Whether you are new to content creation and streaming, or you have extensively used other streaming software, if you want to be a professional in this field, you must be looking for the best live streaming software. Since the content creation business is booming, you may want to bring the best software with you for your gameplays, vlogs, etc.
Many features set the difference between an amateur streamer and a professional quality production. These include but are not limited to transitions, well-mixed audio, high-resolution videos. If you want to get the absolute best quality broadcast, you must be looking for feature-rich software that should be easy to set up and use.
Popular Video Streaming Software:
There are many new streaming services that claim to be better than others, relying on better performance, ease of use and quick setup. To select the best streaming software, you must consider some of the features that should be present in your software compulsorily. These include:
- Supported platforms to stream to
- Choice of video input
- Choice of audio input and seamless microphone switching
- User support
- Customer support
- Choice of games (some services allow you to stream only limited titles)
The most popular video streaming software for Windows has to be Open Broadcaster Software or OBS studio. Many people are usually attracted to OBS because of the advanced features it provides, free of cost.
Streaming With OBS
Keeping true to its name, OBS is a free and open-source video streaming software that has been the popular choice among amateurs and professionals alike. OBS Studio offers all the live streaming essentials you need to create a great looking broadcast.
OBS, being open-source, can be pretty complicated to set up for absolute beginners. Check out the guide to setup OBS video capture later in this article.
With OBS, you can adjust nearly every aspect of your stream. You can create scenes from multiple sources; select the audio source, mix audio set frame rates, and resolution, etc.
You can also stream straight to a variety of platforms like twitch, mixer, Facebook, YouTube, etc. In addition, since it uses OAuth, you can log in without worrying about the privacy breaches.
OBS Video Capture
To set up OBS, you need to give OBS the credentials to broadcast on your channel. This usually differs within services but is fairly easy to setup.
When you download and install OBS, you are given the option to optimize the software for streaming or recording. If you have set the software for streaming as well, you will be able to stream very easily. You can directly start streaming using the buttons provided in the startup interface if you have already logged in. Alternatively, you can also generate a streaming key, which will be used to connect your OBS software to your channel.
- Login to your account at twitch.tv or other broadcasting services.
- Click on your avatar in the top right.
- Click Dashboard.
- In the menu on the left, click Channel under the Settings
- Click the Stream key
- Click Show stream key.
- Copy the text.
You will need the stream key if you are broadcasting to any service that does not have a direct connection to OBS.
- Open OBS.
- Click Settings in the main window.
- Select the Stream tab from the menu.
- In the service drop-down box, choose your broadcasting service (here, twitch)
- Paste your stream key into the box labeled as such.
- Click Apply.
OBS is now configured to live stream your PC to your channel over the connection that you just set up. The rest of the settings are quite easy to figure out, and once you have set the output resolution (Settings > Output) and sound (Settings > Audio), you should be able to stream with the click of a button.
Alternatives To Open Broadcaster Software
While some may consider OBS to be the best live streaming software, it lacks some of the professional features that you may find in one of the premium software. Therefore, here are some alternatives to the OBS Studio video streaming software.
#1: Streamlabs OBS
Streamlabs is mostly popular for creating tools, which were used with other streaming software. Most of the gamers used Streamlabs with OBS, hence a combination of the two individual applications created a really powerful streaming software. In January 2018, Streamlabs OBS was launched.
Streamlabs OBS (SLOBS) is also open-sourced just like OBS and is more user-friendly. Many of the features, which need plugins to be accessible in OBS, are built into SLOBS, making it really easy to use. On many forums, you will find users arguing in favor of either of these to crown the best live streaming software.
#2: XSplit
XSplit has two different software for different needs. The XSplit Broadcaster is used for streaming with full control to the user. This is used by advanced users who want to fine-tune their streams. The XSplit Gamecaster is a stripped-down version of the software optimized specially for game streaming.
Unlike OBS, you will be provided with technical support and occasional software updates to bring the latest software features to their users. With support for community added plug-ins, you can enhance your streaming capabilities. Setting up XSplit requires a bit of encoding knowledge, so if you are not familiar with bitrates, key frames, and audio encoding, you will definitely have some homework to do.
# 3: Wirecast
Wirecast by Telestream is professional live streaming software, which is priced accordingly as well. Nevertheless, for the price, you get a host of features from the two variants i.e. Studio and Pro versions. These features include guest hosting, animated 3D titles and graphics, multistreaming, enhanced encoding and unlimited recording, NDI output and more.
Since Telestream constantly works on its software, the benefit that you get is the constant app updates that work on bringing new features to your software, and refining the older features. The user interface may seem a little challenging, but with a little time, you can get used to it.
The cost of Wirecast is excessively much for casual users, with the Studio version available for $695 and Pro version for $995.
Wrapping Up
While no software can be called the best live streaming software right out the box, there are a lot of variants available for different classes of users. With our guide here, you know the basics of OBS and some other alternatives as well. Tell us in the comments which video streaming software do you use.