Ultra.
In a blog post on Twitch’s official site, the live streaming platform announced that, as of May 30th, 2024, it will discontinue supporting its in-house streaming software, Twitch Studio.
Luckily, Streamlabs Desktop makes it easy to set up your stream and go live quickly. Continue reading to learn what actions to take—like importing your Twitch Studio elements into Streamlabs Desktop—before May 30 if you are a Twitch Studio user.
What Should You Do Before Twitch Studio Support is Discontinued
Familiarize Yourself with Twitch’s Streaming Requirements
Take the time to review Twitch’s streaming requirements, including recommended bitrates, resolutions, and encoding settings. Ensure you have configured your new streaming software to meet these requirements for optimal streaming quality. If you’re considering Streamlabs Desktop, rest assured you’ll be well covered.
Overlays
While Twitch Studio doesn’t allow you to save overlays as files to use elsewhere, Streamlabs has developed an importer (more on that in a moment) for Streamlabs Desktop to make the process of moving over easier. If you decide to move to another tool, you may want to consider noting (i.e., via screenshots) your overlays and stream layout as references when replicating in a new streaming software. Pay close attention to the layout, dimensions, and design elements.
Consider using this opportunity to start fresh or refresh your current overlay and widget themes. We recommend browsing the Streamlabs Overlay and Widget Theme Library to find overlays and widget themes to use on stream (many of which are free).
Twitch Studio Alternatives
Below are details about Streamlabs Desktop, a streaming software that Twitch recommends using as an alternative to Twitch Studio.
Streamlabs Desktop
Streamlabs Desktop offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored for streamers of all levels. With its intuitive interface and extensive features, Streamlabs Desktop empowers creators to elevate their live streams and recordings effortlessly.
From customizable overlays and on-screen alerts to integrated chatbots and tipping tools, Streamlabs Desktop provides everything you need to produce professional-quality live streams.
Import from Twitch Studio
To make switching from Twitch Studio to Streamlabs Desktop as easy as possible, we have created an experimental importer that will bring over the following elements from Twitch Studio to Desktop:
- Scenes
- Webcam
- Images
- Videos
- Text Sources
- Text
- Font
- Color
- Note: Actual text rendering may differ slightly from Twitch Studio to Desktop
- Color Sources
- Browser Sources
- Alerts: Converts to Streamlabs Alert Box, but no settings are imported. Check out our guide on setting up your Streamlabs Alerts for customization options.
- Chatbox: Converts to Streamlabs Chatbox, but no settings are imported
- Goal: Converts to Streamlabs Follower Goal, but no settings are imported
- Game capture/screen share
- Wallpapers
Note: Due to differences between how Twitch Studio and Desktop render sources, positioning and sizing may be off in certain scenarios.
Follow these simple steps to start the import process:
Step 1: Ensure you still have Twitch Studio installed on your computer and are logged in.
Step 2: If you are new to Streamlabs Desktop, launch it for the first time to access the onboarding flow.
If you’re returning to Desktop, you can import from your editor.
You can start by clicking the name of your currently applied overlay and then choosing Manage Scene Collections from the drop-down menu.
Once in the Manage Scenes Collection window, select the Import From Twitch.
Step 3: Answer that you plan to use Desktop for Live Streaming, select what kind of creator you are, and hit Continue.
Step 4: Log in with your preferred account.
Step 5: You should now be on a 1-Click Import screen. Select Import from Twitch Studio and Start. Your available elements will automatically be imported into Desktop. Review them for any changes you would like to make and you're set!
Streamlabs Desktop Features
Below are some features of Streamlabs Desktop that make it a worthwhile software for live streamers.
Widgets: Streamlabs offers a variety of integrated widgets to enhance your live streams without manually adding browser sources. From customizable alert boxes to donation trackers, these widgets help engage your audience and add a professional touch to your stream.
Multistreaming: Reach a wider audience by streaming your content across multiple platforms simultaneously (available exclusively for Streamlabs Ultra subscribers). Whether you’re streaming to Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, or beyond, Streamlabs makes multistreaming effortless.
Dual Output: Speaking of multistreaming, Streamlabs Dual Output feature allows you to stream to one horizontal platform and one vertical platform simultaneously for free or add additional platforms with Streamlabs Ultra.
Streamlabs App Store: Access a wide range of apps to enhance your streaming experience. Whether you’re adding DCMA-free music to your live stream using Streamlabs Music or using CrowdControl to put your viewers in the driver's seat of your live stream, the Streamlabs App Store opens up a world of possibilities for your live stream.
Download Streamlabs Desktop (on your Mac or PC device) and reference the Getting Started with Streamlabs Desktop Guide to walk you through from start to finish. If you need extra support, feel free to reach out anytime.
OBS Studio
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 such as the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS, which allows for customization via widgets, overlays, and more.
If you want to learn more about using Streamlabs Desktop features with OBS Studio (in just a few clicks), check out our Streamlabs Plugin for OBS guide.
Access to More with Streamlabs Ultra
Unlock premium features across all Streamlabs tools for your next Twitch stream, including multistreaming and exclusive apps with Streamlabs Ultra.
Use code “ULTRASTUDIO” for a free 7-day trial to test drive Ultra for yourself. In addition to the premium features of Streamlabs Desktop, Ultra allows you to access tools premium features across our entire creator tool set, including Streamlabs Cross Clip, Streamlabs Console, and more, to enhance your content.
By taking proactive steps and exploring these Twitch Studio alternatives, you can ensure a seamless transition from Twitch Studio, empowering you to continue creating quality live stream content.