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OBS Studio
OBS Studio
OBS Studio
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OBS Studio
Original authorLain Bailey
Initial releasev0.32a / 1 September 2012; 13 years ago (2012-09-01)[1]
Stable release
32.0.2[2] Edit this on Wikidata / 29 October 2025
Repositorygithub.com/obsproject/obs-studio
Written inC, C++[3]
Operating systemWindows 10 or later, macOS Monterey (12) or later, Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 or later), BSD[4][5]
Platformx86-64 and Apple silicon
Available in59 languages[6]
List of languages
  • Afrikaans
  • Albanian
  • Arabic (Saudi Arabia)
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bashkir
  • Basque
  • Bengali
  • Bulgarian
  • Catalan
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Croatian
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dutch (Netherlands)
  • English (UK)
  • English (US)
  • Estonian
  • Farsi
  • Filipino
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Gaelic (Scotland)
  • Galician
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Greek
  • Hebrew
  • Hindi
  • Hungarian
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Kurdish
  • Lithuanian
  • Malay
  • Mongolian
  • Norwegian (Bokmål)
  • Norwegian (Nynorsk)
  • Polish
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • Portuguese
  • Punjabi
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Serbian (Cyrillic)
  • Serbian (Latin)
  • Slovak
  • Slovene
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • Tagalog
  • Tamil
  • Thai
  • Turkish
  • Ukrainian
  • Urdu
  • Vietnamese
TypeSoftware vision mixer, streaming media
LicenseGPL-2.0-or-later[7]
Websiteobsproject.com

OBS Studio (also Open Broadcaster Software or OBS, for short)[8] is a free and open-source, cross-platform screencasting and live streaming software application. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux distributions, and BSD. The OBS Project raises funds on Open Collective and Patreon.[9][10]

Overview

[edit]

OBS Studio is a free and open-source application for screencasting and live streaming. Written in C/C++ and built with Qt, OBS Studio provides real-time capture, scene composition, recording, encoding, and broadcasting via Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), HLS, SRT, RIST or WebRTC. It can stream videos to any RTMP-supporting destination, including YouTube, Twitch, Instagram and Facebook.[11]

For video encoding, OBS Studio can use the x264, AOM-AV1, SVT-AV1 transcoder,[12] Intel Quick Sync Video, Nvidia NVENC, AMD Video Coding Engine and VAAPI to encode video streams into the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC or H.265/HEVC formats.[13] It can encode multiple tracks of audio in AAC and Opus format. More experienced users can choose any codecs and containers available in libavcodec and libavformat, or output the stream to a custom FFmpeg URL.[14]

OBS Studio also supports plug-ins to extend its functionality.[15]

User interface

[edit]
OBS 26.1.0

The main user interface is organized into five sections: scenes, sources, audio mixer, transitions, and controls. Scenes are groups of sources like live and recorded video, text and audio. The mixer panel lets the user mute the audio, and adjust the volume through virtual faders, and apply effects by pressing the cogwheel next to the mute button. The control panel has options for starting/stopping a stream or recording, a button to transform OBS to a more professional Studio Mode (see below), a button for opening the settings menu and a button to exit the program. The upper section has a live video preview, used to monitor and edit the current scene. The user interface can be switched to a variety of themes, including both dark and light themes, depending on what the user prefers. The layout of the interface can further be customized by undocking or adjusting the size and location of each panel.

When in Studio Mode, there are two canvas preview windows, the left one for modifying and preview of non-active scenes, while the right window is for preview of the live scene ("Preview" and "Program" respectively). In the middle there is a secondary transition button, allowing for transitioning to the non-active scene in the left window using user-defined "quick transitions".

History

[edit]

OBS Studio started out as a small project created by Lain Bailey, but quickly grew with the help of many online collaborators working both to improve OBS and to share knowledge about the program. The first version was released in August 2012.[16][better source needed] In 2013, development started on a rewritten version known as OBS Multiplatform (later renamed OBS Studio) for multi-platform support, a more thorough feature set, and a more powerful API.[17] In 2016, OBS "Classic" lost support and OBS Studio became the primary version.[8] In March 2022, OBS was released on Steam for both Windows and Mac.[18]

On 16 December 2021, an OBS Studio developer drew attention to an invitation-only release of TikTok Live Studio, which appeared to be based on OBS Studio, without acknowledgement and in violation of OBS Studio's license.[19][20]

See also

[edit]

Free and open-source software portal

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

OBS Studio

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
OBS Studio, formally known as Open Broadcaster Software, is a free and open-source application designed for and video recording. It enables users to capture, composite, encode, and broadcast video content in real time, supporting platforms such as Windows, macOS, and . Widely adopted by content creators, gamers, and broadcasters, it integrates seamlessly with services like Twitch, , and other streaming providers. Developed initially by Hugh Bailey in 2012 as a personal project to stream games like StarCraft, OBS Studio has evolved into a community-driven initiative under the OBS Project. The software is maintained by over 650 contributors on and is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later, ensuring its accessibility and modifiability. As of October 2025, the latest stable release is version 32.0.2, featuring enhancements such as a basic plugin manager and improvements to filters. Key features include high-performance real-time video and audio capturing with mixing capabilities, unlimited scenes supporting custom transitions, and an intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters and VST plugin support. The interface offers a modular UI, Studio Mode for previewing and producing simultaneously, Multiview for monitoring multiple sources, and extensive hotkey customization. OBS Studio also provides a robust for plugins and scripting in languages like and Python, allowing extensive customization and extension by users and developers. Backed by sponsors including , Twitch, and , it remains a cornerstone tool for professional and amateur video production.

