How to Stream Your Nintendo Switch Games Like a Pro with Discord

Hey friend! Have you ever wanted to share your epic Nintendo Switch gaming moments and progress with friends in real-time? I feel you. As a fellow Switch gamer and streaming enthusiast, I love showing off my gameplay and skills in games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild to my buddies online.

Luckily, with Discord‘s free streaming integration, you can easily live stream footage directly from your Switch to your Discord communities with just a few steps.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know to set up butter-smooth Nintendo Switch streaming on Discord – with pro tips for ensuring the best audiovisual quality. Let‘s dive in!

Streaming Switch Games on Discord – How It Works

Here‘s a quick overview of how streaming your Nintendo Switch gameplay to Discord works:

• First, you‘ll need a capture card that grabs the video and audio output from your Switch console and dock.

• This captured video feed is routed to streaming software on your PC like OBS or VLC media player.

• The streaming software encodes and compresses the video feed and sends it to Discord.

• Discord‘s streaming feature broadcasts this live video to your selected Discord server and channel.

• Your Discord friends can then watch your live gameplay and chat with you in real-time!

So in summary, a capture card is vital to relay your Switch‘s audio and video to your computer. Streaming software then handles broadcasting it on Discord so others can watch.

Streaming Switch to Discord: Gear You‘ll Need

Before you can start streaming, you‘ll need a few key pieces of equipment:

• Nintendo Switch console
• Switch docking station
• HDMI cable
• Capture card compatible with Switch
• USB cable
• Windows/Mac computer
• Stable internet connection

The capture card is the most crucial part here. Without it, you have no way to get the footage from your Switch to streaming software and Discord.

Choosing the Best Capture Card for Switch Streaming

There are a variety of capture cards on the market compatible with Nintendo Switch. Based on my experience, here are the best options:

Elgato HD60 S – The Gold Standard

The Elgato HD60 S is by far the best pick for live streaming your Switch games in full 1080p HD at a smooth 60fps. It‘s a premium PCIe capture card that flawlessly handles HDMI input and output.

If you want the highest quality streams, the HD60 S delivers. It‘s easy to set up too. I use the HD60 S myself and have had great results.

AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 – Budget Pick

The AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 is a solid budget-friendly alternative. It can reliably capture 1080p footage at 30fps.

While not as feature-packed as the HD60 S, the Live Gamer Portable gets the job done for casual streaming at a lower price point. It‘s a good option if you‘re on a budget.

Razer Ripsaw HD – Feature-Filled Option

The Razer Ripsaw HD is an excellent middle ground pick if you want fuller features beyond just capturing Switch gameplay.

It has built-in audio mixing capabilities, 4K passthrough support, and even a dedicated audio interface. The Ripsaw HD is great if you want to really refine and customize your streams.

Capture Card Comparison Table

Based on your budget and needs, any of these capture cards will get Switch gameplay footage into your streaming software and Discord. The HD60 S is my top recommendation for its reliability and streaming quality.

Step-by-Step Guide to Stream Switch Games on Discord

Ready to start streaming? Here is a step-by-step walkthrough on setting up live streaming for your Nintendo Switch games on Discord:

Step 1: Connect your Switch to your capture card

First, you need to connect your Nintendo Switch to the capture card:

1. Dock your Switch into the docking station using the USB-C charging cable.

2. Use an HDMI cable to connect the dock station‘s HDMI output to the HDMI input on your capture card.

3. Connect your capture card to your PC using a USB 3.0 cable into the USB port labeled "Out".

This feeds the Switch‘s video and audio directly into your capture card.

Step 2: Configure your capture card‘s software

Install your capture card‘s included software like Elgato Game Capture HD or similar on your Windows or Mac PC.

Open the software and ensure it detects your connected capture card. You may need to select it as your input source.

You can also use OBS Studio if you prefer open-source streaming software. Just add your capture card as a Video Capture Device source.

Step 3: Get Discord ready for streaming

On the same PC, open the Discord app and connect to the server you want to stream to.

Click "Go Live" in the bottom left corner of the Discord app.

In the Go Live streaming settings, set the capture card software as your Video input instead of your webcam.

Step 4: Start streaming your Switch gameplay!

You‘re all set! Click "Go Live" in Discord and your Nintendo Switch gameplay will start streaming to your selected Discord channel.

Chat with viewers and share your reactions as you play. Enjoy streaming to your heart‘s content!

Pro Tips for High Quality Switch Streams

Now that you know how to stream your Switch to Discord, here are some pro tips for ensuring the best audio and video quality:

🎮 Optimize lighting on your Switch screen – Avoid glare from room lights on the display. Proper lighting is key.

💻 Use wired internet connectivity – Wired internet is much more stable for streaming vs Wi-Fi.

⚙️ Fine-tune Discord‘s stream settings – Experiment with resolutions, bitrates and frame rates for optimal quality.

🎥 Consider a green screen – Using a green screen allows you to layer custom backgrounds behind you on stream.

🔊 Enable Switch audio output – Set the Switch‘s audio output mode to "Output sound from TV" so your capture card picks up game audio.

🎙 Use a quality microphone – Invest in a good mic like the Blue Yeti to provide live commentary during your streams.

🎧 Wear headphones to monitor audio – Headphones allow you to listen to exactly what your viewers hear and adjust volumes accordingly.

💬 Engage with your viewers – Responding to live chat messages makes for a more interactive and dynamic stream.

Following these tips will level up the quality of your Switch streams on Discord substantially. But proper equipment is crucial.

