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OBS Studio

OBS Studio

Overview

What is OBS Studio?

OBS Studio is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, featuring real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Users can create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

OBS, or Open Broadcaster Software, has become a go-to streaming software for many users who have found other options too expensive or …
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Pricing

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What is OBS Studio?

OBS Studio is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, featuring real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Users can create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Details

What is OBS Studio?

OBS Studio is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, featuring real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Users can create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards.

OBS Studio Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsWindows, Linux, Mac
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

OBS Studio is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, featuring real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Users can create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards.

OBS Studio starts at $0.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 9.

The most common users of OBS Studio are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(36)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

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.

Users commonly recommend starting with OBS for broadcasting and recording live streams. They mention that there are many YouTube videos and articles available to help with setup, making it a good choice for new organizations. OBS is also praised as a great screen recorder and live streaming software with good video and sound quality. Users find OBS easy to use and it offers a good experience. They suggest changing the default output stream settings and using YouTube for additional help.

Another common recommendation is that OBS is the best software in the market right now for churches or ministries on a small budget. It is also considered a great tool for teaching online and combining different sources. Users suggest learning about the hardware specifications and codecs available for optimal usage. They highly recommend downloading and trying OBS for yourself as it is free and productive screen recording software.

Lastly, users recommend researching how to best use OBS and mention the availability of great information and tutorial videos online. They advise watching tutorials on YouTube, looking through the OBS forums, FAQ, and other users' examples for a better understanding of OBS's capabilities. Users also emphasize giving yourself time to set up the software and play around with it if you are new to streaming or sharing. OBS is widely known and adopted, particularly for live game streaming, but users acknowledge its many other uses and capabilities.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-10 of 10)
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Bobby Matheson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • 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.
  • 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.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • organize/hide content in the editor window
  • converting mkv to mp3
  • intuitively easy to use even with no instructions
  • 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)
August 03, 2021

OBS Studio Review

MD Rafsanjani Rahi | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
  • 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
  • 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.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • 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.
  • 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.
August 31, 2020

Love my OBS

Charles Beck | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Allows for custom backgrounds.
  • Scrolling and moving information.
  • Quick and efficient duplication of slides.
  • 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.
Steven Shulmister | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Very easy to add different sources for both video and audio and arrange them.
  • Easily convert (remix) recorded files into a different format.
  • Sometimes when you close the program, it doesn't fully close, which causes issues if you try to open it again. Then you need to force quit to resolve the issue.
  • Frequent updates, but they are pretty quick.
Seth Paine | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • It is easy to start with a product that is free, there isn't the financial overhead to get started with it.
  • There are a lot of plugins that you can use to add lots of custom functionality. You can make your broadcasts whatever you want with it.
  • The quality of the videos that come out of OBS studio is very high, I am very happy with the results I get with it.
  • The UI can be improved, the layout can be made a little more intuitive
  • There is a high learning curve, the process of learning the program can be made easier
  • The process of installing and incorporating plugins can be improved.
Travis Gray | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Simple and ease of use - get streaming pretty quickly
  • Multiple options for sources - if the switcher goes down or you need to switch over to a different external input, you can default to another file or image, or just keep all your inputs 100% in OBS
  • Options for bitrate and output size easy to find and change - great if your internet signal isn't great, you can adjust accordingly
  • Being able to record simultaneously - eliminates the need for an external recorder
  • More control over queuing extra sources, if using a video file, perhaps timecode and countdown cues
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