Guide · Updated 4 October 2026 · 8 min read

OBS Studio Multistream Setup: Step-by-Step Settings

OBS Studio is the most widely used free broadcasting program, and it works with any service that accepts RTMP. This guide walks through the settings that matter for multistreaming, why each one is set the way it is, and the mistakes that cause most failed first attempts.

Step 1 — Get the server address and key

In OBS you always enter two values: the server (an RTMP or RTMPS address) and the stream key. If you stream straight to one platform, these come from that platform's creator dashboard. If you use a relay service, they come from the service, and the service holds the keys for each platform you send to.

With LiveForge you save each platform's key once under your destinations. LiveForge then shows you a single ingest address and key to put into OBS, and it forwards your video to every platform you selected. Treat the key like a password; if it leaks, reset it.

Step 2 — Enter them in OBS

Open Settings → Stream.
Set Service to Custom….
Paste the Server and Stream Key.
Click Apply.

Step 3 — Output settings

Open Settings → Output, switch Output Mode to Advanced, and use the Streaming tab.

Setting	Recommended	Why
Encoder	Hardware (NVENC, AMF, Apple VT) if available; otherwise x264	Hardware encoders free your CPU for the game or app you are showing.
Rate control	CBR	Constant bitrate is what live platforms expect; variable bitrate can cause buffering.
Bitrate	3,500–6,000 kbps for 1080p30; lower for 720p	Stay below about 70% of your measured upload speed.
Keyframe interval	2 seconds	Most platforms require 2 seconds or less; it also helps viewers start playback quickly.
Audio bitrate	128–160 kbps	Good quality without wasting bandwidth.

Under Settings → Video, a base canvas of 1920×1080 scaled to 1280×720 or 1920×1080 at 30 or 60 fps is a sensible start. Choose the resolution your upload can sustain rather than the highest one listed.

Step 4 — Run the sequence in the right order

The order of operations matters when a relay service forwards your video. Some relay systems cannot attach new destinations to a stream that is already receiving video. The safe sequence with LiveForge is:

Make sure OBS is not streaming.
Start your live in LiveForge and choose your destinations.
Then click Start Streaming in OBS.

If you start OBS first, the destinations may not be attached and you will see them stuck on "Pending". Stopping OBS, going live in LiveForge, and starting OBS again fixes it.

Step 5 — Test before you announce

Open each destination on a second device and confirm that video and audio arrive.
Check OBS's Stats dock: dropped frames should stay near zero, and bitrate should be steady rather than 0.
Speak into your mic and confirm lip-sync on each platform.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause
OBS says it is live, but nothing arrives	Wrong server/key, or bitrate shows 0 in Stats. Re-copy both values.
One platform shows an error, others work	That platform's key was reset or expired. Copy a fresh key from its dashboard and save it again.
Dropped frames or stuttering	Upload too low, or a Wi-Fi connection. Lower the bitrate or use a cable.
Platform rejects the stream	Live access not enabled on that account yet, or the content breaks that platform's rules.

Prefer not to install anything? LiveForge also has a beta mode that broadcasts from your browser. It is simpler but offers fewer production controls. See streaming without OBS.

Next: how to pick a bitrate and resolution your connection can hold.