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OBS Studio Reviews and Ratings

Rating: 8.9 out of 10
Score
8.9 out of 10

Community insights

TrustRadius Insights for OBS Studio are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, third party data sources.

Business Problems Solved

OBS, or Open Broadcaster Software, has become a go-to streaming software for many users who have found other options too expensive or lacking necessary features. With the ability to handle multiple inputs and files, OBS eliminates the need for a separate switcher and provides greater flexibility in audio management by easily routing separate audio inputs. Users appreciate the ease of use when adjusting stream size, bitrate, and other settings, resulting in great output quality. From big events with stakeholder pressure to simple webinar presentations, OBS has proven itself capable of meeting the needs of users who require single destination streaming. Although it may not be as robust as paid options, OBS offers a cost-effective solution for those looking to stream their content smoothly.

Another key use case for OBS is recording screencasts and lectures. Its cross-platform compatibility and robust screen capture capabilities make it an ideal choice for educators and trainers. Users value OBS for its customization options, allowing them to create professional and clean backgrounds that enhance their presentation solutions. In comparison to Google Hangouts, OBS provides more flexibility in element layout, graphics usage, and integration with Skype. This makes it a preferred choice for streaming audio/video performances on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, bridging the gap between musicians and listeners. Especially in the current pandemic situation, OBS enables performers to reach a broader audience and maintain effective communication effortlessly.

For multimedia teams working on video projects, OBS Studio is highly appreciated for its versatility. Whether it's video recording, editing, voice recording, or live streaming projects, OBS Studio delivers an easy-to-use experience without pesky watermarks or viruses. It has also found practical application in market research for video games - being utilized for streaming and recording video footage of meetings, focus groups, and gameplay. Moreover, OBS Studio serves as a valuable tool for screen recording educational tutorial material and conducting live training sessions by enhancing information delivery.

The cost-effectiveness of OBS Studio makes it widely popular among users looking to create and manage live streaming events on various platforms. It provides an affordable broadcasting solution that delivers high-quality content without breaking the bank. Additionally, OBS Studio has become integral in the transition to remote teaching, with faculty members relying on it to create asynchronous learning content. Its user-friendly interface allows educators to adapt quickly and effectively to the demands of online teaching.

In summary, OBS Studio has proven itself as a versatile and cost-effective streaming software that fulfills the needs of various users. Whether it's for streaming events, recording lectures, creating professional presentations, or bridging the gap between musicians and listeners, OBS Studio has become a trusted tool. Its ability to handle multiple inputs, customize backgrounds, and deliver high-quality output has made it a favorite among content creators and streamers. The current pandemic situation has further highlighted the importance of OBS, allowing performers to reach a broader audience and maintain effective communication.

For market research in the gaming industry, OBS Studio plays a crucial role in streaming and recording video footage of meetings, focus groups, and gameplay. Its versatility and ease of use make it an ideal choice for researchers looking to gather valuable insights. Similarly, OBS Studio is widely utilized for screen recording educational tutorial material and conducting live training sessions. The robust screen capture capabilities ensure that information delivery is seamless and engaging.

OBS Studio's affordability and wide range of features have also positioned it as a go-to solution for creating and managing live streaming events on various platforms. Content creators can easily customize their streams while maintaining cost-effective broadcasting solutions. Additionally, faculty members rely on OBS Studio for creating asynchronous learning content in the transition to remote teaching. The user-friendly interface allows educators to quickly adapt to online teaching demands without compromising on quality.

In conclusion, OBS Studio has become an indispensable tool for various users due to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly interface. Whether it's streaming events, recording lectures, conducting market research, or facilitating remote teaching, OBS Studio provides the necessary features and flexibility to meet the needs of its users effectively.

Reviews

13 Reviews

Best yet free - OBS Studio

Rating: 8 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We have a video conferencing and live streaming product. The live streaming product is built on HLS but it can take can RTMP-in feed as well as output RTMP if needed to external providers. We, as well as a lot of our customers, use OBS Studio for sending the RTMP feed to our live streaming product. This is primarily because OBS Studio is a lot more extensible and has support for multiple devices, mics, cameras as well as combining of different feeds.

Pros

  • RTMP Streaming with customizable bitrate
  • Scene Composition and Switching + source control which allows for creators and our customers to move between different types of content they might have (different video feeds, slides etc)
  • Audio mixer and audio control - noise gating, a/v syncing, audio source control

Cons

  • Guide on using the software since it has a steep learning curve
  • Mobile App or Remote Control - Some customers have asked if they could control parts of their stream using their mobile phones, especially source switching
  • OBS doesn’t offer native cloud syncing for configurations, scenes, or settings.

