Uscreen offers multiple ways to live stream, including our RTMP option for creators who want more control over their production.

This guide will help you set up a professional live stream using streaming software like OBS Studio, a free, open-source, and available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

If you prefer a simpler solution, we recommend using Uscreen Live Studio.

📺 Using a different tool? StreamYard, Wirecast, vMix, Restream, and others all connect to Uscreen the same way.

📝 NOTE: Uscreen provides the stream key, player, and CDN delivery. Your encoding setup, audio/video equipment, and internet connection are your responsibility. Our support team can help with Uscreen-side issues (event setup, stream key, player behavior), but cannot configure or troubleshoot OBS Studio or other streaming software.

Step 1: Set Up Your Live Event in Uscreen

Navigate to Content > Live Streaming
Click Add New
Select Stream Software | RTMP
Fill in your event details:
- Title and Description
- Categories and Author
- Thumbnail (recommended: 1280×720px)
- Start Date and Time
- Purchase and Access Options
Enable any engagement features:
- Live Chat: allows viewers to interact during your stream
- Donations: accepts contributions (requires Live Chat to be enabled)
- Rewind: lets viewers rewind up to 60 seconds
Set Visibility to Published
Click Save Changes

💡 TIP: Double-check your Access settings before going live to ensure the right audience can view your stream.

Step 2: Copy Your Stream Key (Important)

In the Live Stream editor, locate the RTMP section:

Copy your Stream URL
Copy your Stream Key by clicking Copy Key

📝 NOTE: Stream Keys can be reused for future events. Wait at least 5 minutes between events when reusing the same key. Also, keep your Stream Key private. Anyone with this key can stream to your event.

Step 3: Configure Your Streaming Software

What is OBS Studio?

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free, open-source recording and live-streaming application available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It works like a switchboard, letting you combine multiple audio and video sources into a single broadcast.

With OBS, you can add overlays and transitions, switch between camera angles, share your screen, include custom graphics, and mix audio with precision.

Get OBS Studio

📚 New to OBS? Check out the OBS Studio Quickstart Guide before connecting to Uscreen.

OBS Studio

Open OBS and click Settings
Navigate to the Stream tab
Under Service, click Show All and select Uscreen
Paste your Stream Key in the designated field
Click OK to save

Streaming Software Quick Reference

If you're using a different streaming application, locate the Custom RTMP or Custom Streaming Server settings and enter your Uscreen Stream URL and Stream Key.

🔗 Learn more about Technical Requirements & Recommended Settings

Tool	RTMP Settings Location
StreamYard	Settings > Destinations > Add a Destination > Custom RTMP
Wirecast	Output > Output Settings > Custom RTMP
vMix	Settings > Streaming > Custom Streaming Server
Restream	Channel > Add Channel > Custom RTMP
XSplit	Broadcast > Set up a new output > Custom RTMP
Zoom (via RTMP)	See Live Stream with Zoom
ScaleEngine	Contact ScaleEngine for RTMP configuration

ℹ️ INFO: Copy your Stream URL and Stream Key from Uscreen, paste them into your software's custom RTMP output settings, and you're connected.

Step 4: Set Up Your Scene (OBS)

In the OBS main window:

Click the ➕ icon in the Sources panel
Select your stream input source (e.g., Video Capture Device for a webcam)
Add any additional sources (microphone, images, screen capture, etc.)
Arrange your sources as desired

💡 TIP: Toggle the eye icon to show/hide sources. Drag and resize sources in the preview to position them.

Step 5: Test Your Stream

Always test before going live:

In OBS, click Start Streaming
In Uscreen, navigate to Content > Live Streaming, select your event
In the RTMP section, click Test Player
Wait at least 60 seconds to see your content in the test player

💡 TIP: Run a test stream at least 5 minutes before your actual event to troubleshoot any issues without it being visible to your audience.

Step 6: Go Live

In OBS, click Start Streaming
In Uscreen, click Start Live Stream
Your stream is now live and visible to your audience

💡 TIP: Start OBS 30–60 seconds before clicking Start Live Stream in Uscreen to prevent viewers from seeing a black screen.

