How to Live Stream to YouTube and Facebook with OBS for Free

In this video, you can learn how to live stream to multiple places with OBS for free. Yes, you probably know that you can use restreaming services to live stream to multiple destinations using OBS. But, did you know that there is a free way to live stream to YouTube and Facebook at the same time with OBS? You can actually use the NDI plugin for OBS to connect multiple computers running OBS together. This way you can live stream the same content to multiple locations using two computers.

Steps to setting up multiple OBS computers with NDI

Step 1 – Install the NDI plugin for OBS on both computers. You can download the plugin here.
Step 2 – Next make sure that both computers are connected to the same LAN (Local Area Network).
Step 3 – In the dropdown menu for settings open up NDI Output Settings. You need to check the NDI output box and give it a name. Do this for both computers.
Step 4 – Once you have the plugin installed, you can then bring NDI sources into OBS as an input. Click the plus “+” button inside any scene and choose NDI source. Here you can choose the NDI output from another OBS computer on your network.
Step 5 – You can now start one live stream per OBS computer. In this way, you can live stream to YouTube with one computer and Facebook with another.

Considerations for live streaming with multiple computers

It’s worth noting that using a service like Restream.io will save you on bandwidth. It’s also nice that you can stream to multiple CDN (Content Delivery Networks) at the same time with only once computer. But, it’s also nice to start using NDI with multiple computers on your network. Once you have multiple OBS computers running you can now customize live streams for different audiences. For example, you could have one live stream in English and another in Spanish. Perhaps one live stream going to Facebook could include a new picture in picture video. There are many options that NDI connectivity can add to your live streaming capabilities.

Conclusion

This is the free way to stream to multiple places at once with OBS, but it does require two computers. If you only have one computer or limited bandwidth it’s best to use a restreaming service. Either way, you have now learned how to use NDI technology with OBS. NDI can be used as an output for your OBS production to connect other machines. NDI can also be used as an input for your production with other computers or cameras.

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