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A 5ch user’s post about wanting to become a Vtuber drew a wide range of replies — everything from talk of gaming PCs and voice changers to the harsh realities of actually making money at it. One veteran’s account in particular — that “you’ll spend dozens of hours talking to yourself with zero viewers before anything changes” — really drove home how tough streaming can be.
What people said
I've got a gaming PC
All you need after that is a camera and mic, right?
Oh, and the most important thing — being a girl
Oh, and the most important thing — being a girl
Re: #4
I never said I was a guy or a girl! 😡
I never said I was a guy or a girl! 😡
Couldn't you just be a normal streamer for now?
Re: #5
Because showing my face is a no-go
Vtuber's the only option left
Because showing my face is a no-go
Vtuber's the only option left
Re: #10
Then just don't show your face
Then just don't show your face
I want to become a Vtuber and make money streaming games
Re: #6
Only the top tier actually makes money
Better to start small first
Only the top tier actually makes money
Better to start small first
Re: #6
If you're doing this, sounds like you should skip YouTube
YouTube's basically the Grand Line of the streaming world (a One Piece reference — the roughest, most cutthroat sea to sail)
If you're doing this, sounds like you should skip YouTube
YouTube's basically the Grand Line of the streaming world (a One Piece reference — the roughest, most cutthroat sea to sail)
Voice training, that's the key
If the 'person inside' has a squeaky voice, nobody's gonna watch (a crude pun on 中の人/"nakanohito," Vtuber slang for the performer behind the avatar)
If the 'person inside' has a squeaky voice, nobody's gonna watch (a crude pun on 中の人/"nakanohito," Vtuber slang for the performer behind the avatar)
Re: #7
Wait, Vtubers actually do voice training?
Wait, Vtubers actually do voice training?
If you're just doing it casually, a smartphone's enough
Re: #17
I said I already have a gaming PC
I said I already have a gaming PC
Re: #15
There are voice-only YouTubers too
but if you're not showing your face, isn't it better to have a Vtuber model?
I dunno, it's more approachable or something?
There are voice-only YouTubers too
but if you're not showing your face, isn't it better to have a Vtuber model?
I dunno, it's more approachable or something?
Re: #18
If you can't get popular on voice alone, it probably doesn't matter either way
it's a red ocean at this point
If you can't get popular on voice alone, it probably doesn't matter either way
it's a red ocean at this point
Voice changer, that's the answer
Re: #20
I never said I was a guy or a girl! 😡
Just for reference though, which brand of voice changer is good? Purely for reference
I never said I was a guy or a girl! 😡
Just for reference though, which brand of voice changer is good? Purely for reference
Re: #23
Never used one so I wouldn't know 😡
OP's a guy anyway, right? Gonna be rough without a voice changer
Never used one so I wouldn't know 😡
OP's a guy anyway, right? Gonna be rough without a voice changer
I was using a voice changer, but I accidentally clapped while talking and it glitched into the 'Mirror of Ra' (an internet meme reference)
Re: #25
LOL ("草"/"grass," common Japanese internet slang for laughing)
What happened after that? Did you quit?
LOL ("草"/"grass," common Japanese internet slang for laughing)
What happened after that? Did you quit?
Re: #25
Wait, you're not supposed to clap while talking?
Does that cause some kind of error?
Wait, you're not supposed to clap while talking?
Does that cause some kind of error?
Re: #21
For game guides or highlight-reel plays you don't need a face (Vtuber model)
but for regular gameplay, isn't having a face more approachable?
For game guides or highlight-reel plays you don't need a face (Vtuber model)
but for regular gameplay, isn't having a face more approachable?
Re: #26
Having one is better than not, sure
but the avatar model ('gawa') is expensive, so it's risky if you can't make your own
Having one is better than not, sure
but the avatar model ('gawa') is expensive, so it's risky if you can't make your own
You need the skill to keep talking with zero comments coming in
Early on nobody comments, but if you don't talk nobody watches — it's a real catch-22
Early on nobody comments, but if you don't talk nobody watches — it's a real catch-22
Re: #27
That's the rough part 😭
I'll give it a while and quit if it doesn't work out
That's the rough part 😭
I'll give it a while and quit if it doesn't work out
Re: #32
You need to stockpile small-talk topics ahead of time or it's brutal
Being able to ramble for 3 hours straight off the top of your head is the exception, not the rule
You need to stockpile small-talk topics ahead of time or it's brutal
Being able to ramble for 3 hours straight off the top of your head is the exception, not the rule
Re: #34
I'm confident in my talking
My gaming skills suck though
I'm confident in my talking
My gaming skills suck though
Modern voice changers should be fine even with clapping
Re: #35
What do you mean?
Did clapping used to disable the voice changer back in the day?
What do you mean?
Did clapping used to disable the voice changer back in the day?
Re: #42
The clap registered as noise, so it couldn't be recognized as a voice, and the processing would just drop out
The clap registered as noise, so it couldn't be recognized as a voice, and the processing would just drop out
Re: #42
With a normal voice changer the effect strips off and you get caught
With RVC (an AI-based voice conversion tool), non-voice sounds get AI-generated into 'voice' too, so you get caught that way instead
With a normal voice changer the effect strips off and you get caught
With RVC (an AI-based voice conversion tool), non-voice sounds get AI-generated into 'voice' too, so you get caught that way instead
Wouldn't AI voice cloning be better than a regular voice changer?
Re: #38
I don't have that kind of skill 😭
I don't have that kind of skill 😭
Suddenly talking non-stop solo is probably impossible anyway, so let's start as a duo with me
Re: #61
I can probably handle the talking
but games make me motion sick, so that's rough
I can probably handle the talking
but games make me motion sick, so that's rough
Re: #72
Install some recording software, boot up any random game right now, and just talk non-stop for 30 minutes like you're actually streaming — just record it
Even the big names today started with zero viewers and no comments, so it was dozens of hours of talking to themselves
Then go back and listen to your own 30 minutes — waiting for you is some random stranger's incredibly boring rambling
Install some recording software, boot up any random game right now, and just talk non-stop for 30 minutes like you're actually streaming — just record it
Even the big names today started with zero viewers and no comments, so it was dozens of hours of talking to themselves
Then go back and listen to your own 30 minutes — waiting for you is some random stranger's incredibly boring rambling
Re: #83
You don't even need to talk
Just click your tongue once in a while
Go commentate Street Fighter II Turbo
You don't even need to talk
Just click your tongue once in a while
Go commentate Street Fighter II Turbo
Re: #83
Talking non-stop while actually playing a game is pretty hard, huh
Free-talk is easy though
Talking non-stop while actually playing a game is pretty hard, huh
Free-talk is easy though
If you're a guy, 100 concurrent viewers is enough to live off merch sales
Re: #71
Seriously? So target a female audience then? 🤔
Seriously? So target a female audience then? 🤔
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “[Urgent Request] I’m thinking of becoming a Vtuber — what do I need to prepare?.”
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