Stream is a broadcast of certain content, which is broadcasting from various fields of virtual battles or a conference interesting for Internet users. Interested in running your own stream, as well as familiarizing yourself with the basic information and settings of the Twitch resource, many immediately pay attention to a common stream management utility called OBS. Not all users know how to configure this program, since its settings are far from as simple as it might seem at first glance.
Will it work?
When planning to create his own stream channel, a person can think about broadcasting a variety of content. For example, many just start playing a certain computer online game, while simultaneously broadcasting on the Internet. Attitude to such ideas is often quite skeptical, because not all computers, as well as types of Internet connections, have the appropriate characteristics in order to provide the ability to broadcast without lags. But basically, such problems disappear if you use OBS. How to configure this utility to provide a truly high-quality image in any broadcast?
Xsplit and problems with it
In fact, many are disappointed with the idea of conducting streams, since if you use the currently popular Xsplit program, then all kinds of lags can really appear. And many users are faced with this. If we are talking about not the most productive computer, then with a low quality video game process almost turns into a slide show. Of course, the sound is quite high quality, but the other disadvantages of this utility make it much less attractive compared to OBS. How to configure the utility, the user decides, since it practically does not play any role, the main thing is to have a powerful computer.
Of course, Xsplit is a pretty good program, which is especially recommended for those who are just starting to stream. But in fact, she has a fairly large number of shortcomings, and quite significant ones.
What are the disadvantages?
First of all, it is worth noting the fact that there are quite strong restrictions in the settings if you use a trial (free) version of the program. This is not found in OBS. How to configure the program normally, if one or another of the restrictions is almost everywhere, and in the end it is simply impossible to achieve a normal picture? In addition, it is worth noting that the user does not have the opportunity to set more than 30 fps. And this is the key point if any mass battles are being considered, or some ultramodern and demanding game is being shot.
It is for this reason that users who for one reason or another simply cannot install the Xsplit utility are advised to use OBS. How to properly configure this program, we will talk further.
What are the advantages of this utility?
The program differs from the rest in its simplicity. In fact, it is capable of working wonders, despite the fact that it is characterized by an extremely small amount of free space that it occupies on the hard drive. To date, users are offered two versions of this utility - 32-bit and 46-bit, which will need to be used depending on which operating system you are installing OBS on. How to properly configure the program, you will understand after installing the utility. After all, if you download a file that is not suitable for you, then you won’t be able to run it.
All you need in this case to start configuring the stream is simply to unzip the utility from the archive you downloaded. It is worth noting the fact that at the moment there is a full-fledged Russified version of the program, which allows you to configure it quite simply. Ultimately, the utility allows you to achieve a good picture, increase the bitrate and the number of frames per second several times, provides for the possibility of broadcasting in the highest possible resolution. In this case, there are also no problems with sound.
How to setup?
Now we’ll look at how to configure OBS for Twitch. Initially, you will need the utility itself, which is downloaded from the official site (in the Download section). Install the downloaded distribution package in accordance with the instructions of the installer, then launch and open the settings panel for the stream on Twitch.tv. Now go to the "Settings" section.
Initial settings
In the main window, you have the opportunity to change the language, as well as initially designate your profile in some way. Subsequently, it can be used as a kind of preset settings. For example, you can create a profile where it will be initially installed how to configure OBS for Twitch so that the broadcast has a quality of 720p. Then create a profile that allows you to shoot on the Cyberheim service with 1080p quality. After that, you can independently switch between these profiles at any time convenient for you, because for this it is quite enough to make a couple of mouse clicks.
Create a profile
To create your own profile, you will need to erase what is written there in the "Profile" column and indicate your name so that later it will be easier for you to navigate among the whole variety of settings you created.
It is worth noting that until you figured out how to configure OBS, the utility creates an Untitled profile for you on its own. Therefore, it is also worth considering the procedure for its removal. To do this, click on the down arrow to the right of the "Profile" line, and then select the profile that you created. Now that it is selected, you need to press the "Delete" key.
