Best Stream Settings for Streamlabs OBS: A Beginner's Guide

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If you're new to live streaming or looking to improve your current setup with Streamlabs OBS, this article is perfect for you. In today's fast-paced online gaming and video sharing world, having the right settings can make all the difference between an enjoyable viewing experience and a frustrating one.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through the essential steps to optimize your stream quality using Streamlabs OBS on a mid-to-high-end computer like our example system: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X8H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX A40 graphics card, 32GB DDR4 RAM, and an LG UltraFine monitor with a resolution of 3840x2160 (UHD/4K).

Step 1: Understanding OBS Settings

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Before diving into specific settings adjustments, it's crucial to understand what each option does within Streamlabs OBS. The main areas we'll focus on are:

- Video Capture Device: This setting determines how your computer captures video from the source device (e.g., capture card, webcam, or screen).

- Output Mode: Choose between 'DirectX' for better performance with AMD graphics cards like our example system.

- Encoder Settings:

- Bitrate: Controls the quality vs. size trade-off of your stream's video output in kilobits per second (kbps). Higher values = higher quality but larger file sizes.

- Resolution: Selects the resolution at which to capture and encode your stream, with higher resolutions requiring more powerful hardware.

Step 2: Configuring Stream Settings

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1. Launch OBS Studio and navigate to 'Settings' in the top menu bar.

2. In the left-hand panel, expand 'Video Capture Devices,' select your main video device (usually labeled as such), then click on the gear icon next to it.

3. Under Output Mode, choose 'DirectX.'

4. Go back up one level and into Encoder Settings.

Step 3: Setting Up Video Encoder

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1. Set Video Codec to 'libx264' for compatibility across various platforms (e.g., Twitch, YouTube).

2. For Bitrate, we recommend setting it around 9000-10000 kbps depending on your internet upload speed and desired stream quality.

3. Under

Step 4: Optimizing Audio Settings

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1. Go back up one level in the left-hand panel, then expand 'Audio' > 'Filters.'

2. Here you can adjust various audio settings like Sample Rate, Bitrate (Hz), etc., according to your preferences and equipment capabilities.

Step 5: Additional Tips for Optimal Performance

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- Use a dedicated capture card if possible.

- Consider using an external soundcard or good quality monitor speakers for better overall audio quality.

- Experiment with different settings until you find the sweet spot that works best for both performance and video/audio quality on your specific hardware.

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By following these steps, you should now have Streamlabs OBS set up to deliver a high-quality stream using optimal settings. Remember that individual results may vary depending on factors such as internet connection speed, computer specifications, monitor resolution, etc., so be prepared to fine-tune and experiment further if needed.

Happy streaming!

Best stream settings for streamlabs obs