Will I Need Dual Monitors for Live Streaming?

In the dynamic world of live streaming, every streamer is constantly seeking ways to enhance their setup and deliver a more engaging experience to their audience. One question that often pops up is: Will I need dual monitors for live streaming? Let's dive deep into this topic and explore the ins and outs.

Is Dual Monitors Necessary for Streaming?

Dual monitors are not an absolute necessity for live streaming. Many successful streamers manage with a single monitor, using it to display their game, application, or content they are streaming. However, having a second monitor can significantly elevate your streaming game. A single - monitor setup might limit your ability to multitask efficiently. For example, if you want to check chat messages while playing a game, you may need to tab out, which can disrupt the flow of the game and the viewing experience for your audience. Dual monitors offer a solution to this problem, making the streaming process smoother and more professional.

What Are the Benefits of Dual Monitors for Streaming?

When you're deciding whether or not it's necessary to use two monitors for streaming, it's important to understand the benefits of dual monitors. Not only will it help you know why you need two monitors, but it will also give you a clearer idea of how dual monitors can be used for live streaming purposes. Here are the benifits of two monitors for live stream.

1. Enhanced Multitasking: With dual monitors, you can keep your game or main content on one screen while having your chat, streaming software dashboard, and other important tools open on the other. This allows you to respond to viewers' comments and questions in real - time without pausing or minimizing your main content. For instance, a Twitch streamer playing a fast - paced action game can see incoming donations and subscriber notifications on the second monitor and quickly thank the viewers, enhancing the sense of community.

2. Improved Organization: You can separate different elements of your streaming setup. One monitor can be dedicated to the actual content production, like running a video editing software or a live - action camera feed. The other can display all the administrative and monitoring aspects such as analytics, scheduling tools, and social media platforms. This clear separation makes it easier to manage all the different tasks involved in live streaming. The Arzopa Z1FC's versatility shines here, supporting multiple connection methods including HDMI and USB - C, which makes it easy to integrate into your existing streaming setup, whether you're using it to monitor analytics on a laptop or display additional camera feeds from a console - based stream.

3. Better Preview and Monitoring: If you are using multiple cameras or sources in your stream, a second monitor can be used to preview what the audience is seeing. You can adjust camera angles, lighting, or the layout of your on - screen elements in real - time to ensure a high - quality viewing experience. The Arzopa Z1FC's color accuracy and wide viewing angles are perfect for this purpose, enabling you to accurately assess how your stream appears to the audience and make necessary adjustments.

   

How to Use Dual Monitors for Streaming?

Monitors for dual setup is benefit for your live streaming, so how to use two monitors for live stream? 

• Game and Chat Management: As mentioned before, use one monitor for your game or the main content you are streaming. On the second monitor, open your chat application, whether it's Twitch chat, Discord, or another platform. This way, you can keep an eye on the conversation with your viewers while staying fully immersed in the game. Here, the Arzopa Z1FC portable monitor proves to be an outstanding choice. Its sleek, lightweight design ensures portability, making it easy to set up alongside your primary monitor, whether you're streaming from your home studio or on the move. The high - resolution display of the Z1FC ensures clear visibility of chat messages, donation alerts, and other vital streaming metrics, enabling you to interact with your audience smoothly while staying focused on your content.
• Stream Management: Place your streaming software, like OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) or Streamlabs OBS, on the second monitor. This gives you easy access to all the settings, such as adjusting audio levels, adding overlays, and starting or stopping the stream. You can also monitor the stream status, like bitrate and latency, without taking your focus away from the content.
• Research and Reference: If your stream involves topics that require research or reference materials, use the second monitor to have relevant websites, documents, or notes open. For example, a streamer doing a historical documentary - style stream can have historical archives and timelines on the second monitor while presenting the information on the main monitor.

External Display Recommendations

If you are planning to or have just started live streaming and the external display is mainly used for interacting with viewers, we recommend just acquiring an affordable portable screen.

If you have a budget of $100-$150, we recommend the Arzopa Z1FC, which retails for $105.99, has a 16.1’ screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, and supports a variety of connectivity options, so you can connect it to your PS5, Xbox, Switch, Steam Deck, PCs, phone, and more.

