TrustRadius Insights for OBS Studio are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, third party data sources.
Business Problems Solved
OBS, or Open Broadcaster Software, has become a go-to streaming software for many users who have found other options too expensive or lacking necessary features. With the ability to handle multiple inputs and files, OBS eliminates the need for a separate switcher and provides greater flexibility in audio management by easily routing separate audio inputs. Users appreciate the ease of use when adjusting stream size, bitrate, and other settings, resulting in great output quality. From big events with stakeholder pressure to simple webinar presentations, OBS has proven itself capable of meeting the needs of users who require single destination streaming. Although it may not be as robust as paid options, OBS offers a cost-effective solution for those looking to stream their content smoothly.
Another key use case for OBS is recording screencasts and lectures. Its cross-platform compatibility and robust screen capture capabilities make it an ideal choice for educators and trainers. Users value OBS for its customization options, allowing them to create professional and clean backgrounds that enhance their presentation solutions. In comparison to Google Hangouts, OBS provides more flexibility in element layout, graphics usage, and integration with Skype. This makes it a preferred choice for streaming audio/video performances on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, bridging the gap between musicians and listeners. Especially in the current pandemic situation, OBS enables performers to reach a broader audience and maintain effective communication effortlessly.
For multimedia teams working on video projects, OBS Studio is highly appreciated for its versatility. Whether it's video recording, editing, voice recording, or live streaming projects, OBS Studio delivers an easy-to-use experience without pesky watermarks or viruses. It has also found practical application in market research for video games - being utilized for streaming and recording video footage of meetings, focus groups, and gameplay. Moreover, OBS Studio serves as a valuable tool for screen recording educational tutorial material and conducting live training sessions by enhancing information delivery.
The cost-effectiveness of OBS Studio makes it widely popular among users looking to create and manage live streaming events on various platforms. It provides an affordable broadcasting solution that delivers high-quality content without breaking the bank. Additionally, OBS Studio has become integral in the transition to remote teaching, with faculty members relying on it to create asynchronous learning content. Its user-friendly interface allows educators to adapt quickly and effectively to the demands of online teaching.
In summary, OBS Studio has proven itself as a versatile and cost-effective streaming software that fulfills the needs of various users. Whether it's for streaming events, recording lectures, creating professional presentations, or bridging the gap between musicians and listeners, OBS Studio has become a trusted tool. Its ability to handle multiple inputs, customize backgrounds, and deliver high-quality output has made it a favorite among content creators and streamers. The current pandemic situation has further highlighted the importance of OBS, allowing performers to reach a broader audience and maintain effective communication.
For market research in the gaming industry, OBS Studio plays a crucial role in streaming and recording video footage of meetings, focus groups, and gameplay. Its versatility and ease of use make it an ideal choice for researchers looking to gather valuable insights. Similarly, OBS Studio is widely utilized for screen recording educational tutorial material and conducting live training sessions. The robust screen capture capabilities ensure that information delivery is seamless and engaging.
OBS Studio's affordability and wide range of features have also positioned it as a go-to solution for creating and managing live streaming events on various platforms. Content creators can easily customize their streams while maintaining cost-effective broadcasting solutions. Additionally, faculty members rely on OBS Studio for creating asynchronous learning content in the transition to remote teaching. The user-friendly interface allows educators to quickly adapt to online teaching demands without compromising on quality.
In conclusion, OBS Studio has become an indispensable tool for various users due to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly interface. Whether it's streaming events, recording lectures, conducting market research, or facilitating remote teaching, OBS Studio provides the necessary features and flexibility to meet the needs of its users effectively.
We have a video conferencing and live streaming product. The live streaming product is built on HLS but it can take can RTMP-in feed as well as output RTMP if needed to external providers. We, as well as a lot of our customers, use OBS Studio for sending the RTMP feed to our live streaming product. This is primarily because OBS Studio is a lot more extensible and has support for multiple devices, mics, cameras as well as combining of different feeds.
Pros
RTMP Streaming with customizable bitrate
Scene Composition and Switching + source control which allows for creators and our customers to move between different types of content they might have (different video feeds, slides etc)
Audio mixer and audio control - noise gating, a/v syncing, audio source control
Cons
Guide on using the software since it has a steep learning curve
Mobile App or Remote Control - Some customers have asked if they could control parts of their stream using their mobile phones, especially source switching
OBS doesn’t offer native cloud syncing for configurations, scenes, or settings.
Likelihood to Recommend
It is well suited for organization of any size as long as they are willing to spend some time with it. Some individuals might have difficulty configuring it if they aren't very much tech aware, but there are ample youtube guides to get people started with doing the basic streaming. Working with the scene, source and audio composition won't be as straightforward though. Some online solutions like Streamyard might do the job for individuals or teams which are not willing to get their hands dirty and are willing to pay for it. One of the best parts is lots of plugins exist out there already, and this is completely free and open source.
I use OBS for streaming audio/video performances online to websites such as Twitch and YouTube. It has helped to bridge the gap between musicians and listeners in a way I have been unable to previously. In the current pandemic atmosphere, OBS has allowed me to perform live for my audience and reach a broader swath of people easily and keep communication open with the viewers easily.
Pros
Easy to use overlays and on-screen elements.
Easily customizable.
Attractive layout with simple and intuitive navigation.
Easily switch between several pre-made “scenes”.
Old-school broadcast media options and functions for a trendy and modern medium.
Cons
I would really love the option to select and “preview” the next scene in queue before switching to it - much like an old-school Television switcher.
An option to have customizable colour schemes for the interface would be helpful.
The ability to use multiple scene transitions - hard cuts, fades, wipes, etc, and being able to use them freely between takes.
Likelihood to Recommend
If you plan on streaming video/audio to a website like Twitch or YouTube, OBS is hands-down the best & most accessible option. Whether you are streaming music, video games, or performance art, OBS EXCELS in its field. It seems less suited for use in video conferencing situations (zoom, Skype, etc), and I feel that this is definitely a missed opportunity. Adding some functionality to send the output to zoom or other video chat interfaces could be a useful addition.
Currently using OBS for our primary streaming software after Adobe's old software went obsolete and other options were too pricey or still couldn't manage what we needed. OBS is simple enough and delivers exactly what we need. It can handle multiple inputs and files to enable us to not need a switcher, but perfectly fine if you were using a switcher/single input setup. We also route separate audio in (not from the switcher/HDMI/SDI input device) and it handles multiple audio inputs great. Other options for stream size, bitrate, and other settings are super easy to find and use as well, and always get great output from OBS. Have been using it for big events with a ton of pressure from stakeholders, as well as simple webinar presentations. Maybe not as robust as some of the paid options, and only single destination streaming available, but usually that's all we need to worry about, so it's perfect for our needs.
Pros
Simple and ease of use - get streaming pretty quickly
Multiple options for sources - if the switcher goes down or you need to switch over to a different external input, you can default to another file or image, or just keep all your inputs 100% in OBS
Options for bitrate and output size easy to find and change - great if your internet signal isn't great, you can adjust accordingly
Being able to record simultaneously - eliminates the need for an external recorder
Cons
More control over queuing extra sources, if using a video file, perhaps timecode and countdown cues
Likelihood to Recommend
From simple streaming to bigger events, OBS has been able to handle all of it with full confidence from us. Have never questioned if it was going to be unreliable in a specific situation, even with minimal training. Software identified the external input source easily and had no issues setting that up (Blackmagic Mini Recorder), and great for pulling in separate audio from the computer input.