# OBS Studio — Free Open Source Streaming & Recording Software

> OBS Studio is a free, open-source application for live streaming and screen recording on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports real-time video/audio capturing, scene composition, encoding, and broadcasting to platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# OBS Studio — Free Open Source Streaming & Recording Software

## Quick Use
```bash
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install obs-studio

# Flatpak (any distro)
flatpak install flathub com.obsproject.Studio

# macOS (Homebrew)
brew install --cask obs
```

## Introduction
OBS Studio is a free, open-source application for video recording and live streaming. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing real-time source and device capture, scene composition, encoding, recording, and broadcasting. The project is maintained by the OBS Project contributors and is widely used by content creators, educators, and professionals.

## What OBS Studio Does
- Captures video from webcams, capture cards, windows, screens, and browser sources
- Mixes multiple audio sources with per-source filters like noise suppression and gain
- Composes scenes from layered sources with transitions and effects
- Streams to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and any custom RTMP/RIST/SRT endpoint
- Records locally in formats including MKV, MP4, FLV, and MOV

## Architecture Overview
OBS Studio is written in C and C++ with a modular plugin architecture. The core engine manages a scene graph of sources, each rendered via OpenGL or Direct3D. Audio passes through a real-time mixer with filter chains. Encoding uses FFmpeg and hardware encoders (NVENC, QSV, AMF). Output modules handle streaming protocols (RTMP, SRT, RIST) and local file recording. A Qt-based UI sits on top, and a WebSocket API allows remote control.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Download from obsproject.com or install via your package manager
- Configure video base resolution and output resolution in Settings > Video
- Set up streaming by entering your service and stream key in Settings > Stream
- Add sources (Display Capture, Window Capture, Video Capture Device) to scenes
- Enable Studio Mode for preview/program workflow during live broadcasts

## Key Features
- Real-time hardware-accelerated encoding with NVENC, QSV, and AMF support
- Powerful scene composition with unlimited sources, filters, and transitions
- WebSocket plugin API for third-party integrations and remote control
- Virtual camera output to use OBS as a webcam source in other applications
- Extensive plugin ecosystem for alerts, overlays, NDI, and more

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Streamlabs Desktop** — adds built-in alerts and themes but is heavier and Windows-only
- **XSplit** — proprietary with polished UI, but requires a paid license for full features
- **FFmpeg CLI** — more flexible for scripted pipelines, but no live scene composition UI
- **vMix** — professional live production software with advanced features, but proprietary and Windows-only
- **Wirecast** — high-end broadcast tool with multi-destination streaming, but costly

## FAQ
**Q: Can OBS record and stream at the same time?**
A: Yes. You can configure separate output settings for recording and streaming simultaneously.

**Q: Does OBS support multiple audio tracks?**
A: Yes. OBS supports up to six audio tracks in a single recording, useful for separating game audio, microphone, and music.

**Q: What is the Virtual Camera feature?**
A: Virtual Camera lets other applications (Zoom, Teams, Discord) use your OBS scene output as a webcam input.

**Q: Can I extend OBS with plugins?**
A: Yes. OBS has a plugin API in C, and the community maintains hundreds of plugins for effects, sources, and integrations.

## Sources
- https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio
- https://obsproject.com/

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/d7872bbe-3b1f-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: Script Depot