What do You Need to Become a VTuber
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VTubers are becoming quite a phenomenon, with millions of viewers around the world following them and interacting with them. While a regular livestream might be relatively simple to set up and get going, a VTuber setup requires a bit more tinkering and specific hardware and software to deliver the best possible experience to your potential audience.
We’ll be covering everything you need to know about how to become a VTuber and everything you’ll need to get started! But before we dive in, it’s important to understand the term ‘VTubers.’
Who are VTubers?
If you’ve ever stumbled upon a charismatic anime character streaming games, chatting, or even singing online, you’ve seen a VTuber!
VTubers, or Virtual YouTubers, are digital personalities that have taken the internet by storm by blending the appeal of virtual avatars with real human interaction – offering a unique twist to entertainment and streaming.
Whether you're a fan of Kizuna AI, the pioneer who kickstarted the trend, or you've just discovered this fascinating world, you’re probably wondering how you can get started on your very own journey to become a VTuber.
We’ll go over all the hardware and software you’ll need to get your VTuber setup off the ground in this guide!
Types of VTubers
VTubers can look vastly different from one another, and that's because they use a variety of avatars to represent themselves online. These avatars come in different forms, each with its own set of features and costs. Here's a breakdown:
PNG Avatar: This type of avatar is basically a static image – making it the least expensive option. It's a great starting point for newcomers who want to test the waters without investing too much. While it lacks the dynamic movements and interactivity of other types, it's a viable way to build an initial following.
2D Avatar: A step up from the PNG avatar, 2D avatars offer a certain level of animation and interactivity. They can blink, move their mouths, and can perform simple gestures. This adds a layer of interactivity and is generally more engaging for viewers than a PNG Avatar.
3D Avatar: The most advanced option is a 3D avatar. These avatars offer a full range of motion and expressions. They can act nearly human, boasting the ability to walk, dance, and interact with virtual environments, providing the most immersive experience for the audience.
Picking the right avatar depends on your goals, budget, and the level of engagement you aim to offer your viewers. Of course, you can evolve your VTuber avatar and personality as and when your audience grows and demands better and richer interactions with them.
Trends
The VTuber industry has seen exponential growth in the past few years, with many popular VTubers exploding onto the scene. According to a report by Hololive, a leading VTuber agency, their talents collectively garnered over 10 billion views on YouTube! This surge in popularity is not just confined to Japan; it's a global phenomenon.
VTubers are also diversifying their content beyond gaming, to include talk shows, music performances, and even educational streams.
The ‘VTuber’ trend shows no signs of slowing down according to research.
Market research has shown that the VTuber space has seen immense growth in the past few years, and is projected to grow from USD 2,188.32 million in 2022 to a staggering USD 13,265.26 million by 2028! With steady advancements in technology and growing mainstream acceptance, VTubers are poised to become a permanent fixture in our entertainment landscape alongside streamers and vloggers.
Pros and Cons of Being a VTuber
Becoming a VTuber comes with its own set of advantages and challenges. Here's a quick rundown to help you weigh your options:
Pros
- Anonymity: Traditional vlogging and livestreaming can never match the level of anonymity that VTubers can enjoy. A virtual avatar and environment around you can ensure total privacy to keep your real-life identity hidden from your viewers.
- Creativity: With a virtual avatar, you’re limited only by your creativity. You can design your persona to be anything you imagine, from anime caricatures to idealized versions of yourself or others you admire.
- Accessibility: You don't need high-end hardware right from the get-go. A decent computer and some basic software can get your stream up and running.
- Global Reach: Much like traditional vlogging and streaming, you can reach a global audience as a VTuber.
- Niche Appeal: The VTuber community and space is still relatively new – granting opportunities for you to carve out a unique space for yourself.
Cons
- Initial Costs: While you can start streaming without too much investment, upgrading to a more interactive avatar can be pretty expensive.
- Technical Skills: There’s no way around learning the basics of animation and streaming software, which can be daunting for beginners.
