What Open Broadcaster Software does and how to start

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a free program that captures video and audio from your screen, camera, or both, then either records it to a file or sends it live to a streaming platform. You download it to your computer, arrange what you want to capture in a workspace called a scene, and then either hit Record or go Live. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The basic setup takes about 15 minutes if you already know what you want to capture. The program itself is straightforward — the time usually goes into configuring your audio sources (microphone, system sound, music) and deciding what resolution and frame rate match your internet speed and what you're recording.

Key Takeaways

  • Download OBS from obsproject.com, install it, and launch it to see a blank workspace where you add sources like your screen, camera, or browser window.
  • A scene is a saved arrangement of sources — you can have one scene for gaming, another for a webcam-only setup, and switch between them during a stream or recording.
  • Audio setup matters most: add your microphone as a source, check the volume levels in the mixer, and mute or lower system sounds you don't want recorded.
  • For streaming, you connect OBS to a platform like Twitch or YouTube by pasting a stream key into OBS settings, then click Start Streaming instead of Record.
  • Test your setup by recording a 30-second clip before going live, so you can check video quality, audio levels, and whether all your sources appear.

Download and install OBS on your computer

Go to obsproject.com and click the Download button. The site detects your operating system and offers the right version — Windows, Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon), or Linux. Download the installer file and run it.

On Windows, the installer walks you through a standard setup. On Mac, you drag the OBS icon into your Applications folder. On Linux, follow the distribution-specific instructions on the download page. After installation, launch OBS from your Applications menu or Start menu. The first time you open it, you see a blank workspace with a Sources panel on the left and a preview window in the center.

Add your first source — screen, camera, or window

A source is anything OBS captures: your monitor, a specific application window, your webcam, an image, or text. To add one, look at the Sources panel and click the plus icon. A menu appears with options like Display Capture (your whole screen), Window Capture (one application), Video Capture Device (your webcam), or Image.

Choose what you want to record. If you pick Display Capture, OBS asks which monitor to use if you have more than one. If you pick Window Capture, select the application from the dropdown — for example, a web browser or game. The source then appears in the preview window. Resize it by dragging the corners, or right-click it to position it precisely. You can add multiple sources to the same scene — for example, your screen plus a camera feed in the corner.

Set up audio: microphone and system sound

Audio setup is where most people stumble. Open the Audio Mixer panel at the bottom of OBS. You see sliders for different audio sources. By default, OBS may not have your microphone or system audio added yet.

To add your microphone, click the plus icon in the Audio Mixer, select Audio Input Capture, and choose your microphone from the dropdown. Test it by speaking and watching the green level meter move. The meter should peak around the middle of the scale, not maxed out. If it's too quiet, raise the slider. If it's too loud, lower it or adjust your microphone's volume in your operating system settings.

To record system audio (music, game sound, video playback), add another Audio Input Capture source and select your system audio device — on Windows this is often called "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear", on Mac it's "BlackHole" or a similar virtual audio device (you may need to install one separately). Adjust its level in the mixer so it doesn't drown out your voice.

Create a scene and arrange your layout

A scene is a saved arrangement of sources. You might have one scene for recording your desktop, another for a camera-only setup, and a third that combines both. Scenes let you switch layouts instantly during a stream without rebuilding everything.

In the Scenes panel (left side), click the plus icon to create a new scene. Give it a name like "Desktop" or "Camera + Screen". Add sources to it by clicking the plus icon in the Sources panel. Arrange them in the preview by dragging and resizing. You can have sources overlap — for example, a small camera feed in the corner of your screen capture. Right-click a source to access options like scaling, rotation, or filters. When you're happy with the layout, it's saved to that scene. Switch between scenes by clicking their names in the Scenes panel.

Configure recording or streaming settings

Before you record or stream, open Settings (bottom right). Go to Output. If you're recording to a file, the Recording section shows where files save (usually your Videos folder) and what format they use. The default is MP4, which works on most devices. You can change the recording path or format here if needed.

If you're streaming to a platform like Twitch or YouTube, go to the Stream section. Select your platform from the Service dropdown. OBS then asks for your stream key — a unique code that connects OBS to your account. To find your stream key, log into Twitch or YouTube, go to your streaming settings, and copy the key. Paste it into OBS. Do not share this key with anyone; it lets them stream to your account.

In the Video section, set your resolution and frame rate. Common choices are 1920x1080 at 60 fps (frames per second) for high quality, or 1280x720 at 30 fps if your internet is slower. Higher resolution and frame rate use more bandwidth and CPU power. Test what your computer and internet can handle.

Test your setup before recording or going live

Record a short test clip — 30 seconds is enough. Click the Record button (or Start Recording). Speak into your microphone, move your mouse, or play a video. After 30 seconds, click Stop Recording. The file saves to your Videos folder. Open it and check: Does the video appear? Is the audio clear? Are all your sources visible? Is the quality acceptable?

If audio is missing, mute or delete the sources you don't need in the Audio Mixer. If video is choppy, lower your resolution or frame rate in Settings. If your microphone is too quiet or loud, adjust the slider in the Audio Mixer. Make changes, record another test, and check again. Once you're satisfied, you're ready to record or stream for real.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my microphone not showing up in OBS?

OBS may not detect your microphone if it's not set as the default device in your operating system. On Windows, go to Settings > Sound and set your microphone as the default input device. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Sound > Input. Then restart OBS. If it still doesn't appear, try unplugging and replugging the microphone, or update your audio driver.

How do I stream to Twitch or YouTube?

Log into your Twitch or YouTube account, find your stream key in the settings, copy it, and paste it into OBS Settings > Stream. Select your platform from the Service dropdown. Then click Start Streaming instead of Record. OBS connects to your account and broadcasts what's in your scene live.

What should my video resolution and frame rate be?

1920x1080 at 60 fps is the standard for high-quality streams and recordings, but it requires a fast computer and internet. If your stream lags or your CPU usage is high, try 1280x720 at 30 fps instead. For recording only (not streaming), you can go higher without worrying about internet speed.

Can I use OBS to record just my game without my desktop background?

Yes. Instead of Display Capture (which captures your whole screen), use Window Capture and select your game window. OBS then records only that window. If your game runs in fullscreen, Window Capture may not work — in that case, use Display Capture and crop the preview to hide the parts you don't want.

Why is my recording file so large?

Video files are large by default. A one-hour recording at 1920x1080 can be 10 to 20 gigabytes. You can reduce file size by lowering resolution or frame rate, or by using a different codec in Settings > Output > Recording. H.265 creates smaller files than H.264 but takes longer to encode and may not play on older devices.