If your budget is less than $100, Arzopa A1 Travel Monitor | 15.6’ FHD 1080P Display is your best choice. The basic features of Z1FC are also available in A1, but the refresh rate of A1 is only 60Hz compared to Z1FC, and the contrast, brightness, and colour gamut will be relatively low, but the If you just use it for interaction, reading comments, etc., A1 portable screen can meet your needs well.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Dual Monitor for Streaming

When choosing a monitor for streaming media, the following key elements deserve special attention:

Resolution and Color: To achieve an excellent display effect, high resolution and accurate color accuracy are essential. It is recommended to give priority to monitors with a resolution of 1080p or higher and a wide color gamut, which can present clearer and more realistic images.

Panel Type: Low-quality panels are prone to issues such as backlight bleeding and ghosting, which will undoubtedly distract the audience and seriously affect the viewing experience. Therefore, it is crucial to select a monitor with a high-quality panel type.

Image Credit: BenQ website

Input Lag: Input lag refers to the time (in seconds) required for the screen to display the user's operation in real-time. The lower the input lag value, the better the real-time live streaming experience for both the broadcaster and the audience.

Refresh Rate: To achieve smooth streaming media playback, it is recommended to choose products with a refresh rate of 60Hz or higher. When using dual-stream or triple-stream monitors, although the resolution and refresh rate of each monitor do not need to be exactly the same, they should be compatible with each other and correctly aligned to achieve the best streaming media effect.

Price: The price of streaming media monitors varies depending on the specifications and the manufacturer. The common price range is approximately around $150, and the price of high-end products may be as high as $500 or even more.

How to Setup Dual Monitors for Streaming?

When we decide whether or not we need dual displays for live streaming, we generally also consider whether or not the installation is difficult, such as whether or not we need more than one dual monitor stands or something like that, and we'll briefly explain how to connect two monitors below.

1. Check Your Hardware Compatibility: First, ensure that your computer's graphics card has the necessary ports (such as HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI) to connect two monitors. Most modern graphics cards support dual - monitor setups. If you're using a laptop, make sure it has an external monitor output port.

2. Connect the Monitors: Plug one monitor into the primary port on your graphics card (usually the first HDMI or DisplayPort). Then, connect the second monitor to the available secondary port. If your monitors have different resolutions, you may need to adjust the settings later to ensure they work well together.

3. Configure Display Settings: In Windows, right - click on the desktop and select "Display settings." Here, you can arrange the monitors, set the resolution for each, and choose which monitor is the primary one. You can also set the layout to "Extend these displays" so that you can move windows between the two monitors. On a Mac, go to "System Preferences" and then "Displays" to configure the dual - monitor setup.

4. Software Configuration: For streaming software like OBS, go to the settings and configure the output settings to match your dual - monitor setup. You can select which monitor the preview window and the main stream window will be displayed on. Also, make sure that all your other applications, such as chat clients, are set up to open on the correct monitor.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while dual monitors are not essential for live streaming, they offer a plethora of benefits that can enhance your streaming experience and help you build a more professional and engaging stream. If you're serious about taking your live streaming to the next level, investing in a second monitor might just be the game - changer you need.

FAQs

Why does the computer not detect the new monitor after connecting the portable screen Z1FC?

Firstly, check whether the connection cable is tightly plugged in, make sure both ends of the USB - C or HDMI cable are firmly connected to the computer and Z1FC. if it is a USB - C connection, make sure that the computer's Type - C port is full-featured, some of the Type - C ports that only support data transmission can not be used for external monitor.

Try to detect the monitor manually in the computer's display settings. For example, in Windows, right-click on the desktop, select ‘Display Settings’, and then click the ‘Detect’ button; in Mac, check ‘System Preferences’ - ‘Display’. ‘Displays’ to see if the new device is displayed.

If it still cannot be detected, it may be the power supply problem of Z1FC, make sure Z1FC is properly connected to the power adapter and the power supply is normal.

The colour display of the Z1FC does not match the main monitor, how do I calibrate it?

Find the colour calibration option in your computer's display settings. For example, Windows systems can be calibrated in ‘Control Panel’ - ‘Colour Management’; Mac systems in ‘System Preferences’ - ‘Display’ - ‘Colours’. ‘Display’ - “Colours”.

Use a professional colour calibration tool, such as Datacolor Spyder series, etc., and follow the instructions of the tool to calibrate the colour of Z1FC in order to make it closer to the colour performance of the main monitor.