--- title: How to VTube slug: how-to-vtube channel: thought publishedAt: 2022-02-02 excerpt: VTubing is essentially live streaming, but instead of displaying your face, your facial expressions and movements are being tracked on a digital avatar. What do you need to be a Vtuber Decent PC/Laptop Most modern laptops will suffice. This setup guide works on both Windows and OSX. author: Remilia Jackson tags: - Essay canonical: https://remilia.org/blog/thought/how-to-vtube --- **VTubing** is essentially live streaming, but instead of displaying your face, your facial expressions and movements are being tracked on a digital avatar. ## What do you need to be a Vtuber ### Decent PC/Laptop Most modern laptops will suffice. This setup guide works on both Windows and OSX. ### Camera: Smartphone/Webcam Newer smartphones have powerful enough cameras to be used for your webcam: - Any iPhone that supports Face ID (iPhone X & above) - [Check compatibility](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209183) - Any Android that supports Google ARcore - [Check compatibility](https://www.xda-developers.com/arcore/#arcoresupportedphones) Using a smartphone for your camera will also require purchasing the $20 VTube Pro app. Otherwise, any basic webcam with a 1080p resolution will work perfectly - such as the [Logitech C920 ($60)](https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Widescreen-Calling-Recording-Desktop/dp/B006JH8T3S) or a [~$30 Chinese equivalent](https://www.amazon.com/Streaming-Microphone-Widescreen-Conferencing-Recording/dp/B082X91MPP/). ## What Software to Get You'll just need VTube Studio to track your VR avatar and replace your webcam with it. VTube Studio is free unless you want to use your smartphone in lieu of a webcam, in case it will cost $20 on the app store. If you want to stream your avatar over any screens, e.g. your desktop, a game or a movie, you'll also need the free streaming software OBS. ### 1. Setup VTube Studio VTube Studio is the only application you need to track your face on a virtual avatar. Install VTube Studio on Steam: [VTube Studio on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1325860/VTube_Studio/) If you don't have Steam you'll need to install it first and create an account. Select the free version: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/d2b1c5f75d31ef9e94cf3ea4ddc0a0a3097dd20e-636x253.png?auto=format) ### Test VTube Studio Open Steam and goto the Library, find VTube Studio and hit Launch ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/51ad2b01217bccec6192b498cdc9a4d09b71e15e-418x406.png?auto=format) Select the topmost icon to open up models ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/e7d7bfa9819fbdeebf6a2dcf988f2e938e8b23c1-207x136.png?auto=format) There will be a selection of free models to test: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/7ec4ee0f9dc9a3f8c97b36a463a2188ad7e5223c-1458x237.png?auto=format) Pick any and it'll load up on your screen after a few seconds, but won't move with your body until we setup the camera. ### Setup Camera Tracking Next we'll setup the camera tracking. Follow the steps either for using a webcam or your smartphone. #### Option 1: Webcam Select the settings icon: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/ea45499ac60dbe0f92e957217cecfabe0c486062-119x110.png?auto=format) Then the camera icon on the top left ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/a842e377e1ffe5e14be81379d6281fd43bde29db-294x93.png?auto=format) Select Choose Camera ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/2f2ff8eb5e5b136f7d6dd6800a4be43802a9ab15-613x210.png?auto=format) If you're using your webcam, plug it in and you'll see it connected. Select it from the menu. Next you'll select your resolution and FPS. If on a good computer, use 1920x1080 and 60 FPS; if on an older computer, select 1280 x 720 and 30 FPS. Select any color format. Lastly, select Tracking Quality. 5 is most computer intensive and 1 is least, so select whatever you think is right. If you're not sure, choose 3, and go down to 2 or 1 if it's slow. Next select Camera On: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/41c6d122a7a8c19755fffec63135ef5e1d55f9c0-597x151.png?auto=format) Skip through the popups. You'll see a face pop up tracking your face: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/b8eb3738123c1daba76c0c41c7a91f078e02be3f-490x421.png?auto=format) Stare directly at the camera with a neutral expression and click Calibrate. You can do this any time you feel the face tracking is off. #### Option 2: Setup on Smartphone First make sure your smartphone is compatible: - Any iPhone that supports Face ID (iPhone X & above) - [Check compatibility](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209183) - Any Android that supports Google ARcore - [Check compatibility](https://www.xda-developers.com/arcore/#arcoresupportedphones) You'll need to install VTubeStudio Pro on the app store for $20. Once it's installed, open it up, then click the model icon at the top to select a model to load. ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/e7d7bfa9819fbdeebf6a2dcf988f2e938e8b23c1-207x136.png?auto=format) Then click the camera icon at the top left to connect and let it calibrate. You should see your face with a mask over it, and see the model respond according to the tracking. You can close your face view by clicking the camera again. Go back to the VRTube open on your PC, and goto the settings and scroll down to Connection Settings: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/ef645dac6f74d6bdecfb73e890d403ca586c932d-808x718.png?auto=format) Turn on Start Server: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/2d57e616d8130d81d409a28db8c80b198271cc4b-478x327.png?auto=format) Then click Show IP List ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/34c5d8a8dddadae5cb3749c9ceff6ae07451c51c-471x190.png?auto=format) A list of numbers will appear. Find the first one under IPv4, starting with 10 (it will look like "10.0.0.333"). This is what you'll enter on the phone app. Back on your smartphone version of VRTube, goto the settings, scroll down and enter the IPv4 number (the one starting with 10), and toggle on connect to server and streaming mode. Your model will now move on your PC following your iPhone camera. ## 2. Replace Your Webcam with your VTube Avatar Now that your avatar tracking is working, we'll allow the VTube avatar to be used as a replacement for your webcam. This means it'll be usable on Discord or Zoom calls, as well as Youtube or Twitch streams. Goto settings and camera section and scroll to the bottom to Virtual Webcam Config. Toggle on "Activate Virtual Webcam" ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/6ca37bb4c7c6e660def04f784aefc745db0714d5-1168x819.png?auto=format) Now when you want to stream somewhere, just select VTubeStudioCam instead of your webcam. For example, in Discord you would goto Voice & Video settings and then select VTubeStudioCam instead of Default. ## 3. Setup Desktop/Game Livestreaming VTube Studio will allow you to stream your avatar in front of a plain background, but if you want to overlay your avatar on a window screen, a game or movie, you will need a second software, OBS. ### Setup OBS First install OBS from the site: [Open Broadcaster Software | OBS](https://obsproject.com/) Once you open it, it will look like this: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/f7f9111e17a771e7343d29c9ad3948b8aedb6098-1081x739.png?auto=format) Don't be intimidated, we only need the small sources box in the bottom left. Click the plus sign in the Sources box, then Video Capture Device ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/b714a43469008b9ece9d788897dffe209e9d92ab-637x449.png?auto=format) Leave the default name and click OK. ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/8eac326a7d3cc610cae6937d00771d6ff6129136-358x351.png?auto=format) In the next pop-up, select Device, and then select VTubeStudioCam: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/bd2643b43b071a09e69a9750df6e29e9179ec267-728x608.png?auto=format) You should now see your Vtube avatar appear. Click OK to continue. #### Make Vtube Background Transparent Next you'll need to use green screen to remove the background from your avatar. Go back to VTube Studio, and click the green button on the main menu to change your background: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/30aae262e5da7f74a492aa058136ed83c407b6de-203x89.png?auto=format) Select "background_8", the green screen background: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/97cd63cd05a616bdcebea64ae6a7019968dc5fa4-684x504.png?auto=format) Return to OBS, and look in Sources where you'll see the "Video Capture Device" we added: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/e0105edff6b9ab2ee7bfc374cb1adb8ca5d2954d-197x164.png?auto=format) Right click it and select Filters ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/5deb79f0ccdcec25d4f65cb06196f97a711f12c1-446x541.png?auto=format) Click the plus at the bottom left under Effect Filters ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/835bd87ac6c5460c400c20998c45d5c9f5201a0c-865x720.png?auto=format) Select Chroma Key ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/3dbc08e8900612bc58467ff5ba737e4d2c23d940-187x276.png?auto=format) Hit OK in the Filter name popup ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/a0401dcbddb5b172048c96ad6403c1591366f120-559x136.png?auto=format) Your avatar will now appear on a transparent grey background, hit close. ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/d25e0f374559558172cd82beb16acfb8a803dcf1-862x755.png?auto=format) ### Add a Window behind your Avatar Finally, we'll add a window behind your Avatar. Again, goto the Sources and click the plus, but this time select Window Capture: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/480c5430b06562d6958c3eb5e4db804fec7b2f1a-212x380.png?auto=format) Hit OK to move forward: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/02031357a96cb6d928ba8967ab3f28bd1285fb8b-353x349.png?auto=format) Then select which specific Window you want to show and hit OK: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/3823e027eb1ef45c400164555d15ba5fb2951650-671x489.png?auto=format) You can also select Display Capture to include your entire monitor: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/6cfda53249a7955f193a1087fd241e492792f32e-510x386.png?auto=format) It will now show up on your main screen. It will likely be hiding your VTube avatar, simply right click the window and select Order > Move to Bottom: ![Illustration for How to VTube](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8x9419lh/production/fe2ffd54c83da1889c31bbc6c6beb48c54ec84f7-478x412.png?auto=format) You can also resize the windows and move them to where you'd like by dragging them around. ### Output a Stream Now that you're avatar is setup with your screen, you can simply select "OBS VirtualCam" as your webcam anywhere that takes video, such as Discord or Zoom calls, or Youtube Live and Twitch. Instead of showing your webcam, it'll show whatever is on OBS. ### Addendum: Add new Live2d Models and Backgrounds Drag and drop the model folder in to the VTube Model folder: /SteamLibrary/steamapps/common/Vtube Studio/Vtube Studio_Data/StreamingAssets/Live2DModels