OBS Studio crashes on launch or during a session
A methodical order for isolating crashes: plugins, graphics drivers, overlays, and the log file that tells you which one it was.
OBS Studio, explained by people who use it
Independent guides, diagnostics and reference for OBS Studio. Start from the symptom you are seeing, the game you are capturing, or the setting you do not understand — every page here is written and reviewed in house.
Fix what OBS is doing right now
Each diagnostic starts with the symptom, names the usual cause, and gives you the checks in the order that finds it fastest.
Audio drifts out of sync during long recordings
Sound and picture start together and separate over time. Usually clock drift between capture devices, a variable frame rate source, or a saturated recording drive.
No desktop audio in OBS
Game and system sound is missing from the stream or recording while the microphone works. Check the device selection, exclusive mode and per-application routing.
Black screen in Game Capture or Display Capture
The preview shows black where the game or desktop should be. Usually a GPU selection, permission or capture method mismatch rather than a broken install.
Encoding overloaded! Consider turning down video settings
Skipped frames and the encoding overload warning mean the encoder cannot keep up with the frame rate you asked for. Reduce the work or move it to different hardware.
Dropped frames (network) while streaming
The Stats dock shows dropped frames climbing and viewers see buffering. Work through upload capacity, ingest server choice and local network contention.
Tutorials, from install to a working stream
Walkthroughs written against a named OBS Studio version, with the reasoning behind each setting rather than a list of numbers to copy.
Recovering from OBS crashes without losing scenes
Tutorial covering Recovering from OBS crashes without losing scenes for OBS Studio creators who want practical, step-by-step guidance with troubleshooting.
Intermediate 14 min read
Move Transition pairing for polished scene changes
Tutorial covering Move Transition pairing for polished scene changes for OBS Studio creators who want practical, step-by-step guidance with troubleshooting.
Intermediate 14 min read
Isolated camera tracks with Source Record
Tutorial covering Isolated camera tracks with Source Record for OBS Studio creators who want practical, step-by-step guidance with troubleshooting.
Advanced 15 min read
Building safe macros in Advanced Scene Switcher
Tutorial covering Building safe macros in Advanced Scene Switcher for OBS Studio creators who want practical, step-by-step guidance with troubleshooting.
Advanced 20 min read
Remote control with obs-websocket securely
Tutorial covering Remote control with obs-websocket securely for OBS Studio creators who want practical, step-by-step guidance with troubleshooting.
Advanced 16 min read
Webcam lighting, exposure, and framing
Tutorial covering Webcam lighting, exposure, and framing for OBS Studio creators who want practical, step-by-step guidance with troubleshooting.
Beginner 12 min read
Follow a path instead of guessing what to read next
Troubleshooting Clinic
A structured course on Troubleshooting Clinic with sequenced lessons, practical labs, and links to related OBS Studio tutorials.
Intermediate Start the path
Vertical and Shorts Pipelines
A structured course on Vertical and Shorts Pipelines with sequenced lessons, practical labs, and links to related OBS Studio tutorials.
Intermediate Start the path
Platform Playbooks
A structured course on Platform Playbooks with sequenced lessons, practical labs, and links to related OBS Studio tutorials.
Intermediate Start the path
Privacy and Stream Safety
A structured course on Privacy and Stream Safety with sequenced lessons, practical labs, and links to related OBS Studio tutorials.
Beginner Start the path
Capture settings by game
Which capture method works, what display mode the game needs, and the encoder trade-off for the frame rate you are aiming at.
Apex Legends
Complete OBS Studio capture guide for Apex Legends: best capture method, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black screen fixes, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Complete OBS Studio capture guide for Call of Duty: Warzone: best capture method, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black screen fixes, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Counter-Strike 2
Complete OBS Studio capture guide for Counter-Strike 2: best capture method, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black screen fixes, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Dead by Daylight
Complete OBS Studio capture guide for Dead by Daylight: best capture method, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black screen fixes, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Destiny 2
Complete OBS Studio capture guide for Destiny 2: best capture method, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black screen fixes, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Dota 2
Complete OBS Studio capture guide for Dota 2: best capture method, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black screen fixes, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Overlay templates and builder
Ready-made layouts plus a browser editor that exports PNG or a Browser Source package for OBS Studio.
Brand Kit Starter — Logo Slot
A reusable OBS overlay template titled "Brand Kit Starter — Logo Slot" with layered shapes, text, and HUD elements designed for 1920x1080 canvases. Export as a browser source package or rebuild the layers in the Overlay Builder.
Laptop Compact — Low Overlay
A reusable OBS overlay template titled "Laptop Compact — Low Overlay" with layered shapes, text, and HUD elements designed for 1920x1080 canvases. Export as a browser source package or rebuild the layers in the Overlay Builder.
Vertical Ready — 9:16 Safe
A reusable OBS overlay template titled "Vertical Ready — 9:16 Safe" with layered shapes, text, and HUD elements designed for 1920x1080 canvases. Export as a browser source package or rebuild the layers in the Overlay Builder.
Triple Camera — Interview
A reusable OBS overlay template titled "Triple Camera — Interview" with layered shapes, text, and HUD elements designed for 1920x1080 canvases. Export as a browser source package or rebuild the layers in the Overlay Builder.
Facecam — Circle Crop Frame
A reusable OBS overlay template titled "Facecam — Circle Crop Frame" with layered shapes, text, and HUD elements designed for 1920x1080 canvases. Export as a browser source package or rebuild the layers in the Overlay Builder.
