OBS StudioNot a video editor
No timeline for cutting clips. Pair it with an editor for polish.
Three letters, one very handy tool: what OBS really is
The short answer
OBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a free program for recording your screen and streaming live. The three letters also abbreviate unrelated things elsewhere, but on this site OBS always means the video tool.
- Stands for
- Open Broadcaster Software
- Use
- Record, mix, stream
- Cost
- Free
The five-minute OBS setup
Tap steps off as you complete them.
- Minute 1 — Launch and run the wizardPick “record only” if you are not streaming yet.
- Minute 2 — Add a display or windowUse the plus under Sources.
- Minute 3 — Test your microphoneTalk normally and watch the meter stay mostly in green.
- Minute 4 — Set a hotkeyTry Ctrl + Shift + R for record start and stop.
- Minute 5 — Record and reviewCapture ten seconds and play it back.
An A–Z of OBS words
Not every letter, only the ones you will meet in the first week.
A — Audio mixerThe panel with a meter for each sound input.
B — BitrateData used per second. More means sharper video and heavier uploads.
C — CanvasThe base size of your picture before any scaling.
E — EncoderThe compressor that shrinks video for saving or sending.
F — FilterAn effect attached to a source, such as noise removal.
H — HotkeyA keyboard shortcut that works even when OBS is in the background.
P — ProfileA saved set of settings you can swap for different projects.
R — Replay bufferA rolling memory that lets you save the last few seconds on demand.
S — SceneA saved arrangement of sources, one “screen” of your show.
T — TransitionThe visual effect between two scenes.
V — Virtual cameraSends your OBS picture into meeting apps as if it were a webcam.
W — WebSocketA control channel that lets other tools operate OBS remotely.
OBS myths, gently corrected
MYTH
OBS is only for professional gamers.
FACT
Teachers, musicians, presenters and support teams use it daily.
MYTH
A free tool must leave a watermark.
FACT
OBS adds no logo and has no recording time limit.
MYTH
You need an expensive PC to use it.
FACT
Modest machines manage 720p fine, and hardware encoders help further.
MYTH
OBS edits and cuts your recordings.
FACT
It captures and mixes live. Editing afterwards needs a separate editor.
What OBS is not
Not a hosting service
It sends video to platforms but does not store or serve it to viewers.
Not a magic fixer
Bad lighting and noisy rooms still show up. Filters help, but they cannot rescue everything.
OBS in a few lines
What is OBS?
OBS is short for Open Broadcaster Software, a free program for recording video and streaming live.
Is OBS only for gamers?
No. Teachers, presenters, musicians and support teams use it too.
Does OBS edit videos?
Not really. It records and mixes live, so trimming and effects after the fact need a separate editor.
Is OBS safe?
The genuine program is open source and widely reviewed, as long as you install it from this site or a trusted store.