You Get An Alert! Everybody Gets An Alert!
I recently switched my alert system from the popular StreamLabs (formerly TwitchAlerts) to a new system called Muxy.io. Muxy offers similar features to StreamLabs as well as stream analytics and tools to help streamers connect with potential brand partners. However, for streamer just getting started, I was most interested in their alert system. I was looking for something that offered a bit more flexibility and I was pleasantly surprised how well Muxy fit with what I wanted to do.
Alert Packages
One of my goals is to ultimately have custom alerts for each game I play. Muxy allows for the creation of what they call Alert Packages. I can setup an alert package for every game, each with its own set of custom alerts, graphics, and sounds. Each alert package get its own URL, making it easy to switch between packages using OBS and Browser Source. Previously I was switching images and setting back and forth in StreamLabs each time I switched games. Not impossible, but it was a pain especially if I switched games mid stream.
Custom CSS and HTML
I was also looking for the ability to use my own HTML and CSS to build each alert. Muxy’s advanced mode lets me do just that. Helpfully the advanced editor already includes the default HTML and CSS used by Muxy as well as some detailed comments about the different alert components. I appreciated not being dropped in blind. After a bit of trial and error to familiarize myself with the system I was able to put together some simple default alerts that matched the style of my stream. I used Muxy’s variable system to drop in names, amounts, images, messages, and more into my HTML exactly where I wanted them.
I only ran into two issues during the process. First, it turns out Muxy variables are not yet supported in CSS even though the editor indicates they are. It made it more of a challenge to use CSS background images. Second, I ran into a problem with the Cheer gem variable. It was outputting different classes in preview vs live. It took me awhile to figure out why it was doing what I wanted in the preview window but not in OBS. I assume that both of these will get fixed in the future as Muxy seems to be under active development.
In the end I’m very happy I decided to spend some time exploring what Muxy has to offer. I’m looking forward to hooking up more of their tools as my stream grows.