Best Practices - Dkmariolink/ez-streaming GitHub Wiki

Best Practices Guide

This guide provides proven strategies and recommendations for optimizing your EZ Streaming setup.

Profile Organization

Create Purpose-Specific Profiles

Instead of one massive profile, create targeted setups:

Gaming Streams

  • Game capture software (OBS, Streamlabs)
  • Voice communication (Discord, TeamSpeak)
  • Game-specific tools (overlays, bots)
  • Performance monitoring tools

Creative Streams

  • Creative software (Photoshop, Blender, etc.)
  • Reference browsers with inspiration tabs
  • Background music applications
  • Screen annotation tools

Podcast/Talk Shows

  • Recording software (Audacity, Reaper)
  • Video call applications (Zoom, Discord)
  • Note-taking applications
  • Background music/soundboard apps

IRL/Travel Streams

  • Mobile streaming apps
  • Communication tools
  • Navigation/map applications
  • Emergency contact applications

Profile Naming Conventions

Use clear, descriptive names:

  • Gaming - Competitive FPS
  • Art - Digital Painting
  • Podcast - Solo Recording
  • Collab - Guest Streams

Launch Order Optimization

Recommended Launch Sequence

  1. Core Infrastructure First

    • Streaming software (OBS, Streamlabs)
    • Audio management tools
    • Network monitoring applications

  2. Communication Tools Second

    • Discord, TeamSpeak
    • Chat management tools
    • Moderation bots

  3. Content Applications Third

    • Games, creative software
    • Browsers with necessary tabs
    • Reference materials

  4. Enhancement Tools Last

    • Overlays and widgets
    • Analytics tools
    • Secondary monitoring software

Why This Order Works

  • Stability: Critical apps start first and stabilize
  • Dependencies: Later apps can connect to earlier ones
  • Performance: Heavy apps launch when system is fresh
  • Recovery: If something fails, core setup is already running

Launch Delay Strategies

Delay Guidelines by Application Type

Instant Launch (0 seconds)

  • Lightweight utilities (Calculator, Notepad)
  • Pre-installed Windows applications
  • Simple text editors

Short Delay (1-3 seconds)

  • Communication apps (Discord, Skype)
  • Music players (Spotify, iTunes)
  • Basic browsers
  • Simple overlay tools

Medium Delay (3-7 seconds)

  • Streaming software (OBS, Streamlabs)
  • Content creation tools
  • Games with normal launch times
  • Video editing software

Long Delay (7-15 seconds)

  • Heavy applications (Photoshop, Blender)
  • Games with long startup times
  • Virtual machines
  • Development environments

Dynamic Delay Strategies

Progressive Delays: Increase delays as you go down the list

  • App 1: 0 seconds
  • App 2: 3 seconds
  • App 3: 5 seconds
  • App 4: 7 seconds

Heavy App Clustering: Group resource-intensive apps with longer delays

  • Light apps: 2-3 seconds
  • Heavy apps: 8-10 seconds
  • Return to light apps: 2-3 seconds

System Performance Optimization

Pre-Launch Preparation

Close Unnecessary Applications

  • Background applications using CPU/RAM
  • Other streaming software not in use
  • Heavy browser tabs from previous sessions
  • Unused development tools

System Maintenance

  • Restart computer if it's been on for days
  • Check available RAM and disk space
  • Ensure Windows is updated
  • Update graphics drivers regularly

Network Optimization

  • Close bandwidth-heavy applications
  • Pause cloud syncing (OneDrive, Google Drive)
  • Disable Windows updates during streams
  • Consider QoS settings for streaming

Resource Management

Monitor System Resources

  • Use Task Manager to check CPU/RAM before launching
  • Set process priorities for critical applications
  • Consider upgrading RAM if consistently maxed out
  • Monitor disk usage, especially for recording

Application-Specific Optimization

  • Configure OBS with appropriate settings for your hardware
  • Set Discord to low CPU usage mode
  • Disable unnecessary browser extensions
  • Use game mode in Windows for better performance

