Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OBS Studio

Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming for Mac, Windows and Linux.

OBS Studio

OBS Studio Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether OBS Studio is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • OBS Studio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-12

Features & Specs

  1. Free and Open Source

    OBS Studio is completely free to download and use, and its source code is openly available, allowing users to modify and contribute to the software.

  2. Cross-Platform

    OBS Studio is available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.

  3. High Customizability

    The software allows for extensive customization through scenes, sources, and various settings, enabling users to tailor their streaming or recording setup precisely to their needs.

  4. Plugin Support

    OBS Studio supports a variety of plugins, allowing users to add extra functionality such as additional sources, filters, and integrations with other platforms.

  5. Active Community

    The OBS community is very active, offering a wealth of tutorials, forums, and support channels where users can find assistance and share knowledge.

Badges & Trophies

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Videos

Open Broadcaster Software Review

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about OBS Studio and what they use it for.
  • Ask HN: How do you teach a 7 year old visual editing on PC?
    I used https://www.shotcut.org/ to edit a few videos, it has many effects. For live streaming https://obsproject.com/ but I don't remember too much. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • A single line of code cost $8000
    FWIW, OBS is ~150 MB, not an electron app and actually open source. https://obsproject.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • A M.2 HDMI capture card
    Https://magicmusicvisuals.com/ combined with https://obsproject.com/. And possibly OBS all by itself. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • How to Set Up a Free RTMP Server with Open Source Red5
    ./red5.sh # for Linux or Mac Red5.bat # for Windows You should see console output indicating the server has started successfully, typically on `localhost:5080`. 2. To test if your RTMP server is live, open your web browser and go to `http://localhost:5080/`. You should see the Red5 landing page. ### Step 4: Configure RTMP Applications Red5 supports RTMP out of the box. You can now create and configure RTMP... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Phased Array Microphone
    You might look into OBS and/or VoiceMeeter to see how streamers selectively route audio while livestreaming/recording video/audio streams. https://obsproject.com/ https://voicemeeter.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • How to Set Up a Free RTMP Server with Open Source Red5
    Download and Install OBS: If you havenโ€™t already, download and install OBS from obsproject.com. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • DeskPad โ€“ A virtual monitor for screen sharing
    After trying various solutions - including DeskPad - I came up with a custom cross-platform (I assume) solution that worked incredibly well for my 40" ultrawide monitor: OBS[1]. Having never used OBS before but knowing it was popular among streamers, I wondered if I could use it to (1) only share the specific applications I wanted to share and (2) share them at a resolution that people could actually read, without... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Which "open-source alternatives" have succeeded?
    OBS Studio - I found this to be a very valuable and successful application for video and audio editing, with some amazing companies sponsoring them. - https://obsproject.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • How do people create those sleek looking demos for startups?
    For product videos I used OBS a lot: https://obsproject.com/ I haven't used Journey, but it seems promising for product Tours: https://www.william-troup.com/journey-js/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Has anyone achieved Douglas Engelbart's Vision?
    Any specific area? unix,telnet, uucp/news groups/email, linux, sequel/postgres, AI (chatgpt), video/hardware emulation with or/without VM layer. Software defined radio, open broadcaster software[0], etc. [0] obs : https://obsproject.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Recording internal audio + guitar at the same time
    You might want to look into OBS Studio for that. Its free. And a lot easier to setup for that than ableton, cos its for that. Https://obsproject.com/ Then you can import the recordings into Ableton if you want to edit/produce? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Apologies for the low quality video but I thought this escape was pretty cool lol
    Ther is a thing called obs you can get it here and it's easy to use https://obsproject.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Simple Question and FAQ Thread
    How to record gameplay on PC using OBS or Nvidia Shadow Play. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Is it possible to key Ik handles?
    You can download this free screen recorder. Really easy to use. I've used it a couple of times to create lessons for uni students. https://obsproject.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [streamlabs obs] my wife have a bug when on live
    Hi there. My first recommendation would be to give OBS Studio a try and see if you can replicate the issue there. Source: over 2 years ago
  • does anybody know what program this is?
    OBS - FOSS light weight super customizable screen recorder. Can also add in multiple sources of video & audio - https://obsproject.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What program do you guys use to screen record your project in FL
    We always recommend OBS, it's free and works on both Windows and MacOS (and Linux too for that matter). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Recording gameplay??
    If you wanted to capture to PC, even if you're playing a Quest native game, I would suggest OBS -- https://obsproject.com/ It can be a little complicated to set up at first but it'll let you both record and stream the way you want. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Simple Question and FAQ Thread
    How to record gameplay on PC using OBS or Nvidia Shadow Play. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Tutorials on setting up virtual actual play sessions with recording and streaming?
    I realize OBS is probably a key part of what I need to configure... But here is the set up I am trying to achieve. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Introduction
    I used OBS to capture my screen, shotcut to edit the video, and this command to create a gif (Shotcut also supports exporting to a gif, but it seems to take longer to process). - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of OBS Studio