Likelihood to Recommend

It is well suited for organization of any size as long as they are willing to spend some time with it. Some individuals might have difficulty configuring it if they aren't very much tech aware, but there are ample youtube guides to get people started with doing the basic streaming. Working with the scene, source and audio composition won't be as straightforward though. Some online solutions like Streamyard might do the job for individuals or teams which are not willing to get their hands dirty and are willing to pay for it. One of the best parts is lots of plugins exist out there already, and this is completely free and open source.

Absolutely love OBS Studio!

Rating: 9 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I have a few different uses for OBS, but mainly use it for video transfers; we do analog to digital transfers as one of our business services, and OBS does a great job of this. It allows manual adjustments (brightness, contrast, etc) with a preview window so we can fine tune the image quality before we do the actual transfer for our customers.

Pros

  • VHS to DVD transfer
  • Adjustments to picture quality
  • Doesn't take up too much computer speed, so I can multitask without losing quality during transfer

Cons

  • OBS can be a little clunky sometimes, the lots of features can be a bit overwhelming
  • I can multitask with it, but can't run heavy software like Premiere alongside it
  • No way to make adjustments to file after it's done, have to use After Effects or Premiere for that

Likelihood to Recommend

I generally use it for VHS to DVD transfers, but have also used it for desktop capture as well. It's great for making instructional videos for clients where I need to walk them through how to do something on the computer. I've also used it for Zoom broadcasts as well, where it's easy to switch inputs or put graphics on screen.

Super tool to create "Playbook" Videos - Entrepreneurs, clone yourself!

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use OBS Studio regularly to capture, in video form, all the steps I perform to complete specific tasks and sequences of tasks. I can jump between different online platforms and tools and capture every nuance I face in order to complete complex tasks. Having these videos drastically reduced the time taken to train someone delegated to perform these complex tasks.

Pros

  • Full control of video and audio capture
  • Can accommodate multiple video inputs with easy switching between inputs
  • Minimum learning curve to get up and running

Cons

  • When one of the video inputs are set to an USB camera, other platforms such as Google Meet cannot use that camera, even if it is not live on OBS Studio.
  • Setting up multiple video inputs is not always that intuitive.
  • I can't really think of any other shortcomings

Likelihood to Recommend

Creating, what we call "Playbook", videos is a breeze using OBS Studio. It's easy to set up and you can forget about it while you perform your task. Once done, the video recording is quickly ready to view and share with the person delegated to perform that task. Having a step-by-step video guide minimizes repeated questions on how to perform a specific task.

OBS - a streaming musician’s best friend.

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use OBS for streaming audio/video performances online to websites such as Twitch and YouTube. It has helped to bridge the gap between musicians and listeners in a way I have been unable to previously. In the current pandemic atmosphere, OBS has allowed me to perform live for my audience and reach a broader swath of people easily and keep communication open with the viewers easily.

Pros

  • Easy to use overlays and on-screen elements.
  • Easily customizable.
  • Attractive layout with simple and intuitive navigation.
  • Easily switch between several pre-made “scenes”.
  • Old-school broadcast media options and functions for a trendy and modern medium.

Cons

  • I would really love the option to select and “preview” the next scene in queue before switching to it - much like an old-school Television switcher.
  • An option to have customizable colour schemes for the interface would be helpful.
  • The ability to use multiple scene transitions - hard cuts, fades, wipes, etc, and being able to use them freely between takes.

Likelihood to Recommend

If you plan on streaming video/audio to a website like Twitch or YouTube, OBS is hands-down the best & most accessible option. Whether you are streaming music, video games, or performance art, OBS EXCELS in its field. It seems less suited for use in video conferencing situations (zoom, Skype, etc), and I feel that this is definitely a missed opportunity. Adding some functionality to send the output to zoom or other video chat interfaces could be a useful addition.

Free, Unlimited Recording

Rating: 9 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

OBS Studio is used for screen recording of educational tutorial material and for recording live training sessions. This allows us to get our information out to users in video format instead of relying on help desk tickets and human resources. It's easy to use and the quality of output is great.

Pros

  • Ease of Use
  • Video Quality
  • Live Uploads

Cons

  • Computer Mic Connection Ease of Use

Likelihood to Recommend

OBS Studio is a great option if you want a screen recording platform with unlimited video length (some free programs cut you off after 5 minutes). It is easy to record with OBS and then overlay your own audio in a separate video editor so you don't have to talk and record your screen at the same time, but you can record your internal mic if you need to.

Vetted Review
OBS Studio
2 years of experience

OBS for synchronous learning content

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

OBS Studio is very popular among faculty members. With the university moving onto remote teaching, there was a need for a reliable software to create a proper asynchronous learning content. OBS was the best choice.

