OBS

OBS StudioIt can be said that this software is essential for approximately 90% of live streamers and short-video content creators. OBS is a tool designed for recording computer screens and streaming live videos. It is open-source and completely free, and it meets almost all the needs related to screen recording and live streaming on computers.

If you don’t want to spend money on a computer screen recording software, then I think this is your only option! Below, I will briefly introduce how to download and use this software.

OBS download and installation

This is the official website of OBS: https://obsproject.com/. On the homepage, you can see three very prominent download buttons, which are compatible with multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Simply click on them to start the automatic download process. However, since the servers are located abroad, the download speed may be relatively slow. You can also find a link that I have provided at the end of this article for alternative download options.

After downloading the file, simply double-click on it to start the installation process, and then continue by clicking “Next” at each step. This guide will demonstrate the installation process using the Windows operating system.

The first time you open the application after installation, a wizard for initial configuration will appear. You can follow the steps outlined in the wizard to set up the settings according to your needs, or you can simply cancel it and proceed to read the basic setup instructions below.

Basic OSB Settings

Before using OBS, we need to perform some basic settings. Click on the top-left corner…File → Settings → OutputHere, I would like to share with you some basic and essential settings. Once you complete these settings, you will be able to use the relevant functions immediately. There is no need for in-depth exploration or advanced tutorials.

outputThe settings refer to the quality of both the live broadcast video and the recorded video. For live broadcasts: the key factor is the video bitrate. It is recommended to use a bitrate of at least 4000 kbps, but this value should be adjusted according to your internet speed and the resolution of the video. A bitrate of 4000 kbps is generally suitable for live broadcasts in 1080p format with 60 frames per second. The higher the bitrate, the clearer the video will be.

Live streaming: Encoder. If your computer is equipped with a dedicated graphics card, it is recommended to use a hardware-based H.264 encoder. Both AMD and NVIDIA offer H.264 encoders as suitable options.

For video recording, remember to set the save path for the recorded footage in advance. As for the quality of the recordings, it is recommended to use a quality that is almost lossless. If you are recording a live stream, you can also choose the same quality as that of the live stream. The common format for video recordings is MKV, but I usually use MP4. It is still advisable to opt for a hardware-based H.264 encoder for encoding purposes.

Audio settingsGenerally, computers are equipped with both a microphone and a pair of headphones/speakers. For desktop audio settings, you should select the sound from your headphones if you are using them, or choose the microphone if that is the device you are currently employing.

Video settingsThe resolution of the canvas is generally set to match the resolution of the computer monitor, and the frame rate also corresponds to the highest resolution of the monitor. If you are streaming games, you can choose the settings according to your own needs as well.

Once the basic settings have been completed, we can proceed with screen recording.

OBS screen recording

First, create a new scenario in the scenario module located in the lower left corner of the interface. You can give it a name such as “Live Gaming” or “Screen Recording”. Each scenario allows you to add different visuals, and these scenarios can be switched quickly between one another.

Second, once the scene has been set up, we need to assign visual content to it.

For example, in my case, the recording is intended for the entire display screen; therefore, I would proceed in that manner.sourceAdded new content inside.Monitor acquisitionIn this way, the entire display will be recorded by us.

If you need to add other elements to the screen, such as images, text, or additional windows, you can do so in sequence.sourceAdd the corresponding collection data.

Regarding the audio, if you don’t have any additional audio that needs to be recorded, then…mixerBy default, the system will incorporate the sound from both the microphone and headphones connected to your computer.

After setting all the sources from which you want to record videos, click “Start Recording” and then minimize OBS. That’s it – so simple!

OBS live streaming

To use OBS for live streaming, you also need to create a new scene and then add the visual content you require to that scene.

For example, if I want to conduct a live game broadcast, I would just...sourceA game window was added to the display, and at the same time, a text description as well as a profile image were also incorporated into the visual interface. This is the view that the audience will see.

After setting the display options, proceed to open it.settings — live broadcast — CustomizationEnter the server address and streaming code used for your live broadcast on that platform.

Taking Bilibili as an example, when you go to the broadcasting settings on the web version of Bilibili and start a live broadcast, the server address and stream key (streaming code) will be displayed. You can simply copy these details and fill them in when using OBS for live streaming.

Then return to the main page of the OBS software and click there.Start live streamingAt this point, if you refresh your live streaming room, you should be able to see the video footage.

The effect is shown in the figure below.

in the end

The above content provides a basic introduction to the OBS software, enabling everyone to learn how to use it for screen recording and live streaming. Of course, OBS offers many advanced features as well, such as green-screen keying and simultaneous streaming to multiple platforms. Due to limited space, this article only covers these basics; more advanced techniques will be covered in future articles.

download link

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