Have you ever wanted to create interactive lives with an attractive look, or broadcast your computer screen live? OBS Studio is a free tool that can help you do that!
After all, if you want to customize your lives and control how viewers see your content, you need the support of a program like this one.
It works integrated with platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or event platforms like Even3.
This way, you can add extra touches to your lives, and all for free — things like visual effects, images, sounds, videos, screen sharing, and much more.
That’s why it’s worth exploring the tool, learning its pros and cons, and finding out more about:
- What is OBS Studio?
- How do you use OBS Studio?
- [Advanced] How to configure OBS Studio
- The 5 best free plugins for OBS Studio
- Essential tips for live broadcasts
What Is OBS Studio?
Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio is an open-source streaming and recording program developed by volunteers.
In other words, it lets anyone record or broadcast any video source for free.
Basically, it works like a studio for live broadcasts and can be compared to tools like Streamyard. Except it’s completely free.
It supports lives on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Even3.
That’s why it’s ideal for broadcasting online events like congresses, webinars, courses, workshops, talks, and more.
You should use it even if the platform you’re using to broadcast your event already offers direct streaming.
That’s because OBS Studio gives you more options for customizing your live, such as using sounds, images, live screen sharing, and more.
But watch out: some more advanced features require downloading plugins that update the tool and give it an “upgrade.” Let me show you a few options!
Main Uses of OBS Studio
- Customize live broadcasts with video and image effects;
- Broadcast multiple cameras;
- Add a dedicated soundtrack to live videos;
- Broadcast your computer screen live, widely used for game streaming or slide presentations;
- Use sound effects;
- Add automatic captions, and more.
Downsides
Despite the points above, it’s worth noting that OBS Studio isn’t the most intuitive tool for people unfamiliar with live broadcasting.
That won’t be a big problem, since I’ll walk you through several tutorials. But you’ll need some time to get used to it and use the platform smoothly.
On top of that, OBS needs a good internet connection. So it’s best to have a dedicated network for the software to avoid it freezing while you use it.
But learning to use it won’t be a problem! It’s easy to master the tool if you have the time, or a dedicated team to organize the broadcast.
All in all, it’s worth investing in! So get ready to get to know it better.
How Do You Use OBS Studio to Run Lives?
How to Download OBS Studio
Go to the OBS Studio website and download the version for your computer’s operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) by clicking the Download Installer button.
As mentioned, the software is free.
It also has no mobile version and can only be used on a desktop.
Get to Know the Features
When you open OBS Studio, you’ll come across several features and options.
It’s worth getting familiar with them to understand how OBS works.
Toolbar (1)
As you probably guessed, this is OBS Studio’s menu. Use it to find your recorded videos and change the tool’s settings.
Preview Screen (2)
Every video being broadcast is shown on the preview screen. The position and size of each video source that will appear is set here.
To do this, drag the icons and shrink or enlarge them according to the position you want.
You can split the preview screen into Preview (showing how sources will be displayed) and Program (which is exactly the screen your live viewers see at that moment). Just right-click and choose “Enable Preview.”
Scenes (3)
Speaking of scenes, that’s the name given to the layouts you create to display your video sources.
For example, one of your video sources is a slide presentation. So you’ll create a scene just to show that presentation.
Or, you can create a scene with your computer camera plus the slide presentation, so both are shown in the broadcast.
Scenes are presets that stay saved in your OBS Studio for use in any live broadcast. But you can always create a new scene.
This way, you can mix different sources and create different layouts for your lives.
Sources (4)
Sources are the content capture sources. In this case, they can be different cameras connected to the computer, microphones, slides, screens, and more.
Audio Mixer (5)
In the audio mixer, you control the volume of each source used.
This way, you can mute them with just one click on the volume icon.
Scene Transitions (6)
To set how the switch from one scene to another will be shown, use the Transitions area.
For example, here you can choose a cut transition to switch abruptly from one scene to another, like going from your computer camera to a screen broadcast.
There are several transition options to choose from, and you can add plugins to expand the possibilities.
Controls (7)
Finally, the controls are the more technical part.
This is where you start the broadcast and/or the video recording.
But watch out! If you want to do both at the same time, you need to click both buttons.
That’s because OBS Studio doesn’t start recording a live broadcast automatically.
Start Your Broadcast
1. Click “File.” Then click “Settings”;
2. Choose the “Stream” option in the new window that opens;
3. Fill in your broadcast information and save the settings:
Service: the broadcast platform you’ll use. For example, YouTube;
Server: it’s recommended to leave it on the automatic option;
Stream Key: provided by the live broadcast platform when you set up the broadcast.