Introduction

Overview

OBS Studio is a application designed for video recording, screencasting, and . It serves as a versatile tool for content creators, enabling the capture and broadcast of multimedia content across various platforms. The core purpose of OBS Studio is to combine multiple video and audio sources into customizable scenes, which can then be output to popular streaming services like Twitch and or saved as local files. Users follow a basic workflow by adding sources—such as screen captures, webcams, or media files—to scenes and adjusting audio and video mixers to produce a cohesive output. The software supports key streaming protocols, including RTMP, HLS, SRT, RIST, and , facilitating reliable transmission to diverse destinations. Cross-platform availability has been a hallmark of OBS Studio since its initial release on May 21, 2014. It supports Windows, macOS, and . The latest stable version, 32.0.2, was released on October 28, 2025, incorporating ongoing enhancements for performance and compatibility.

Licensing and Platforms

OBS Studio is released under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPL-2.0), which permits free use, modification, and distribution of the software for any purpose, including commercial applications, provided that derivative works adhere to the same licensing terms. This fosters a collaborative environment where developers can integrate OBS Studio's codebase into their projects while ensuring the source code remains publicly available. The development of OBS Studio follows a community-driven model hosted on the GitHub repository obsproject/obs-studio, where volunteers contribute code, report issues, and propose enhancements through pull requests. Funding sustains this effort through platforms like , which supports key developers such as project lead Lain Bailey with monthly pledges totaling over $2,600 from more than 9,500 patrons, and Open Collective, which manages transparent donations and corporate sponsorships. Corporate contributions, including Diamond-tier sponsors like , , and (each committing at least $50,000 annually) and Gold-tier partners like ($20,000 annually), help form an annual budget exceeding $500,000 as of 2025, enabling full-time developer support and project sustainability. OBS Studio supports multiple platforms to ensure broad accessibility, including and 11, macOS 11 and later (with compatibility for both and processors), and various Linux distributions such as 20.04 and newer. On Linux, installation options include official packages for sandboxed deployment across distributions, for portable execution without system integration, and compilation from source for customized builds. Experimental support exists for BSD variants like and , where users can build the software from source, though official pre-built binaries are not provided. Installation is available via direct downloads from the official website at https://obsproject.com/download, with additional integration on for Windows and macOS users since March 2022 at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1905180/OBS_Studio/, allowing seamless updates through the platform, and on the Microsoft Store at https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/xpffh613w8v6lv for Windows users. The software's cross-platform portability is achieved through a leveraging the Qt framework for the , ensuring consistent functionality and appearance across supported operating systems while minimizing platform-specific dependencies. This design choice enhances developer efficiency and user experience by abstracting underlying OS differences, such as graphics APIs ( on Windows, on macOS and ).

User Interface

Scenes and Sources

In OBS Studio, scenes serve as the primary organizational units for content creation, functioning as collections of sources that define distinct visual and audio layouts for streaming or recording sessions. Each scene represents a specific setup, such as an introduction segment, gameplay view, or outro, allowing users to switch between them seamlessly during live broadcasts or recordings to create dynamic productions. This structure enables efficient management of complex workflows by isolating elements into reusable configurations without altering the overall project setup. Sources form the foundational building blocks within scenes, capturing or generating the individual video, audio, or elements that comprise the output. OBS Studio supports a variety of source types to accommodate diverse input needs, including display capture for recording the entire screen (on Windows, , and macOS 12.6 and prior; on macOS 13 and later, use macOS Screen Capture source), where on Windows the source properties feature a "Capture Method" dropdown with options Auto (default, selects the best available), Windows Graphics Capture (recommended for Windows 10 version 1903 and later; more efficient, lower CPU usage, supports HDR and better performance), and BitBlt (legacy method using GDI; more compatible with older systems or certain applications but higher CPU usage and potential issues with overlays), while on macOS and Linux Display Capture does not offer a method dropdown and uses platform-specific APIs (AVFoundation on macOS, XComposite/PipeWire on Linux) with options for display selection, cursor capture, etc.; window capture for specific application windows (on Windows, , and macOS 12.6 and prior; on macOS 13 and later, use macOS Screen Capture source), macOS Screen Capture source for displays, windows, or applications (macOS 13+), game capture (available on Windows) for direct game footage, devices such as webcams, media sources for playing video files or playlists, sources for static graphics, text sources for dynamic overlays, browser sources for embedding , color sources for solid backgrounds, and audio inputs or outputs for sound capture. Browser sources are highly versatile, supporting custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create interactive overlays, widgets, or dynamic elements within scenes. Users can implement features like draggable and resizable elements by incorporating JavaScript libraries such as interact.js, a lightweight and dependency-free library included via CDN. This allows for user-manipulable elements in custom overlays or interactive sources. Positions and sizes can be persisted across sessions using the browser's localStorage API to save and load values on load, move, and resize events. A basic HTML/JavaScript example for a draggable and resizable element is:

