OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is free, open-source software for live streaming and screen recording widely used by content creators, gamers, educators, and professionals. Originally launched in 2012, it has become the industry standard for multi-source composition, real-time encoding, and platform-agnostic broadcasting. What sets OBS apart is its scene-based workflow — instead of recording a single window or screen, you compose layered scenes with multiple video and audio sources, apply real-time filters and effects, and switch between layouts instantly. This flexibility makes it indispensable for professional streams, podcasts, webinars, and gameplay recording, but it requires understanding encoding settings, audio routing, and resource management to avoid dropped frames or poor quality output.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This topic spans 24 focused tables and 152 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.
Table 1: Scene Management
| Concept | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
Create "Starting Soon", "Main Gameplay", "BRB" scenes | • A container that holds multiple sources arranged in a specific layout • switch between scenes instantly during live recording or streaming. | |
Export scene collection as .json file | A saved group of multiple scenes that can be exported, imported, or duplicated for different projects or computers. | |
Fade (300ms) between scenes | Defines how one scene replaces another — options include Cut, Fade, Swipe, or custom Stinger transitions with video overlays. | |
Add "Webcam Overlay" scene as source in "Main" scene | A scene used as a source inside another scene, allowing reusable elements across multiple layouts without duplication. |