How to stream your matches live with OBS?

Streaming a match live is not just about sending a video feed over the Internet.

Depending on the club's needs, it may be necessary to add a scoreboard, a timer, team logos, a sponsor banner, live commentary, or multiple video sources.

This is where software like OBS can become useful.

What is OBS?

OBS is a free and open-source software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is used to prepare and broadcast a video production from a computer. It allows you to combine multiple elements into a single scene:

• the main match video;
• a second camera;
• a microphone or audio mixer;
• a scoreboard and timer;
• team and sponsor logos;
• a waiting video or ending screen.

OBS collects the different sources, combines them, and generates a video stream that is sent to a compatible streaming platform. It therefore acts as a compact video production studio.

https://obsproject.com

Is OBS required to stream a match?

No. With a solution like PIX4TEAM 2, it is possible to automatically film a match and stream directly to a compatible platform, without using a computer running OBS.

OBS becomes particularly useful when the club wants to create a more customized production.

Two possible setups

When should you use OBS?

Add custom graphics

The club can include its logo, team colors, the competition name, and the sponsors associated with the match.

Add multiple cameras

One main camera can film the field while another source shows the bench, the stands, the scoreboard, or interviews.

Add live commentary

The computer can receive audio from a microphone or an audio mixer to provide live commentary.

Display a scoreboard or timer

The scoreboard can be integrated into the scene and updated manually during the match or fed automatically by a compatible external system.

Prepare multiple scenes

Waiting screen, match introduction, halftime, interviews, or ending screen: the live production operator can switch between layouts at the right moment.

How do you get the camera feed into OBS?

A computer generally cannot receive an HDMI signal directly as if it were a webcam. You need a HDMI to USB capture device.

https://shop.movensee.com/en/products/accessories/magewell-usb-capture-hdmi-gen-2.html

In OBS, the capture device appears as a video source. It can then be added to a scene, resized, and combined with other graphics or audio elements.

Using the camera with PIX4TEAM 2 and OBS at the same time

When the camera is connected to the robot, an HDMI splitter allows the video signal to be sent simultaneously to PIX4TEAM 2 and to the computer.

What equipment do you need?

• PIX4TEAM 2;
• a compatible camera;
• a reliable computer;
• OBS installed and configured;
• an HDMI to USB capture device;
• an HDMI splitter if required;
• appropriate HDMI cables;
• a microphone or audio interface;
• a stable Internet connection;
• a reliable power supply for each device.

Which Internet connection should you use?

The quality of a live stream depends heavily on the upload speed, meaning the connection's ability to send the video to the streaming platform.

The recommended order is usually as follows:

1. Ethernet connected to fiber or a reliable router;
2. a dedicated 4G or 5G router with an Ethernet output;
3. a stable Wi-Fi network;
4. a mobile hotspot, after performing a real-world test.

An Ethernet cable secures the local connection, but it cannot compensate for an insufficient Internet connection.

Test under real conditions

An empty venue in the morning does not necessarily reflect match-day conditions. As the stands fill up, the mobile network or Wi-Fi may become more congested.

Perform a test:

• at the exact installation location;
• at a time close to the actual match;
• using the same router and cables;
• with the planned resolution;
• for a sufficiently long duration.

Streaming from OBS to a platform

The streaming platform generally provides a server address and a stream key. These details are entered in the OBS settings.

OBS or direct streaming: which solution should you choose?

Choose direct streaming from PIX4TEAM 2 if you are looking for a quick setup, a single camera, and minimal configuration.

Choose OBS if you want multiple video sources, live commentary, advanced graphics, and multiple scenes.

The two approaches complement each other. PIX4TEAM 2 automates action tracking, while OBS can enhance the production with a more advanced live broadcast.