Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
My Gaming & Streaming Setup: From Zero to Getting Paid
30
items Whether you're just getting your first mic and webcam or building out a full podcast setup, this list breaks down exactly what to grab at each stage so you're not wasting money on gear you don't need yet.
Sections
5
Mic Picks
Cameras Picks
Lighting Picks
Streaming Accessories Picks
Software & Overlays Picks
Mic Picks
The mic makes or breaks your content — viewers will forgive a rough camera before they'll sit through bad audio. Here's what I started with and what I upgraded to once streaming started paying.
My first mic — crystal clear for the price, perfect if you're just starting out.
USB Podcast Microphone
This is the mic I upgraded to once streaming started paying — crisp, clear audio and dead simple plug-and-play setup. If you're serious about content, this is the one to grow into.
Logitech Blue Yeti USB Microphone for PC & Mac
My go-to now for live interviews — broadcast-quality sound whether I'm on USB or XLR. A step up for when you're ready to sound fully professional.
MV7+ - Podcast Microphone - Shure USA
The mic I started with — great sound for the price and super beginner-friendly. If you're on a tight budget, this is exactly where to start.
All FIFINE USB Microphones
For when you want full studio-quality control — pairs with an audio interface for the cleanest, most professional sound on this list. The upgrade to reach for once you're ready to go all in.
Condenser Microphone XLR, Professional Studio
Don't skip this one — a good boom arm keeps your mic perfectly positioned and off your desk, so you avoid bumps and vibration noise. Cheap upgrade that makes every mic on this list sound better.
Microphone Boom Arms
Cameras Picks
Your camera is what makes people actually stick around to watch — good audio gets them to listen, but good video keeps them on screen. Here's how I upgraded from a basic webcam to full interview-ready video without breaking the bank.
My very first camera when I had zero budget — still holds up for clear, crisp video and works right out of the box.
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video
A solid step up once I started taking streaming seriously — smooth 60fps and great color even in average lighting.
Logitech StreamCam - Full HD 1080p Streaming Webcam
What I use now for live interviews — sharp 4K detail and reliable autofocus, no more blurry close-ups
Logitech BRIO Webcam with 4K Ultra HD Video & HDR
For creators ready to go beyond webcam quality — real camera sensor, better low-light performance, and that signature blurred background look.
Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera for Vlogging
Built specifically for streaming — no weird settings to fight with, just clean, true-to-life video every time you go live.
Facecam
This is how you turn any DSLR or mirrorless camera into a webcam — the upgrade that finally made my setup look fully professional
Cam Link 4K
Lighting Picks
Good lighting is the cheapest way to instantly look more professional on camera — no expensive camera upgrade needed. Here's what took me from a dark, grainy stream to looking studio-ready.
The absolute cheapest fix if you're starting from zero — instantly gets rid of that dark, grainy camera look without spending much at all.
Sensyne 50" Ring Light with Phone Tripod Stand
My first real upgrade — way softer and more even than a ring light, no more harsh reflection in my glasses.
LED Panel Lights | Video & Camera Lights
What I use now for live interviews — app-controlled brightness and color temp, so I can match the lighting to wherever I'm filming
Key Light Air MK.2 | Compact LED Key Light
he full-size version once I needed more coverage — brighter and sturdier for longer streaming sessions.
Key Light | Professional LED Panel Lighting
Not for your face, but for your background — this is what gives streams that extra 'produced' look without costing much
Led Monitor Backlight
The pro-level setup — this is studio lighting, perfect once you're doing full video production or in-person interviews, not just streaming
NiceVeedi 2-Pack 16'' x 16'' Softbox Kit
Streaming Accessories Picks
The small stuff that ties the whole setup together — not the big-ticket items, but the little things that make streaming smoother and more comfortable session after session.
Cheap way to swap backgrounds without needing a fancy setup — folds away when I'm not using it.
Green Screen | Portable Chroma Key Panel
Changed how I stream — one-touch scene switches, alerts, and overlays instead of fumbling through menus mid-stream
Stream Deck
Small but makes a real difference — cuts out those harsh 'p' and 's' sounds on my mic without any extra editing
Pop Filter
Not glamorous, but keeps my whole desk from looking like a mess of wires on camera
Cable Management Sleeves
Less clutter, less noise picked up by my mic compared to my old wired ones.
Wireless Keyboard & Mouse Combo, 2.4G Silent
Ties the whole setup together visually and gives my mouse a smoother surface to work with
Desk Mat
Software & Overlays Picks
The visuals and tools behind the scenes that make a stream look and feel professional — what I actually use to run my streams, not just what's on camera
What I run every stream on — free, reliable, and does everything I need without paying for anything fancier
OBS Studio
Good alternative if you want alerts and overlays built in without setting everything up manually like OBS
Streamlabs
Where I got my first overlays before I started designing my own — instantly makes a stream look less bare.
Canva Texture Overlay Social Media Templates - Envato
Not just for chatting — I use it to manage my community and even pull guests in for interviews.
Discord
Handles chat moderation and commands automatically so I'm not manually typing responses while trying to focus on streaming
Nightbot
What I use for on-screen alerts and donation notifications — clean widgets that don't feel cluttered
StreamElements