html

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/interactjs/dist/interact.min.js"></script> <style> .box { width: 200px; height: 100px; background: lightblue; position: absolute; touch-action: none; } </style> </head> <body> <div class="box">Drag & Resize Me</div> <script> interact('.box') .draggable({ listeners: { move(event) { const target = event.target; const x = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-x')) || 0) + event.dx; const y = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-y')) || 0) + event.dy; target.style.transform = `translate(${x}px, ${y}px)`; target.setAttribute('data-x', x); target.setAttribute('data-y', y); } } }) .resizable({ edges: { left: true, right: true, bottom: true, top: true }, listeners: { move(event) { const target = event.target; let { x = 0, y = 0 } = target.dataset; x = parseFloat(x) + event.deltaRect.left; y = parseFloat(y) + event.deltaRect.top; Object.assign(target.style, { width: `${event.rect.width}px`, height: `${event.rect.height}px`, transform: `translate(${x}px, ${y}px)` }); target.dataset.x = x; target.dataset.y = y; } } }); </script> </body> </html>

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/interactjs/dist/interact.min.js"></script> <style> .box { width: 200px; height: 100px; background: lightblue; position: absolute; touch-action: none; } </style> </head> <body> <div class="box">Drag & Resize Me</div> <script> interact('.box') .draggable({ listeners: { move(event) { const target = event.target; const x = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-x')) || 0) + event.dx; const y = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-y')) || 0) + event.dy; target.style.transform = `translate(${x}px, ${y}px)`; target.setAttribute('data-x', x); target.setAttribute('data-y', y); } } }) .resizable({ edges: { left: true, right: true, bottom: true, top: true }, listeners: { move(event) { const target = event.target; let { x = 0, y = 0 } = target.dataset; x = parseFloat(x) + event.deltaRect.left; y = parseFloat(y) + event.deltaRect.top; Object.assign(target.style, { width: `${event.rect.width}px`, height: `${event.rect.height}px`, transform: `translate(${x}px, ${y}px)` }); target.dataset.x = x; target.dataset.y = y; } } }); </script> </body> </html>

This file can be added to OBS Studio as a Browser Source via a local file path or hosted URL. On macOS, audio input can be captured using the global "Mic/Auxiliary Audio Device" configured in Settings > Audio, which provides a persistent default track in the audio mixer for basic microphone capture across all scenes, or via the "Audio Input Capture" source type, which is added as a scene-specific source allowing direct selection of a particular audio input device (such as an external microphone or audio interface) and creating a separate mixer track. The Audio Input Capture source provides greater flexibility for managing multiple devices or targeted capture and is commonly recommended in macOS guides to avoid potential global configuration issues or audio duplication, which can occur if both the global Mic/Aux setting and an Audio Input Capture source capture the same device. The standard Media Source is limited when handling video clips with multiple audio tracks, typically playing only the default track without an option to select alternatives. In contrast, the VLC Video Source offers better support for such files, allowing users to select a specific audio track via its properties. To use it, add a VLC Video Source, add the file to the playlist, and in the properties' Audio tab, choose the desired track from the Audio Track dropdown. It is recommended to verify the file's audio tracks in an external player like VLC beforehand. These sources can be added, arranged, and layered within a scene using the Sources panel, where their visibility, order, and positioning are controlled to compose the final composition. Source properties provide extensive customization options to refine appearance and integration, including filters that enable precise adjustments. Common filters include cropping to trim edges of a source, scaling or adjustments to resize and reshape content while maintaining proportions, for removing a specified color (such as screen backgrounds) to enable virtual sets, and for modifying gamma, contrast, brightness, saturation, hue, and opacity. These filters are applied directly to individual sources via the Filters dialog, allowing non-destructive edits that enhance visual quality without altering the original input. Additionally, sources can be nested within groups to organize complex arrangements, treating the group as a single unit that can be moved, scaled, or toggled collectively for streamlined editing in large scenes. Scene collections extend this flexibility by allowing users to save and manage multiple sets of scenes tailored to different projects or contexts, such as separating streaming overlays from recording templates. Each collection encompasses all associated scenes, sources, and global audio settings, facilitating quick switches via the Scene Collection menu. Import and export functions support interoperability with other software like OBS Classic, XSplit Broadcaster, and Streamlabs Desktop, including automatic adjustments for cross-platform compatibility. While OBS Studio imposes no strict hardcoded limit on the number of sources per scene, practical constraints arise from system performance, with complex setups involving numerous high-resolution sources or heavy filters potentially leading to increased CPU or GPU usage, frame drops, or instability on lower-end hardware. Users are advised to optimize by minimizing active sources and leveraging groups for efficiency in demanding productions.