Step 7: End the Stream

In Uscreen, click Finish Event
In OBS, click Stop Streaming

⚠️ WARNING: Make sure to stop the stream in both Uscreen and OBS (or your streaming software). If you only stop one, the system will continue creating recording fragments.

After Your Stream

Your recording is automatically processed and saved
Navigate to Content > Videos to find the recording (initially unpublished)
Edit or trim the recording before publishing to your catalog
Use the Replace option to swap in an edited version

🔗 Learn more about Replacing a Video

Recommended Encoding Settings

For optimal quality, use these settings in your streaming software:

Quality	Resolution	Bitrate	Keyframe Interval	Min. Upload Speed
Great	1080p 30fps	5,000 kbps	2 seconds	7.5 Mbps
Better	720p 30fps	3,500 kbps	2 seconds	5 Mbps
Decent	480p 30fps	1,000 kbps	5 seconds	3.5 Mbps

Video Codec: H.264 (Main Profile)
FPS: 30 or 60 (Uscreen is optimized for these frame rates)

For full encoding settings that apply to all tools:

Live Streaming Specifications

Multi-Camera Streaming

📹 Want to stream with more than one camera? OBS makes this straightforward, and it's free.

How it Works in OBS

OBS uses two key concepts: Sources (your individual inputs) and Scenes (arrangements of those sources).

For multi-camera streaming, you'll add each camera as a separate Video Capture Device source, then build scenes around them.

Adding multiple cameras:

In the Sources panel, click ➕ and select Video Capture Device
Name it clearly (e.g., Camera 1 – Wide, Camera 2 – Close-up)
Select your camera from the Device dropdown and click OK
Repeat for each additional camera

Setting up scenes for camera switching:

In the Scenes panel, click ➕ to create a new scene (e.g., Wide Shot, Close-Up, Picture-in-Picture)
Add the relevant camera source(s) to each scene
For a picture-in-picture layout: add both cameras to one scene, resize the secondary camera to a smaller overlay, and position it in a corner
During your stream, click between scenes in the Scenes panel to switch camera angles live

💡 TIP: Enable Studio Mode (click Studio Mode in the Controls panel) to preview your next scene before switching, so your audience never sees an accidental cut.

Bring in a Remote Camera or Guest (VDO.Ninja)

If your second camera is on a phone, in a remote location, or with a guest in another city, VDO.Ninja lets you pull that feed directly into OBS over the browser, and no software install is required on the remote end.

Get VDO Ninja

Go to VDO.Ninja website and create a room link to share with your guest or the second device
In OBS, add a Browser Source and paste the VDO.Ninja output URL
Resize and position it like any other source

ℹ️ INFO: VDO.Ninja is free and peer-to-peer. Quality depends on both parties' network connections.

Professional options

If you need more advanced switching, ISO recording, or hardware integration, Wirecast and vMix are purpose-built for multi-camera production. Both premium apps can also connect to Uscreen via custom RTMP.

📝 NOTE: Multi-camera setup and switching are handled entirely within your streaming software. Uscreen receives a single composed stream, and the camera switching happens on your end before it reaches us.

FAQs

Can I use StreamYard, Wirecast, or vMix instead of OBS?

Yes. Any software that supports a custom RTMP output can connect to Uscreen.

What if my streaming software isn't listed?

Look for a Custom RTMP, Custom Streaming Server, or Custom Destination option in your software's output or broadcast settings. Enter your Uscreen Stream URL and Stream Key there.

Can I add graphics, overlays, and transitions?

Yes. OBS and most professional streaming tools support custom graphics, lower thirds, transitions, and other production elements. These are configured entirely within your streaming software.

What's the difference between RTMP streaming and Uscreen Live Studio?

RTMP streaming gives you full control over your production: multiple cameras, overlays, advanced audio mixing, but requires external software. Uscreen Live Studio is simpler and browser-based, but has fewer customization options.

Can I stream to multiple platforms at once?

Yes, using a multistreaming service like Restream or StreamYard. Configure your software to stream to the multistreaming service, which then distributes to Uscreen and other platforms simultaneously.

What's the difference between "Start Streaming" in OBS and "Start Live Stream" in Uscreen?

"Start Streaming" in OBS sends the video signal to Uscreen. "Start Live Stream" in Uscreen makes the stream visible to your audience. Always start OBS first, then Uscreen.