Coding
This section sets up some of the most significant settings for your stream. And basically, people who are looking for how to configure OBS try to figure out how to correctly execute this item, since the image quality in various dynamic scenes directly depends on it.
It is worth noting that, from a certain time, the Twitch service itself began to require users to set a stable bitrate, which also became an impetus to the popularity of this utility. Indeed, unlike other programs, there are options for how to configure the OBS program so that it maintains a stable bitrate. In particular, this is done using the CBR and CBR padding functions, next to which you need to check.
How to set the bitrate in OBS? If you want to stream to Twitch with a resolution of approximately 1280 x 720, then you should maintain a bitrate of 2000-2500. Moreover, the more the better. In this case, you need to correctly understand that a lower bitrate may slightly affect the quality of the picture, but your viewers will not complain about the constant delays. Therefore, through practice, you will need to find the ideal value. In "Audio" it will be quite enough to install "Bitrate 128" and "ACC Codec".
Broadcast
This is one of the main points on how to set up a stream through OBS. In this tab, you will need to select the service on which you will broadcast. Then indicate the individual channel key in it. If you are going to broadcast on Twitch, then in this case you will need to set the following settings:
- Mode: Live.
- Broadcast Service: Twitch / Channel Name.
- Server: EU: anyone you like.
- Play Path / Stream Key (if you have one, of course). In this column, you will need to insert the individual key of our channel.
To fulfill the last requirement, you will need to go directly to the service’s website, then to your account (or create one if you haven’t done this before), and then go to ru.twitch.tv/broadcast. After that, the “Show Key” button will appear on your right.
Now you will need to copy the cipher that appears. Here you should be especially careful and copy the entire key completely, since an error even in any one character will not allow you to start the broadcast. For this reason, it is highly discouraged to try to enter the key manually.
In the end, check the box next to the "Auto-reconnect" function, and set the auto-reconnection delay to 10 or even less. This parameter indicates how many seconds the system will restart the stream after it falls.
Video
This is also one of the most important tabs that greatly affects how to configure OBS for a stream. Here you should first select a resolution in which viewers can see your picture. In the column "Basic permission" you will need to install "Custom", and then enter the values that you consider the most optimal.
You can initially set 30 frames per second. But you can increase them if you think that the current value is not enough for you.
Audio
Now let's look at how to set up a microphone in OBS. It is quite simple to do this, so even a novice user can handle it. It should be noted right away that in this section you can configure not only the microphone, but also the broadcast sound as a whole.
As a sound reproducing device, select “Speakers” as a standard, and then click on “Microphone”. If you want to use the Push To Talk system, which will allow users to hear you only after pressing a certain button, then in this case you should check the box next to the “Press and Talk” paragraph. After that, do not forget to assign a button in the column on the right, which you will need to click on to broadcast in the broadcast.
In the “NiG Delay” column, you can put 200. If your viewers complain that the endings of phrases begin to disappear, then this value can be slightly increased. In addition to this, do not forget to add hot keys for actions such as turning the sound on or off or your microphone.
The amplification of the application and the microphone can be set to unity. But if the audience has any complaints that they don’t hear you or the sound in the game, you can slightly change these values in the right direction.
Extended
The final stage of the settings, which should look like this:
- Multithreaded optimization activated.
- The process priority is set to Medium.
- The scene buffering time should be approximately 400.
- The x264 CPU preset is set to Veryfast. But if a sufficiently powerful processor is installed on your computer, then in this case you can set the faster or fast parameter. But in fact, this is not necessary, and you, in turn, will increase the load on the central processor.
- CFR function activated.
Among other things, do not forget to also check the box next to the item "Adjust the sound for timing the video." That's all. Now you know how to deal with this program. We hope you now know how to set up such an important utility as OBS. We wish you a successful and exciting stream!