Twitch is a top platform for live streaming. It lets you share your content with people all around the world in a fun and interactive way. Whether you like gaming, music, art, or any other hobby, Twitch is a place where you can connect with others who share your interests and build a community. There are many ways to start streaming on Twitch, but this guide will show you how to go live on Twitch on your PC using OBS Studio. Let's start!
Step 1: Create a Twitch Account
- Sign Up: Go to Twitch and click on the "Sign Up" button. Fill in the required details to create your account.
- Verify Account: Check your email for a verification link from Twitch and click on it to verify your account.
Step 2: Download and Install OBS Studio
- Download OBS Studio: Visit the OBS Studio website and download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
- Install OBS Studio: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Step 3: Get Your Stream Key from Twitch
- Access Creator Dashboard: Go to the Twitch website, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner, and select "Creator Dashboard".
- Go to Settings: In the Creator Dashboard, click on "Settings" in the left-hand menu, then select "Stream".
- Copy Stream Key: Under the "Primary Stream Key" section, click "Copy" to copy your unique stream key.
Step 4: Edit Your Stream Info
- Navigate to Stream Manager: In the Creator Dashboard, click "Stream Manager" in the left-hand menu.
- Edit Stream Info:
- Click the "Edit Stream Info" button.
- Enter a title for your stream that will attract viewers.
- Choose the appropriate category (e.g., the game you are playing).
- Add tags that describe your stream to help new viewers find you.
- Write a brief description of your stream to give viewers an idea of what to expect.
- Save Changes: Once you've filled in the necessary information, click "Done" to save your changes.
Step 5: Configure OBS Studio
- Open OBS Studio: Launch OBS Studio on your computer.
- Auto-Configuration Wizard: If this is your first time using OBS, it will prompt you to run the Auto-Configuration Wizard. Select 'Optimize for streaming, recording is secondary'.
- Follow the prompts to optimize OBS video settings for your hardware.
- You can also add your stream key during the Auto-Configuration Wizard process. Select Twitch as your service and enter your stream key.
You can find Auto-Configuration Wizard in the Tools section.
However, you always have the option to configure your settings manually, and here's how:
Step 6: Enter Stream Key
- Go to "File" > "Settings".
- Select the "Stream" tab.
- Set "Service" to "Twitch".
- Paste your stream key into the "Stream Key" field and click "Apply".
*You can also connect your Twitch account to OBS to get the stream key automatically.
Step 7: Set Up Your Scene
- Create a New Scene:
- In the "Scenes" box at the bottom of OBS, click the "+" button to add a new scene. Name your scene.
- Add Sources:
- In the "Sources" box next to "Scenes", click the "+" button to add new sources like your display, a specific window, a game capture, or your webcam.
- Adjust the sources' properties and positioning as needed.
Step 8: Configure Audio
- Set Up Audio Sources:
- In the "Mixer" section, make sure your microphone and desktop audio are set up correctly. You can add more audio sources if needed by clicking the "+" button in the "Sources" box and selecting "Audio Input Capture" or "Audio Output Capture".
- Adjust the volume levels for each audio source using the sliders in the "Mixer" section.
Step 9: Check Video Settings
- Video Settings:
- Go to "File" > "Settings" > "Video".
- Set your "Base (Canvas) Resolution" to your monitor's resolution.
- Set your "Output (Scaled) Resolution" to the resolution you want to stream at (e.g., 1280x720 for 720p).
- Set the "Common FPS Values" to 30 or 60 depending on your preference and system capabilities.
- Output Settings:
- Go to "File" > "Settings" > "Output".
- In the "Streaming" tab, set the "Encoder" to your preferred encoder (e.g., x264 or NVENC).
- Set the "Bitrate" according to your internet speed (e.g., 2500-3500 kbps for 720p or 4500-6000 kbps for 1080p).
To learn more about bitrate, check out this article. If you need to find out the best bitrate settings for Twitch, click here.
Step 10: Start Streaming
- Preview Your Stream: Before going live, click on "Start Recording" to do a test recording and check the quality of your stream setup.
- Go Live:
- When you are ready, click "Start Streaming" in OBS. The stream will automatically go live on Twitch.
- Go to your Twitch channel to ensure that your stream is live and everything looks and sounds good.
That's it! You're now ready to start streaming on Twitch with OBS Studio. Have fun and make great content!