7 Must-Have OBS Plugins to Elevate Your Live Streaming

Are you looking for ways to enhance your live streaming experience using OBS Studio? Well, you’re in the right place!

OBS Studio is an open-source broadcasting program that lets you incorporate plugins to enhance its functionality and meet your streaming needs. However, with a plethora of plugins available, it can be overwhelming to determine which ones are best suited for your channel.

We’ve researched dozens of plugins and come up with a list of the top seven options to consider.

1. OWN3D Pro OBS Plugins

OWN3D Pro OBS Plugins is an all-in-one solution that opens up a colorful world of more than 400+ high-quality assets for OBS users. It’s designed with animated designs to match your current mood, your chosen game, the season, or the holidays.

OWN3D Pro offers a variety of features that can enhance the visual aspects of your streams. It provides Twitch Alerts with more than 200+ alert designs and sounds, Twitch Chatbot integration, Twitch Stream Labels, and 400+ Premium Overlays with 1-Click installation

The OWN3D Pro OBS Plugins can be found on the official OWN3D website. You can also download the plugins from the OBS Forums or the GitHub page. 

Pros:

• All-in-one solution with a wide range of high-quality assets
• Offers a variety of features to enhance the visual aspects of streams
• Easy to use with 1-Click installation
• Compatible with OBS 28
• Available in multiple languages: English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and French

Cons:

• Some users may find the number of options overwhelming
• Requires a stable internet connection for optimal performance
• The free version has limited features

How to Use:

• Connect your Twitch account with OWN3D.pro
• Log into your Dashboard
• Copy your license key
• Download the free OWN3D Pro OBS Plugin
• Start OBS Studio, open the plugin
• Enter your License key
• Download your preferred designs or alerts and configure countdown, donation page, and more.

2. OBS.Live Plugin by StreamElements

OBS.Live Plugin by StreamElements is a powerful tool designed to enhance the streaming experience. It’s best for streamers who want to manage their streams effectively and engage their audience more interactively.

OBS.Live is a plugin for OBS Studio that integrates all of your favorite StreamElements features directly into OBS. It’s the fastest and easiest way to manage your streams like a pro. 

The OBS.Live Plugin by StreamElements can be found on the StreamElements website. You can download it directly from the official website.

Pros:

• Offers support for plugins to create a more unique stream
• Provides an online overlay editor
• Allows for a more customizable layout with freely movable docks
• Enables easy and convenient setup
• Offers integrated stream setup for platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Trovo

Cons:

• Fewer users means less help and support
• It can be difficult to master layouts and overlays
• Requires OBS Studio for functionality

How to Use:

1. Head to the StreamElements’ OBS.Live website and download the plugin
2. Install the plugin and open OBS Studio
3. Log into your StreamElements account or your preferred streaming platform
4. Once installed and opened, you’ll see that OBS now has the Activity Feed and Chat as an OBS Dock. You can customize your layout to suit your preferences
5. You can integrate your alerts and overlays with StreamElements by using the themes gallery or the overlay manager. Customize them on the StreamElements dashboard and add them as browser sources in OBS.Live
6. Explore the other features of StreamElements, such as the chatbot, the modules, the tipping page, and the loyalty system

3. StreamFX Plugin by Xaymar

StreamFX is a plugin for OBS Studio developed by Xaymar. It’s designed to take your stream or recording to the next level by adding many new effects, filters, sources, transitions, and encoders.

StreamFX is a collection of features that extends from OBS Studio, replacing no original OBS Studio functionality. It provides a range of effects from simple ones like Blur, all the way to advanced effects like Shaders. 

This allows users to achieve higher complexity and more fancy scene layouts in OBS Studio. You can find the StreamFX plugin on the official GitHub page.

Pros:

• Adds many new effects, filters, sources, transitions, and encoders to OBS Studio
• Allows for higher complexity and more fancy scene layouts
• Provides both simple and advanced effects
• Extends from OBS Studio, replacing no original OBS Studio functionality
• Has a large user base, making it easier to find help and tutorials

Cons:

• Some users have reported that it can be complex to use
• Requires a certain level of technical knowledge to fully utilize
• Some features may not be stable and can cause issues

How to Use:

• Get the plugin from the official GitHub page.
• Follow the instructions on the GitHub page to install it.
• Make sure you have the latest version of OBS Studio.
• Right-click on a source in OBS Studio, select ‘Filters’, and add the new effects from StreamFX.
• Use 3D transform for depth, blur for focus, and explore masking and shaders for more effects

4. VST Plugins

The VST Plugin is perfect for improving your audio quality overall. It comes with several control features such as compression, microphone EQ, and control background noise. This plugin is ideal for those looking to enhance their stream’s audio quality.

VST plugins can be found across various platforms, such as official websites, and online retailers.

Pros:

• Reduce the need for expensive hardware equipment.
• Eliminate the physical space required for multiple instruments and effects units.
• Unlimited potential for sound design and experimentation.
• A vast community of users and developers ensures constant updates and help.
• Make high-quality production accessible to anyone with a computer.

Cons:

• It can be demanding on computer processing power.
• Some plugins have complex features that require time to master.
• The sheer number of available plugins can be overwhelming.

