So, you have taken the first steps into the wild world of livestreaming. You’ve gathered the necessary tools, found the right computer for the job, and now you are ready to create interesting content. But you might be wondering how to do the livestreaming part. It can feel a bit overbearing and complicated, but it is actually quite easy. Today we are going to go over how to get started with a world-renowned, free-to-download program called Open Broadcaster Software, otherwise known as OBS.
What is OBS?
OBS an open-source broadcasting program that allows users to record video, livestream, and even take full-resolution screenshots of whatever they are doing. Because it is open source, developers are free to create various add-ons and tools to enhance your streaming experience.
Before we dive in, I do want to say that OBS is one of the most popular pieces of software out there and it’s absolutely free to download and use. It is also compatible with most streaming platforms, including Twitch and YouTube, and can operate on Windows, macOS, and even Linux devices. It has become such an integral part of the livestreaming world, and it is improving everyday thanks to both in-house and external developers.
Before Using OBS
Before you start streaming, you need to do some preparation. You need to choose which site is going to host your livestream channel. The top platforms out there are Twitch and YouTube, with other third parties growing in popularity. Each of these platforms will provide you with a dedicated profile when you sign up as well as something called a Stream Key. This is a unique series of numbers and letters that are specifically designated for you and your channel. If someone else gets their hand on the key, they could stream to your channel without your knowledge, so make sure you keep it secret and safe. If your Stream Key is compromised, you can quickly get a new one; more on this later. If you don’t know where to get it, hang tight because OBS will help you, but you must have your platform and channel set up beforehand otherwise nothing else will work.
First Startup
OBS does a great job guiding you along the basic path of getting started. Upon starting OBS for the first time you will be asked what your priority is. Answering this question essentially performs a soft setup of the program for whatever it is that you will use it for the most. You can choose to prioritize your livestream, recording, or using a virtual camera.
From there we get another prompt asking us what the base resolution of the canvas is as well as our Frames Per Second (FPS). You might receive a notification that the base resolution is not currently the same as the resolution you are recording in. This is the system telling you that adjustments might be made to accommodate any potential resource usage or bitrate requirement. We will break this down a bit later.
Canvas resolution can be whatever you want, but for now let’s set it to the default option, which is 1920 x 1080 (or 1080p)—this is the maximum resolution of many popular platforms, including Twitch. Currently, higher resolutions are not available through public means. So do not waste too much time on this area. FPS can be set to the respective default option, which aims to keep your stream at 60 frames per second or 30 but pushing more toward 60 FPS when possible.
Next, OBS is going to ask you about your stream information. You can select the livestream platform service from the dropdown and then choose either to connect your account through the window or use that Stream Key we discussed before.
We get a bandwidth test after you enter in the last bit of information and then we are done with the basic setup process! But there are still a few things to do before we can hit that Start Streaming button.
OBS Configuration
When you finish the setup process you will be left with a blank canvas with a ton of opportunities to make your livestream look incredible. But before you mess around with settings, the very first thing you will click on in the lower right-hand section under the Controls dock is Studio Mode.
Upon entering Studio Mode, you are given two canvases as opposed to one and there is a good reason for it. The canvas on the left is the scene that you have selected, while the canvas on the right is what your viewers see. This makes it easier to see what you are transitioning to and from, so you know you’re hitting the right one before you transfer it over.
You also want to open up your preferences under the Settings button located just below the Studio Mode button. From this menu, you can select a topic to make adjustments where needed. If you need to change your streaming information, click on Stream and you can either connect to Twitch or enter your Stream Key again.
Output, Audio, and Video
Visuals and sound are important to maintain a great livestream. Output, Audio, and Video settings will adjust your streaming quality, allowing you to fine tune your entire livestream and recording sessions. It also gives you control over your video and audio recorder, presets, and more.
What you want to do is make sure the Recording Path is directed to someplace you can easily grab your files if you happen to record your sessions for editing later. Recording Quality option is important, but more important is the Recording Format. Make sure you change that to a format that you can easily edit in. Otherwise, it could be difficult to work with the media file.
When it comes to sound, there are a lot of available options. As a beginner, you don’t really need to touch any of these settings, but if you are more seasoned then you can make some adjustments. All the default settings make a solid foundation for your show. What is neat is the usage of hotkeys, allowing you to quickly set some parameters for your desktop audio and auxiliary sounds.
Finally, you have your Video settings, which are incredibly important. There are two resolutions available: Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution. Base is what your system is streaming, while Output takes that Base resolution and scales it down. In theory, this reduces the number of resources taken up by your computer, giving you a smoother livestream. You also get Downscale Filter, which I wouldn’t touch, and a dropdown for FPS that you can set to your liking.
Hotkeys, Accessibility, and Advanced
The final three settings are worth mentioning because they expand the user experience by a large margin. Hotkeys allow you to tie multiple functions to dedicated keyboard presses, simplifying your livestreaming production. Accessibility enables you to change the color profiles of OBS, which is great for various types of color blindness. And then there are the Advanced settings, which feature more robust options for your livestream.
Setting the Scene
Once you have gone through your settings and have your backend set up, it is time to create your first scene. Scenes are all the different shots that you have established. Like a movie or TV show, you can have multiple scenes to accommodate multiple scenarios. For instance, I have a scene called Countdown, where I have incorporated a timer to tell my viewers when my stream begins. I also have other scenes for my camera, another for the game I am streaming, and a couple of other useful scenes to help as my stream goes on.
There are multiple parts to each Scene with multiple inputs that can be easily plugged in using the Sources dock. For example, I can download an image and set it as my background by pressing the “+” button and selecting Image. You can repeat this for all sorts of different elements.
Follow these steps:
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Click the “+” icon in Sources
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Select what you want to add
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Either add a new device or select one that has already been established before
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Hit OK
From there you should see a window titled Properties for the device you recently added or selected before. Here you can select the device you are using and make some adjustments. Once you are good, you hit the OK button again and you should see the source on the left canvas. Remember, no one can see what you are doing in the left panel, but if you do want to transition it into the live feed, simply press the Transition button.
Audio Configuration
Before you hit that Start Streaming button, you want to check your audio. This is quite simple. In the Audio Mixer dock, you may see Desktop Audio and Mic/Aux faders. These are both automatically picking up various devices. Your Desktop Audio covers any sound made from your computer. If you are playing a song or going through a game playing on the same computer OBS is on, the Desktop Audio portion will reflect that. Mic/Aux refers to your microphone. There are audio sliders beneath each track allowing you to make quick changes to the audio levels. If you are peaking (going into the red section) then it’s a good idea to slide it a little back down towards the left until it sounds right.
If you are using a USB microphone, click on the box with three vertical dots and then click on Properties. From there, make sure you have the right device selected. If your webcam has a microphone built into it, there could be a chance it was selected by accident. Always check this just in case. Once you are done with that, hit OK and your mic should work perfectly fine!
The Big Moment
Just before you have the big moment, you should test your stream. Take about thirty seconds to a minute (or longer) to record yourself. Go through scenes, speak into the microphone, and play a game while you talk. Once you do all of that, replay that recorded video and see how it all works! If you think you sound good, then hit that Start Streaming button and have fun!
That’s All, Folks
OBS is a flexible program and can be used for so many types of livestreams. Whether you are gaming or just chatting with your friends, OBS can help. Images can be resized, audio can be filtered, there are so many functions, but learning the ropes is important. Hopefully you find this guide useful!