4. Your broadcast is ready! Add scenes, sources, and control the audio mixer;
5. Right-click and choose “Enable Preview” to see how your active sources are being shown in the broadcast;
6. If everything looks good, click “Start Streaming” in the Controls panel, and you’re done!
Now all your viewers are seeing the broadcast exactly the way it appears on your preview screen.
[Advanced] How to Configure OBS Studio
Now that you’ve started a broadcast in OBS Studio, you already know the tool’s most basic settings.
But have you thought about adding a logo, presenting slides, or recording your screen? All of that is possible!
So I’ll walk you through the steps to configure OBS Studio for some specific situations. Learn more:
How to Add a Logo in OBS Studio
Many streamers (live broadcast hosts) use OBS Studio because it has no watermarks and lets you add a brand’s logo for free.
Unlike options such as Streamyard, for example.
To do this, just follow these simple steps:
- Click the “+” icon in the Sources panel and add an Image;
- In Sources, order the image above the video file so it isn’t hidden behind it. This order works like layer stacking;
- Adjust the logo’s size and position directly on the preview screen and place it wherever you prefer.
How to Present Slides in OBS Studio
Before I show you how to present slides through OBS Studio, I need to let you know that the tool turns JPEG images into slides.
In other words, files in .ppt or .pdf format won’t work.
One tip is to save your PowerPoint as separate images, or use the site I Love PDF to turn PDF-format presentations into JPEG images.
But watch out! It’s essential to number the images or put them in alphabetical order, since that determines how the slides will be sequenced.
So now it’s time to create your presentation:
Creating the Presentation
1. In Sources, click “+”, select “Slideshow,” and name it whatever you like;
2. Choose the slide visibility behavior:
Always play, even when not visible: lets slides advance even when it isn’t being broadcast;
Stop when not visible: stops slide playback when it isn’t being broadcast;
Pause when not visible: pauses slide playback when it isn’t being broadcast.
3. Also set the slide mode:
Automatic: ideal for slide changes with no manual control, like a photo display. You can set the timing;
Manual: recommended for theoretical content, since it gives you control over when to advance slides using your keyboard keys;
4. Set the Transition mode. That is, the effect used to switch between slides, such as fade or cut.
5. On the same screen, scroll down and click the “+” icon under “Image Files”;
6. Select the images that will be part of your slides and click open;
7. If they aren’t the right size for the screen, just press Ctrl + F and your image will be centered;
8. Finally, your slides are ready! But to control them, you need to set keyboard shortcuts. That’s the second part of our tutorial.
Set Keyboard Shortcuts
9. In “Scenes,” create a scene with the Slideshow. You can build it however you prefer, for example, camera plus slides, or slides only;
10. After that, you’ll be able to set the keyboard shortcuts used to control the slides;
11. In “File,” open “Settings” again;
12. Select “Hotkeys” and go to “Slideshow,” or whatever name you gave your presentation;
13. Now, just go to each field and press the key you want to use for that action.
A good tip is to use your keyboard’s arrow keys, or keys that make advancing through slides intuitive.
How to Use OBS Studio to Record Your Screen
If you prefer, you can use your own computer screen broadcast to show slides.
Actually, this feature can be used for several purposes, such as:
- Showing games live;
- Showing videos with audio;
- Recording video conferences and online events;
- Recording your computer screen and a camera at the same time.
To configure your OBS Studio, just follow these steps:
- Create a scene for capturing your computer screen;
- In Sources, click the “+” symbol. You can select “Display Capture” to capture everything happening on your computer screen, or “Window Capture” to capture just a specific window;
- A new screen will open with a preview of your capture. Ideally, you should use two separate screens to broadcast. This way, you can manage OBS Studio on one screen and broadcast from the other;
- To do this, choose which screen you want to broadcast under “Monitor.” And, if you’d like, check the box to also broadcast your mouse cursor.
Done! Your screen capture is now showing up in the preview screen.
And you already know this one, right? If the screen isn’t adjusted properly, just press Ctrl + F, or right-click and select “Transform” > “Fit to Screen.”
How to Use More Than One Camera in OBS Studio
Finally, a widely used benefit of OBS Studio is being able to add more than one camera to your Scenes.
This way, you can broadcast your speaker and an audience, for example.
This is a real advantage compared to other platforms like Facebook and YouTube, which only allow recording from a single camera.
In this case, enabling this feature is quite simple:
- Connect the cameras to your computer;
- In Sources, click the “+” icon and add a new “Video Capture Device”;
- A new window will open where you can select which camera to use;
- Repeat the same process for each camera you add.
