OBS Studio provides real-time capture, encoding, and broadcasting for YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and many other providers. High performance real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, capture cards, and more.
Is OBS Studio free for commercial use?
OBS Studio is open source software and free for anyone to use it. OBS can be used commercially without restrictions, it won’t add watermarks and has no limitations.
Is OBS good for recording videos?
OBS Studio stands for Open Broadcaster Software, which means its main purpose is livestreaming your gaming sessions on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, among others. However, you can record audio and video from multiple sources.
Can you edit videos in OBS Studio?
You can’t edit videos on OBS Studio, for that you may need a video editor like DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut or VSDC Video Editor, which are great free options.
What are OBS Studio basic system requirements?
OBS Studio runs on Windows, macOS and Linux systems with at least 4GB of RAM.
- Windows
- DirectX 10.1 compatible GPU (GeForce GTX 900 Series, Radeon RX 400 Series, Intel HD Graphics 500)
- Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11
- Intel i5 2500K, AMD Ryzen 1300X
- Hardware encoders are recommended
- macOS
- Intel or Apple Silicon CPU
- OpenGL 3.3-compatible GPU
- macOS “High Sierra” (10.13) or later
- Linux/Unix
- OpenGL 3.3-compatible GPU
- X window system or Wayland
Features
- High performance real time video/audio capturing and mixing, with unlimited scenes you can switch between seamlessly via custom transitions.
- Live streaming to Twitch, YouTube, Periscope, GoodGame, DailyMotion, Hitbox, VK and any other RTMP server
- Filters for video sources such as image masking, color correction, chroma/color keying, and more.
- x264, H.264 and AAC for your live streams and video recordings
- Intel Quick Sync Video (QSV) and NVIDIA NVENC support
- Intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters such as noise gate, noise suppression, and gain. Take full control with VST plugin support.
- GPU-based game capture for high performance game streaming
- Unlimited number of scenes and sources
- Number of different and customizable transitions for when you switch between scenes
- Hotkeys for almost any action such as start or stop your stream or recording, push-to-talk, fast mute of any audio source, show or hide any video source, switch between scenes,and much more
- Live preview of any changes on your scenes and sources using Studio Mode before pushing them to your stream where your viewers will see those changes
- DirectShow capture device support (webcams, capture cards, etc)
- Powerful and easy to use configuration options. Add new Sources, duplicate existing ones, and adjust their properties effortlessly.
- Streamlined Settings panel for quickly configuring your broadcasts and recordings. Switch between different profiles with ease.
- Light and dark themes available to fit your environment.
- …and many other features. For free. At all.
What’s New
New Features
- Added WHIP/WebRTC output [Sean-Der / kc5nra / DDRBoxman / tt2468]
- With the introduction of WHIP, FTL is slated for removal in a release after May 2024
- Redesigned the status bar [cg2121 / GeorgesStavracas / Warchamp7]
- The redesigned status bar now provides the same information in a more organized and well structured way, with more representative and recognizable icons.
- Added option for Full-Height docks to the “Docks” menu [ujifgc]
- When enabled, a dock such as chat can take up the entire height of the OBS window
- Added support for Intel QSV H264, HEVC, AV1 on Linux [kkartaltepe]
- Added a shader cache to improve OBS startup time on Windows [notr1ch]
- Added application audio capture on macOS [jcm93]
- Added a “Safe Mode” that runs OBS without third-party plugins, scripting, and websockets [derrod]
- When OBS detects that it was not shut down properly it will offer the user the option to launch in Safe Mode for troubleshooting purposes. It can also be manually activated via the “Help” menu.
- Reworked the virtual camera on macOS to work with all applications (on macOS 13 and newer) [gxalpha/PatTheMav]
- Added a YouTube Live Control Room Panel when streaming to YouTube [yuriy-chunak]
- Added 10-bit capture support for Decklink devices [jpark37]
- Added HDR playback support for Decklink output [jpark37]
- Added an option to hide OBS windows from macOS Screen Capture’s “Display Capture” [PatTheMav]
Changes
- Changed audio/video encoder dropdowns to be sorted by name [gxalpha]
- Changed the list of applications in the macOS Screen Capture source to be sorted by name [Colerar]
- Updated NVIDIA Audio/Video Effects SDK versions [pkviet]
- Added more accurate logging for Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling status and support [derrod]
- Added the ability to arrange filters via drag & drop [cg2121]
- Clarified surround sound warning for YouTube 5.1 audio support [pkv]
- Added warning if Lenovo Vantage is installed [notr1ch]
- Added logging for scene changes in Studio Mode [Penwy]
- Changed Video Capture Device sources on Windows to not show an audio device in the Audio Mixer if none is available/selected [Exeldro]
- Added support for grayscale MJPEG in V4L / DirectShow sources [Staacks]
- Improved settings interface of the “Text (FreeType 2)” source [gxalpha]
- Added button to reactivate stopped capture in macOS Screen Capture [gxalpha]
- Changed scene collection removal to retain a backup file (.bak) that can be easily reimported if needed [derrod]
- Added IPv6 support for RTMP streaming output with IPv4 fallback (“happy eyeballs”) for dual-stack streaming services. The preferred protocol can still be selected in advanced settings. [jgh-twitch]
- Fixed virtual camera output when used with additional output channels (e.g., Downstream Keyer plugin) [tytan652]