Controls and Customization

OBS Studio provides a range of intuitive controls for managing audio, video transitions, and the overall , enabling users to adjust scenes and sources in real-time during streams or recordings. The audio mixer serves as a central hub for audio management, featuring real-time volume sliders (faders) that allow precise adjustments to individual sources, displayed in decibels or percentages, with the ability to exceed 100% gain through advanced settings. Visual meters accompany the sliders, using color-coded indicators—green for normal levels, yellow for peaks, and red for potential clipping—to monitor input levels, VU-meter averages, peak programme meter (PPM) for loudness, and peak holds over 20 seconds. Users can apply per-source filters directly from the mixer, including noise suppression to reduce background hum, gain to boost low-level signals, and to even out by setting thresholds, attack, release, and ratio parameters. Advanced audio properties, accessible via the Edit menu, support routing options like mono mixdown for stereo sources and monitoring modes to preview audio output without affecting the final . Scene transitions facilitate smooth switches between scenes, with built-in effects such as Fade, Cut, Swipe, Slide, Fade to Color, and Luma Wipe available from the transitions dropdown . These can be customized by adjusting duration—typically ranging from 100 to 2000 milliseconds—and specific settings, like direction for Swipe or color for Fade to Color, to match production needs. Quick transitions allow predefined overrides, such as a faster 500ms Fade, triggered via hotkeys or buttons during live sessions for efficient scene changes. Studio Mode enhances live editing by displaying dual preview windows: the "Safe" area on the left for preparing and modifying scenes without interruption, and the "Program" output on the right showing the live feed sent to viewers. Activation via the toolbar button separates editing from broadcasting, allowing real-time adjustments to sources or transitions before swapping with a single click or hotkey, ensuring seamless productions. The interface supports extensive layout customization through dockable panels for Scenes, Sources, Audio Mixer, and Stats, which can be dragged to new positions within the main window or undocked into separate floating windows for multi-monitor setups. Starting with version 32.0 (September 2025), a Plugin Manager dock provides in-app tools for installing, enabling, disabling, and updating plugins directly within the UI. This flexibility accommodates varied workflows, such as dedicating a secondary display to the preview or mixer for better visibility during streams. Themes control the application's appearance, with the default Yami dark theme providing a navy blue scheme optimized for low-light environments; users can switch to alternatives like Light or System via Settings > General, or install community-created themes in the user directory for further personalization. Hotkey assignments, configurable in the Settings menu, enable quick actions such as scene switching (e.g., Ctrl+1 for Scene 1) or starting/stopping recording (Ctrl+Shift+R), streamlining operations without mouse interaction. The Stats window, accessible via View > Stats or as a dockable panel, offers real-time monitoring of system performance, including CPU and GPU usage percentages, due to network or encoding bottlenecks, and rendering lag from GPU overloads. Indicators highlight issues like rendering lag (e.g., frames delayed beyond 2% threshold) or (e.g., over 1% indicating bitrate adjustments needed), helping users diagnose and optimize for stable outputs.

