Getting Started With OBS

Don't you hate it when you're interested in something—but getting started with it requires significant time and financial investment just to find out if you are really interested? (That's exactly why Igniter Media has a 30-day free trial, by the way).

Luckily, if you're interested in live streaming your church service, you can test the waters with very little upfront investment thanks to tools like OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software). It's a software-based streaming studio that functions as a video switcher and an encoder for streaming to various platforms. (If you're not sure what some of those terms are, start by reading this article.)

OBS has been around for a while—and has become a staple of the game streaming and YouTube-ing communities—so there are a ton of video resources out there to help you learn the platform. So many, that it can feel overwhelming to even learn more what OBS is—and then you need to figure out specifically what you would use it for and how.

We don't want you to feel discouraged from learning, because it really is a great resource. So, we put together a list of the best video resources that include everything from using your phone as a webcam in OBS, to adding a countdown, incorporating worship lyrics, using powerpoint, and much more.

We'll kick it off with a run-down in the what and the how in the video below. 👇

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Learn OBS in 30 Minutes

It's a bit of a longer video, but it gives you a good crash course in using OBS if you've never used it before. It's a really good place to start.

OBS Studio Tutorial: Understanding Scenes & Sources

Live streaming is a lot less stressful if you're organized. This video gives a detailed walkthrough of setting up scenes, which are indispensable in creating seamless transitions in your stream.

OBS Setup and Troubleshooting Guide

There's some repeat information in here, but he also covers some OBS settings that you might find valuable, and equips you to troubleshoot some of the more common problems people run into while using OBS.

How to Live Stream a Pre Recorded Video on YouTube Using OBS

The title is pretty descriptive; HOWEVER, this video also shows you a way you might include one of our mini movies, sermon bumpers, or countdowns in your livestream—especially if you aren't using a presentation software in your streaming setup.

How to Add a Countdown Timer to OBS without Plugins

Exactly what it says. Create a countdown timer for your stream using scripts included with OBS. A viable alternative to the 1,500+ video countdowns you can find on our site.

How to Use Your Phone as a Webcam in OBS:

If you're just making the jump to an OBS setup from going live directly to Facebook from your phone and you're not yet ready to invest in a good camera, you can spend a few bucks on an app that will turn your phone into a decent quality webcam feed for OBS.

ProPresenter workflow within OBS:

A workflow for using ProPresenter with OBS—directly from the folks at Renewed Vision, the creators of ProPresenter.

Add Lyrics to OBS (For Free)

Streaming from somewhere you don't have access to ProPresenter? Here's how you can add lyrics to your video feed in a pinch, using Google Slides.

OBS Studio: Ultimate Presentation Guide

A solid guide if you use PowerPoint as your presentation tool of choice.

How to Connect Zoom & OBS

It is possible to get a guest to Zoom call in your streamed service, but it's not quite as straightforward as some of these other videos. This one will walk you through getting set up.

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OBS is a pretty powerful program, and a great option if you're starting out with streaming (or just price sensitive), especially considering that it's free.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below—for OBS users, what's one thing you wish you'd known getting started? What videos/topics did we miss? For those of you new to OBS, what are some questions you have about it?