- Added ability to set FFmpeg Options for VAAPI [nowrep]
- Added a Help menu item to view the Release Notes [WizardCM]
- Added logging for “Ignore streaming service setting recommendations” [derrod]
- Added logging for Video Capture Devices on macOS for portrait and studio light effects [gxalpha]
- Added more logging for Video Capture Device names on Windows [norihiro]
- Added more logging for QSV [RytoEX]
- Added logging for WASAPI source names on Windows [prgmitchell]
- Increased minimum output resolution to 32×32 to prevent certain encoder failure scenarios [RytoEX]
- Reenabled dynamic bitrate for AMF encoders [derrod]
- Enabled “Paste Filters” after copying from scenes or mixer [gxalpha]
- Removed D3D9 code from QSV encoder plugin [RytoEX]
- Changed QSV plugin settings new to Beta 1 to use translatable strings [RytoEX]
- Exposed shader creation errors [exeldro]
- Changed v4l2 sources to always use linear alpha blending [SludgePhD]
Bug Fixes
- Fixed a crash when using Touch Portal to control OBS [notr1ch]
- Fixed a crash when selecting a window in PipeWire capture if one is already selected [GeorgesStavracas]
- Fixed a crash on OBS shutdown on macOS [norihiro]
- Fixed a crash with the auto-config wizard [norihiro]
- Fixed a crash when trying to capture screen via PipeWire [columbarius]
- Fixed a crash when rapidly changing scenes [PatTheMav]
- Fixed a crash when quickly switching between NVIDIA Audio Filters [pkviet]
- Fixed a crash when starting and stopping multiple DeckLink outputs [jpark37]
- Fixed a crash caused by plugins deleting properties [ujifgc]
- Fixed an issue that could cause hardware encoders not showing up as options on capable GPUs [notr1ch]
- Fixed possible security certificate verification failure when trying to stream with RTMPS on macOS [PatTheMav]
- Fixed checking for updates not working on Windows if the username contains special characters [derrod]
- Affected users will have to manually update to OBS 30.0
- Removed legacy AMD encoder plugin [derrod]
- Users upgrading from an older OBS version will continue to be able to use the old plugin
- Fixed max bitrate not working in NVENC VBR mode [flaeri]
- Fixed async sources (e.g. video capture devices) sometimes unnecessarily dropping frames while buffering is enabled [derrod]
- Fixed order of IP binding/family setting [tytan652]
- Fixed some issues with hotkeys with groups and duplicate sceneitems [derrod]
- Fixed warnings being cut off in the UI in Simple Output Mode [gxalpha]
- Fixed the installed version number visible in Windows Settings not being updated when using the auto-updater [derrod]
- Fixed window capture showing the last frame of a closed window on Windows [Walker-WSH]
- Fixed alignment helpers rendering below safe area indicators [cg2121]
- Fixed some edge cases where certain undo/redo actions could behave in unexpected ways [derrod]
- Fixed media source restarting playback when not necessary [CodeYan01]
- Fixed frontend_save_callback in Python scripts [Penwy]
- Fixed “flip” not working with “stretch to bounds” [Penwy]
- Fixed OBS stealing focus when launching minimized [BenJuan26]
- Fixed lossless recording not working if fragmented MP4/MOV was selected [gxalpha]
- Fixed rendezvous mode with SRT [pkv]
- Fixed browser source events not being sent to all frames [Exeldro]
- Improved FFmpeg VAAPI AMD encoder video quality [nowrep]
- Fixed virtual camera not deactivating correctly in some cases [Lain-B]
- Fixed lag with VLC media source, particularly on macOS [usakhelo]
- Fixed “Show more” in service settings selecting the first service in the list [gxalpha]
- Fixed incorrectly positioned labels in a scenes-only multiview projector [norihiro]
- Fixed detected framerate of videos encoded with Custom Output (FFmpeg) [jack-karamanian]
- Fixed a bug where the “Show fullscreen and hidden windows/applications” option in macOS Screen Capture did not apply immediately [niw]
- Fixed a bug where the Auto-Configuration Wizard didn’t save YouTube stream key [Lain-B]
- Fixed a bug where the OK button was enabled in the Add Source dialog if “Add Existing” was selected but no existing source was selected [gxalpha]
- Fixed a bug where using VoiceOver to toggle the “Use Different Colors” GroupBox in the Accessibility settings, the Apply button would not activate [gxalpha]
- Fixed a bug where the Auto-Configuration Wizard would show current frame rate in scientific notation if FPS was 100 or greater [gxalpha]
- Fixed an issue where importing a Streamlabs Desktop scene collection would result in OBS performing seemingly random scene changes and scene item visibility changes [prgmitchell]
- Fixed not being able to select a stream audio encoder if previous selection was invalidated [derrod]
- Fixed source transform shortcuts in context (flip, rotate, etc.) when multiple scene items are selected [gxalpha]
- Fixed source type version when dropping files onto the OBS UI [norihiro]
- Fixed alignment of vertical audio mixer controls [cg2121]
- Fixed a bug where HDR video could incorrectly produce black pixels when tonemapping [jpark37]
- Fixed v4l2 source not working correctly with certain non-standard input frame rates [kkartaltepe]
- Fixed hotkeys of different scene items for the same source not being saved correctly [derrod]
- Fixed hotkeys being lost when moving a source in or out of a group [derrod]
- Fixed a possible issue with logging high frame rate video capture devices on Linux [kkartaltepe]
- Fixed a bug causing AMF AV1 to have low quality in Simple Output Mode [Penwy]
- Fixed a race condition in the Vulkan graphics hook [sawillms]
- Fixed an issue with Sparkle delta updates [PatTheMav]
- Fixed some unexpected behavior when transforming sources in groups [Zulleyy3]
- Fixed Stream Key label not displaying in UI [TianQiBuTian]
- Fixed “Use Stream Key” button not hiding from UI when appropriate [TianQiBuTian]