Features

Streaming and Recording

OBS Studio provides robust built-in capabilities for and local recording, allowing users to broadcast scenes to online platforms or save high-quality video files directly to their system. These features are configured primarily through the Settings > Output menu, where users can select between simple and advanced modes to tailor outputs to their needs. Streaming supports direct integration with popular services, while recording offers flexible format options to ensure compatibility and reliability. For streaming, users configure connections to platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook by selecting the service from a dropdown menu in the Settings > Stream panel and entering the provided stream key, which authenticates the broadcast. This setup enables RTMP-based ingestion, the standard protocol for most services, ensuring seamless transmission of video and audio. OBS Studio includes native support for SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) outputs, added in version 25.0, facilitating low-latency streaming over unreliable networks, alongside RTMP compatibility. Recording functions enable local file saving with options for formats including MP4, MKV, and FLV, selected in the Output settings. MKV is recommended for its robustness, as it prevents total file loss if a recording is interrupted, unlike MP4 which may become unplayable. Post-recording, OBS Studio features a built-in remuxing tool (accessible via File > Remux Recordings) that converts MKV files to MP4 without re-encoding, preserving quality while improving compatibility with editing software and uploads. Timer-based stops are supported through the core Output Timer tool, while scheduled starts and more advanced require plugins. Additionally, OBS Studio supports running multiple instances simultaneously to record independent sources or scenes. This can be achieved by launching additional copies using the --multi command-line flag or in portable mode with separate profiles. Each instance operates independently, requiring no plugins, though it increases CPU and GPU usage. A basic screen recording can be set up as follows (the process remains consistent across recent versions):
  1. Open OBS Studio and run the Auto-Configuration Wizard if prompted (or via Tools > Auto-Configuration Wizard) to optimize settings for recording.
  2. In the Sources panel, click "+" and add "Display Capture" (Windows/Linux) or "macOS Screen Capture" (macOS). Select the display to capture, enable cursor capture if desired, and configure any crop options.
  3. Verify audio levels in the Audio Mixer (desktop audio and microphone are captured by default; adjust in Settings > Audio if needed).
  4. In the Controls panel (bottom right), click "Start Recording" to begin.
  5. Click "Stop Recording" when finished. Test a short recording first to check quality and audio.
Output settings across both streaming and recording include resolution scaling (e.g., downscaling from a base canvas to output resolutions like or while maintaining aspect ratios), frame rates up to 240 FPS (configurable in Settings > Video), and bitrate controls such as Constant Bitrate (CBR) for stable streaming or (VBR) for optimized recording. Quality presets for encoders range from ultrafast (for speed-priority scenarios) to veryslow (for maximum compression efficiency), adjustable in advanced configurations to balance performance and . The software offers two output modes: Simple, which provides streamlined presets like "High Quality" or "Lossless" for quick setup, and Advanced, which separates streaming and recording configurations for independent bitrate, encoder, and format choices. Advanced mode also includes support for Custom FFmpeg Output, enabling streaming to custom URLs such as UDP addresses (e.g., udp://239.0.0.1:1234) with appropriate container formats like mpegts. In Advanced mode, the replay buffer feature captures a rolling window of recent footage (e.g., the last 30-60 seconds) to disk, enabling instant saving of clips via a hotkey without full re-recording. Integrations extend output versatility, including a virtual camera feature introduced in version 26.0, which outputs OBS scenes as a feed for applications like Zoom or , selectable in those programs' video source menus. For low-latency streaming, support via the protocol (added in version 30.0) allows direct browser-based ingestion with sub-second delays, ideal for interactive broadcasts. Error handling mechanisms include automatic reconnection for dropped streams, configurable with a delay (e.g., 2-5 seconds) in the Output > Streaming settings to resume without manual intervention. Additionally, a bandwidth test mode (enabled in Settings > Stream) simulates connections to evaluate network stability and recommended bitrates before live use.

Plugins and Extensions

OBS Studio employs a plugin architecture that supports dynamic loading of modules via DLL files on Windows and shared objects on Linux and macOS, enabling seamless extension of core functionality without recompiling the application. Plugins are categorized into types such as sources (for input capture), filters (for processing audio/video), tools (for utility features), and UI extensions (for interface modifications), allowing developers to target specific aspects of the software. In version 32.0, released on September 22, 2025, OBS Studio introduced a built-in plugin manager that facilitates browsing available plugins, installing them directly, updating from designated repositories, and managing their activation at startup. This manager streamlines the process previously handled manually, though it requires administrative privileges on some platforms for full functionality. Several popular plugins enhance OBS Studio's capabilities in targeted ways. StreamFX provides advanced , including blur filters, 3D transforms, and shader-based customizations for streams and recordings. OBS WebSocket offers a , enabling external applications to interact with OBS via WebSocket protocol for automation and integration. The Move plugin animates source movements during scene transitions, creating smooth positional shifts between scenes sharing similar elements. Advanced Scene Switcher automates scene changes and other actions through configurable macros based on conditions like time or media playback. Plugins can be installed manually by downloading from the official OBS forums at obsproject.com or repositories and placing files in platform-specific directories, such as C:\Program Files\obs-studio\obs-plugins\64bit on Windows or ~/.config/obs-studio/plugins on , followed by compatibility verification against the OBS version. Automatic installation occurs via the built-in manager in version 32.0 and later, which handles downloads and placement while performing basic compatibility checks to ensure alignment with the current OBS build and platform architecture (e.g., x86_64 vs. ARM64). These methods support cross-platform compatibility where applicable, though some plugins remain limited to specific operating systems. To uninstall a partially installed or broken plugin, users should first check OBS for the source option associated with the plugin. If it appears but functions incorrectly, such as due to header mismatches during partial installation (e.g., copying a .so file to ~/.config/obs-studio/plugins/obs-ios-camera-source/), delete the specific plugin folder via the file manager to fully remove it. The OBS community has contributed hundreds of plugins as of 2025, hosted primarily on the official forums' resources section, fostering an ecosystem of user-developed extensions. Additionally, OBS supports scripting for lighter custom tools using (via 2, compatible with 5.2) or Python 3, accessible through the Tools > Scripts menu, which allows quick implementation of features like hotkey actions or source manipulations without full plugin compilation. Despite these benefits, plugins carry limitations, including risks of application crashes due to incompatibilities, such as mismatched dependencies or platform-specific issues. Starting with version 32.0, OBS enforces a policy preventing the loading of plugins built for newer OBS releases on older versions to avoid compatibility conflicts and ensure stability.

