The technical aspects of live streaming can get a little difficult to understand for people not belonging to a technical background, and this is why we bring you a thorough guide on how to use OBS for live streaming on Youtube. Since the pandemic, communication has had a limitation. There has been a rise in screen time and amidst the unpleasant circumstances, people have been resorting to different ways to keep themselves entertained. And one such community that has seen rise globally is live-streaming. Live-streaming is very popular amongst the gaming community as well as reviewers. And since people aren’t allowed to go out and gather in crowds, artists have also chosen this platform to keep their followers entertained.
OBS aka Open Broadcasting Software is free and open-source software and can be run on Windows, Mac or Linux.
Features:
Scene Nesting
Users have the option of inserting scenes within scenes as a source. These are helpful when you want to display some particular scene during a particular period. Using scene nesting you can easily modify the content of the scene without having to manipulate the entire scene. For example, when you’re streaming on youtube and want to display the like/subscribe button during a specific part of the stream, you can create a different scene with the valid media files and show the scene when necessary.
Custom Browser Docks
Custom browser docks enable users to add a browser window (via a link) to the capture window. This feature is common amongst gamers as they can add live chat boxes to the stream and vice versa.
Replay Buffer
The replay buffer uses RAM and stores a temporary recording of the stream(default is 10 seconds). When the hotkey is pressed, the video is saved on the system. The time can be modified from the settings. The time should be set with respect to the RAM.
New Features:
- Missing Files Dialog – The new update helps identify the sources that are missing. For example, if a media file used a source has been deleted or moved, it will now be notified while changing the scene.
- Undo and Redo Function – Undo and redo has been finally integrated into the system and the undo stack is capable of tracing up to 5000 actions in the current session. The stack is cleared while switching scenes or restarting the application.
- Source Visibility Transitions – Users can now apply transitions to scenes when toggled. The videos created as such look more professional and that too without any additional tools or macros.
- Track Matte Transitions – Using an animated “mask video” users can now switch between different sources using the stinger video as an overlay. For example, check out this animated image:
These new features make it perfect for users to use OBS for live streaming on Youtube.
Also Read:
- How to use OBS for live streaming on Facebook
- Conference Live Video Streaming Solutions for Corporates
- Tips for Better Virtual Meetings
When we start with OBS, the auto-config window opens to set some options automatically depending on how you want to use obs. To toggle auto-config settings again, click on Tools -> Auto-Configuration Wizard.
On the top, we have the main canvas showing all content to be recorded or streamed. By default, the resolution is the same as the laptop screen. At the bottom, different scenes can be defined. Scenes consist of different sources that can be used to record or stream.
We can add as many sources as we need. There are different options for visual sources as well as audio channels.
How to use OBS for Live Streaming on Youtube
For live streaming, game capture is recommended because it is optimised for recording the display as well as a camera source. When using multiple sources as scenes, users can control the visibility of any scene with a simple click.
Before starting streaming/recording, it is recommended to check the settings. Under Stream in settings, different accounts can be connected (like YouTube or Facebook etc.)
Output settings can also be changed to optimise streaming for low-speed internet connections.
Users can set hotkeys to control different functions of the application seamlessly via shortcuts without having to go back to the interface. When streaming, the video is saved on the online account by default, and when recording, the files are saved locally The files can be accessed via File -> Show recordings. Users can use studio mode to make changes to the stream or recording.
All the sources and scenes remain saved when you reopen OBS.
Follow these simple to get started with Youtube live streaming:
- Open the Youtube website on your browser.
- Click on the Create button and then on Go Live
- Copy the Stream Key
- Open OBS -> Settings -> Stream and select YouTube – RTMPS
- Paste the stream key in the box and save the settings.
- You are all set to use OBS for Live streaming on Youtube!
You get an option to start the live stream right away. You can also schedule the time for live streaming. Users can set a thumbnail image before the stream starts, the recommended size for which is 1280×720.
Conclusion
Numerous users and polls reveal that beginners and professionals use OBS for live streaming on Youtube as it is a feature-rich program. It is easy to set up and use and users have control over the different settings from video resolution, frame rate, and audio bitrate. All in all, it is one of the best software available for live streaming and screen recording. It also has a big community of users and a blog which is helpful if users are stuck or confused while using OBS.
