OBS – Setting up multiple Sources and Virtual Camera
Estimated reading: 4 minutes
This guide covers how to set up new Scenes (Sources), the Virtual Camera and Hotkeys in Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).
If you haven’t discussed using OBS with us yet, please do so before proceeding with this guide.
Setting your Resolution in OBS
Before we begin, if you haven’t already been through the initial setup of OBS, skipped it by mistake or can’t remember, our recommend settings are:
Resolution: 1920×1080 (1080p) (for both Base and Output) Downscale Filter: Lanczos Common FPS Values: 60
To check or use these settings, click the Settings button at the bottom-right of OBS, then click Video in the settings sidebar:
The maximum resolution and frame rate supported by your Webtron Vonage Stream is 1080p at 60FPS. Any sources that are higher than this resolution will be automatically downgraded, and the stream will also drop frames if your internet connection cannot maintain a stable bitrate.
Setting up Scenes in OBS
Creating New Scenes
Scenes in OBS are how you organise your visual sources (Cameras, Splash Screens, Video File Playback etc.). For each Source you want to use, create a Scene.
To create a new Source, look to the bottom-left of your OBS window, then click on the button at the bottom-left of the Scenes panel:
Give your Scene a distinct name (we recommend naming it based on it’s intended source or use, i.e. Camera or Main Feed), then click OK:
Repeat as needed.
Adding new Sources to Scenes
Next to the Scenes panel, you’ll find your Sources panel. Your Sources are devices or files that can be added to your selected Scene. Click on the button at the bottom-left of the Sources panel, this will open a list of Source Types. For new users of OBS, we recommend using only the following:
Media Source – this allows you to choose a file (such as an image or video) that can then be played or displayed in your stream by switching to that Scene. Video Media Sources can be set to Loop whilst that Scene is active.
Video Capture Device – Most Cameras, Webcams and Video Production Interfaces (such as a Blackmagic ATEM or Capture Card) will be organised and selectable as a Video Capture Device.
After selecting a Source Type, giving it a name and configuring it, that Source will be automatically displayed on your stream whenever you switch to the Scene your Source belongs to in OBS.
Configuration Variables The options available for each Source can vary greatly, but a basic rule of thumb we recommend is to set values like Resolution and Frame Rate to match the Devie Default or OBS Settings.
OBS Virtual Camera
Virtual Camera Explained
OBS is not only capable of streaming your audio and video to other platforms, it can also organise your Scenes and act as a Virtual Webcam.
This will make your OBS Scenes visible to a browser, and by extension, the Webtron Dashboard.
For example, when you’re setting up a Stream in the Clerking Console, browsers will ask you permission to use your Camera, and Firefox in particular will ask you which Camera you would like to use. OBS’ Virtual Camera will appear as part of your Camera devices list:
If you select OBS Virtual Camera as your Camera source, you can then switch Scenes in OBS and your stream will reflect that change without having to Remove Feed and republish with a different camera source.
OBS Virtual Camera will be added to your device’s Cameras list after you have installed and opened OBS for the first time.
Start Virtual Camera
Once you’ve organised your Scenes and Sources, at the bottom-right of the OBS window, click Start Virtual Camera:
If you don’t hit Start Virtual Camera or OBS crashes, your stream will display the OBS Splash Screen:
Setting up Hotkeys in OBS
Whilst scenes can be switched between with a simple left-click, if you need to switch Scenes as seamlessly and quickly as possible, we recommend using a combination of Hotkeys and a keyboard Numpad.
At the bottom-right of your OBS window, click Settings, then click the Hotkeys option in the sidebar:
This will list off every action that can be assigned to a Hotkey, scroll down until you see your Scenes listed:
Each Scene will have it’s own bundle of Hotkey options, to keep things simple, we recommend using only the Switch to scene option. Click on the field next to Switch to scene, and then press a corresponding Numpad button, then click Apply at the bottom-right of the window:
This will assign that number key to that scene, pressing that number will switch to and make that Scene visible in your OBS Virtual Camera and Stream:
Repeat this process for each Scene that you have created.
OBS – Setting up multiple Sources and Virtual Camera
This guide covers how to set up new Scenes (Sources), the Virtual Camera and Hotkeys in Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).
If you haven’t discussed using OBS with us yet, please do so before proceeding with this guide.
Setting your Resolution in OBS
Before we begin, if you haven’t already been through the initial setup of OBS, skipped it by mistake or can’t remember, our recommend settings are:
Resolution: 1920×1080 (1080p) (for both Base and Output)
Downscale Filter: Lanczos
Common FPS Values: 60
To check or use these settings, click the Settings button at the bottom-right of OBS, then click Video in the settings sidebar:
The maximum resolution and frame rate supported by your Webtron Vonage Stream is 1080p at 60FPS. Any sources that are higher than this resolution will be automatically downgraded, and the stream will also drop frames if your internet connection cannot maintain a stable bitrate.
Setting up Scenes in OBS
Creating New Scenes
Scenes in OBS are how you organise your visual sources (Cameras, Splash Screens, Video File Playback etc.). For each Source you want to use, create a Scene.
To create a new Source, look to the bottom-left of your OBS window, then click on the button at the bottom-left of the Scenes panel:
Give your Scene a distinct name (we recommend naming it based on it’s intended source or use, i.e. Camera or Main Feed), then click OK:
Repeat as needed.
Adding new Sources to Scenes
Next to the Scenes panel, you’ll find your Sources panel. Your Sources are devices or files that can be added to your selected Scene. Click on the button at the bottom-left of the Sources panel, this will open a list of Source Types. For new users of OBS, we recommend using only the following:
After selecting a Source Type, giving it a name and configuring it, that Source will be automatically displayed on your stream whenever you switch to the Scene your Source belongs to in OBS.
Configuration Variables
The options available for each Source can vary greatly, but a basic rule of thumb we recommend is to set values like Resolution and Frame Rate to match the Devie Default or OBS Settings.
OBS Virtual Camera
Virtual Camera Explained
OBS is not only capable of streaming your audio and video to other platforms, it can also organise your Scenes and act as a Virtual Webcam.
This will make your OBS Scenes visible to a browser, and by extension, the Webtron Dashboard.
For example, when you’re setting up a Stream in the Clerking Console, browsers will ask you permission to use your Camera, and Firefox in particular will ask you which Camera you would like to use. OBS’ Virtual Camera will appear as part of your Camera devices list:
If you select OBS Virtual Camera as your Camera source, you can then switch Scenes in OBS and your stream will reflect that change without having to Remove Feed and republish with a different camera source.
OBS Virtual Camera will be added to your device’s Cameras list after you have installed and opened OBS for the first time.
Start Virtual Camera
Once you’ve organised your Scenes and Sources, at the bottom-right of the OBS window, click Start Virtual Camera:
If you don’t hit Start Virtual Camera or OBS crashes, your stream will display the OBS Splash Screen:
Setting up Hotkeys in OBS
Whilst scenes can be switched between with a simple left-click, if you need to switch Scenes as seamlessly and quickly as possible, we recommend using a combination of Hotkeys and a keyboard Numpad.
At the bottom-right of your OBS window, click Settings, then click the Hotkeys option in the sidebar:
This will list off every action that can be assigned to a Hotkey, scroll down until you see your Scenes listed:
Each Scene will have it’s own bundle of Hotkey options, to keep things simple, we recommend using only the Switch to scene option. Click on the field next to Switch to scene, and then press a corresponding Numpad button, then click Apply at the bottom-right of the window:
This will assign that number key to that scene, pressing that number will switch to and make that Scene visible in your OBS Virtual Camera and Stream:
Repeat this process for each Scene that you have created.