History

Origins

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS Classic) was initiated in 2011 by Hugh Bailey as a Windows-only open-source tool for and video recording, primarily aimed at gamers seeking efficient capture and broadcast capabilities. This predecessor project laid the groundwork for capturing game footage and audio without the limitations of alternatives, but it was constrained to the Windows platform and relied on a basic built around for media handling. In August 2012, Hugh "Jim" Bailey, known online as Lain, undertook a complete rewrite of the software, renaming it OBS Studio to emphasize its multiplatform ambitions from inception. The initial alpha release, version 0.1, arrived that same month, driven by Bailey's personal need for a free tool to stream gameplay, addressing frustrations with paid options like XSplit that included advertisements and subscription models. Early development focused on creating a community-driven, ad-free alternative, with Bailey as the lead developer supported by a small volunteer team of 5-10 contributors handling code reviews, bug fixes, and initial cross-platform testing. By 2014, OBS Studio had progressed significantly, with version 0.6 introducing official macOS support to expand beyond Windows, enabling broader accessibility for content creators on Apple hardware. That year also marked a pivotal shift to the Qt5 framework, which improved the user interface's cross-platform consistency and scalability, facilitating easier porting to and enhancing overall stability for real-time encoding. These changes solidified OBS Studio's foundation as a versatile, no-cost solution, attracting early adopters in the streaming community who valued its open-source under the GNU GPL v2 license. A notable controversy emerged in 2021 when allegations surfaced that TikTok's Live Studio desktop application was an unauthorized of OBS Studio, incorporating GPL-licensed without releasing the modified source, in violation of the license terms. This led to significant backlash from the OBS development team and community, prompting public statements from OBS's manager confirming evidence of the infringement and highlighting risks to open-source integrity.

Development Milestones

OBS Studio was officially launched with version 1.0 on December 17, 2016, marking the transition from the Windows-only OBS Classic by incorporating its core features into a rewritten, cross-platform application supporting Windows, macOS, and from the outset. This release unified scene management, source handling, and encoding capabilities while introducing a modular architecture for easier maintenance and extension. Subsequent major updates have driven the software's evolution through key feature additions and architectural enhancements. Version 20.0, released on August 10, 2017, introduced a modular allowing users to move, disable, or customize dock elements, alongside transitions for video-based scene changes and support for low-latency FTL streaming to Mixer. This version also advanced browser-based sources by improving integration with the (CEF), enabling more reliable rendering of web content within scenes. In September 2019, version 24.0 brought built-in virtual camera functionality, permitting OBS output to serve as a feed in third-party applications like video conferencing tools without relying on external plugins. Version 27.0, released on June 1, 2021, added /redo support for editing operations, a new display capture method for cross-GPU compatibility on Windows 10 (version 1903+), and preliminary Wayland support on including for audio capture. Although full encoding preview arrived later, this release laid groundwork for advanced hardware acceleration features. Version 30.0, released on November 12, 2023, featured a complete rewrite of the image slideshow source for improved performance, looping controls, and visibility toggles, alongside initial video capture integration for to enhance screen and application sharing under Wayland and initial (QSV) support for encoding on . Building on this, version 30.1 in 2024 expanded capabilities and added support for VA-API. Version 32.0, released on September 22, 2025, introduced a basic plugin manager for easier installation and management of extensions, optimizations for filters including and background chair removal, and opt-in automatic crash log uploading on Windows and macOS to aid debugging. As of October 2025, the latest release is version 32.0.2. The project's growth has been substantial, with the GitHub repository surpassing 50,000 stars by mid-2025, reflecting widespread adoption among streamers and content creators. Funding through and Open Collective has supported full-time developers since 2017, enabling consistent releases and community-driven improvements. Visibility expanded further with the official Steam release on March 29, 2022, which simplified access for gamers and integrated seamlessly with the platform's ecosystem. Development has faced challenges, including plugin compatibility breaks in version 32.0 due to internal refactoring of the plugin loading system, prompting developers to update extensions for continued support. As of late 2025, ongoing efforts focus on mobile platform compatibility for Android and iOS streaming setups, alongside exploratory AI-assisted features like automated scene detection and noise suppression.

