If you’ve ever wondered how the industry’s top streamers have managed to attract huge numbers of loyal fans, you’ve come to the right place. In our latest series, we’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at some of Twitch’s biggest streamers, with exclusive insight into their go-to streaming equipment, favorite video games, and top tips for streaming success.

Last week, we gave you a sneak peek of TimTheTatMan’s streamer setup (we’ll hear more from him later in the series), and this week we caught up with Summit1G, a Colorado-based streamer who’s garnered a fan base of more than 2 million followers on Twitch and over 300,000 subscribers on YouTube.

From his favorite streaming microphone to his top 3 qualities for being successful on Twitch, Summit1G shares his industry secrets for aspiring streamers. Read the full interview below.

Audio Solutions Question of The Week: How do I set up my AT-LP120XUSB Turntable?

Can you provide a list of your top 5 to 10 video games of all time?

  • Final Fantasy VII – PlayStation 1
  • Legend of Dragoon – PlayStation 1
  • The Last of Us – PlayStation 3/4
  • Counter-Strike – PC
  • Telltale’s Walking Dead – PC
  • Tales from the Borderlands – PC
  • Halo – Xbox

What gear is most important when starting a channel?

Headset and microphone are probably the most important for streaming since you want the audience to be able to hear your voice and gameplay clearly.

What kind of microphone is best?

I think the most commonly used microphone for streamers right now is the AT2020.

What’s your must-have software?

OBS Studio is a must for me to stream with.

What’s the best way to grow your audience?

Growing your audience can be done a lot of ways. The most natural would be to play a game you enjoy and have creative content. Once you have that, it’s all about exposure.

Is it better to stream from a PC or console?

I believe it’s best to stream from a PC since it allows you to do so much more than a straight-from-console stream. It’s way more customizable.

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Are certain games more popular to stream than others?

There are games that are way more popular than the average, such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), Hearthstone, Dota 2, and more.

Is there an optimal time to stream?

There isn’t really an optimal time to stream, but I do find starting at about 9 a.m. PT is pretty good since European viewers are off work and North America is just waking up.

What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started streaming?

There’s not really anything I wish I knew. I kind of got lucky and made all the right choices. :D

Any other tips for aspiring streamers?

In my opinion, there are 3 qualities to being successful on Twitch:

  1. Be funny
  2. Be interactive
  3. Be good at a particular game

You can have one or all of the qualities.

What do you think of Summit1G’s streaming setup? Do you agree with his tips for being successful on Twitch? Let us know in the comments below!

[Images courtesy of Summit1G]