Run the auto-configuration wizard for the best settings. It will ask whether you want to optimize for streaming or recording. Select streaming. You’ll also have to choose a streaming destination so it can run a test on your system to get the best settings (you can change the destination later).
Go through your settings
In the Controls box in the bottom right corner, click Settings.
On the General tab, make sure your Language is set your preferred language. Most of the rest of the things on the General tab aren’t relevant for getting started; you can come back to them later.
On the Stream tab, select your streaming destination from the pull-down menu. You can either connect your account automatically (by entering your password) or enter the stream key of the platform you choose. Set your server to Autodetect. You’ll have to find the stream key for your chosen platform — here’s how to find your stream key on YouTube, on Twitch and on Facebook.
On the Audio tab, you can set up your microphone. If it’s hooked up to your computer already, then select it from the pull-down menu next to Mic/Auxiliary Audio. Leave your Desktop Audio set to Default if you want to broadcast the sounds your computer makes (such as in a game) on-stream in addition to your voice. Note that macOS users will need an extra plug-in to be able to capture desktop audio with OBS.
To apply the changes to your settings, click Apply.
Each streaming platform has its own unique stream key, so in order to link OBS with your preferred platform, you need to find this key in your account settings.
However, there’s a much easier way of getting the stream key for most major platforms. Let’s take a closer look at the following short instruction:
Open your OBS Studio and click Settings on the bottom-right.
Select the Stream tab on the left.
Choose your preferred streaming platform in the Service box.
Click Connect Account and follow the instructions to link OBS with the platform. After you complete the connection, you are all set to live stream right away!
Add your sources and test your stream
When you launch OBS for the first time, you’ll see a black screen. To add video, you need to add sources. Click the plus sign in the Sources box on the main screen in OBS.
Select Display Capture if you want to record everything visible on your monitor screen. Select Game Capture if you want to capture a game (this works for Windows only). Select Window Capture if you want to display an application on-stream that isn’t a game. Select Video Capture Device to add your webcam or capture card.
Before streaming to a live audience, we recommend running a test. You can name your stream “test” so if anyone stumbles across it they know it’s not the real thing. Click the Start Streaming button in the lower right corner. Make sure everything works properly, including your internet connection.
That’s it! You’re ready to stream using OBS Studio. For more info on how to stream on specific platforms with OBS, you can read our detailed guides:
OBS is super easy to install and tune, as it has the Auto-Configuration feature to help you get started in a matter of seconds. The streaming software has lots of built-in tools to easily manage your audio and video sources — all to make your streaming experience nice and smooth.
In short: OBS is better for those who want more control, customization, and have some experience with streaming software. Streamlabs is ideal for beginners or those who want an all-in-one solution with integrated streaming tools.
Is OBS Studio easy to use? It takes time and effort to learn and master OBS Studio's broad feature set. Although the software has a relatively straightforward interface and an encyclopedia of tutorials and resources, it has a steep learning curve.
Many pro streamers use OBS because they can have complete control over their streams. OBS is also the go-to software for screen recording, a feature that many professional streamers use. Streamlabs is more beginner-friendly, but not necessarily wallet-friendly if you're on a budget.
OBS requires both a great deal of space on your hard drive and a lot of RAM to run the software. It also requires that your CPU check a variety of output files and configurations to make things capture smoothly. If you don't have enough storage space for your CPU, then it's time to delete some files on your hard drive.
Bandicam: Best for creating professional-looking videos
The next OBS alternative is Bandicam, a beginner-friendly screen recording tool that's easy to use from start to finish. You can capture screenshots, record your screen, and add video and audio from your webcam or microphone.
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is open source, gets updated regularly and has a smaller memory footprint than StreamLabs, which means it uses less of your computer's resources while streaming. This makes it the go-to software for people who lag while gaming or who may have less powerful systems than the top streamers.
Ninja uses the free, open-source-broadcasting software OBS to run his stream. OBS is a free broadcasting software tool used to build and manage live streams and recordings. While it can take some time to understand all of the settings, Ninja and thousands of other streamers use OBS to customize their broadcasts.
What are the best streaming quality settings for OBS? If you're streaming the videos in 1080p@60FPS, you should set the bitrate between 6,000 and 9,000 kbps for the finest video quality. Then, you can set the audio bitrate from 64 kbps to 320 kbps according to your sound preference.
The default path for your recordings in OBS Studio is set to your Video folder in your main documents folder. You can easily find your recordings by clicking File and then Show Recordings in OBS Studio. To set up a custom path for your recordings in OBS, go to Settings and select the Output tab.
Is it virus free? Yes! OBS is an open source project, which means the programming code is open for anyone to look at or improve, so you can see exactly how it works. Any changes to the code are reviewed by other OBS contributors, so no one can add anything malicious.
High game settings can strain your system, leading to OBS lag. Lower the graphics settings in your game to free up resources. You can find these graphics settings in the menu of any modern game. Additionally, most games have specifications listed on their store pages for your computer to be able to run it smoothly.
OBS Studio is good screen-recording and streaming software for veteran streamers and video creators. It does lack some video-editing functionalities, and it's not very user-friendly for beginners.
Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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