Technical Aspects

Encoding and Output

OBS Studio supports a variety of video encoders for compressing captured content, including both software-based and hardware-accelerated options to balance quality, performance, and resource usage. Software encoders include for H.264/AVC compression and libsvtav1 or libaom-av1 for (HEVC/H.265 is supported only through hardware encoders), which rely on CPU processing for flexible but computationally intensive encoding. Hardware encoders leverage dedicated GPU or integrated graphics capabilities: NVENC for GPUs (supported on 750 Ti and newer, with 6th-generation or later recommended for optimal performance). For streaming with NVENC, the recommended Multi-Pass Mode is Two Passes (Quarter Resolution), which runs the first encoding pass at 1/4 resolution to gather bitrate allocation stats quickly, then the second pass at full resolution, delivering ~90-95% of the quality benefits of two-pass encoding (better bitrate distribution, fewer artifacts) with significantly lower GPU load and power usage compared to full resolution. Quick Sync Video (QSV) for processors (from Sandy Bridge-era Core i-series, though Haswell or newer is advised), AMF (formerly VCE) for GPUs (compatible with various models via updated drivers), and VideoToolbox for and Intel-based Macs (enabling H.264 and HEVC encoding, with ProRes support for recording on Apple hardware). For audio encoding, OBS Studio primarily uses AAC via the FFmpeg library, which provides broad compatibility and efficient compression, alongside Opus for higher-quality, low-latency applications such as streaming. Typical bitrate ranges for audio encoding fall between 128 kbps and 320 kbps, with OBS defaulting to 192 kbps for high-quality settings to maintain clarity without excessive file sizes. The output processing pipeline in OBS Studio begins with capturing sources, followed by preprocessing steps such as scaling to match the desired resolution and color space conversion (e.g., from RGB to YUV formats like NV12 for hardware efficiency). This pipeline then feeds into the selected encoder for compression, ensuring compatibility across streaming and recording workflows. Rate control modes include Constant Bitrate (CBR) for stable streaming bitrates, Variable Bitrate (VBR) for adaptive quality based on content complexity, and Constant Quantization Parameter (CQP) for consistent perceptual quality in recordings, with options like Intelligent Constant Quantization (ICQ) available in hardware encoders for dynamic adjustments. In advanced output settings, OBS Studio includes a Custom FFmpeg Output option for streaming, enabling flexible configuration of encoders, container formats (e.g., MPEG-TS), and output to custom protocols such as UDP via URL specification. This allows advanced users to tailor output for specific network streaming needs. Optimizations in OBS Studio enhance encoding efficiency, such as next-generation NVENC support introduced in version 28 for RTX-series GPUs, enabling advanced features like hardware encoding on architecture (RTX 40-series). HEVC/H.265 encoding has been available through hardware encoders since at least 2017, providing improved compression over H.264. encoding received experimental preview support in version 27.2 via software options like SVT-AV1 and AOM-AV1, later expanded to hardware in subsequent releases for better efficiency on compatible GPUs. As of October 2025, the latest stable release is version 32.0.2, with ongoing minor updates for stability. Performance benefits include multi-threaded encoding in software options like to utilize multiple CPU cores, and GPU offloading via hardware encoders to minimize CPU load—NVENC, for instance, allows high-framerate streaming with negligible impact on gaming performance. OBS provides built-in statistics monitoring to detect encoding lag, displaying metrics like and overload warnings for real-time . For output formats, OBS Studio supports containers like MKV for robust recording and MP4/MOV, with fragmented MP4 (fMP4) remuxing enabled by default to prevent file corruption from crashes by converting incomplete recordings post-session.

System Requirements and Compatibility

OBS Studio has minimum system requirements that ensure basic functionality for streaming and recording, though optimal performance depends on the workload such as resolution, , and scene complexity. The software requires a quad-core i5 processor or equivalent for standard use, with 8 GB of RAM as the minimum and 16 GB recommended to handle multiple sources and effects without significant lag. Graphics processing demands a GPU compatible with 10.1 on Windows or 3.3 on macOS and , though a dedicated GPU is advised for hardware-accelerated encoding and higher resolutions. Platform-specific prerequisites vary to leverage native APIs for capture and rendering. On Windows 10 or 11, OBS Studio uses DirectShow for video capture devices, ensuring compatibility with most webcams and external hardware. macOS requires version 12.0 (Monterey) or later, and supports OpenGL 3.3 GPUs alongside experimental Metal API rendering on Apple Silicon starting from version 32.0. For Linux and Unix systems, OpenGL 3.3 GPU support is mandatory, with compatibility for both X11 and Wayland display servers; audio handling relies on PulseAudio traditionally, but PipeWire integration has been enhanced since version 30.0 for better low-latency capture. Several compatibility challenges arise across platforms, often resolvable with configuration tweaks or updates. On with Wayland, game capture historically faced limitations like black screens or failure to detect windows, particularly with GPUs, but these have been improved in versions 28.0 and later through enhanced screen capture support. Additionally, on Linux systems using PipeWire, a known issue may occur where the "Desktop Audio" source set to "Default" incorrectly captures microphone input instead of desktop/system audio output, resulting from routing bugs in PipeWire's PulseAudio compatibility layer. This can happen on startup, profile changes, or after device changes. Workarounds include toggling the "Desktop Audio" device to another option and back to "Default", manually selecting a monitor device such as "Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo", or using the obs-pipewire-audio-capture plugin for direct PipeWire support. Many instances have been resolved by updates to OBS Studio or PipeWire. macOS users encounter security prompts requiring explicit permission for screen recording and access due to privacy controls. Hardware encoding on and GPUs necessitates recent driver versions—such as NVIDIA's 535+ series for NVENC stability and AMD's ROCm-enabled drivers—to avoid artifacts or crashes during high-bitrate streams. In terms of performance scaling, OBS Studio can manage at 60 frames per second on mid-range hardware when using GPU-accelerated encoding, such as NVIDIA NVENC on RTX-series cards, without overburdening the CPU. Support for mobile GPUs remains experimental and is not natively optimized, typically requiring custom builds or plugins for limited Android or embedded use cases. Key dependencies include the bundled FFmpeg library for codec handling, ensuring cross-platform media processing without external installations. Since version 30.0, OBS Studio requires Qt 6 for its user interface, dropping Qt 5 support and FFmpeg versions below 4.4. Optional integration enables advanced -specific filters, such as noise suppression and background removal, enhancing audio and video quality on compatible hardware. Recent updates introduce stricter prerequisites for emerging features. Versions 32.0 and above mandate updated graphics drivers—NVIDIA 550+ for full RTX compatibility—to access AI-driven tools like enhanced background removal and audio effects, preventing initialization errors on older setups.

