunity to go live from your mobile device
  • experience points and a site-wide currency – Sparks. You will earn 2 Sparks for each minute you watch streams
  • an opportunity to earn money, displaying ads on streamer’s page
  • lots of monetization options such as channel subscriptions, donations, Embers (like Bits on Twitch) in exchange for exclusive emoji, etc.

Please note: you should be present on twitch not less than two months and have at least 2000 of followers to start earning revenue as a partner.

Please note: if you try to select between Twitch and Mixer, keep in mind that there are fewer streamers on Mixer, to be more precise – 69,000 compared to Twitch with its 1.5 million. There are chances that you will be discovered quicker on Mixer as it is not as overcrowded. However, a concurrent viewer count increased by 195 percent in 2018 on Mixer.

How to Start a Mixer Stream

Mixer works almost the same like Twitch and YouTube so there is nothing difficult to start streaming. Read our setup guide to make sure you use the best gear.

How to Stream on Mixer (PC)?

If you are a happy user of Windows 10, you can take advantage of the Game Bar, where Microsoft’s Mixer broadcasting technology is already built in. If you do have an account on the Mixer website, make sure you’ve signed up. What is more, it is necessary to link it to the Microsoft Account.

Please note: to create a Mixer account you must first have a Microsoft account or there is an option to sign in with Twitter or Discord.

If you haven’t created an account yet, here are the steps you should take:

  1. Go to the Mixer website.
  2. Click on Sign in button in the upper right corner, and then click on Create one.
  3. mixer sign in

  4. In a pop-up window, you will be offered to sign in to your Microsoft account. Enter the details of the Microsoft account whether you email, phone or skype create your Mixer account with.
  5. sing in with Microsoft

  6. After you have done with it, you’ll have an account on Mixer.

Please note: it is possible to change your Mixer username only once every 30 days.

Keep in mind: if you already use an Xbox One, and would like to create an account on Mixer, your Xbox Live credentials will be used for it.

There are lots of suggestions to download such software as OBS or XSplit but it is optional.

So what do you need to directly start streaming?

  1. Click on the user icon in the upper right corner and get to the settings.
  2. Select Manage Channel and you will see two columns – Today’s Broadcast and Preferences.
  3. Fill in all information about your Today’s Broadcast – stream title, channel language, etc.
  4. stream setup_mixer

  5. It is not obligatory to fill in the info in preferences column to start the stream. You can let it pass for now.
  6. Select Stream Setup, and select one of the streaming softwares you want to use. There are Streamlabs OBS, OBS, XSplit, etc.
  7. streaming software

  8. Having selected one, you will see a box with Stream Key which you have to copy and paste into your streaming software.
  9. set up streaming software

  10. There are also Setup instructions and Advanced Settings buttons to look through if you have any questions.
  11. You are also able to customize your stream, tapping on Customize button on the top of the page. Fill it in with channel info, putting avatar adding social thumbnail and background image.

Tip: create a catchy stream title and channel description to attract the audience and make it stay

Please note: setting up on Mac is almost the same as on PC. However, it is obligatory to download streaming software when using Mac.

How to Use Mixer on XBox/PS4

First, you will have to sign up to Mixer and be sure that it is linked to the Microsoft Account.
Xbox uses the Microsoft account linked to your Xbox account, that is why it is extremely important to pass all these basic steps. Once you’re ready to broadcast, follow the instructions below:

  1. Turn on your Xbox and choose the game you’d like to broadcast.
  2. To see the guide – press the Xbox button on your controller.
  3. Click on the broadcast icon on the left and select Broadcast your game.
  4. Enter a stream title and press Enter button.
  5. Toggle the options for microphone, camera and chat to be displayed in the stream.
  6. Press on Start Broadcast to begin your live stream.

Conclusion

Streaming on Mixer is not advanced maths, and there is nothing very difficult or unclear to set up. It is user-friendly, crazy about interaction, and can boast of other draws. Taking into account the current situation with “Ninja”, Mixer is going to send challenges to Twitch now and again. Perhaps, it will lure some other big shots away. We never know but the future is promised to be bright.

About the author
Marina Hikm
Marina Hikm
Content Contributor for OneTwoStream
Marina is a leading social media expert who managed online presence for several local and international brands.
Being a typical representative of Generation Y, Marina is an inquisitive explorer of the world and a supporter of constant self-education and self-development.

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