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Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)

 3.5/5 (1)

Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming. Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) lets you show multiple sources in your virtual classroom. You can show your webcam, a PowerPoint, a Word Document, and Zoom Chatroom all at the same time. https://obsproject.com/

Full Description

How to install:
1) Go to https://obsproject.com/
2) click on "Download", select your operating system (windows, mac, or Linux).
3)Click on "Download Installer"
4) Open the .exe file you just downloaded by double-clicking on it. If it asks you to make changes to your devices, click "yes"
5) When the installer opens, click "Next" "Next" "Install" then "Finish"
6) Select "I will only be using the Virtual Camera", click "Next", click "Apply Settings"

How to Set up a Scene:
Step 1) Click + under Scenes. Name it whatever you like.
Step 2) Click + under Sources. Select Window Capture. Name it “PowerPoint” “Word” “Internet” or “Calculator”
Step 3) Click Window drop down menu and select either {POWERPNT.EXE WINWORD.EXE chrome.exe Calculator.exe}. Resize and place how you want it.
Step 4) Click + under Sources. Select Video Capture Device. Name it “Webcam”.
Step 5) Keep the default settings. Resize and place how you want it.

How to Use OBS with Zoom:
Step 1) Right Click the OBS Display. Select Windowed Projector (Preview). Maximize this window.
Step 2) In Zoom, Unmute Audio but do not Start Video. Click Share Screen, Select Windowed Projector.
Note: The reason we use Share Screen instead of OBS Virtual Camera is because of Resolution issues, the Virtual Camera does not work very well for reading text.

(How to) Include a Green Screen: Right-click Webcam under Sources, Select Filters. Click + under Effect Filters, Select Chroma Key, Keep default settings

(How to) Change Source to be in Front or Behind another: Right-click the Source, Select Order. Move Up or Move to Top to place in Front of all other sources. Move Down or Move to Bottom to place Behind all other sources.

(How to) Include a Moving Image Background: Download the moving background as a GIF file. Click + Under Sources, Select Media Source. Next to Local File click Browse and find the GIF. Check the box next to Loop, keep all other settings the same. Resize the image to fit full screen, right click Order, Send to Bottom.

(How to) Include Audio: There is a way to include desktop audio, but it will be easier to do this through Zoom instead of OBS.

License

Free to Use

Subjects

Education, General

1 Comment

  1. skrajeski

    Very helpful for my virtual classroom! There is a learning curve for the advanced features, but the basic setup is easy to use.

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