To stream with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) on Twitch, follow these step-by-step instructions:
1. Download and Install OBS
– Go to the official OBS website: https://obsproject.com/
– Download the version suitable for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
– Install OBS by following the installation instructions.
2. Create a Twitch Account
– If you don’t already have one, go to the Twitch website: https://www.twitch.tv/
– Sign up for a free account.
3. Get Your Twitch Stream Key
– Log into your Twitch account.
– Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and select Creator Dashboard.
– In the left sidebar, click Settings and then Stream.
– Under the “Stream Key & Preferences” section, you’ll find your Stream Key. Copy it (you’ll need it for OBS).
4. Set Up OBS for Twitch Streaming
– Open OBS.
– Click Settings in the bottom-right corner of OBS.
– In the Settings window, go to the Stream tab on the left.
– In the Service dropdown, select Twitch.
– Paste your Stream Key into the Stream Key field.
– Click OK to save the settings.
5. Configure Your Scene and Sources
– OBS uses “Scenes” to organize different sources (like your webcam, game capture, or images).
– Under the Scenes box in OBS, click the + button to create a new scene.
– Then, under the Sources box, click the + button to add different sources, such as:
– Display Capture (captures your entire screen)
– Window Capture (captures a specific window, such as a game)
– Video Capture Device (for your webcam)
– Audio Input Capture (for your microphone)
– Audio Output Capture (for your system sound)
6. Adjust Your Stream Settings
– In the Settings menu, go to the Output tab:
– Set your Output Mode to Simple for easier configuration.
– Under Streaming, choose a bitrate (typically 3000-6000 kbps for 720p or 1080p streaming).
– Set your Encoder to x264 (if using CPU encoding) or use NVENC/AMD (if using GPU encoding).
– In the Video tab:
– Set the Base (Canvas) Resolution to your screen resolution (usually 1920×1080).
– Set the Output (Scaled) Resolution to your desired stream resolution (e.g., 1280×720 for 720p or 1920×1080 for 1080p).
– Set Common FPS Values to 30 or 60, depending on your system’s capabilities.
7. Start Streaming
– Once everything is set up, click Start Streaming in OBS.
– Go to your Twitch channel to verify that your stream is live.
– You should see the live feed of your stream, along with options to interact with your viewers in the chat.
8. Optimize for Better Streaming
– Ensure your internet upload speed is sufficient for your stream resolution and bitrate. A 720p stream usually requires at least 3-4 Mbps upload speed, and 1080p requires 5-8 Mbps.
– Test your stream by doing a private broadcast or reviewing the performance in OBS, checking for dropped frames or lag.
– Use Streamlabs or other tools to add overlays, alerts, and notifications to enhance the stream’s interactivity.
By following these steps, you’ll be set up to stream on Twitch with OBS.
