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Add to SafariWhen comparing Open Broadcaster Software vs Davinci Resolve, the Slant community recommends Open Broadcaster Software for most people. In the question“What is the best free video editing software?” Open Broadcaster Software is ranked 5th while Davinci Resolve is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Open Broadcaster Software is:
OBS is [licensed under GPLv2](https://github.com/jp9000/OBS/blob/master/COPYING) with code available on [GitHub](https://github.com/jp9000/OBS). It's available on Windows, OSX and Linux.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Free, open source and cross-platform
OBS is licensed under GPLv2 with code available on GitHub. It's available on Windows, OSX and Linux.
Pro Stream settings are extremely customizable
Open Broadcaster lets you add different streaming profiles, each with its own settings. Each profile can have its keyboard shortcut to start or stop recording, custom resolution, frames per second or even the audio codec of choice.
Pro Has over 20 plugins that enhance functionality
OBS has over 20 plugins to choose from, including one's that allow adding video files and any other media supported by VLC as a source, integrating Twich chat and switching scene depending on what window is in focus.
Pro Supports Intel's Quick Sync for faster and more power efficient video processing
Quick Sync is hardware video encoding and decoding technology that's comparable in speed, compression ratio and quality to x264. Since Quick Sync is a dedicated hardware core on the processor die, it allows for faster and more power efficient video processing.
Pro Light resource usage
Open Broadcaster uses relatively fewer resources than competitors, especially when streaming using Game Mode and by limiting the number of frames per second to 60 or lower.
Pro Several capture types supported
There are multiple capture types that can be used to stream. By clicking in "Sources Window", you can add the type that you need. Windows Capture_, for example, as the name suggests, captures the windows. _Monitor Capture is similar but captures the window regardless of where it was, this way you can for example capture the whole monitor or a sub-region of the screen. But the most important capture type by far is _Game capture_, which allows users to record full screen captures of games.
Pro Streams to most live streaming video platforms
OBS can stream to any RTMP-enabled service, including Twitch, YouTube, DailyMotion, and Hitbox.
Pro New GUI
Version 22.0.2 for Windows has a new simpler to use interface with a multitude of easily accessible settings.
Pro Scene previewing allowed in Studio Mode
OBS allows to look at scenes before streaming them in Studio Mode.
Pro Simple user interface
Open Broadcaster has a clean and simple interface that is easy to understand even for people who have never used a streaming application before. It has a "Start Streaming" button on the bottom, which, when clicked lets you stream from your chosen source.
Pro Presets for other software
If you like the way that Sony Vegas or Adobe Premiere Pro function, there are built in templates that change the program layout and functionality to match those pieces of software. Even better, you are prompted weather you want to use these on startup so there is no digging through menus to find this feature.
Pro Clean and modern UI
The interface is clean and modern. Providing a nice smooth experience.
Pro Stellar color correcting
The color correcting tools resolve provides are quite powerful
Pro Stable and supported
The software is actively developed on, and is incredibly stable
Pro Has a free version which is only lacking a few features
Cons
Con GUI may be hard to navigate for beginners
Con Difficult to configure
Con Can't output to multiple streams at once (planned)
Ability to stream to multiple outputs is planned.
Con Captures overlays even when told not to
This software has had a bug for several years where it will capture the Steam overlay and other overlays. This is problematic because your private conversations can be viewed by anyone watching your current or past streams. Privacy issues are a major reason to avoid this software.
Con Does not support ASIO
Con Cannot record to multiple audio tracks with Replay Buffer (planned)
It's possible in regular recording though.
Con Does not yet support H.265/HEVC video encoding
Con Corrupt recording
When recording videos of more than 20 minutes of recording, the MP4 recording destroys you.
Con Impossible to streaming live
Lost frames increase over time and audio-video desynchronization occurs.
Con Can't link to an audio file as a source
You can download a plugin called DirectShow Audio Source, but you're only given options to use audio inputs (mic, speakers, etc...). You cannot simply select a wav or mp3 file to loop (going AFK or BRB for example).
Con Not open source
Con Not traditionally an editing software
While the built in editor is great, the software is mostly focused on color correction.
Con Lacks features
It functions flawlessly as a basic editor, but when you try to get into anything beyond titles, fades, and basic animations, you will likely find the toolset lacking.
Con It can take a bit of time to get used to
Because it is traditionally a color correcting software, getting to the actual editing toolset is a tiny bit difficult.