With these scenarios, you can definitely create some amazing live broadcasts!
But OBS Studio can offer you even more extensions through plugins. Check out a few possibilities:
The 5 Best Free Plugins for OBS Studio
1. Soundboard Dock
If you want to make your lives funnier, livelier, and more engaging, Soundboard Dock is a great solution!
It adds a new panel to your OBS and lets you play sounds.
It’s usually used to add clapping, booing, and other fun interjections in the middle of live broadcasts.
But you can also add any sound you want! Just click a button and it’ll play your chosen sound. Pretty neat, right?
2. Multiple RTMP Outputs
Multiple RTMP Outputs is the plugin you’ll need to download if you want to run live broadcasts on more than one platform at the same time.
With it, you can start a live on YouTube and Even3 at the same time, for example. Just add the destinations you want.
That said, the broadcast may demand a bit more bandwidth than usual. So it’s worth testing the plugin before the day of your broadcast.
3. obs-ndi + NDI Tools
Did you know it’s possible to create lives with guests using OBS Studio?
Yes! Thanks to the obs-ndi plugin and NDI Tools, you can add an upgrade that puts OBS on par with paid tools.
All this plugin does is let you add sources from other devices, such as another computer, phone, or tablet.
The possibilities for your live broadcast are endless, and it’s well worth trying out.
4. obs-websocket + Touch Portal
Speaking of mobile devices, another option is to use your phone to control OBS Studio.
Just download the obs-websocket plugin on your computer and the Touch Portal app on your phone.
This way, you’ll be able to control scene switching, disable sources, trigger sounds, and much more.
This solution can be a viable alternative to make configuring OBS Studio easier for anyone who doesn’t have a second support screen.
5. Move Transition Plugin
Finally, to make your live even more interactive and innovative, it’s worth checking out the Move Transition plugin.
It creates new kinds of transitions for your sources, generating animated, varied movement.
Essential Tips for Live Broadcasts
Use Two Monitors
The first tip is so important it’s worth emphasizing!
Before starting your live broadcast with OBS Studio, remember to include two monitors among your necessary equipment!
This way, you can use one monitor to configure the broadcast and the other to follow along, interact in chat, monitor stream quality, and more.
All of this will make your work faster and more efficient, even making it easier to fix errors that might happen during the live.
Test Your Internet
Speaking of errors, a poor internet connection is one of the most common causes of live-broadcast failures. And as I mentioned, OBS Studio uses up a lot more bandwidth, right?
So before starting your broadcast, remember to test the quality of your internet connection!
You can do this using speed test sites.
To keep your work with OBS Studio safe, make sure you have an internet connection with at least 10Mb of bandwidth.
Frame Your Video Well
Good framing is essential to keep your audience engaged. Make sure the camera is positioned so you appear centered, with a pleasant background that doesn’t distract viewers.
Also, if possible, place the webcam at eye level and avoid a “looking down” angle.
That’s because this angle conveys a sense of superiority and makes it harder to connect with your viewers.
So, to hold attention better, act as though you’re looking into the viewer’s eyes and starting a conversation.
Use Plugins to Caption Your Live Broadcast
While not required, captions make your live broadcast more accessible and can be essential in some cases.
You can use OBS Studio plugins that generate captions automatically.
One option is the Closed Captioning OBS Plugin. It uses Google’s speech recognition to generate automatic captions as you speak.
It also lets viewers turn captions on or off, choose the font, color, and more.
That said, remember to run tests, okay?
Even though it’s compatible with Portuguese, these tools tend to have a few errors. But using it is still better than nothing!
Only Use the Plugins You Actually Need
While plugins are great complements to your use of OBS Studio, you need to be careful when using them.
After all, remember I mentioned that OBS Studio already uses up a lot of your network connection, right?
Well, the more plugins you use in the software, the more bandwidth it demands.
So remember to only use the plugins you actually need.
Use an Events Platform
Finally, to maximize the reach and efficiency of your live broadcast, consider hosting it on a specialized events platform.
Platforms like Even3 offer several features, from registration and attendee management to detailed post-event analytics.
This way, using a dedicated platform can help professionalize your live broadcast, turning your lives into a source of revenue and quality content production.
On top of that, you’ll be able to interact with your audience by email and chat, and collect feedback that will be crucial to the success of your future events.
All on a platform that protects your broadcasts with a secure sharing link. That means, if you want, it won’t let unregistered people access the online broadcast.
So how about giving it a try? Create your event on Even3 right now and discover how to take your live broadcasts to the next level, simply and effectively.
