live streaming tool Archives - Flutin

A free screen recorder for podcasts, live streaming, and vlogging, OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), is used by many content creators. Even though it is free, many find the setup intimidating. For streamers, OBS Studio is certainly a must-have. This live streaming encoder may seem overwhelming at first, but once it is understood, it can be very useful. This OBS Studio guide will help you become familiar with it quickly, so you can launch your professional live stream in no time.

It is possible to stream live at any level of production: from the most basic to the most advanced. The OBS Studio software, however, can handle almost any live streaming task. You can master it in no time, whether you’re a beginner or have already been streaming for a while. Now, let’s get right into learning how to use OBS – a popular live streaming encoder amongst streamers.

OBS Studio: What is it?

Among live streaming encoders, OBS Studio is arguably the most famous. You can make professional live streams with it since it’s free and open-source. You can also record video with OBS Studio, connect to live streaming platforms, and stream video from any digital camera.

How can you install OBS Studio?

The following steps will help you install OBS Studio on your device if you haven’t already. The first step is to visit its website and choose the platform you want to use: Windows, Linux or macOS. After downloading the file, open it and begin the installation process.

During the setup process, you will have the option to include numerous additional OBS plugins. The boxes should usually be left blank. OBS Studio can be launched either from the installation window or from a new desktop icon once it’s been installed.

How can you quickstart OBS Studio?

As you now have OBS Studio installed on your device, let’s explore the main elements of your work area. There’s nothing to worry about. You will quickly discover how straightforward OBS is, even though it may appear overwhelming at first.

The Auto-Configuration Wizard appears after you load OBS Studio for the first time. By using this tool, a comprehensive assessment of your system is conducted and the best settings are applied to it. If you would like to start streaming quickly, the Auto-Configuration Wizard is just what you need. You can perform the automatic configuration at any time by accessing the Tools menu at the top of the screen. Afterwards, you can fine-tune the settings if you aren’t satisfied with the outcome.

How can you create your first scene in OBS?

OBS creates scenes based on your audio and video layers (sources). Inputs are specific to each layer. For example, let’s say you wish to go live with audio input from your mic, video input from your camera and another video input from the screen of your device. OBS combines and streams these three layers together by adding them to your scene sources.

As soon as you launch OBS for the first time, you will notice that the Scenes box is empty at the bottom left. Add a new one, rename it, or delete it. However, streaming will be limited to one scene. The stream appearance can be changed during the stream by switching scenes.

How can you add audio and video sources to OBS Studio?

It is typical for OBS Studio to use the default audio sources for input and output. If you speak on your device or play any sound, make sure that the audio levels in the Audio Mixer section are active. Alternatively, you can go to Settings and select your audio sources manually under the Audio tab.

In contrast, video sources present a different situation. There is no video source connected to OBS yet. A video source should be added next to the Scenes box to change this. Adding a new video source is as simple as performing a right-click inside the box. Below are a few examples:

You can record the particular game you are playing using the game capture tool, which can also occasionally help record windows that the window capture option is unable to record.
The majority of non-game applications are compatible with the Window functionality.
Your capture card or webcam will be added as a video source by the Video Capture Device.
The Blackmagic Design capture cards can be used by the Blackmagic Device source to ensure perfect compatibility with OBS.
The Browser source is helpful in turning your browser into a source and streaming anytime through it via OBS.
You may add your display as a source and essentially capture your full work screen using the Display Capture. You can decide the part of the screen to record and whether or not to make your pointer visible.
You can add several forms of images to your scene using the Image source. You don’t even have to worry about the image format since all such formats are supported.

How can you manage layers in OBS Studio?

Layers are incredibly useful when you want numerous video sources to be captured in your live streams. The fact that each of your additional video sources is on a separate layer enables you to combine output photos and control them however you see fit. The most used video source will be displayed at the very top of your Sources list.

For instance, if you wish to broadcast a game while using your webcam, you need to specify your Video Capture Device source first and then your Game Capture. The preview pane allows you to verify that everything is properly layered. The layers can also be rearranged by just dragging them into the Sources box if you feel so.

How can you add filters for audio and video effects?

You can give the sources additional filters and effects once you’ve finished managing your audio and video layers. Simply select Filters from the context menu when you right-click on the source. Applying compression, adjusting gain, adding a noise gate, suppressing the audio, adding personalized VST plugins, and many other options are all available for audio inputs.

Applying Chroma Key, modifying the Scaling/Aspect Ratio, cropping the image to vary its size, and other options are available for your video outputs. OBS has a tonne of third-party plugins that you may use to expand the available filter options for both video and audio sources.

If you don’t like the size and placement of your video source in the preview, you can just click on the source you want to modify and drag any red square to alter its dimensions. When you are dragging, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift (or the alternative keys for Mac users) to crop or scale without keeping the original aspect ratio.

How can you use the Studio mode of OBS?

You can edit your scenes and swap them on-the-fly using OBS Studio’s highly potent Studio mode feature. Just select the Studio mode button that is located directly above the Settings button to activate this option. You’ll see that your preview screen has been divided into two sections.

The screen on the right is the one which your audience will see – the actual Live screen. Your edits will take place on the left screen. You can customize the transition style, alter any scene element while live broadcasting, and switch between scenes whenever you want.

How can you start streaming with OBS Studio?

Direct broadcasting to a single streaming platform is possible with OBS Studio. To live broadcast to Twitch, for instance, go to Settings and select the Stream option. Paste your Stream Key after selecting Twitch from the Service drop-down box. Click OK after making the adjustments. All that is needed to do at this point is press the Start Streaming button in the bottom right corner.

Unfortunately, multistreaming is not possible with OBS Studio. But, there’s nothing to panic about. That’s where Flutin has you covered. You can seamlessly use our RTMP feature to connect with Flutin and then multistream your content to all the major platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Instagram, etc.

How can you record videos with OBS Studio?

You have the option to capture your video content as well as live broadcast it using OBS Studio. The Start Recording button is located directly beneath the Start Streaming button. Once clicked, OBS Studio will begin recording your stream right away. To halt recording, you can click the button once more. OBS recordings are automatically saved to the Video folder of your primary documents. On the other hand, the Output tab of your OBS settings allows you to quickly modify the path and quality.

Keep in mind that you can use your computer’s extra resources to record at higher/lower quality levels than the original stream quality. Up to six audio tracks can be recorded for later editing. The MKV recording format is advised because it supports six tracks and won’t malfunction if OBS crashes due to any reason.

At first look, OBS Studio may appear to be very frustrating. But if you take the time to learn how to use it, you’ll soon realize how easy and helpful it is. And once you do get familiar with the software, don’t forget to try out multistreaming with Flutin via OBS.