When comparing Open Broadcaster Software vs VSDC Free Video Editor, 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 VSDC Free Video Editor is ranked 10th. 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
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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 Smooth playback
VSDC Free Video Editor exceeds the standard array of functions required for modest editing goals. Faced with a long video conversion: a 7:30 minute video (a part of which was accelerated at 800%) was exported in 20 minutes.
Pro Feature rich for a free app
Pro Good format support
Most major video and audio formats are supported.
Pro Suprisingly wide choice of video effects and transitions
Pro Good quality export
The only free editor which enables a Full HD export.
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 Interface is not as straightforward as it could be
VSDC exposes a lot of information. And a good amount of that information is non-essential. That results in a slightly cluttered interface that can get in the way of actually editing the material. Similarly, some workflow conventions are dated. For example, cutting a clip needs a separate interface. All of that combined ends in having to learn a lot more about the software before it can be used.