What is OBS Studio?
OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is free, open-source streaming and recording software used by millions worldwide — from esports teams and content creators to broadcasters and live event producers. OBS supports RTMP streaming to any platform, flexible scene composition, browser sources, audio mixing, and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
OBS is the most flexible streaming tool available: you can mix camera feeds, screen shares, graphics, overlays, and real-time data into a single broadcast. It connects natively to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, or any custom RTMP server — making it ideal for sports organisations that want full production control without expensive dedicated broadcast hardware.
What You Will Need
- OBS Studio installed on your machine (download from obsproject.com — free for Windows, macOS, Linux)
- A LIGR Live account — sign up free at ligr.live
- A match configured in LIGR (graphics theme, data source, sponsors)
- Stable internet connection (minimum 5 Mbps upload for reliable streaming)
- Camera, screen share, or media sources configured in OBS
Step-by-Step: Connecting OBS Studio to LIGR
Set Up Your Match in LIGR
Log in to LIGR Live and create a new match in your Control Room. Select your graphics theme, connect your data source (LIGR LiveScore for pitchside scoring, or an automated data feed), and configure sponsor overlays.
Enable GFX & Stream Mode
In your LIGR match settings, switch to GFX & Stream mode. This tells LIGR to accept an incoming RTMP video stream from OBS as the base layer and overlay your configured graphics in real time.
Copy Your LIGR RTMP Credentials
LIGR generates a unique RTMP URL and Stream Key for this match. Copy both — you will paste these into OBS.
Open OBS Settings & Navigate to Stream
Launch OBS Studio, click File > Settings (or press Ctrl+, on Windows/Linux, Cmd+, on macOS), then select the Stream tab on the left.
Select Custom RTMP Server
In the Stream settings, click the Service dropdown and select Custom. This opens fields for Server and Stream Key instead of platform-specific options.
Paste LIGR RTMP URL & Stream Key
Paste the LIGR RTMP URL into the Server field and the Stream Key into the Stream Key field. Double-check for any trailing spaces or typos.
Apply and Prepare Your OBS Scene
Click Apply and OK to save your stream settings. Arrange your OBS scene with camera feeds, graphics, browser sources, or overlays as you want them. OBS will send everything to LIGR.
Start Streaming
Click Start Streaming (or press Ctrl+Shift+R). OBS will push your video to LIGR. Check the LIGR Control Room to confirm the incoming feed is live.
Operate Graphics or Automate with Game Plans
Once the OBS feed arrives in LIGR, operate graphics live from the LIGR Control Room — or use LIGR Game Plans to fully automate the broadcast with pre-game sequences, live scoring triggers, sponsor ad playlists, and post-match graphics.
Stream Out to Any Platform
LIGR pushes the combined feed (OBS video + LIGR graphics) to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, your club website, or any RTMP-compatible OTT platform. Multi-stream to several destinations simultaneously.
What LIGR Adds to Your OBS Stream
Broadcast-Quality Graphics
Professional scoreboards, lower thirds, team lineups, and match clocks — fully customisable with LIGR Fuse and Rive.
Live Scoring & Data Integration
Real-time scoring via the LIGR LiveScore mobile app or automated data feeds. Every event triggers instant graphic updates.
Sponsor Monetisation
Automated sponsor ad playlists with impression tracking and reporting. Turn every stream into a revenue opportunity.
Auto-Generated Highlights
LIGR creates highlight clips from key match moments — ready for social media, club channels, and post-match packages.
Multi-Platform Streaming
Stream simultaneously to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, DAZN, or your own website — all from one LIGR output.
Full Automation with Game Plans
LIGR Game Plans run the entire broadcast autonomously — graphics, ads, highlights, and streaming — zero operators needed.
Why Stream from OBS to LIGR?
OBS gives you full control over scene composition — mix cameras, screens, media, graphics, and audio in one tool. But OBS alone can't add broadcast-quality graphics overlays, live scoring updates, sponsor ad playlists, or highlight automation. You're left with a raw composite feed that needs manual post-production or external graphics tools.
LIGR is the production layer that transforms your OBS output into a professional broadcast. Together, OBS + LIGR create a complete, fully automated sports broadcast pipeline: production in OBS, graphics & automation in LIGR, multi-platform distribution to viewers. Zero external operators required.
| Feature | OBS + LIGR | OBS Alone |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcast Graphics | ✓ Full TV-quality overlays | ✗ Browser sources only or manual plugins |
| Live Scoring | ✓ Real-time via LiveScore app | ✗ Manual text or third-party plugins |
| Sponsor Revenue | ✓ Automated ad playlists + tracking | ✗ No native monetisation |
| Highlight Clips | ✓ Auto-generated from events | ✗ Manual post-production |
| Multi-Platform Output | ✓ YouTube, Facebook, DAZN, etc. | ✗ Single platform or manual re-streaming |
| Operator Required | ✓ Zero — fully automated | Partial — manual graphics & scoring |
Tips and Troubleshooting
Bitrate & Encoder Settings
For reliable streaming to LIGR, configure OBS output bitrate based on your upload speed: use 4,000–6,000 kbps for standard definition or 6,000–10,000 kbps for HD. Go to Settings > Output > Streaming and set Bitrate accordingly. Use hardware encoders (NVENC, QuickSync) if available for better performance on multi-source setups.
Encoder Choice: x264 vs NVENC/QuickSync
OBS defaults to the x264 software encoder, which is flexible but CPU-intensive. If you have a modern GPU (NVIDIA, Intel), switch to NVENC or QuickSync in Settings > Output > Encoder for lower CPU load and better real-time performance, especially with multiple OBS sources.
Audio Configuration
OBS mixes all audio sources (microphone, game audio, music, etc.) and sends them to LIGR along with video. Ensure your audio levels are balanced in Settings > Audio — aim for peaks around –6 dB to avoid clipping. Test your audio levels before going live.
OBS Browser Source for LIGR Control Panel
You can embed the LIGR Control Room as a browser source inside OBS. Add a Browser source and point it to your LIGR match URL. This lets you operate graphics without leaving OBS, though most users prefer a separate monitor for the Control Room.
Latency
RTMP streaming adds roughly 3–5 seconds of latency between OBS and LIGR output. This is normal and expected. If you need lower latency for interactive broadcasts, consider SRT protocol (if supported by your internet and LIGR setup).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stream from OBS Studio to LIGR?
Create a match in LIGR, enable GFX & Stream mode, copy your RTMP URL and Stream Key, paste them into OBS Settings > Stream > Custom, and click Start Streaming. LIGR will receive your OBS feed and overlay graphics on top.
Can I add scoreboards to my OBS stream?
Yes. LIGR overlays professional scoreboards, lower thirds, sponsor ads, and more on top of your OBS feed — either manually operated or fully automated with Game Plans.
Does OBS Studio support RTMP streaming?
Yes. OBS has built-in RTMP support. You can stream to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, or any custom RTMP server like LIGR by selecting Custom in the Stream settings.
How do I monetise my OBS streams with graphics?
Connect your OBS stream to LIGR and use automated sponsor overlay playlists with impression tracking. Generate revenue from every broadcast without manual ad insertion or external tools.
What is the best broadcast graphics tool for OBS Studio?
LIGR is a cloud-native broadcast graphics overlay platform that connects directly to OBS via RTMP and provides TV-quality graphics, live scoring, sponsor monetisation, and full automation.
Turn OBS Studio into a Complete Broadcast Solution
Add professional graphics, live scoring, sponsor revenue, and automated production to every OBS stream — zero operators required.
Get Started Free at LIGR