Steve Smith explains in 5 easy steps how to start streaming with OBS Studio.
Episode #7-08 released on October 22, 2016
Today, I will be explaining how to start up your own streams on Twitch using OBS Studio 0.16.2. This tutorial does implicitly presume you are a gamer streamer, but some tweaks will make it possible for you to stream anything you want. Whether it be hosting your own live show, or recording your own podcasts. I will be demonstrating the instructions to stream to Twitch, but you can follow the same procedure by selecting for YouTube.
First, if you do not already have OBS Studio, go to https://obsproject.com/ go to download page in the top right, and click download installer. Will work with Windows Vista Service Pack 2, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, OSX 10.8.5 or Newer, and Ubuntu 14.14 or newer with FFmpeg required. This program is great because it is cross platform, and it will make most of the instructions the same for everyone.
Secondly, after you install the program, open it up. You a preview screen, on top, and the bottom has a box for scenes, sources, mixer, etc. If there is no scene, click the plus in the scene box and create one. Give it any name you want. Then under sources, to game stream, presuming you have a webcam, you will click the plus sign there. Keep in mind, that the game capture should, also, be at the bottom of all the layers. It will capture any full screen application.
Third, setting up your webcam. We will not presume here you a green screen, but you more than likely have a webcam. Same as setting up game capture, click the plus sign in sources, select video capture device. Right click it, and click properties. Select your webcam under devices. If you have a widescreen capable webcam and it appears to be 4 by 3 and not 16 by 9, select custom resolution, and under resolution select the appropriate resolution. Click ok, and make sure in sources, this appears above Game Capture.
Fourth, audio, and important, too. Audio can make or break a stream. The Mixer, use it. You can use the sliders to adjust volume so you can be heard over the game audio. Each track has its own configuration icon, click and go to properties. In each, select the right device. If you want to prevent audio issues, consider running OBS Studio as Administrator when you start it up.
And, lastly, and this is the step the counts the most, for streamers and those who want to stream. Go to your Twitch account, or YouTube Live account, and get your stream key. Remember to keep this private, because this allows anyone to stream on your account. In twitch, it will be under the dashboard, and select stream key. You can, also, reset your key, to be safe. Go to settings in the bottom right in OBS studio, once you have your stream key, then stream, select service you intend to use, in our case twitch. Then paste the stream key, and click apply. Under output, make sure you output is high enough, but not high enough to surpass your Internet connection, I'd suggestion 60% of your potential upstream to start and go from there. In my case, I can stream at 6000 KPBS without too many issues and no dropped frames. Try the rest of the settings as is, and see what it brings you. You can tweak other settings to see how it affects your stream. Under video, the base resolution should reflect your stream, but your output may be lower, increase it to 1920 by 1080 if you want an image with more resolution for your audience. If your gaming, select 60 FPS, as it will allow for your audience to see more of the action you do during the stream, too.
Now, by this point, you should be ready to stream, start up your game, open the dashboard on Twitch, or YouTube, and put on your headset. Put in a title in the dashboard, and click start stream. And Remember, have fun, you are, after all, playing a video game.
Host : Steve Smith | Music : | Editor : Steve Smith | Producer : Zed Axis Dot Net