Ultra.
Are you currently using StreamYard for your live streams but looking to make a switch to Streamlabs Desktop? If so, you’ve landed in the right place.
Streamlabs Desktop offers advanced features like customizable overlays, built-in alerts, and powerful tools that help take your streams to the next level. If you're ready to switch, this guide will walk you through seamlessly transitioning from StreamYard to Streamlabs Desktop.
Why Switch from StreamYard to Streamlabs Desktop?
StreamYard is an excellent platform for web-based, quick-to-launch streams, especially when you want to invite guests. However, it lacks the deep customization options that many streamers crave.
If you want to control every aspect of your stream—like scene transitions, custom graphics, and advanced widgets—Streamlabs Desktop is your ideal upgrade. Plus, when you sign up for Streamlabs Ultra, you get access to all of the premium features of Streamlabs Desktop in addition to other software and apps for creators to help streamline your content process. Learn more about all the excitement of Streamlabs Ultra here.
Here’s why streamers love Streamlabs Desktop:
- Customization: Streamlabs allows for a fully customizable streaming setup with different scenes, layouts, and alerts.
- Overlays: Access Streamlabs’ Overlay Library for professionally designed stream overlays.
- Widgets: Add widgets like donation alerts, chat boxes, and follower notifications directly into your stream.
- Performance: Streamlabs Desktop offers enhanced streaming quality and more control over your audio and video settings.
How to Transition from StreamYard to Streamlabs Desktop
Follow these steps to transition smoothly from StreamYard to Streamlabs Desktop.
Step 1: First, download and install Streamlabs Desktop from the official Streamlabs website. The software is free and available for both Windows and macOS.
Step 2: After downloading, you must follow the onboarding instructions to get Streamlabs fully set up on your computer, including connecting your streaming platform(s). Choose the platform you’d like to connect to and follow the instructions until it’s linked in Streamlabs Desktop.
Our Streamlabs Getting Started guide is a great place to start if you need step-by-step instructions for setting up the software for the first time.
Step 3: Streamlabs gives you more flexibility than StreamYard when it comes to customizing your stream’s appearance. Adding scenes, widgets, and overlays is a great way to brand and customize your live stream.
Add a Scene: In the Scenes panel, click the + button to create a new scene for each part of your stream (e.g., Main Cam, Screen Share, or Guest Interviews).
Add Sources: Each scene needs its own sources. Click the + button under Sources from your main editor to add elements like.
- Video Capture Device for your webcam.
- Display Capture for screen sharing.
- Browser Source for sharing web-based content.
You can also fully customize your stream layout with overlays and widgets. Streamlabs has a vast library of free and premium overlays. To add one, go to Overlay > Scenes in Streamlabs Desktop to begin your search. You can also visit the Streamlabs Overlay Library via your browser.
Don’t forget to enhance your stream by adding widgets like an alert box, donation goals, or live chat. Click + in your Sources panel and select Widgets to choose from a variety of options or peruse the options from your Streamlabs Dashboard.
Step 4: One of StreamYard’s standout features is its easy guest integration, but you can still invite guests using Streamlabs Desktop, thanks to Collab Cam. With Collab Cam, creators can invite up to 10 guests (if subscribed to Streamlabs Ultra, otherwise one guest free) without a complicated setup—it’s as simple as dropping them a link to join on stream. Learn more about using Collab Cam with Streamlabs Desktop in our guide blog.
Best Practices for Moving from StreamYard to Streamlabs
Take Your Time: Moving from a web-based platform like StreamYard to a software-based tool like Streamlabs Desktop might take time to adjust. Familiarize yourself with its features and experiment with different layouts and widgets.
Leverage Multistreaming: If you were using StreamYard for multistreaming (streaming to multiple platforms at once), Streamlabs Desktop also has a multistream feature. You can stream to Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook simultaneously by selecting the option in the Streamlabs settings.
Slowly Explore Advanced Features: As you get comfortable with Streamlabs Desktop, explore features like app store, Dual Output, and creating custom hotkeys to elevate your stream and streamline your go-live process.
If you’re ready to dive into all that Streamlabs has to offer, be sure to check out our guide for getting started with Streamlabs Desktop.
While StreamYard is a relatively simple, web-based live streaming solution, Streamlabs Desktop offers greater control and access to professional-grade tools that can truly set your stream apart. Whether you're looking to add unique overlays or invite guests to your stream, Streamlabs Desktop has you covered.
So, ready to make the move? Download Streamlabs Desktop today and see how these features can enhance your streaming experience.
Looking for another web-based streaming solution? Check out Talk Studio, Streamlabs’ browser-based streaming solution.