Community

Adoption and Usage

OBS Studio has achieved widespread adoption since its , with millions of downloads recorded across platforms. For instance, a single release in garnered nine million downloads within three months, underscoring its rapid growth among users seeking free streaming and recording tools. By 2025, its availability on , following a 2022 release, has further broadened accessibility, particularly for non-technical users integrating it into gaming ecosystems. The software's open-source nature positions it as a dominant free alternative in the streaming market, reducing for content creators and lowering costs compared to solutions. The user base primarily consists of and streamers, reflecting its strong foothold in the gaming community. However, adoption has expanded to include professionals in and for diverse applications. This demographic shift is evident in its use for educational tutorials, where instructors leverage OBS to create split-screen recordings with voiceovers and multiple media sources. In , it enables seamless picture-in-picture setups for podcasts and videos, fostering creative workflows without additional expenses. Real-world applications span live events such as tournaments, where OBS handles multi-camera inputs for dynamic broadcasts to platforms like Twitch. It is also integral to corporate webinars and tutorials, allowing users to composite graphics, transitions, and audio for professional outputs. Integrations with tools like enhance functionality, enabling overlays, alerts, and chat engagement directly within OBS for polished streams. On Twitch, OBS remains the most widely used tool for and recording, powering a significant portion of gaming broadcasts. Key statistics highlight its community scale: the official OBS forums feature over 638,000 messages across 158,000 threads, indicating robust user engagement. The project's page supports development with approximately 9,700 members contributing monthly as of November 2025. Surveys and usage patterns suggest high prevalence in streams, though exact figures vary by niche. Despite its popularity, OBS presents challenges, particularly a steep for beginners that can lead to initial frustration and drop-off. New users often struggle with scene setup and source configuration, requiring time to master its flexible interface. Community-driven development helps mitigate these issues through shared resources, though core adoption relies on users overcoming this barrier for effective use.

Support and Resources

The OBS Project provides official resources through its website at obsproject.com, which hosts downloads for the latest versions of OBS Studio at https://obsproject.com/download, with alternative sources available on Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1905180/OBS_Studio/ and the Microsoft Store at https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/xpffh613w8v6lv, a for updates and announcements, and a comprehensive covering frequently asked questions, guides, and feature overviews. Users can access in-app help directly within the software for quick guidance on settings, scenes, and sources. Additionally, the project's repository serves as the primary platform for reporting bugs, submitting pull requests, and contributing to the codebase, with detailed developer documentation available for building plugins and extending functionality. Community support is robust, with the official OBS Forums at obsproject.com/forum featuring over 411,000 registered members, more than 158,000 threads, and sections dedicated to platform-specific support, plugin discussions, and general questions. For real-time assistance, the official server connects over 237,000 members, including developers and volunteers, in channels focused on troubleshooting, feature requests, and casual conversation. The subreddit r/obs on offers another avenue for user discussions, tips, and shared experiences related to OBS Studio usage. Documentation extends beyond the website, including a wiki at obsproject.com/wiki that details installation, configuration, and advanced topics like scripting with Lua or Python. Video tutorials are available through the official OBS Project YouTube channel, covering beginner setups to advanced streaming techniques. Contribution opportunities are open to the community, including bug reporting and code submissions via GitHub, plugin development using the OBS API (as explored in dedicated guides), and translations managed through Crowdin, supporting dozens of languages to make the software accessible worldwide. The project adheres to community guidelines to foster inclusive participation. Funding for the OBS Project comes from community donations via , where supporters can join tiers starting from basic recognition up to $50 monthly for perks like to beta releases and direct input on development priorities. Corporate sponsorships, such as from , provide significant backing, enabling integrations like optimized RTX hardware encoding for enhanced streaming performance. Other diamond-level sponsors include , , and (joined in 2025), contributing at least $50,000 annually to sustain ongoing development. The OBS community engages in events to showcase tools and plugins, including virtual gatherings since 2020 and presentations at industry conferences.

References

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