OBS Studio provides real-time capture, encoding, and broadcasting for YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and many other providers. High performance real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, capture cards, and more.

Is OBS Studio the best option for streaming and adding alerts?

OBS Studio is widely regarded as the top choice because it delivers superior performance, minimal system overhead, and extensive plugin support. Alerts and overlays are easily added using browser sources from services like StreamElements or Streamer.bot. Some report a streamlined OBS setup with light CPU usage and full control over customizations.

What plugins do experienced users find essential?

Streamers recommend plugins such as OBS Scene Nesting for managing reusable elements across multiple scenes and Timestamp for clipping video. Scene nesting allows you to centralize overlays and audio setups, making changes propagate across all scenes automatically.

Does switching from Streamlabs OBS improve performance?

Many users who switched from Streamlabs OBS to OBS Studio noticed fewer dropped frames and better resource management. OBS uses less CPU, providing a more stable environment for streaming and gaming simultaneously.

Why is my desktop audio not capturing?

This issue usually occurs due to misconfigured audio devices or forgetting to enable desktop audio in the Global Audio settings. To fix it, set your desktop audio device properly, ensure it's not disabled in mixer settings, and verify levels move during playback .

Is OBS Studio free for commercial use?

OBS Studio is open source software and free for anyone to use it. OBS can be used commercially without restrictions, it won't add watermarks and has no limitations. You can use OBS Studio for professional streaming, recording paid content, corporate webinars, etc.

Is OBS good for recording videos?

Yes, OBS Studio is excellent for recording videos. It offers high-quality output, customizable settings, and supports multiple sources like webcams, screens, and microphones. Many creators use it for tutorials, gameplay, and presentations.

Can you edit videos in OBS Studio?

No, OBS Studio does not support video editing. It is designed for live streaming and recording, not post-production. For editing, you'll need separate software like DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut or VSDC Video Editor, which are great free options.

What are OBS Studio basic system requirements?

  • Operating System: Windows 10 or later, macOS 11+, or a modern Linux distro
  • CPU: Intel i5 2000-series / AMD FX series or better
  • RAM: At least 4 GB (8 GB recommended)
  • GPU: DirectX 10.1 compatible GPU or better

For smooth recording or streaming, especially at 1080p, a stronger CPU and GPU are recommended.

Features

  • High performance real time video/audio capturing and mixing, with unlimited scenes you can switch between seamlessly via custom transitions.
  • Live streaming to Twitch, YouTube, Periscope, GoodGame, DailyMotion, Hitbox, VK and any other RTMP server
  • Filters for video sources such as image masking, color correction, chroma/color keying, and more.
  • x264, H.264 and AAC for your live streams and video recordings
  • Intel Quick Sync Video (QSV) and NVIDIA NVENC support
  • Intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters such as noise gate, noise suppression, and gain. Take full control with VST plugin support.
  • GPU-based game capture for high performance game streaming
  • Unlimited number of scenes and sources
  • Number of different and customizable transitions for when you switch between scenes
  • Hotkeys for almost any action such as start or stop your stream or recording, push-to-talk, fast mute of any audio source, show or hide any video source, switch between scenes,and much more
  • Live preview of any changes on your scenes and sources using Studio Mode before pushing them to your stream where your viewers will see those changes
  • DirectShow capture device support (webcams, capture cards, etc)
  • Powerful and easy to use configuration options. Add new Sources, duplicate existing ones, and adjust their properties effortlessly.
  • Streamlined Settings panel for quickly configuring your broadcasts and recordings. Switch between different profiles with ease.
  • Light and dark themes available to fit your environment.
  • ...and many other features. For free. At all.

What's New

32.1.2 Hotfix Changes

  • Fixed scene list selection lag regression present in 32.1.0 and 32.1.1 [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed nested menu appearance [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed warnings about non-existent properties in some themes [Warchamp7]

32.1.1 Hotfix Changes

  • Fixed missing audio mixer tooltips [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed audio mixer minimum width being too large [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed audio mixer sorting weight for global and pinned sources [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed disabled sources appearing in audio mixer [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed missing toolbar actions for audio mixer [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed incorrect colors in audio mixer [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed audio deduplication incorrectly applying when an audio output capture source is set to monitor only [pkviet]

32.1 New Features

  • Added new Audio Mixer [Warchamp7]
  • Added WebRTC Simulcast Support [Sean-Der]
  • Added missing undo/redo actions for scene items [cg2121]
  • Scale filtering, blending mode, blending method, deinterlacing mode and deinterlacing field order
  • Added partial support for Canvases to obs-websocket [exeldro/tt2468/Warchamp7]

32.1 Changes

  • Improved security of browser sources using local files [Warchamp7]
  • Improved plugin manager by allowing enabling/disabling missing plugins [Warchamp7]
  • Removed "Source" from source names [Warchamp7]
  • Updated the Edit Transform dialog [Warchamp7]
  • Changed copying a scene item to copy all properties [cg2121/Warchamp7]
  • Disabled dock animations [Warchamp7]
  • Moved transition preview button to button box [exeldro]
  • Rearranged default dock positions [Warchamp7]
  • Increased media source playback slider update rate [Warchamp7]
  • Enabled palette for Light theme audio mixer [Warchamp7]
  • Changed default bitrates to 6000 kbps [mihawk90]

32.1 Bug Fixes

  • Fixed a crash if some source data was null [Penwy]
  • Fixed a crash on Linux when changing profiles or on application shutdown [hoshinolina]
  • Fixed a possible crash on macOS during application shutdown if YouTube docks were active [PatTheMav]
  • Fixed an issue where projector resolutions had decimals [Warchamp7]
  • Fixed sync of Preview/Program size and positioning [Warchamp7]
  • Refactored OBSBasic::Save to only save frontend canvas scenes/groups [dsaedtler]
  • Fixed NAL type for HEVC caption/BPM SEIs [dsaedtler]
  • Fixed an issue where video scaling could be incorrect in multivideo encoder scenarios [dsaedtler]
  • Fixed an issue with chapter markers having incorrect time when using file splitting [garyholmes]
  • Fixed an issue where some recordings could have black thumbnails [derrod]
  • Fixed an issue where the NVIDIA Blur and Background Blur could have banding or look splotchy [pkviet]
  • Fixed an issue where macOS Screen Capture would select an item for capture by default [jcm93]
  • Fixed an issue with PipeWire when capturing a device that does not require a framerate [tytan652]
  • Fixed an issue where PipeWire Camera framerates listed could be incorrect [tytan652]
  • Fixed an issue where HDR video playback in Media Source could be darker than expected [xtfo]
  • Fixed an issue that could cause OBS to become unable to change profiles or video settings [exeldro]
  • Fixed an issue that could cause transitions to become locked [Warchamp7]