Start multistreaming with OBS effortlessly.
While most of the live streaming software provides the service of multistreaming, the number of destinations remains restricted. You can barely stream to 2-3 destinations using the free version of the software where you can't even upload your logo. To increase the number of streaming destinations while leveraging custom branding, you need to buy their paid plans.
However, if you're using the OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), you can multistream to a large number of destinations without paying a single penny.
Download OBS from its official website obsproject.com
By default, you can stream to only one destination using OBS. Download and install the OBS Multiple RTMP Outputs Plugin to send your stream to multiple destinations simultaneously.
OBS was initially designed for the landscape (horizontal) video format. However, when it comes to streaming to platforms that support portrait (vertical) video format, you need to download and install the Aitum Vertical plugin for OBS.
Here, we'll multistream to three destinations:
Before we start, please ensure:
Additionally, you need to know how to set up vertical video in OBS. Setting up vertical video is particularly important in the case of platforms like Instagram that support portrait (vertical) format.
The following interface of OBS shows the Multiple RTMP Outputs Plugin and the Aitum Vertical Plugin placed on either side of the default screen.
We'll add YouTube on the default screen. Click Settings, under Controls.
Click Stream.
Copy the Server URL and Stream key from your YouTube Studio and paste them into the respective boxes under Destination. Click OK at the bottom.
You've now successfully connected YouTube to OBS.
Once you've logged into your Facebook account, go to your profile and click the bar where you update your status.
Click the meatballs menu (three horizontal dots).
Click Live video.
Click Go live.
Of the two options under Select a video source, click Streaming software.
Under the Streaming software setup box, you can see the Stream key.
Below the Stream key, click Advanced settings to see the Server URL.
Go back to OBS and click Add new target in the Multiple RTMP Outputs Plugin.
Enter a name (we've used Facebook in this demonstration), and enter the URL and Stream key after copying from your Facebook. Click OK at the bottom.
You've successfully connected your Facebook account to OBS.
Going back to Facebook, add post details on the right panel of your screen.
Add a title and description before clicking Save at the bottom.
Click the settings icon in your Aitum Vertical Plugin in OBS.
Click Streaming.
Enter a name (we've used Instagram) and your Instagram's Server URL and Stream key before clicking OK.
You've successfully connected your Instagram account to OBS.
In this demonstration, we've used the OBS virtual camera. Therefore, we'll click Start Virtual Camera under Controls.
Since YouTube has been set on your default screen, you need to click Start Streaming under Controls to start live streaming.
Click Yes on the next pop-up.
Live streaming on YouTube has begun. To confirm, you can visit your YouTube Studio and check.
Facebook has been added under the Multiple outputs plugin. Visit the plugin and click Start.
Go back to Facebook. On the left panel of your screen, click Go Live.
You're now live streaming to Facebook using OBS.
Click the stream icon in the vertical plugin.
Go to the page where Stream URL and Key are located. On the top-right corner click Go live.
You're now live streaming to your Instagram account using OBS.
By setting up your streams with care and following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can effectively multistream to social media platforms and other Custom RTMP destinations. However, to ensure a smooth multistreaming experience, it's essential to take a few precautions.