Earth Modular Society

patch the planet

How to Stream Live On EMS

Streaming on EMS

  1.  Introduction
  2. Streaming Rules
    1. Setup
    2. Performing
    3. Additional Info
  3. How to Stream
    1. Hardware
    2. Streaming Software
      1. OBS
      2. Droidcam
      3. VSTs/Soft Modular like VCV Rack
  4. Now That You Are Ready to Stream
    1. Your Key
    2. FAQ
      1. I’m not good enough to stream/I’ll come back when I’m good at this
      2. I don’t have the right gear/does this count as modular?
      3. I am embarrassed to be on camera

 Introduction

Earth Modular Society is a community based around streaming. We stream collectively on the Earth Modular Society channels on Twitch and YouTube. The channel, when it’s not being used, streams “hold muzak” that is meant to be interrupted by performances – the goal of EMS is to have a 24/7/365 open mic of modular synth enthusiasts, tinkerers, builders, and dreamers.

We love to have new streamers on our channel. If you are a community member in good standing, we can issue you your very own stream key, which is yours to connect to our stream. Setting up your own stream is straightforward and painless, and you will be part of the greater raccoon trenchcoat in no time!

Streaming Rules

  • You must be 18 to stream – this is a rule direct from Twitch and YouTube.
  • Original Work Only – you should not be spinning records or playing other people’s songs. Original music only (see FAQ below for what counts as ‘modular’)
  • No copyrighted material on stream, audio OR visual – examples include: uncleared samples of other commercial recordings including classic samples like the “amen break” or the like, visuals of copyrighted characters or movie clips, or visuals from other people’s youtube videos. Snoopy can’t dance with Bart Simpson, sorry. Twitch and YouTube have automatic systems in place to monitor streams for audio and visual copyright violations and will give our channels a “strike”. Too many strikes, and the channel gets banned.
  • Live Streams Only – While we would love to see your prerecorded ambient set in the forest, it should be shared via a link in our discord. Streams with EMS should always be live.
  • No offensive, bigoted, or NSFW material – This is pretty self explanatory. Depending on the offense, this can be cause for an instant ban. Don’t do it. And if you aren’t sure…. also don’t do it.

Setup

  • Stream with the recommended 720p – Anything bigger could clog our tubes.
  • Visuals are not mandatory, but put your streamer name somewhere on the screen so we know who is playing.
  • Keep an eye on the discord and twitch chat for requests for other people to stream and for us to alert you to any technical issues!! If you have streamed for 60 minutes and someone would like to connect, please disconnect gracefully.
  • If your stream might contain fast or flashing imagery, please put a warning somewhere on the screen and notify folks in Discord before starting your stream.

Performing

  • Any modular performance accepted, be it practice, experimentation/exploration, a fully prepared piece, DIY soldering, or you just want to stream for the first time.
  • Modular should be included somehow, but that can include instruments used in a modular way, virtual modular such as VCV or Max, test equipment, circuit bent stuff, etc. If you have to ask, it probably counts. We are not modular synth cops!
  • Try not to complain about your own patch while performing it. We promise, nobody noticed that thing.

Additional Info

  • hard wired ethernet is recommended if at all possible, but people also stream who have solid wifi or data.
  • streaming from programs or devices other than OBS is allowed but not generally recommended because we are not able to help you troubleshoot if something goes wrong
  • streaming from a mobile device is not recommended
section divider cables

How to Stream

(for a more technical overview, see our OBS Tutorial)
To stream on EMS (or anywhere), you are going to need:

  • a way to get your audio into the streaming software
  • a way to get your video or visuals into the streaming software
  • streaming software (At EMS, we use OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)
Hardware
  • You need a streaming device, like a laptop that can run OBS (OBS, or Open Broadcasting Software, is a free program for streaming).
  • You need an audio device that can get your audio into OBS. A simple USB audio interface that can handle Eurorack level outputs can run as little as $50 used.
  • You need a way to get visuals of some sort into the OBS streaming software.
  • We do not require you to be on camera – we only ask that you put your name on screen so we know who’s streaming.
  • If you do not have a camera, you can take a still image (for example a photo of your synthesizer) to put on the screen. Nothing fancy required.
Streaming Software
OBS

OBS, aka Open Broadcaster Software, a free suite to stream to Twitch and Youtube – https://obsproject.com/ – there are other ways to stream but OBS is the one that our admins are able to troubleshoot. If you are new to streaming and want to stream on EMS, please use OBS and not any of its variations.

Droidcam
  • If you are looking to stream video from an Android device, or iPhone with Windows or Linux, an easy software solution is an app called Droidcam – https://www.dev47apps.com/
  • Droidcam is actually two parts: The server app that runs on your phone device, and the Droidcam client that runs on your laptop.
  • They have a how-to guide on the various ways you can connect it to your streaming device – https://www.dev47apps.com/droidcam/connect/
  • Droidcam is free, with a watermark that you can’t remove, or you can purchase the “pro” version which adds a few features and removes the watermark logo. Don’t worry too much about the watermark. In some people’s streams, the watermark has developed its own fan club.

On Mac, iPhones can stream natively without any additional software.

VSTs/Soft Modular like VCV Rack

Many people stream using software modular such as VCV Rack, Bespoke, Cardinal, Puredata, or Max. This can be added as a screen recording in the OBS interface. Info on how to set this up coming soon but you can always post in #stream-as-ems for advice. You will likely need a “virtual audio cable”

Now That You Are Ready to Stream

Your Key

When you have read the rules and setup and are ready to stream, you will need to be issued a streaming key by one of our admins. Post in #stream-as-ems to be issued a key, and we will activate our mascot Waffle to generate a key which will be sent to you in a DM. This key is for regular streams that cannot be overridden by another stream.

If you are interested in creating hold muzak for our stream that can be taken over by anyone who wants to perform, ask in #stream-as-ems for a special key.

In OBS, select the server as “custom” and input one of the servers that are pinned in #stream-as-ems with your newly issued key. Make sure there are no spaces in the key.

FAQ

I’m not good enough to stream/I’ll come back when I’m good at this

We invite people of all skill levels to stream! Many of our regular streamers were in your shoes when they started, too. The reason we got to where we are today was the community and support of streaming on EMS.

I don’t have the right gear/does this count as modular?

We are not the modular police! People have streamed with test equipment, circuit bent toys, weird diy stuff, (mostly) free virtual modular such as VCV, Cardinal, Bespoke, and Volt. If it’s interesting, we probably want to see it, and you should stream it.

I am embarrassed to be on camera

While some of our regulars are visible in their streams, it is not mandatory to have a camera at all – take a still image of your synthesizer and put that on the screen instead. People have also been known to stream with just their hands showing, gloves, or with a paper bag over their head, a mask, costume, or as a mysterious shadow in the corner of the room.

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