How to Use:

• Download the VST plugin and install it on your system. Ensure it’s compatible with your DAW.
• Open your DAW and locate the plugin manager or preferences. 
• Add the VST plugin to your DAW’s list of available plugins.
• Insert the VST plugin onto a track or channel in your DAW. You can then adjust settings and parameters to achieve the desired sound or effect.

5. OBS Websocket

OBS Websocket is a powerful plugin that transforms the way users interact with OBS Studio, the popular live streaming and video recording software. It’s designed for those who need real-time control over their streaming setup, whether they’re gamers, educators, or live event broadcasters. 

The plugin allows users to remotely control OBS Studio from any device on the same network, offering a level of convenience and flexibility that’s hard to match.

You can access the OBS Studio version 27 plugin from the OBS Project forum. For OBS Studio version 28 and above, the plugin is included by default, so no separate download is necessary.

Pros:

• Enables remote management of OBS Studio.
• Offers a WebSocket RPC API for advanced control.
• Included by default in OBS Studio from version 28 onwards.
• Supports cross-platform use on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
• Facilitates real-time control and automation of streaming setups.

Cons:

• Not optimized for streaming audio and video data
• Does not automatically recover terminated connections
• It may be blocked by certain corporate networks or environments

How to Use:

• If you’re using OBS Studio version 27, you can download the OBS Websocket plugin from the official OBS Project forum. For version 28 and above, the plugin is included by default.
• Once installed, you can configure the plugin by going to the ‘Tools’ menu in OBS Studio and selecting ‘obs-websocket Settings’. 
• Here, you can set up the WebSocket server settings, including the port number and authentication password.
• To connect to OBS Websocket, use client software or libraries that support the plugin’s protocol. You can find a list of compatible clients on the OBS Project forum.
• With the plugin configured, you can control OBS Studio remotely. This includes starting or stopping your stream, changing scenes, toggling the visibility of scene items, and adjusting audio source volumes.

6. OBS NDI Plugins

The OBS NDI Plugins are a game-changer for live streamers and broadcasters looking for a seamless video and audio integration solution.

OBS NDI Plugins offer a robust set of tools. Whether you’re a professional broadcaster or a passionate gamer sharing your playthroughs, these plugins can elevate your production value without the need for complex setups or expensive hardware.

The OBS NDI Plugins can be found on the OBS Project forum and GitHub. The latest version as of now is 4.13.0, and it requires OBS Studio version 30.0.0 or higher12. You can download the plugin and find detailed installation instructions on these platforms.

Pros:

• Enables high-quality audio and video streaming over IP.
• Simplifies the process of adding and managing sources in OBS.
• Reduces the need for physical hardware, lowering overall setup costs.
• Supports a wide range of NDI-compatible devices and applications.
• Facilitates real-time production with low latency, crucial for live events.

Cons:

• Requires a stable and high-bandwidth network to function optimally.
• It may introduce complexity for users unfamiliar with networking concepts.
• Limited to local network use, not suitable for remote production scenarios.

How to Use:

• Download and install the OBS NDI plugin from the OBS forums or GitHub. Ensure you have the NDI 5.0 Runtime installed on your system as well.
• In OBS, select the plus button in the sources menu and choose ‘NDI Source’. You can then name the source and select from available NDI sources on your network.
• Use the ‘NDI Output Settings’ in the Tools menu to send your main or preview output over NDI. You can also apply a special NDI filter to any source to create a dedicated NDI output.
• Once configured, your NDI sources will be discoverable on your local area network, ready for streaming or broadcasting.

7. OBS Closed Captioning Plugins

The OBS Closed Captioning Plugin stands out for its seamless integration with OBS Studio, allowing streamers to offer closed captions that are optional for viewers and work across various platforms, including live streams and VODs on PC, Android, and iOS. 

It’s designed to be fully optional for viewers, ensuring that the captions only appear when the microphone source is unmuted and active, thus maintaining the stream’s integrity and privacy.

The OBS Closed Captioning Plugins can be found on the official OBS resources page and the GitHub repository dedicated to the plugin.

Pros:

• Enhances stream accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing.
• No additional tools or websites are required for operation.
• Supports captioning all stream audio, not just a single source.
• Works live and in VODs, with no Twitch extension required.
• Text filtering with custom word and phrase removal and replacement.

Cons:

• Does not work with Streamlabs OBS as it doesn’t support third-party plugins.
• Does not support native caption output for languages with non-western character sets.
• Some users report issues with the output to text files not functioning properly.

How to Use:

• Download the plugin from the OBS resources page or the plugin’s GitHub repository.
• Install the plugin by placing the downloaded files into the OBS Studio’s installation folder.
• Restart OBS Studio and navigate to the ‘Tools’ menu to find the ‘Cloud Closed Captions’ option.
• Configure the plugin settings, such as selecting the audio source for captioning, setting the language, and adjusting the output options.
• Enable the ‘Captioning Enabled’ checkbox to activate the plugin.
• Start your live stream or recording, and the captions will appear based on the audio captured by the selected source.

Final Thoughts

OBS Studio plugins offer a treasure trove of possibilities for streamers looking to enhance their broadcasts and captivate their audience. From jazzing up visuals with stunning overlays and effects to integrating seamless closed captions and maintaining professional audio quality, these plugins empower you to create a truly immersive streaming experience.

Ready to take your streams to the next level and effortlessly create engaging highlight clips? Head over to the OBS Studio website today to explore the vast library of plugins available and discover the perfect fit for your streaming setup. 

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