How to Connect OBS Studio and Zoom?

Open Broadcaster Software Studio is primarily used by video broadcasters to live stream videos and events. However, it can also be a great video conferencing tool that enables you to control what’s on the screen. Today, many business professionals use Zoom for hosting video meetings and look for ways to enhance their visual experience. If you are a Zoom user and searching for a way to make your video calls pixel-perfect, there is good news for you. The versatility of OBS Studio addresses your needs and allows you to connect Zoom with OBS Studio.

OBS Studio as a Video Conferencing Tool

Open Broadcaster Studio, or OBS Studio, is freeware and offers HD streaming and recording capabilities. It works well with all major operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and Mac. It places no restriction on the length of your videos, which makes it perfect for hours-long recordings and video broadcasting. It can integrate with video conferencing applications like Zoom seamlessly, thereby allowing you to extend its functionality and capabilities. All these features of OBS Studio unarguably make it a useful tool for video conferencing.

How Does the Zoom-OBS Fusion Work?

OBS is known for its vast community and support for tons of third-party plugins. As OBS is an open-source program, you can expect it to effortlessly pair up with plenty of other software applications, including video conferencing applications such as Zoom. To get things started, the pre-requisites are the latest version of OBS Studio, Zoom, and one of the many plugins that provide a virtual camera. The method outputs OBS Studio as a virtual camera and recognizes it as a video source for Zoom.

Advantages of Connecting Zoom and OBS Studio Together

• Connecting OBS Studio to Zoom allows you to broadcast high-definition videos live into your Zoom meetings.
• This way, you can record footage using your webcam and apply a host of visual mixing features available in OBS Studio to make your Zoom streams stand out.
• You can use all the features of OBS Studio that you generally use for making videos or live streaming events.
• With the picture-in-picture feature, you can broadcast your screen and yourself together to explain a complex topic to other participants in the Zoom meeting.
• You can control the quality of your live streaming, as well as apply filleters, effects, and transitions.

Taking Control of Zoom by Connecting It to OBS Studio

So now we know what OBS is, how it works with Zoom, and what are the benefits of using them together. The next step is connecting your favorite video production studio – OBS, with one of the most popular video conferencing clients – Zoom. The steps are as follows:

Configure OBS Studio

1. Launch OBS Studio.
2. Select and download the appropriate plugin based on your operating system.
3. Go to the Tools menu.
4. Find and click on the plugin you have downloaded.
5. Follow the vizard to emulate OBS output as a virtual camera.

Configure Zoom

1. In Zoom, initiate a meeting, then select a video source.
2. The new option added by your OBS plugin will appear. Select it and then click on the Start Video option.
3. The Zoom’s video will now take the input from the virtual camera, which is the output generated by OBS Studio.

Why Host Your OBS Studio in the Cloud?

Playing with plugins is fun and can open doors for endless possibilities. When it comes to OBS Studio, plugin support is endless. While OBS Studio’s integration with video conferencing tools and plugins can provide extended functionality and performance, the limited resources of your local machine may fall short. Hosing OBS Studio in the cloud sets it free from local infrastructure restrictions and makes it available on a wide range of handheld devices and average computers. Apps4Rent offers dedicated OBS hosting plans at affordable prices. Contact our hosting team available via phone, chat, and email for hosting plans inquiries.