The dream setup of most PC-based Twitch streamers involves having at least two monitors. One monitor to create the content and another to read the comments and interact with the audience.
Unfortunately, some streamers can’t have two monitors. This makes it very uncomfortable to view the chat and interact in real time. You will often have to wait between matches to give the chat the attention it demands. You should know that there is a much better way that allows you to stream with a monitor effectively. Read on to find out how.
Answered prayers
Rarely, if ever, do we get a solution to a problem that seems absolutely tailored to our needs. This particular solution is a piece of software and it’s hard to overstate its performance. The application is called Relay chat and it will be your new favorite object as soon as you start using it.
Restream is a unique streaming service that allows creators to stream to multiple platforms at once. The same stream can be sent to Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Mixer simultaneously. That’s the company’s main source of income and the service is pretty impressive if you want to do multi-streaming. However, in this article we are talking about its sister project: Restream Chat. Say goodbye to all your streaming problems in one monitor.
How does it work
At first glance, Restream Chat is a simple chat relay service. It aggregates all your streaming chats into one chat window, allowing for easy interaction. That’s all well and good, but its real power lies in its customization options.
Here’s a quick guide to using the app; specifically, how to create a chat overlay for your game. Start by going to the broadcast chat website and download the desktop version of the application. There is also a browser-based version, but it does not apply to this particular use. Once you’ve downloaded it, create a Restream.io account and launch the app. Then follow the steps below.
- Set up your streams in the Restream panel. You can access the dashboard from the Restream chat and then use the “Add Channel” button to select the platforms you want to use.
- Follow the on-screen procedure to add your Twitch channel and once done, you should be able to select it in Restream Chat using the drop-down menu in the chat input box.
- Now that you’ve set up your chat, go to Settings by clicking the gear icon in the bottom right corner.
- Here you can customize the appearance of your chat window. Start by reducing the opacity of the background, as this will make the chat minimally intrusive while you play. You can go ahead and turn it all the way down to make the chat window invisible.
- When the opacity settings are ready (you can change them later), check the click mode so you don’t accidentally interact with the chat while in-game. To interact with the window when this mode is activated, you must hold down the Ctrl key by default. You can change it to any other key.
- Also check the “Always on top” option so that the chat window ends up overlapping everything else you’re doing.
That’s all for the app settings, now there is one more thing you need to do in the game settings. Once you launch the game, go to the display settings and look for an option called Full Screen Borderless Window or some combination of those terms. You won’t see any impact on your game performance, but you must do this to display the chat window over the game.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
At this point, you should see your in-game chat feed. Find a nice spot on your screen where you can check the chat periodically without it affecting the quality of your game.
In the Restream Chat options, there are two more appearance settings worth mentioning. The first is Show Viewers Counter – it shows you how many viewers your stream has at a glance. Get used to noticing fluctuations in viewer counts in real time; This will help you create better content and choose the right times to stream to optimize viewership.
The other feature is message opacity, which governs the visibility of chat messages. Mistaking chat messages for in-game text can lead to really comical results and you should try to avoid it. This option helps make the chat even less intrusive. Use it wisely to strike a happy medium between being able to see the chat but not be distracted by it.
Frequent questions
Can I connect an external monitor to my laptop?
Absolutely! If for some reason you’re looking for a better solution than the one we mentioned above, you can connect multiple monitors to your gaming laptop (assuming you have one). In fact, we have an article here that explains how to connect multiple monitors to multiple laptops.
You’ll need the correct cables and will probably need to check Display Preferences on your PC or Mac to get it to work properly.
Can I use a TV as a secondary monitor?
Yes, it is possible depending on the model and the ports you have. Televisions can be very useful due to their larger size or in case of need. Assuming you have an HDMI cable and HDMI ports, connecting the two could be relatively simple.
If for some reason you don’t like the overlay method above, this is another way to view Twitch chat while streaming or gaming.
You must feed the beast
Developing and maintaining a relationship with your audience through chat is the key to success as a streamer. It’s a fast-paced world of memes, emoticons, and occasional drama, but that beast is also your best friend.
Restream Chat is easily the best and most elegant option for keeping track of your chat on a single monitor. It’s a free service and easy to set up, so you don’t get to design your own overlay.
What do you like most about Twitch chat? Do you prefer to have a very active chat and that makes it difficult for you to concentrate on the game? Let us know what you think in the comments.