Best Headphones for Nintendo Switch Streaming

As a fellow audio enthusiast, having quality headphones is especially important for Switch streaming in my experience.

Here are my top headphone picks for Discord streaming of Nintendo Switch gameplay:

Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X

The Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X are my current go-to pair both for gaming and listening critically while streaming.

They have a neutral, balanced sound profile perfect for mixing and monitoring audio. The comfortable velour earpads are great for long streaming sessions too.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

The ATH-M50x headphones from Audio-Technica are a classic choice loved by audio engineers and content creators.

They offer a fun sound with powerful bass and detailed mids/highs. The ATH-M50x are perfect for gaming while retaining audio accuracy.

Philips SHP9600

The Philips SHP9600 offer incredible sound quality for the money. They have large, breathable earcups ideal for long streaming sessions.

Their open-back design gives a spacious, natural listening experience. I highly recommend the SHP9600 if you‘re on a budget.

Why Stream Your Nintendo Switch Games on Discord?

Discord is a fantastic platform for streaming your Nintendo Switch gameplay. Here‘s why you should stream on Discord:

• It‘s 100% free – No subscriptions, fees or limitations on streaming duration like Twitch.

• Stream to your existing communities – Share your gameplay with friends you‘re already connected with on Discord.

• Lower latency – Discord has lower stream delay compared to other platforms, allowing more real-time interaction.

• Easy to set up– It only takes a few minutes to get your Switch streamed into a Discord channel.

• Chat integration– Native Discord chat makes engaging with your viewers seamless.

• Share gaming achievements– Stream exciting boss kills, speedrun times and gaming milestones with friends.

• Find new gamers– Meet fellow Nintendo fans who share your interests through streaming.

Thanks to Discord‘s free and low-latency streaming, you can easily share your Switch gameplay and connect with an engaged community of fellow gamers.

Why VLC Media Player is the Best Option for Streaming

When it comes to picking streaming software to broadcast your Switch gameplay from your PC to Discord, VLC media player is hands-down the best choice.

Here‘s why VLC dominates streaming:

🆓 Completely free and open source – No license or subscription needed unlike paid options like OBS‘ premium tiers.

⚡️ Very little performance impact – VLC uses minimal CPU and RAM resources even when streaming HD video.

💯 Supports all codecs and formats – VLC can handle any video/audio codec or container format you throw at it.

📽️ Optimized for low streaming latency – Streams have lower delay vs other encoding software, allowing real-time interactivity.

💻 Cross-platform – Works perfectly on Windows, MacOS and Linux. Stream from any computer.

🎚️ Highly customizable – Allows full control over resolution, bitrates, timestamps and streaming parameters.

🛠️ Regular updates – VLC is under active development with frequent improvements and bug fixes.

For the most flexible, high-performance and zero-cost streaming setup, VLC Media Player beats any proprietary streaming software hands-down. It‘s undisputedly the best way to relay your Switch gameplay footage onto Discord.

Step-by-Step Guide to Streaming with VLC Media Player

Ready to start streaming with VLC? Follow these steps:

Step 1: Install and open VLC Media Player

Download and install the latest version of VLC Media Player for your Windows, Mac or Linux PC.

Launch VLC Media Player once installed.

Step 2: Set up video and audio sources in VLC

1. Click on Media > Open Capture Device in VLC.

2. For video device name, select your capture card from the dropdown list.

3. For audio device name, choose your capture card‘s audio input source.

4. Select TS or MP4 format.

5. Click Play. Your Switch gameplay footage should start displaying in VLC.

Step 3: Configure streaming settings

Under Tools > Preferences, you can customize streaming settings like:

• Output resolution
• Framerate
• Bandwidth limit
• Transcoding options
• Captions

Set these according to your computer‘s capabilities and internet bandwidth.

Step 4: Start streaming to Discord!

Open Discord on the same computer, and in your server, click "Go Live".

Set VLC Media Player as the video and audio source instead of your webcam and mic.

Click "Go Live" and your Switch gameplay will start streaming from VLC directly to your Discord channel!

With VLC‘s customizability, performance and reliability, you can achieve great looking Switch streams on Discord with ease.

FAQs about Streaming Nintendo Switch on Discord

Here are answers to some common questions about streaming Switch games to Discord:

Do you need a powerful PC to stream Switch games?

You can stream using laptops and average computers. However, a faster processor and graphics card allows encoding higher resolution streams smoothly.

Can you stream Switch games wirelessly without capture card?

You can stream wirelessly using a smartphone camera pointed at your Switch screen. Quality is limited compared to a capture card though.

Does streaming drain the Switch battery faster in handheld mode?

Yes, streaming wirelessly will use more of the Switch‘s battery since it‘s powering the game, screen and streaming all simultaneously.

Do Switch games need to be installed on PC to stream?

No, the games run directly on your Switch. The capture card simply relays the footage to your PC. No game install required.

Can you stream Switch gameplay live on YouTube or Twitch too?

Absolutely! The capture card footage can be streamed to YouTube, Twitch and any other platform. Discord is just the easiest to set up.

Let‘s Get Your Switch Streaming on Discord!

And there you have it my friend – everything you need to know to get silky smooth Nintendo Switch streams running on Discord!

With the steps and gear outlined in this guide, you‘ll be set up in no time. Just be sure to use a solid capture card and tuned streaming settings for the best quality.

I hope you found this rundown helpful. Stream some co-op Breath of the Wild for me! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

Happy streaming!