A lot of streamers use soundboards to play sound effects during fitting moments. It makes sense — sound effects are often used to add a little extra oomph to a production, so it only makes sense that they’re used (tastefully) during streams, too. Many streamers simply create a soundboard using their stream decks to use sound effects. Others, on the other hand, use services like Triggerfyre.
In some cases, streamers might like to give the control over to their viewers. For example, a lot of streamers let viewers use their channel points to trigger a sound effect to play on the stream at any given time. Other streamers, on the other hand, choose to monetize this capability by using services and Twitch extensions like Sound Alerts.
It’s true: Sound Alerts is an excellent way to monetize your stream —and here’s why.
What is The Sound Alerts Twitch Extension?
Sound Alerts is a Twitch extension that allows your viewers to play — you guessed it — sound effects during your stream. It’s become so wildly popular and widely adopted on the platform that its creator, Altoar, has earned millions from it. If you read any of the information that came out during last year’s Twitch leak, you might know Altoar’s name as one of the top ten earners on the platform since 2019.
That said, Sound Alerts actually offers tons of features that makes it a fun extension to use.
- The extension is customizable to an extent, which means that you can make the required accompanying Twitch panel suit your branding a bit better. There are a few choices when it comes to the panel’s design, but you are unfortunately limited to what is available.
- You can set your own prices (bits or channel points) for the sound alerts so you can monetize — or make everything free if you want.
- You can select sounds from the huge user-generated Sound Alerts library, OR upload your own.
- You can stay ahead of DMCA troubles by ensuring that you select only copyright-free sound effects and audio clips for your panel. Viewers are only able to play sounds that you select to be on your panel.
There are additional alert types as well. For example, you can set new alert types for when someone follows, donates, subscribes, etc.
There is now also an overlay editor where you can create or edit visual animations, GIFs, etc that show up on your stream whenever a sound alert gets played. You can use the editor or design your own and upload it. This now makes it easier to make things match your stream branding further.
Will I Make More Money If I Use Sound Alerts?
In a way, yes.
However, this extra income is not guaranteed.
What Sound Alerts can do for you is provide you with an additional income stream through which you can make more money. How much you make will depend on how well you promote this new feature on your channel, and whether your viewers are willing to spend on the prices you set.
If you’re wondering how much you can make, the revenue split is 80/20. 80% goes to the streamer (you), and 20% goes to Sound Alerts. This means for every 100 bits (equivalent to $1), 80 bits ($0.80) go to you, and 20 bits ($0.20) go to Sound Alerts.
If you push Sound Alerts and remind your viewers that they are available, and if you build a fun library of sound effects your viewers will enjoy, you can potentially make more money.
How to Set Up Sound Alerts on Twitch
Setting up Sound Alerts on your channel is relatively easy. Follow the steps below:
- Go to SoundAlerts.com and click on the Dashboard link in the upper right corner.
- Click on Login with Twitch then authorize Sound Alerts.
Doing this will take you to your dashboard, seen below.
- On your dashboard, navigate to Sound Alerts Setup through the Status box. Alternatively, you can click on Settings on the left-hand navigation menu.
- Follow all of the instructions on the setup page. Luckily, Sound Alerts has set everything up to be easy to follow, and the page itself will walk you through every step.
Once that’s done, you can start fiddling with the overlays, sound effects, and more. You can even add Managers, such as your most trusted mods or friends, who can configure alerts for you.
You can also configure other settings that will make the extension work best for you by clicking on the General tab, as seen below.
Can I Use Sound Alerts if I Am Not an Affiliate?
The short answer is yes. Even if you aren’t an affiliate, you can still use Sound Alerts and take advantage of the extension’s features. But, there’s a caveat.
If you aren’t an affiliate, you cannot use the bits feature of this extension since viewers cannot donate bits to you. You can, however, set channel points as the primary currency for your alerts.
This way, you can still give your viewers a fun way to engage with your content— even if you can’t make any money from bits in the meantime.
Wrapping Up
As a streamer, it may benefit you to incorporate a healthy number of potential income streams into your production. That way, you might be able to increase your income enough to support your stream or slowly upgrade your equipment over time.
Sound Alerts is a great way to not just add an extra stream of income to your channel, but also to provide another fun way for your viewers to be engaged. Engagement, after all, is a huge part of a stream’s success, and one of the best ways to build a loyal community!
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