Stream ANYTHING to Twitch, Instagram, YouTube, and more

1 Download the Correct Software - OBS Studio

Let's get ready to download the correct software. Luckily, you should only need one software. This software will be pivotal to all your streaming needs and you'll be using this as your interface between your computer and your streaming websites. You'll be downloading OBS Studio direct from their website. Follow this link by clicking here to go straight to their site and download the correct version.

If you can't open the link, copy and paste this url: https://obsproject.com/download

Make sure that you click on the correct download for your computer machine. If you have a Mac, click on the Apple icon for the Mac version. If you have a PC, click on the Windows icon. If you're using a Linux computer, click on the penguin icon. Once you choose the right icon, then download the installer for a quick installation, or click on the zip download if you're experienced with computers.

Different download options for OBS Studio. I recommend downloading the installer or downloading the zip file, but you can choose whichever option best suites you.

2 Setup OBS Studio

When you first download OBS Studio, it will run you through a first-time setup wizard and ask you your preferences to save your needs into the software. You can also go into the settings and change the setup at any time. When you open up your settings you can then click "video" and set your resolution. Once you set your preferred resolution, this is how the video will appear when streaming. Rule of thumb: 1920x1080 is full 1080p HD horizontal video. If you reverse the measurements, you will get a 1080p HD vertical video, like when you go live from your phone to TikTok and Instagram. You can also choose to stream at 60fps, 30 fps, 25fps, 24fps, and a few other options. I recommend 24, 30, or 60.

Open up the video panel within the settings to change your video resolution.You can click and drag panels around to customize the look of your streaming interface. It's really easy to do! Click where you see the double-window icon and drag it wherever you would prefer it to be.

3 Add Sources to Your Broadcast

Display Your Game

Are you streaming a video game? Then click the plus sign in the Sources window. Now you can open your video game and run it in the background while you set up the game. You can open Display Capture or Game Capture. I recommend Display Capture because it's more reliable. You can choose the Display Capture to mirror the video directly from the game you opened up. You can move the game and crop out certain parts of the video that you don't want displayed.

Include a Video of Yourself

Are you also streaming yourself while playing the game? Open up another source by clicking the plus sign and open up a Video Capture Device. This will allow you to operate your webcam and you can click and drag it down to the corner of your choice. This way, you can be seen at the same time during your gameplay.

Add Your Microphone

Why stop there? Perhaps you have an audio mixer and microphone plugged in. Either you're looking to get into game streaming or you're running your own podcast. Whichever is the case, you can use your professional or high-grade microphone instead of the built-in microphone in your webcam or computer. So click the plus sign and open another source, this time open the Audio Input Capture. Find your microphone and you're done. You'll know if it's working when you see it respond to your voice during your test. If it doesn't respond, you can look up some relevant drivers and install them to your pc or Mac so it's compatible with OBS Studio.

4 Stream Directly to any Website that Allows it

Once you have your resolutions set correctly, now you're ready to stream. Your next step is to find something called "Stream Keys". If you're streaming to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook or Instagram, you will need to sign into your account, then go directly to the Live Stream page while signed in. 

Find your Twitch stream keys in the Stream page under Settings while signed into TwitchThis is where you'll find your stream keys. You copy them from the web page, then paste them into OBS Studio. Once you've done it correctly, you will see the video begin to broadcast to the site. This is not being shown to your audience yet, not until you click broadcast on both the website and on the OBS Studio software. When they are both active, you will broadcast directly to the site and your audience.

Find your YouTube Live stream keys in the YouTube Live settings while signed into YouTube

5 You're Ready - Time to Start Streaming!

This is your final step in the process. Once you are all set and ready to begin streaming your game or podcast. Press "Start Streaming".