Updated: 09/09/2021
Check out my YouTube video on the MOST IMPORTANT OBS settings
for quality streams! ↓
OBS is an amazing, free tool for live streaming on Twitch, Mixer and YouTube, etc! It’s also great for recording computer footage for all kinds of content. But, let’s face it, the Output and Video settings in OBS are mysterious and confusing. How do we find the Best Partner OBS Settings? This article will attempt to demystify OBS settings for Partnered Twitch streamers.
OUTPUT and VIDEO in OBS settings is the focus of this article. Everyone’s setup is different, so learning what these settings do and how to configure them will yield the best results, hopefully.
This article is for Partnered Twitch streamers. However, Twitch affiliates might find the companion article for new / affiliate streamers more suited for their needs. We’re assuming a SINGLE PC setup using an Nvidia video card. I will add Dual-PC OBS settings articles in the future.
Let’s get started on the Best Partner OBS Settings!
Output
Encoder
Encoder is the encoding engine used to render and encode video to be output a stream. There are two, primary types of encoder available to most streamers in OBS. GPU and CPU. For the sake of information – x264 uses the CPU to render and encode video and NVENC H.264 uses the GPU to encode video. Generally, This article will concentrate on GPU encoding – Nvidia NVENC H.264(new).
Note: “Enforce streaming service encoder settings” set to CHECKED is important to keep your stream from creeping too far above the 6K, recommended Twitch cap. However, if you are wanting to stream above 6K (not recommended), uncheck this box.
Rate Control
Rate control determines the type of bitrate a stream well send to Twitch. CBR = Constant Bit Rate and VBR = Variable Bit Rate. For recording video, VBR works best as it uses more power to adjust the bit rate for higher quality. However, for live streaming, this variability can cause stutters and buffering. So, for live streaming CBR usually yields the best results.
Bitrate
Bitrate is the bandwidth OBS will use to send data to the Twitch ingest servers. Twitch has a cap of 6000 kbps for bitrate. Setting bitrate to the max at 6000 kbps is optimum if Internet upload speed can handle it. In general, bitrate should never be set higher than 80% of total upload speed. This means a total Internet upload speed of 7500 kbps is needed to stream at 6000 kbps.
Note: Review this article for help in determining what your Internet’s upload speed is capable of handling.
Keyframe Interval
Twitch requires a Keyframe Interval of 2 seconds. That makes this one easy!
Preset
Preset sets the quality / performance ratio for the encoder. By default, try using the setting Quality for a good balance between a good looking stream that performs well. If you using a beefier gaming / streaming rig, Max Quality looks quite a bit better but at a cost of a heavier load on GPU. Try both and see which one works best for your rig’s capabilities.
Profile
The Profile setting determines how much CPU is used. In general, this is a good thing. Most streamers can leave this set to HIGH and be fine.
Look-ahead
The new NVENC encoder have a “smart” B-frame look-ahead feature. It doesn’t work as well as setting the Max B-Frames manually. Usually, I recommend leaving this ‘unchecked‘.
Psycho Visual Tuning
From the Nvida website: “This enables the Rate Distortion Optimization in the encoder, which greatly optimizes the way you use bitrate, improving image quality on movement. ” This is accurate, in my experience. Leave
Psycho Visual Tuning ‘checked’ to improve visual quality.
GPU
The GPU setting determines which GPU should be used for encoding. In most cases, leaving this set to 0 (zero) should be fine.
Max B-frames
If the LOOK-AHEAD option from above is ‘unchecked’, this is the option to manually set look-ahead frames. The more look-ahead frames the encoder has to sample, the better chance of a high quality frame being picked to render and encode – but at a cost of increased load on the GPU. Setting this to 4 Max B-frames gives a consistent quality result with minimal added performance hit.
Video
Base (Canvas) Resolution
Set the Base Resolution to 1920×1080 even if the game or content is a higher resolution. This sets a standard, more-readable ratio for overlays to in-game graphics.
Output (Scaled) Resolution
As you’ll notice in my recent YouTube video, I’ve changed my recommendation to streaming at 1080p 30fps for Twitch Partners for the best looking stream. However, if you just gotta stream at 60fps, read on…
If bitrate can handle 6000 kbps, streaming at 1080p is possible. However, 1920×1080 at 60 fps requires 8000 kbps bitrate to avoid excessive artifacts and pixeling when there is a lot of movement or activity on screen. So, here’s a great secret: Setting the stream to 1600×1200 helps reduce this, right? Sort of! Encoding in OBS relies on older encoding rules which have the best results when the resolution is divisible by 8. In my experience, setting the stream to 1536×864 gives a close to 1920×1080 experience (while still divisible by 8) but with clear visuals even with fast movement and many effects in a game. Try it!
Downscale Filter
Set the downscale filter to ‘Bicubic’. In my experience, this gives the sharpest, cleanest picture when scaling the output to stream. (You can set a sharpness filter on your webcam with Lanczos which works best for faces and people.)
Common FPS Values
As you’ll notice in my recent YouTube video, I’ve changed my recommendation to streaming at 1080p 30fps for Twitch Partners for the best looking stream. However, if you just gotta stream at 60fps, read on…
Utilizing the 1536×864 resolution trick mentioned above makes streaming at 60 fps a real possibility without sacrificing much visual quality. Super clear visual quality with buttery frame-rates. Success!
Happy Streaming!
Will these be the Best Partner OBS Settings? With some fine tuning and trial-and-error, you’ll be getting compliments on stream quality in no time!