Overview of Public Opinion on OBS Studio

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) continues to hold a prominent position in the world of video recording, live streaming, and screen capture, especially among professionals and enthusiasts ranging from gamers to educators. This open-source software is applauded for being both powerful and flexible, accommodating a wide range of customization options and integrations which have solidified its standing in the digital content creation sphere.

Strengths
  1. Open Source and Free: As open-source software, OBS Studio is completely free to use, which is a significant advantage against paid alternatives in the same category. This model also encourages community contributions, ensuring continuous updates and improvements.

  2. Versatility: OBS Studio's ability to support multiple video sources and transitions is one of its key selling points. It enables users to record and stream high-resolution videos and supports live streaming across major platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.

  3. Customization and Features: Users appreciate the softwareโ€™s extensive features, which include advanced scene creation, multiple source recording, and custom graphics capability. It is particularly noted for its utility in game recording due to minimal lag issues during HD video capture.

  4. Broad Compatibility: OBS is praised for its cross-platform capabilities, functioning efficiently on Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible to creators operating in diverse environments.

Challenges

While highly regarded, OBS Studio is not without its challenges. Notably:

  1. User-Friendliness: One of the more prominent criticisms is its steep learning curve. Many beginners find OBS Studio's interface daunting and complicated, resulting in a necessity for extensive tutorials and time invested in mastering its use. This has led some users to explore more straightforward alternatives like ShareX or ScreenRec, especially for simpler recording needs.

  2. System Performance: Although the software handles high-resolution recordings effectively, its relatively large size can affect system performance, especially on less powerful computers, thus requiring resourceful management of computing resources.

Competitive Landscape

In light of its features, OBS Studio is often compared to other screen recording tools like Camtasia, ShareX, and Bandicam. It stands out due to its free nature and comprehensive capabilities but faces competition from simpler platforms that may lack the depth but offer ease of use. Streamlabs OBS, a derivative of OBS Studio, provides a more user-friendly interface with integrated tools, further intensifying content creatorsโ€™ options.

Community and Support

The community backing OBS Studio is robust, contributing to its ongoing success. This backing is evident in forums and online discussions where users share insights, tips, and solutions to maximize the software's capabilities. The community also plays a critical role in spreading awareness about updates and troubleshooting.

Conclusion

Overall, OBS Studio's reputation in the public sphere is predominantly positive, drawing strength from its versatility, adoption by professionals, and the robust support community. While it poses challenges for some beginners, the benefits it provides once mastered are significant. As digital content creation continues to grow, OBS Studio is expected to remain a key player in facilitating high-quality video production and streaming.

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OBS Studio discussion

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  1. User avatar
    eekayonline
    ยท about 1 year ago
    ยท Reply

    Nice capture software for your videos and screenshots.

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