Hello G3 team, George here once more! Today, we're diving into the essentials of setting up Streamlabs and OBS for seamless streaming to your favorite platforms. Whether you're aiming to broadcast to Twitch, YouTube, or beyond, this guide will walk you through two straightforward methods: using stream keys and authenticating accounts.

To kick things off, let's outline the basic approaches to getting your stream up and running. You have the choice between logging in and authenticating your platform directly through either Streamlabs or OBS, or alternatively, manually inputting the RTMP settings with your stream key.

Streamlabs vs OBS

Setting Up OBS

Begin by launching OBS and navigating to the Settings menu located in the bottom right corner. From there, head over to the Stream tab where you'll find a variety of streaming services listed, including Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and more. Here, you can either input your stream key or opt to authenticate directly with your chosen platform.

Open OBS and Go to Settings:

Navigate to the bottom right corner of OBS and click on Settings.

Configure Stream Settings:

Head to the Stream tab within Settings.

Select your desired streaming service (e.g., Twitch, YouTube).

Using a Stream Key:

Copy your stream key from your streaming platform profile.

Paste the stream key into OBS's Stream Key field.

Authenticating Without a Stream Key:

Alternatively, click "Connect Account" to authenticate directly without using a stream key.

Follow the authentication prompts for your selected service.

Setting up OBS

Setting Up Streamlabs

Next, open Streamlabs and access the Settings menu similarly located in the bottom corner. Once in the Stream settings tab, select your preferred streaming service, such as Twitch, and input your stream key if required. Streamlabs also offers the convenience of logging in directly for multi-streaming, though note that this may involve additional costs.

Open Streamlabs and Go to Settings:

Click on Settings in the bottom corner of Streamlabs.

Configure Stream Settings:

Navigate to the Stream tab.

Choose your streaming platform (e.g., Twitch) from the available options.

Using a Stream Key:

Enter your stream key into Streamlabs' Stream Key field.

Select your platform from the drop-down menu if necessary.

Logging In for Multi-Streaming:

Streamlabs allows logging in with specific services for multi-streaming purposes.

Note that multi-streaming through Streamlabs may involve additional costs.

Setting up Streamlabs

Finding Your Stream Key

Locating your stream key is crucial for both OBS and Streamlabs setups. For instance, on Twitch, you can find your stream key within the Creator Dashboard under Stream settings. Ensure you keep this key confidential to maintain the security of your broadcasts.

Example with Twitch:

Access your Twitch profile and go to the Creator Dashboard.

Navigate to Settings and select Stream to find your stream key.

Keep your stream key private and secure.

Using Your Stream Key in Streamlabs:

Copy the stream key from Twitch.

Navigate to Streamlabs Settings, go to Stream, and paste the stream key into the designated field.

Select your streaming service (e.g., Twitch) and apply the key.

Finding Your Stream Key

Going Live

Once your setup is complete—whether you've entered your stream key or authenticated your account—simply click "Go Live" in Streamlabs or OBS to start streaming to your selected platform.

Start Streaming:

Once your stream key is configured or your account is authenticated, click "Go Live" within Streamlabs or OBS.

You are now set to start streaming to your chosen platform.

Final Thoughts

With these steps, you're equipped to configure Streamlabs and OBS for effective streaming to your preferred platform. For further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out on our Discord community. Until next time, happy streaming!