SetupReady Guide
How to read creator gear spec sheets
Capture cards, key lights, stream decks — a quick spec decoder for the streaming shelf.
Capture cards
The spec pair that matters: capture resolution/framerate (what your stream records) and passthrough (what you see while playing). "4K60 passthrough, 1080p60 capture" means you play at 4K while streaming 1080p — the standard setup. External USB cards need USB 3.0+; check latency claims only for console play on a monitor.
Key lights and ring lights
Brightness in lumens (1,500+ for a key light at arm's length), adjustable color temperature to match your room, and CRI 95+ so your skin reads true. Ring lights flatter faces at close range; panel key lights at 45° look more natural on camera.
Stream decks and macropads
Count the keys you'll actually map (15 fills up fast with scene switches and audio toggles), and check software integrations — the hardware is a shell around its app ecosystem.
Camera mounts and teleprompters
Load capacity vs your camera+lens weight, thread standard (1/4" is universal), and reach/clamp fit for your desk — same math as a monitor arm, smaller scale.
The 10-second cheat sheet
- Streaming games: 4K60 passthrough / 1080p60 capture is the sweet spot.
- Looking good on camera: key light CRI 95+ beats a camera upgrade.
- Stream deck: buy for the software integrations, not the key count.