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OBS Studio Setup

Beginner

Install and configure OBS Studio for streaming on KICK

~10 min

1. Install OBS Studio

1

Understand and Install OBS Studio

  1. 1What is OBS Studio? Think of it as your 'control room' that captures your game screen, webcam, and microphone, then broadcasts the video feed to KICK.com.
  2. 2Download the installer from the official website obsproject.com/download — select your OS (Windows / macOS).
  3. 3Run the installer. On first launch, the Auto-Configuration Wizard will appear — select 'Optimize for streaming, recording is secondary' so OBS auto-tunes settings for your hardware.
  4. 4Read the full beginner guide at Official OBS Studio Overview Guide.
Downloading OBS Studio installer from obsproject.com
💡

On Windows, always right-click the OBS Studio icon and select Run as administrator before streaming. This gives OBS GPU priority over background tasks, preventing game frame drops.

2. Output Settings (Encoder & Bitrate)

1

Unlock Advanced Settings & Select Your Encoder

  1. 1In OBS Studio, navigate to Settings → Output.
  2. 2Change the Output Mode dropdown from 'Simple' to Advanced to unlock precise controls.
  3. 3Under the Streaming tab, select your GPU Encoder: NVIDIA NVENC H.264 (NVIDIA GeForce RTX/GTX), AMD HW H.264 (AMD GPUs), Apple VT H.264 (Apple Silicon Macs), or x264 (software CPU encoding — no dedicated GPU).
Settings → Output — select the Encoder matching your GPU
2

Configure Bitrate & Resolution Parameters

  1. 1Rate Control: Set to CBR (Constant Bitrate) to maintain a stable stream signal.
  2. 2Keyframe Interval: Set to 2s (standard requirement for streaming platforms).
  3. 3Preset: Select P5: Slow (Good Quality) or Quality.
  4. 4Navigate to Settings → Video. Set Base (Canvas) Resolution to match your monitor (e.g., 1920x1080) and set Output (Scaled) Resolution according to your target stream quality.
Rate Control, Keyframe Interval, and Bitrate configuration in OBS Studio
Settings → Video — Base and Output Resolution

📊 Stream Quality & Bitrate Comparison for KICK

QualityBitrate (Kbps)Rate ControlKeyframePresetAudioMin UploadNotes
1080p 60fps
Maximum Clarity
6,000 – 8,000CBR2sP5: Slow160 – 320 Kbps15 – 20 MbpsHigh-end PC + fiber connection
1080p 30fps
Low Hardware Load
4,500 – 6,000CBR2sP4: Medium160 Kbps10 – 15 MbpsJust Chatting or slow-paced games
720p 60fps
Smooth / Standard
Recommended		4,500 – 6,000CBR2sP4: Medium128 – 160 Kbps10 – 12 MbpsRecommended for beginners, mid-tier PC
720p 30fps
Entry Level
3,000 – 4,000CBR2sP3: Fast128 Kbps6 – 8 MbpsLow-spec laptop or slow upload
⚠️

Bitrate acts like pipe bandwidth — higher bitrate means clearer video. Your home internet Upload speed should always be at least 1.5× your configured bitrate to avoid dropped frames.

3. Scene & Sources

1

Create Scenes and Add Essential Sources

  1. 1Scene: Think of it as a stage layout. Click '+' in the Scenes panel to create 4 core scenes: Starting Soon, Main Gameplay, Be Right Back, and Stream Ended.
  2. 2Source: Elements placed on stage. Select Main Gameplay and click '+' in Sources to add:
  3. 3Game Capture: Captures a specific game window (most recommended — smooth and stable).
  4. 4Display Capture: Captures your entire monitor (easy setup, but be cautious of private pop-ups).
  5. 5Video Capture Device: Captures your webcam feed.
  6. 6Learn more source types at OBS Official Sources Guide.
Structural layout of Scenes and Sources in OBS Studio
2

Configure Audio Routing & Apply Noise Filters

  1. 1Go to Settings → Audio and set Mic/Auxiliary Audio to your connected microphone.
  2. 2In the Audio Mixer panel, click the 3 dots next to your mic → select Filters.
  3. 3Click '+' to add 2 crucial filters: Noise Suppression (set to RNNoise to eliminate fan/AC noise) and Limiter (set Threshold to -2.0 dB to prevent loud screams/laughter from clipping).
  4. 4Learn more about audio filters at OBS Official Audio Filters Guide.

4. Connect to KICK

1

Retrieve Stream Key & Go Live on KICK

  1. 1Open your browser and go to KICK Creator Dashboard → Settings → Stream Key.
  2. 2Copy both Stream URL and Stream Key.
  3. 3In OBS Studio, open Settings → Stream and set Service to Custom...
  4. 4Paste the Stream URL into Server (rtmps://fa723fc1b171.global-contribute.live-video.net:443/app) and paste your Stream Key into Stream Key, then click Apply.
  5. 5Click Start Streaming in OBS Studio, then switch to KICK Creator Dashboard to confirm the live video feed and audio levels.
Connecting OBS Studio via Custom RTMP Server and KICK Stream Key
⚠️

Your Stream Key is a private secret key. Never display it on screen during a stream. If accidentally leaked, go to KICK Creator Dashboard and click Reset Key immediately.

FAQ

Q

Why is my stream lagging despite having fast upload speed?

A

GPU/CPU overload is the most common cause. Lower Output Resolution to 720p60, switch Encoder Preset from P5 to P4/P3, and launch OBS Studio as Administrator.

Q

What is the maximum recommended Bitrate for KICK?

A

KICK recommends a maximum of 8,000 Kbps for 1080p 60fps. Official guidelines are available at KICK Help Center.

References
Download OBS Studioobsproject.com/downloadOBS Studio Overview Guideobsproject.com/wiki/OBS-Studio-OverviewOBS Sources Guideobsproject.com/kb/sources-guideOBS Audio Filters Guideobsproject.com/kb/filters-guideKICK Creator Dashboard – Stream Keydashboard.kick.com/channel/streamKICK Help Centerhelp.kick.com
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