- Time Commitment: Building a following requires consistent content creation and engagement, which can be time-consuming and not everyone’s cup of tea.
- Viewer Expectations: The virtual nature of the medium can sometimes lead to unrealistic expectations from viewers, and at times, even a disconnect, which can be stressful to manage.
Considering these pros and cons is pretty much the first step you should take before embarking on a journey to become the next star VTuber!
What do You Need to Become a VTuber?
While becoming a VTuber might be pretty lucrative in the current market, it’s not easy to get started, especially if you’re not too comfortable around technology. However, this is a hurdle aspiring VTubers simply have to cross.
To make it easier for beginners, we’ll be going over all the key parts you need to get your own VTuber streaming setup up and running. In addition to obvious things like a PC and camera, you’ll also need ways to create your virtual avatar, capture your motion in real time, and broadcast to a live audience.
Choose the Right Hardware
One of the easiest ways to solve the hardware side of things for those who aren’t comfortable around PC hardware is a prebuilt desktop PC. Pick the right one, and you can get your stream going in the blink of an eye!
Gaming Desktop + Dual Monitors: MAG Infinite S3 and MAG 275CQRF-QD / MAG 325CQRF-QD + MAG 274UPF
Although you only need a single monitor to game on, streaming to and interacting with a live audience is a different beast altogether. Not only do you need a primary gaming display, but you’ll also need one or more secondary displays to multitask more effectively.
The MAG Infinite S3 Gaming Desktop features the latest processors from Intel, along with the addition of the GeForce RTXTM 4070 graphics card and lightning-fast DDR5 memory, to give you the best performance possible even on the most demanding workloads you need to run to get your VTuber stream going.
For your primary display, we’ve picked out two options that don’t compromise on gaming performance, gorgeous colors, and excellent contrast. While the MAG 275CQRF-QD features a 27” Curved WQHD Display with a 170Hz refresh rate, the MAG 325CQRF-QD takes it up all the way to a 32” with nearly the exact same specifications as its smaller sibling.
Your secondary monitor will serve as your ‘streaming hub,’ allowing you to see all your chats in one place as well as tracking your streaming software and camera while you’re in-game. The MAG 274UPF 144Hz Gaming Monitor offers an excellent 4K Rapid IPS panel that’ll deliver excellent viewing angles and plenty of screen real estate – giving you much-needed flexibility for your streaming setup.
Microphone: MSI IMMERSE GV60 STREAMING MIC
Well, you need a mic if you want to talk to your audience, right? And no one wants to hear a raspy voice or a voice that sounds as if it’s coming from the depths of a cave. If you’re serious about streaming to a live audience, a good mic is not optional.
Not only does it help you convey your thoughts with clarity, but it also prevents viewers from tuning out due to a bad audio experience.
The MSI IMMERSE GV60 STREAMING microphone was designed with the goal of delivering high-quality audio to your viewers with a rich set of features. It supports a high-resolution sample rate, versatile pickup patterns, real-time monitoring, and plug-and-play support for ease of use.
Headset: IMMERSE GH50 Gaming Headset
When it comes to sound quality, a decent pair of headphones are what jump to mind. The IMMERSE GH50 boast 2x40mm Neodymium drivers with Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound and vibration to enhance realism and immersion when you’re in-game.
In addition to delivering excellent audio, the IMMERSE GH50 is also designed to look absolutely stunning with its clean design and sturdy metal construction. Its tasteful RGB lighting and lighting effects will enhance the overall look of your gaming setup without being too loud, both literally and figuratively.
Webcam: Logitech C922x Pro Stream
Although an iPhone is certainly one of the best cameras to use for a premium VTuber setup, they can cost a pretty penny and don’t make sense if you’re just starting out and testing waters. Of course, if you already own a Face ID-capable iPhone, that’s your best bet, but if not, the Logitech C922x Pro Stream is a pretty good starting point.
