Your attention is drawn to the latest PlayStation 4 release.
The experience is enjoyable and you are engaged, but something is missing.
It would be helpful if you had something that would give you an additional boost. A musical accompaniment might be helpful. Music can have a significant impact on immersion, and video games are all about immersion.
It certainly makes a difference when it comes to users watching your videos and enjoying them, correct?
How about turning up the tunes while you are streaming on your PS4? Is it even legal to play music directly during a video stream on the PS4? A little background check is certainly warranted, especially since you’ve probably already encountered people streaming music over the PS4 while playing background music.
I have discovered that this is somewhat of a grey area in terms of legality.
Twitch and PSN have both been known to ban players who breach this rule.
You can also ignore background music entirely while you are streaming on PS4 (and Twitch – and YouTube will penalize you if you upload a video with background music).
It may be possible to play background music on an external device, but that doesn’t mean that you should.
You could get into a lot of trouble if you do.
Please allow me a few moments to explain.
Can music be played while streaming on the PS4?
It is not possible to play music on your PS4 console while you are also streaming. The music must be played through a separate device. We do, however, not recommend that you do so since this may become a legal issue.
On your PlayStation console, how can you play music while streaming?
Would a PC be able to stream and play music simultaneously?
Is it appropriate to play music in the background?
What are the legal implications of playing music while streaming on the PS4? Are there other options available?
What is the best way to play music while streaming on my PlayStation 4?
The short answer is that you can not stream music and listen to it at the same time on your PS4. You will not be able to accomplish this.
Streaming on the PS4 is not possible using compact discs or USB flash drives.
If you are streaming music, Spotify will not open up and play any music.
If you want to stream music in the background, you will need to find another method.
My PC can play tunes while I stream?
This suggestion is only applicable to those who have some rather dated tunes that they do own the right to. You can instead play and stream the music on your PC.
If you are a Twitch user, you can utilize your PC for music and your PS4 for streaming.
Setting up a PC for streaming passthrough is an extremely complex task that requires its how-to guide.
Even so, a PC offers a greater variety of ways in which you can play music as compared to a PlayStation 4.
Why do we play background music?
Having said that, you can also play music in the background using a Bluetooth speaker, music player, or even a radio.
Is the sound going to be of high quality? Perhaps not. It depends on the device that you are using.
Choose a Bluetooth speaker if the quality is of paramount importance.
A PlayStation camera is also necessary since it comes with high-quality microphones.
The PS4 camera should be positioned near the audio source without being directly adjacent to it.
If you turn on the music, your audience will be able to hear you.
It is important to keep in mind that you may need to adjust two variables: distance (from the audio source) and volume.
You may want to experiment with these levels until you find the perfect balance.
It is important to maintain symmetry between the audio of the video game, the music, and your voice.
A Word of Warning
I wish to issue the following warning: do not use any music that you do not own the right to.
If you get involved in a copyright infringement case, your Twitch, YouTube, and PSN accounts may all be permanently closed down.
You may be flagged if you do it just once. If you do this, you may be committing a crime.
Is it legal to play music in the background while streaming on the PS4?
When you play a copyrighted song without permission in the background while streaming, you are breaking the law if you do not own the rights to it or if it is not royalty-free (e.g. not copyrighted).
This can result in your video being flagged and your account being suspended.
What would be the worst-case scenario? A court summons may be issued.
You will need to notify the streaming platform well in advance if you plan on creating your music for your videos.
You can also seek permission from a song’s intellectual property rights holder, although that may be more difficult.
It also involves some extremely high costs.
Do you intend to spend several thousand dollars on a song for just 15 people to hear in your video?
Is there an alternative to playing music while streaming?
When streaming for the first time, spend as much time talking as possible.
When you are just starting, this is the most effective way for you to engage your audience.
Make sure to demonstrate your personality and why your channel is worth subscribing to.
Develop your Twitch brand.
Respond to viewers’ questions on the chat board, and don’t forget to ask them questions as well.
You can even dress up and take on a character—many streamers enjoy doing this.
Closing Thoughts
It is not easy or, in some instances, legal to play music while streaming on your PS4. You should proceed with caution.
Make contact with independent musicians to obtain usage rights, if necessary.
If you are a newcomer, practice your speaking skills and increase your audience.
Getting creative is the key to success.