Intermission — Quiz Prompt
A reusable OBS overlay template titled "Intermission — Quiz Prompt" with layered shapes, text, and HUD elements designed for 1920x1080 canvases. Export as a browser source package or rebuild the layers in the Overlay Builder.
Plugin reference
What each plugin adds, who maintains it, and the cost in CPU, stability or setup time before you install it.
3D Effect
3D Effect is an OBS Studio plugin in the filters category. This directory page explains what it does, how to install it safely, known limitations, and where to find official downloads.
exeldro
Advanced Masks
Advanced Masks is an OBS Studio plugin in the filters category. This directory page explains what it does, how to install it safely, known limitations, and where to find official downloads.
finite-singularity
Advanced Scene Switcher
Advanced Scene Switcher is an OBS Studio plugin in the automation category. This directory page explains what it does, how to install it safely, known limitations, and where to find official downloads.
warmuptill
Aitum Vertical
Aitum Vertical is an OBS Studio plugin in the ui category. This directory page explains what it does, how to install it safely, known limitations, and where to find official downloads.
aitum
Ashmanix Countdown Timer
Ashmanix Countdown Timer is an OBS Studio plugin in the sources category. This directory page explains what it does, how to install it safely, known limitations, and where to find official downloads.
ashmanix
Background Removal
Background Removal is an OBS Studio plugin in the filters category. This directory page explains what it does, how to install it safely, known limitations, and where to find official downloads.
occ-ai
Application capture guides
Capture methods, audio routing and privacy notes for the desktop apps people stream most often.
Adobe Photoshop
Complete OBS Studio guide for capturing Adobe Photoshop: methods, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black frames, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Complete OBS Studio guide for capturing Adobe Premiere Pro: methods, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black frames, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Blender
Complete OBS Studio guide for capturing Blender: methods, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black frames, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Discord
Complete OBS Studio guide for capturing Discord: methods, audio routing, starting settings, performance, black frames, privacy, troubleshooting, and FAQ.
Hardware, judged by what OBS does with it
Graphics cards (7) Processors (7) Capture cards (5) Microphones (6) Audio interfaces (4) Webcams (4) Cameras (4) Stream controllers (3)
AMD Radeon RX 7600
AMD Radeon RX 7600 (gpu) — OBS-oriented notes labelled as manufacturer_spec. Specs summarise manufacturer documentation; this page does not invent FPS benchmarks.
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (gpu) — OBS-oriented notes labelled as manufacturer_spec. Specs summarise manufacturer documentation; this page does not invent FPS benchmarks.
Intel Arc A770
Intel Arc A770 (gpu) — OBS-oriented notes labelled as manufacturer_spec. Specs summarise manufacturer documentation; this page does not invent FPS benchmarks.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (gpu) — OBS-oriented notes labelled as manufacturer_spec. Specs summarise manufacturer documentation; this page does not invent FPS benchmarks.
Streaming destinations
What each platform's ingest expects from OBS Studio, and where its limits bite.
Custom RTMP
OBS Studio setup notes for Custom RTMP, including connection steps, encoder expectations, and platform limit references that should be re-checked against official docs.
Discord Go Live
OBS Studio setup notes for Discord Go Live, including connection steps, encoder expectations, and platform limit references that should be re-checked against official docs.
Facebook Live
OBS Studio setup notes for Facebook Live, including connection steps, encoder expectations, and platform limit references that should be re-checked against official docs.
Kick
OBS Studio setup notes for Kick, including connection steps, encoder expectations, and platform limit references that should be re-checked against official docs.
Straight answers
Is OBS Studio free?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers Is OBS Studio free?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official OBS Project…
Should I use x264 or my GPU encoder?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers Should I use x264 or my GPU encoder?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official…
Why is OBS dropping frames?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers Why is OBS dropping frames?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official OBS…
What bitrate should I stream at?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers What bitrate should I stream at?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official OBS…
Should I record to MKV or MP4?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers Should I record to MKV or MP4?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official OBS…
Why is my Game Capture black?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers Why is my Game Capture black?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official OBS…
Do I need a second PC to stream?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers Do I need a second PC to stream?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official OBS…
Are OBS plugins safe to install?
This OBS-Studio.net editorial guide covers Are OBS plugins safe to install?. It is original explanatory writing for creators configuring OBS Studio. Verify version-specific behaviour in Help → About and in official OBS…
OBS glossary
Short definitions for the terms that show up in settings, stats and plugin docs.
AMD AMF
AMD AMF — plain-language definition for OBS Studio creators, with practical context for streaming and recording workflows.
Audio Monitoring
Audio Monitoring — plain-language definition for OBS Studio creators, with practical context for streaming and recording workflows.
AV1
AV1 — plain-language definition for OBS Studio creators, with practical context for streaming and recording workflows. This OBS-Studio.net page provides original editorial guidance for creators, with practical verification steps and no fabricated download or rating statistics.
Bitrate
Bitrate — plain-language definition for OBS Studio creators, with practical context for streaming and recording workflows.
Browser Source
Browser Source — plain-language definition for OBS Studio creators, with practical context for streaming and recording workflows.
CBR (Constant Bitrate)
CBR (Constant Bitrate) — plain-language definition for OBS Studio creators, with practical context for streaming and recording workflows.
Every guide on this site is written and reviewed in house, tested against a named OBS Studio version, and updated when the software changes. When a walkthrough depends on a specific release, the version is stated in the guide.