OBS Studio — image, video, and audio production

A program that combines the screen and camera to record and stream live broadcasts.

Basic Information

What is this program?

OBS Studio is a program that combines multiple inputs (screen, window, camera, microphone, audio device) into scenes to create a single video, which can be recorded or streamed in real time.

It is used for tasks that require capturing or sending the screen as-is, such as lecture recording, conference streaming, game broadcasting, and server operation screen demonstrations.

What problems does it solve?

• Record work screens as demonstration videos and share them.
• Combine multiple inputs (screen + camera + microphone) into one scene.
• Stream to live streaming platforms.
• Split long recordings into fixed time segments for storage.

Key Features

Scenes and Sources

Add screens, windows, cameras, images, and text as sources and group them into scenes.

• Use case: Use when preparing lecture screen layouts and standby screens in advance.
• Result: You can change the composition simply by switching scenes, making operation during a broadcast simple.
• Limitations: More sources increase CPU and GPU usage.

Audio Mixer

Adjust microphone and system sounds per channel and apply filters.

• Use case: Use when matching volume levels and reducing noise.
• Result: Managing volume per input stabilizes output quality.
• Limitations: Applying filters incorrectly can distort audio.

Encoding and Recording

Select resolution, bitrate, and encoder to record or stream.

• Use case: Use when configuring high-quality archival recording and low-latency streaming separately.
• Result: You can choose a file size and quality suitable for your purpose.
• Limitations: Excessive bitrate quickly consumes storage space and bandwidth.

Scene Transitions and Hotkeys

Change screens with transition effects and hotkeys.

• Use case: Use when switching between a standby screen and the main screen during a broadcast.
• Result: You can switch quickly without mistakes.
• Limitations: Hotkeys can conflict with other programs.

Installation and Execution

Ubuntu (PPA, 24.04 or later)

Add the official PPA and install the latest version.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
sudo apt update
sudo apt install obs-studio

Linux (Flathub)

Install via Flatpak regardless of distribution.

flatpak install flathub com.obsproject.Studio
flatpak run com.obsproject.Studio

Windows / macOS

Download the installer from the official download page and install it.

Windows: Run the installer (Windows 10 or later)
macOS: Open the dmg and copy to Applications (macOS 13 or later)

Practical Usage Examples

Initial Recording Setup

Create a scene, add the screen and microphone, then set the save path and encoder.

1) Sources > Add Screen Capture
2) Sources > Add Audio Input Capture
3) Settings > Output > Select recording path and encoder
4) Click Start Recording on the main screen

Streaming Setup

Enter the streaming platform's stream key and start streaming.

Settings > Stream > Select service and enter stream key
Settings > Output > Adjust bitrate
Click Start Streaming

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• It is free and can be used commercially.
• You can combine screen, camera, and audio into a single scene.
• Scene transitions and hotkeys make it easy to operate during a broadcast.
• It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Things to Consider Before Use

• If encoding settings are incorrect, the stream may stutter or the picture may break up.
• High-quality streaming depends on CPU/GPU performance and network upload speed.
• With many features, the initial configuration may feel complicated.
• Some capture methods have limitations depending on the operating system and graphics environment.

Comparison with Similar Programs

Official Resources and Further Learning

• Official website — https://obsproject.com/
• Official documentation / Knowledge base — https://obsproject.com/kb
• Official download — https://obsproject.com/download
• Release notes — https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio/releases
• Source / Development resources — https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio

Version and supported environment information is based on the official site as of 2026-10-18. Installation commands may vary depending on your distribution and version, so check the official installation documentation as well.

Actual Execution Screenshot

The screen below is a synthetic example that simulates checking the installed version on a production server (not an actual execution result). The screen is a synthetic example and is not an actual execution result.

!OBS Studio installed version check example

Actual production server

Source (HTML): https://games.aidebatehub.com/programs/apps/media/obs.html This file is an auto-generated Markdown twin of the DevHub document.