Webinar recording: livestreaming using Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)

With many groups now expanding their activities to include livestreamed rehearsals and performances, groups are starting to think about how they can make the end product look more professional. In this webinar, we take a look at Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) – a free piece of software that will allow you to add visual effects such as logos and overlays to your livestream, making it even more professional in quality.

The webinar covers:

• an introduction to using OBS
• a look at the options to use more equipment in your streaming setup (multiple cameras, microphones etc)
• how to download the OBS software
• an overview of the main features
• a guide to planning a broadcast – what to think about before ‘going live’
• building your livestream for broadcast via Zoom
• using OBS to broadcast via Facebook

If you're looking for help with a particular task, jump to the timecodes below:
00:00:00 – Introduction: What is OBS? What it does and doesn’t do, and when you might use it
00:09:28 – an overview of the equipment you need to run OBS
00:24:45 – Downloading the OBS software
00:27:30 – An overview of the main features and layout of OBS
00:45:58 – Getting started with OBS, and setting your video quality
00:50:57 – planning your livestream
01:03:11 – building your livestream: adding sources, creating scenes, adding logos and effects
01:28:55 – Q&A
01:58:15 – livestreaming on Facebook with OBS

Further reading and resources:
Guide to livestreaming

We hope you find this Making Music resource useful. If you have any comments or suggestions about the guidance please contact us. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the content of this guidance is accurate and up to date, Making Music do not warrant, nor accept any liability or responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the content, or for any loss which may arise from reliance on the information contained in it.