How to add a webcam to Open Broadcaster Software

In this video, Paul shows us how to add a webcam to OBS and talks about the ability to create fun dynamic OBS presentations with multiple cameras. If you have been following along with our complete 2019 OBS video production course, you know that these cameras are set up in scenes inside open broadcaster software. The OBS software organizes all of our cameras and media inputs into switchable production scenes that we can assign hotkeys. With the included transition effects inside OBS we can switch between multiple cameras using this PC or Mac-based live streaming software.

As we have uncovered throughout this Open Broadcaster Software live streaming software course, you can create high definition video recordings as well as live streams to your favorite content delivery network (CDN) with this software. You can even control PTZOptics pan, tilt, and zoom cameras with a free OBS plugin.

OBS Video Capture Device Input

The OBS “Video Capture Device” input allows users to bring in any live video devices available to your operating system. You can have Open Broadcaster Software installed on either Mac, PC or Linux computer. All video drivers that are available to the computers operating systems should be available to the OBS software in a selection menu. Once  you make a live video capture device selection you will be able to view the live video feed coming through an OBS preview screen.

Once your live webcam feed has been selected inside OBS you can choose to “configure your video”. This option may provide different information depending on whether you are using the Windows or Mac version of OBS. In the Windows version of Open Broadcaster Software, you can adjust most webcam settings available using the UVC (Universal Video Codec) video drivers. Most cameras will allow OBS to access UVC camera settings that include brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, sharpness, gamma, white balance, and backlight compensation. These camera settings may not be available on all USB video devices. Keep in mind that most USB capture cards cannot change camera settings. Once you have selected your webcam inside the video capture device properties window in OBS you can choose a camera resolution. For this video presentation, we have chosen 1920x1080p video resolution at 30 fps (frames per second).

Picture in Picture Webcam in OBS

Finally, in this presentation, we review how to set up and lock a picture in picture multiple camera setup in OBS. First all, you should create a scene inside OBS where you can store two camera inputs. For this video tutorial, we will create an OBS preset called “Webcam Picture in Picture.” Inside this OBS scene, we will add one new video capture device and one existing video capture device. Keep in mind that you should always have access to additional video inputs inside your OBS scenes that are already part of other scenes inside OBS. Therefore you can create multiple layouts of the same video resources OBS has access to in other scenes. This is an intelligent way for your OBS system to only select the video audio sources to process that you require in your video production processing. Now that you have both video camera inputs inside the same OBS scene you can rearange their position in the layer stack and resize each input. Perhaps you want to keep one video feed full screen and move a layer on top of our backgroung to be a picture in picture sytle layout. If that’s what you want to do with OBS, this is the right video tutorial and course for you! Thanks for checking this out and don’t forget to subscribe to the StreamGeeks.

Check out our other articles about Open Broadcaster Software below:

• Updated - How to connect OBS and Zoom with VoiceMeeter and Headphone Monitoring - here.
• How to connect OBS with Zoom, here.
• What's new with OBS 26, here.
• OBS vs vMix a complete review here.
• How to use Zoom for Church Meetings and Worship here.
• Here are the top 10 OBS features you need to know about
• Getting dropped frames in OBS. Here are some new feature to help with that. 
• Take a look at OBS 24 and all the new feature here. 
• Increase your productivity with OBS and learn how to use hotkeys here
• Learn how to setup animated stinger transitions in OBS here
• Learn how to install the NDI plugin for OBS (and why you should) here
• Learn more about the latest OBS user interface (UPDATED for 2019) here
• Make your audio in OBS sound great with these VST 2 plugins here
• Learn how to fix the most common OBS issues! Audio and Video Sync! here
• Learn how to use OBS 20+ here
• Learn how to use NDI Cameras with OBS here
• Learn how to use the OBS Multiview here
• Learn OBS quickly with our ZERO to SIXTY tutorial video here
• Learn more about OBS settings and optimizing your settings for live streaming here 
• Learn how to record videos using OBS here
• New OBS 24 feature allows broadcasters the ability to pause and restart video recordings. Learn more here.
• Learn how to add live annotations over your OBS productions here
• Learn how to add a webcam and set up a picture in picture scene inside OBS here
• Learn how to crop and rotate inputs inside OBS here
• Learn how to use color correction tools and LUTs here
• Learn the best way to connect OBS and Zoom here
• Learn how to connect OBS and Teams here
• Learn how to use countdown timers in Teams here
• Learn where OBS recordings are saved here
• Learn how to live stream to YouTube and Facebook with OBS for free here
• Learn about OBS 27's new features here