It offers a wide field of view in addition to a good quality camera feed, and the ability to leverage external motion tracking tools. It boasts streams of up to Full HD (1080p) @ 30FPS or buttery-smooth HD (720p) @ 60FPS for a good mix of quality and fluidity. From an intelligent autofocus to an expansive 78-degrees diagonal field of view, the Logitech C922x Pro Stream was designed for streamers and VTubers who want to up their streaming game and get their foot in the door.
Getting an Avatar Model
Creating a compelling avatar is a crucial step in your VTuber journey. Although there are many ways to design your own avatar, VRoid Studio stands out as one of the most user-friendly (and free) options to get one quickly. It’s perfect for starting out, and grants you access to a range of ready-to-use preset items.
ou also have the freedom to modify facial features, hairstyles, and outfits, among other elements. Each of these is adjustable via intuitive sliders, allowing you to personalize your avatar down to the smallest detail to make it truly your own. Plus, you can see each edit in real-time, making the design process more intuitive.
Another option is going with a completely custom model.
However, designing your own model will take quite a bit of time and has a bit of a learning curve, so be prepared to invest some serious time into the task before you even start. That said, there are scores of great tutorials available online that can get you started with your model in open-source apps like Blender.
Software Setup
Once you've created your avatar, the next step is to bring it to life and share it with the world. To do this, you'll need two key types of software: motion tracking software to animate your avatar, and streaming apps to broadcast your content. Picking the right apps is critical to your VTuber aspirations as you’ll be interacting with these applications regularly.
Face and Motion Tracking/Capture Software
First step, capturing your motion (mocap) effectively.
For your model to act like you in real time, you must grant access to your motion data. Although this used to be a task that the average Joe couldn’t even comprehend or think about doing themselves in the past, it’s no longer the case today.
Now, applications like Animaze by FaceRig, Wakaru, VSeeFace, 3Tene, etc., have become exceptionally popular and are pretty effective at capturing your motion using your camera, and especially using cameras in phones with a depth camera, like an iPhone X or newer.
On that note, if you do have a modern iPhone, also consider VBridger. It’s a face tracking plugin for Vtube Studio and Live2D that captures your face and expressions in real-time and transfers them to a model of your choosing.
While we’re on the subject of ‘transferring’ your motion to a virtual model, you should know a bit about rigging as well.
Think of how you move your face and body parts. You need muscles, joints, and bones, right? Rigging is the virtual equivalent of adding these parts to a model. It allows software to understand HOW a model is supposed to react to motion data.
However, the process is pretty intricate, and it might seem overwhelming if you’ve never dealt with this sort of thing before. As an example, here's a video tutorial from PiPuProductions that goes over rigging in Live2D with the VBridger plugin.
Audience Interaction and Streaming Applications
The last piece of the puzzle is getting your VTuber stream live! To get a stream online, we’d recommend sticking to one of the popular solutions on the market: OBS, Streamlabs, or XSplit. Out of the three, OBS is by far the most popular, so give that a shot before moving on to other options.
Again, there are levels to how advanced and interactive you want to make your model depending on what you use. If you have access to a compatible VR headset or a Tobii Eye Tracker (4C/5), you can kick it up a notch by importing your model into a game engine like Unity engine. Check out SUVA by Guribo (another option is LuppetX) to find out more about it and how to use it to take your VTubing to the next level.
Alright, your model’s ready to go live. What now?
Interacting with your audience while you’re using a virtual avatar could be fine if you’re using a model that matches your voice. But what if you’re capturing an entirely different persona? That’s where real-time voice changer applications come into the picture.
One of our personal favorites for this particular task is Voicemod, hands down. It’s one of the most popular voice-changing software used by gamers, streamers, content creators, and now, VTubers! It gives you access to the tools you need to capture your voice from your microphone and morph it to match your virtual avatar perfectly in real time – granting your audience a super immersive stream to watch and enjoy.
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