Ultra.
OBS Studio, short for Open Broadcaster Software, is a popular open-source streaming and recording software known for its flexibility via plugins. While its core features may not be as robust as those of other streaming software options, its strength lies in its support for plugins. These plugins, such as the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS, allow for extensive customization to bring your vision for your live stream to life.
In this blog post, we’ll share a list of the best plugins you should consider integrating into your OBS setup to enhance your live streaming and recording capabilities when using the software.
Streamlabs Plugin for OBS
Streamlabs Plugin for OBS is a must-have for any streamer using OBS. This plugin integrates Streamlabs' extensive suite of tools directly into OBS. Seamlessly manage alerts, overlays, and widgets from Streamlabs within your OBS interface. With this plugin, you can enhance viewer engagement and streamline your OBS streaming setup while cutting down the number of plugins needed to fully customize your live stream.
If you wish to take advantage of multistreaming, be sure to fully connect your platforms of choice so you can begin widening your reach by streaming to different places simultaneously with the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS (for Streamlabs Ultra subscribers only).
P.S. If you want to stream on TikTok from your Desktop using the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS, please keep in mind that you may be asked to apply for access first. Your stream will appear horizontally (not vertically). Lastly, your chat and TikTok LIVE studio will still pop up in a separate window on your computer.
For step by step instructions on integrating Streamlabs Desktop features seamlessly into OBS Studio with just a few clicks, check out our Streamlabs Plugin for OBS guide.
StreamFX
StreamFX adds powerful filters and transitions to OBS, such as 3D transform (which allows you to tilt your gameplay or webcam feed), blur, and shaders, which make your content look more visually appealing. These features allow you to create pro-level visual effects that make your live stream content more engaging.
It’s important to note that to some degree, StreamFX will only be available through a paid subscription on the developer’s site. While, according to the plugin’s GitHub page, stable releases will be available for free for the foreseeable future, it’s important to note that they’re likely not compatible with the latest versions of OBS.
Move Transition
If you’re looking to smoothly transition between scenes while live streaming (via animation of your sources), the Move transition plugin can help you. Similar to transitions built into scenes with some stream overlays, this plugin helps create a more interactive viewing experience for your audience.
OBS Lua
Lua Scripts extends OBS functionality with custom scripts for tasks like automated recording, scene management and other automations that would otherwise be time consuming and repetitive to do on stream. These scripts are perfect for streamers seeking to incorporate custom automation into their streaming setup, streamlining their workflow and enhancing the overall viewer experience.
FYI, there are different Lua scripts for different actions, which you can search for here.
FX Magician
FX Magician allows you to effortlessly design and apply elements such as lower third text, subtitles, and other engaging elements such as confetti directly into your scenes. Whether you're aiming for a professional look with sleek lower thirds or injecting a playful touch with animated confetti, FXMagician provides the necessary tools to elevate your live stream within OBS Studio.
NDI
The NDI plugin by NewTek enables high-quality video transmission, allowing you to send and receive video streams between different computers running OBS Studio. This feature is particularly useful for multi-computer streaming setups (e.g., one PC with a gaming feed and one with a camera feed). By distributing video processing across multiple devices, you can avoid latency issues and prevent resource strain on a single computer.
These are just some of the many OBS Studio plugins that you can add to your streaming toolkit for enhancing your content and streamlining your production process. Which one will you be giving a go first?
