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Video Editing Tutorials

How to Use OBS Studio – 2023 Beginner Tutorial

Howfinity Feb 04

OBS Studio is a powerful and versatile video recording and live streaming tool that is completely free to use. It offers a wealth of features and capabilities that make it ideal for a wide range of video production needs.

Whether you are a gamer who wants to record your game play, or someone who wants to stream live events or webinars, OBS Studio has everything you need to get started. In this tutorial, we will take a comprehensive look at how to use OBS Studio, covering everything from the basics of installation and setup, to advanced features and customizations.

Step 1: Installing OBS Studio
The first step in using OBS Studio is to download the application from the official website. This can be done by visiting the following link: https://obsproject.com/. Simply select the version of OBS Studio that is appropriate for your operating system, whether that is Windows, Mac or Linux. Once you have downloaded the installation file, simply run it and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.

Step 2: Setting up the Sources
Once you have installed OBS Studio, the next step is to set up your sources. A source is simply a type of input that you want to capture in your recording or stream. This can be your desktop, a game window, a web cam, or even an audio input. To set up your sources, click on the “+” sign in the “Sources” section of the OBS Studio interface, and select the type of source you want to add. For example, if you want to record your desktop, you would select “Desktop Audio” and “Display Capture.”

Step 3: Configuring the Scenes
A scene is simply a collection of sources that you want to use in your recording or stream. For example, you might want to set up a scene for recording a game, and another scene for recording a webinar. To create a new scene, click on the “Scene Collection” button in the OBS Studio interface, and select “New Scene Collection.” From there, you can add and arrange your sources as needed.

Step 4: Setting up the Audio Sources
In order to capture audio in your recording or stream, you will need to set up audio sources in OBS Studio. This can be done by adding an audio source in the “Sources” section of the interface. To do this, click on the “+” sign, select “Audio Input Capture,” and select the audio source you want to use. For example, if you want to record your microphone, you would select “Microphone.” You can also set up audio sources for desktop audio, game audio, and more.

Step 5: Configuring the Output
The next step in using OBS Studio is to configure the output settings. This includes settings such as the bitrate, resolution, and frame rate that you want to use in your recording or stream. To access these settings, click on the “Settings” button in the OBS Studio interface, and select “Output.” From there, you can adjust the settings as needed to optimize the quality of your recording or stream.

Step 6: Setting up the Stream
If you want to stream live to platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook, you will need to set up the stream in OBS Studio. To do this, click on the “Settings” button, and select “Stream.” From there, you can enter your streaming key and select the platform you want to stream to.

Step 7: Using Advanced Features
OBS Studio offers a wealth of advanced features and capabilities that you can use to customize and optimize your recordings and streams. For example, you can use the “Scene Transitions” feature to smoothly transition between scenes, add text and image overlays to your recording or stream, and even use plugins and macros to automate certain tasks.

One particularly useful feature is the ability to use multiple audio tracks in your recording or stream. This allows you to mix and adjust the audio levels of different sources, such as music, sound effects, and voice-over narration. To add a new audio track, simply click on the “Sources” section, and select “Audio Output Capture.”

Another powerful feature of OBS Studio is the ability to use filters to adjust the appearance of your video. For example, you can use color correction filters to adjust the color balance and saturation of your video, or add a chroma key filter to remove a green screen background. To add a filter to your source, simply right-click on the source in the “Sources” section, and select “Filters.”

Finally, OBS Studio also provides a range of advanced output settings that you can use to optimize the quality of your recording or stream. For example, you can adjust the bitrate, resolution, and frame rate to achieve the best balance between quality and performance.

Conclusion: OBS Studio is a powerful and versatile video recording and live streaming tool that is perfect for gamers, content creators, and anyone who needs to capture and share video content. With its wide range of features, customizable interface, and flexible output options, OBS Studio is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to create high-quality video content with ease. Whether you are just getting started, or looking to take your video production to the next level, OBS Studio has everything you need to get the job done.

 

Resources: Some of these include affiliate links.

Envato Elements for overlays and videos
https://1.envato.market/c/2500859/298927/4662

Shure Microphone
https://amzn.to/3wUFxCA

Stream Deck
https://amzn.to/3DEFkHk