Application Configuration Best Practices

OBS Studio Optimization

Pre-Configure Scenes

  • Set up all scenes before adding to EZ Streaming
  • Test all sources and ensure they work
  • Configure hotkeys for scene switching
  • Set appropriate output settings for your hardware

OBS Launch Settings

  • Launch with specific profile: --profile "ProfileName"
  • Launch with specific scene collection: --collection "CollectionName"
  • Start minimized to tray: --minimize-to-tray

Discord Configuration

Optimize for Streaming

  • Enable "Streamer Mode" to hide sensitive info
  • Set appropriate input/output devices
  • Configure noise suppression settings
  • Set up server-specific notification settings

Voice Settings

  • Test microphone levels before streaming
  • Configure push-to-talk if preferred
  • Set up voice activity detection thresholds
  • Enable noise suppression and echo cancellation

Browser Optimization

Pre-Load Important Tabs

  • Bookmark frequently used streaming resources
  • Use browser profiles for different stream types
  • Enable tab syncing for consistency
  • Consider using browser automation for repetitive tasks

Extension Management

  • Only install necessary extensions
  • Disable resource-heavy extensions during streams
  • Use ad blockers to reduce page load times
  • Configure privacy settings appropriately

Advanced Workflow Strategies

Multi-Monitor Setups

Application Placement Strategy

  • Streaming software on secondary monitor
  • Game/content on primary monitor
  • Chat and monitoring on tertiary monitor
  • Use window management tools for consistency

Profile Variations for Different Setups

  • Home setup (multiple monitors)
  • Travel setup (single laptop screen)
  • Guest setup (unfamiliar equipment)
  • Emergency setup (minimal applications)

Backup and Recovery

Configuration Backups

  • Regularly export/backup your EZ Streaming config
  • Save application settings separately
  • Document your setup for quick recreation
  • Keep a "minimal" profile for emergencies

Redundancy Planning

  • Have backup streaming software configured
  • Keep alternative communication methods ready
  • Test your setup regularly to catch issues early
  • Have contact information for technical support

Collaboration Workflows

Guest Stream Preparation

  • Create specific profiles for different types of guests
  • Pre-configure communication applications
  • Test screen sharing and audio routing
  • Have backup communication methods ready

Team Stream Coordination

  • Standardize application versions across team
  • Share profile configurations when possible
  • Coordinate launch timing with team members
  • Establish communication protocols for issues

Maintenance and Updates

Regular Maintenance Tasks

Weekly

  • Check for application updates
  • Clear temporary files and caches
  • Test critical application launches
  • Review and adjust launch delays if needed

Monthly

  • Backup EZ Streaming configuration
  • Review and optimize profiles
  • Check system performance and resources
  • Update graphics drivers and Windows

Before Important Streams

  • Test full launch sequence
  • Verify all applications work correctly
  • Check network stability and speed
  • Ensure all necessary accounts are logged in

Update Management

Application Updates

  • Update applications during off-stream times
  • Test applications after updates
  • Keep note of version numbers that work well
  • Have rollback plan for problematic updates

EZ Streaming Updates

  • Read release notes before updating
  • Backup configuration before major updates
  • Test new features in development environment first
  • Report bugs and provide feedback to developers

Community and Sharing

Profile Sharing

Best Practices for Sharing

  • Remove personal information from profiles
  • Document any special setup requirements
  • Include application version information
  • Provide clear instructions for adaptation

Profile Documentation

  • Explain the purpose of each application
  • Note any special configuration requirements
  • Include recommended delay settings
  • Share performance considerations

Getting Community Help

When Asking for Help

  • Describe your specific use case
  • Include your hardware specifications
  • Share relevant profile configuration
  • Be specific about what's not working

Contributing Back

  • Share successful configurations
  • Help others with similar setups
  • Report bugs and suggest improvements
  • Contribute to documentation and guides

Want to share your optimized setup? Join the discussion in our GitHub Discussions and help other creators!