How to use OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) in 2025

How to use OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) in 2025: OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is very easy to use, but it is a very powerful software. Below are some important steps to start using OBS:

1. OBS Installation

First, download and install the software from the official website of OBS Studio.
After installation, launch the software.

2. OBS Setup

When you launch OBS for the first time, a wizard will appear that will help you set up. Here you can set preferences for streaming or recording.
If you want to stream, select the stream service (e.g. YouTube, Twitch, Facebook) and log in to your account.

3. Scenes and Sources Setup

Two important concepts in OBS are Scenes and Sources. You can add different sources to a scene. For example:

Scenes: To create different layouts or shows in your video.
Sources: The elements you want to include in the scene (e.g. video camera, screen capture, images, text, etc.).

Process of adding source:

There will be a plus (+) icon next to Scenes in the bottom left corner, click there to create a new scene.
After selecting the scene, there will be a plus (+) icon next to Sources again, click there.
Select the source you want to add (such as Display Capture, Video Capture Device, Image, Text, Browser Source, etc.) and configure it.

4. Audio setup

You need to configure your microphone and system audio in OBS:

Mic/Auxiliary Audio: Add your microphone.
Desktop Audio: Set system audio, such as your PC sound or music.

5. Start recording or streaming

Click the Start Recording button to start recording.
Click the Start Streaming button to start streaming.

6. Use the order or coding feature

You can add effects or transitions. OBS has various transition effects, such as fade, slide, display, etc.

These were some basic setups. You can also explore more advanced settings, such as hotkeys, skin customization, and various filters or sound effects.

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Here are some more advanced features and configurations for using OBS, which will give you a better streaming or recording experience:

7. Skin Customization

With OBS's skin customization, you can change the design or layout of the interface. This is very useful if you want to access it quickly while streaming or recording.

Themes: You can use different themes in OBS. Themes will help you change the style of your OBS screen.
Docking: You can drag and drop OBS's docks (such as Mixer, Scenes, Sources) to different places. This will make your workflow easier.

8. Using Filters

You can apply different effects or customizations to video and audio using filters in OBS.

Video Filters:

Chroma Key: This filter is used to change your video background when using a green screen.
Color Correction: You can use this filter to adjust the color tone or contrast of the video.
Crop/Pad: To cut or pad the source, i.e. to hide or show specific parts of the video.

Audio Filter:

Noise Gate: Used to reduce microphone noise, such as your keyboard sound.
Compressor: Reduces the dynamic range of the audio signal, so that the microphone sound remains the same.
Gain: To increase the volume of the audio signal.

9. Using Hotkeys

Setting up hotkeys in OBS allows you to quickly perform certain tasks, such as changing scenes, starting recording, or starting streaming. This is an important tool if you want to perform actions quickly.

Hotkey Setup:

Go to Settings from the File menu.
Select the Hotkeys option there.
Here you can configure keyboard shortcuts for various activities.

10. Network Configuration

Your internet speed and network configuration are important when streaming. The following settings are important to reduce latency or precasting in streaming:

Bitrate and Resolution:

Video Bitrate: Select a good video bitrate for streaming (e.g. 3000 kbps for 720p, 6000 kbps for 1080p).
Output Resolution: Select the resolution you want to stream in (e.g. 1280x720, 1920x1080).
Encoder: If your PC has a powerful GPU, use NVENC (NVIDIA) or AMD VCE encoder. If you want to use CPU, use x264.

11. Streaming Tools

You can use some more advanced tools while streaming on OBS, such as:

Streamlabs: This is a feature-rich plugin on top of OBS that adds superchat, donations, graphics, etc. You can use Streamlabs to set up customized streaming on OBS.
StreamElements: This is another streaming platform that offers features like chatbots, real-time donation tracking, custom alerts, etc.

12. Screen Recording & Video Editing

If you want to do screen recording, use the Display Capture or Window Capture source. Then, you can record the video and edit it with any video editing software (e.g. Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve).

13. Streaming Professional Look

To give your streaming a more professional look, you can add some graphics and animations:

Overlay: Add a graphical layer over the stream (such as your name, follower names, or logo).
Alerts: You can add special animations or sound files for new subscription, follower, or donation alerts on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook streaming platforms.

With all these settings and tips, you can get a more powerful and professional streaming or recording experience in OBS.

Here are some more advanced OBS settings and features that will help make your streaming or recording experience more efficient and professional:

14. Multiple Scenes and Sources

In OBS, you can create different layouts using Multiple Scenes, and switch sources between scenes while you’re live. For example, you could have one scene where you’re sharing your screen, and another where you’re showing yourself with the camera.

How to create multiple scenes:

Click the plus (+) in the Scenes panel and create a new scene.
Add sources for this scene (such as camera, image, browser source, etc.).
When you’re streaming or recording, you can switch scenes with a hotkey or mouse click.

15. Advanced Audio Mixing

OBS’s audio mixing feature is very powerful. You can use Advanced Audio Properties to adjust audio levels, such as microphone sound gain, balance, or pan.

Audio Settings:

On the Mixer tab, there will be a cog icon next to your microphone or other audio source. Click on it.
Select Advanced Audio Properties.
Here you can customize settings like Mono (mono audio), Track selection, Sync Offset (to fix sync issues), etc.

16. Sound Reduction

You can use the Noise Suppression filter to reduce background noise from your microphone. This filter is especially useful if you use a microphone in a common room.

Noise Suppression Settings:

Click on the gear icon next to Source and select Filters.
Click + there and add Noise Suppression.
You can select Low, Medium, High or RNNoise options, which will depend on the quality of the audio.

17. Chat Integration

You can also view your streaming chat in OBS, which adds more interaction to your stream. For this, you can add your chat window to OBS using Streamlabs or StreamElements.

To add a chat window:

Log in to Streamlabs or StreamElements and go to your stream chat website.
Copy the chat widget URL from there.
Add a new Browser Source to OBS and paste the chat URL

18. Stream Quality and Delay

If you are experiencing lag or delay while streaming, you need to check your internet connection and OBS’s bitrate configuration. You can also use Low Latency Mode, which will help reduce streaming latency.

Stream Quality Settings:

Select Output from the Settings menu.
Go to the Streaming tab and select Encoder.
Keep the Keyframe Interval setting to 2 (this increases stream stability).
Try to find the right combination by increasing or decreasing the CPU Usage Preset or Bitrate.

19. Interactive Elements in Streams

In OBS, you can use Alerts and Overlays to make your stream interactive and visually appealing. For example:

Follow Alerts: When someone follows your channel, an animated alert will appear.
Donation Alerts: When someone donates, a special alert will appear.

Alert Customization:

Log in to the Streamlabs or StreamElements website and customize the alert.
A URL will be generated for your custom alert.
Add that URL as a Browser Source in OBS and set the alert.

20. High-Quality Video Recording

Using OBS, you can make High-Quality Recordings that can be different from your streaming quality, meaning you only want to record the video but not stream it.

Recording Quality:

Select Output from the Settings menu.
There, select the Recording tab and set the Encoder and Recording Quality to your preference.
If you want very high quality video, select Lossless Quality (but it will use a lot of storage).

21. Performance Monitoring

You can monitor the performance of your stream using the Stats tab in OBS. Here you will find information about CPU, GPU usage, bitrate, delay, and FPS (frames per second).

These features will enhance your OBS experience and help you use OBS as a more professional tool for streaming or recording.