Pros

  • organize/hide content in the editor window
  • converting mkv to mp3
  • intuitively easy to use even with no instructions

Cons

  • editing-montaging videos
  • easier way to adjust webcam image (templates)
  • i wish mic choice would show up in the window. sometimes the wrong mic is selected and notice too late (after recording)

Likelihood to Recommend

For asynchronous teaching - absolutely. For synchronous teaching I would not recommend it - too many apps to handle (e.g. Teams or Zoom + slides + OBS).

Vetted Review
OBS Studio
1 year of experience

OBS Studio Review

Rating: 9 out of 10

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I have a travel company so I have done a lot of projects with OBS Studio, like video recording, video editing, voice recording, and live streaming. Our multimedia team always prefers OBS Studio because it's very easy to use. It's totally virus-free and written in C,C++, etc. There is no watermark so we can use it to make any documentation for our company. For quick promotion and advertisement, it is very helpful for a company.

Pros

  • Free software for live telecast
  • Open source project for video recording
  • Powerful video recording
  • Written in C and C++
  • Totally virus free and free download
  • Collaborates with Facebook live and YouTube live streaming.
  • Computer screen recording
  • A hub for collectting source and broadcast

Cons

  • Multiple sources not working at a time.
  • Sometime the program makes us confused that its running or not. [Sometimes we can't tell], is it running or has it stopped recording or stopped streaming! And sometimes we need to force to quit OBS Studio .
  • Commands not working sometimes.
  • Frequently updated.

Likelihood to Recommend

For video promotion OBS Studio, [it] is a good option. YouTube or Facebook live streaming is so popular right now. Thorough OBS Studio we can promote our business there. The main benefits of OBS Studio is the [robust] feature set. Through OBS Studio we broadcast any video, we just have to do one thing manually (that is source set-up). After that, it works like a hub and streams the videos we want to show.

OBS Studio: Cross Platform Flexibility

Rating: 8 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use OBS to record screencasts and lectures for classes I teach. I originally chose it because it is a cross-platform program. I was using Linux at the time, and it was the most robust screen capture with Picture in Picture that I could find. I have since switched to Windows, and since OBS is cross-platform, I was able to keep using it.

Pros

  • Picture-in-Picture
  • Scene Changes
  • Lots if resolution settings

Cons

  • Help finding the right resolution setting.
  • Help understanding virtual backgrounds.
  • Easy way to name files as they are being recorded.

Likelihood to Recommend

I would recommend this to any colleague who is looking for a robust, standalone screen capture program that saves to a wide range of file formats and gives the user lots of ability to fine-tune things to be just the way they want. I would be less likely to recommend it to less tech-savvy colleagues because the program has a fairly steep learning curve, especially compared with Panopto, which is officially supported by our institution.

OBS lets audiences OBServe you at your best

Rating: 10 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use OBS studio to create and manage live streaming events on a variety of platforms. Everybody in my organization uses it because it solves the problem of broadcasting from your desktop and from your webcam throughout the internet and includes many features for free that would cost a lot of money from commercial applications.

Pros

  • OBS Studio makes it easy to connect with streaming service providers
  • OBS Studio makes it easy to switch from source to source during your broadcast
  • OBS Studio makes it easy to design and edit what your viewers will see.

Cons

  • As a FREE product, there is really very little to improve upon.
  • It would be great if multiple devices could be networked.
  • Maybe the user interface could be a bit prettier, but it is very functional.

Likelihood to Recommend

OBS studio is extremely well suited to anybody who wants to get started broadcasting from their desktop or their webcam via live streaming because the cost is extremely affordable, namely FREE. It has a very supportive community, and one of the sponsors is Facebook, so you know that it integrates well with that platform. If you really want to do a lot of switching, and add a lot of bells and whistles in terms of onscreen graphics, then you will have to look at commercial products.

Vetted Review
OBS Studio
2 years of experience

Love my OBS

Rating: 9 out of 10
Incentivized

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

With all the various ways to present a video solution such as Loom or Vineyard, I found that using OBS has allowed me to customize my background and present solutions in a much more professional and cleaner way.

Pros

  • Allows for custom backgrounds.
  • Scrolling and moving information.
  • Quick and efficient duplication of slides.

Cons

  • Sometimes the way the individual screens are highlighted, to move them is sticky.
  • Better compatibility with MAC OS.
  • Make it less taxing on CPU/memory.

Likelihood to Recommend

<p>I think you're best suited if you want to do a detailed customized presentation, with the end-user logo and information in mind, almost as if you are sitting at a news desk. It doesn't take the place of a PowerPoint so there are certain circumstances where a PowerPoint presentation without much need for video is better.</p><p>This is especially handy these days when more remote workers are wanting to present in a professional style as if they were "in person"</p>