How Call in Studio Works / FAQ

How do I use OBS to stream my show to YouTube using Call in Studio?

OBS Studio is a free, open-source app (macOS, Windows, Linux) for livestreaming and recording. It lets you combine your microphone, camera, screen, graphics, music, and other media into one broadcast, then send that stream to services like YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitch, or any platform that gives you a stream key.

Download OBS from the official site: obsproject.com/download, install it, and open OBS Studio.

To use OBS with Call in Studio, you will usually run two things at the same time: Call in Studio for your live call-in audio, and OBS for the actual livestream.

A basic setup with OBS will entail:

1. Select a 'Scene' to configure. By default OBS has an empty scene called 'Scene', which you will click on, then under 'Sources' click the '+' button to add the desired sources.

   — Add an Audio Input Capture source and click "OK". A new window will show you a 'Device' list and you can select your input audio device (e.g., 'MacBook Pro Microphone', or perhaps a USB Mic or Mixer you have plugged into your computer) and click 'OK'.

   — Add a 'Video Capture Device' and click "OK". A new window will show you a 'Device' list and select your video device (e.g., 'FaceTime HD Camera') and click "OK".

   — Add a 'macOS Audio Capture' device and click "OK". A new window will show you a "Method" option and select "Application Audio Capture" and under "Application" and select the browser application you use with Call in Studio (e.g., Google Chrome, Safari, etc.). Note: Any audio coming out of this application will be included in your stream/recording.

2. Configure your Broadcast/Recording options. This is where you will configure streaming to YouTube, Facebook Live, etc., or configure your local recording options. Under 'Controls' click 'Manage Broadcast'. Follow the instructions on the screen for starting a new broadcast (e.g., with your YouTube account), or consult ChatGPT or search Google for additional instructions if needed.

3. Connect to Call in Studio and start the WebRTC Host Line connection.

   — Using your chosen browser (Chrome, Safari, etc) from above, log into Call in Studio and start your show. On the Call in Studio main console, click 'WebRTC Host Connection' button. This will open a new window; click 'Ready' then under 'Audio Devices' select the 'Microphone' device you wish (most likely the same input device you configured in OBS).

Now, your mic input will be sent to both Call in Studio and OBS for broadcast. Caller audio comes out of your browser and will be routed into OBS via the Audio Capture Device source. Click 'Connect' and then start your broadcast in OBS. Leave the Call in Studio WebRTC Host Audio window open and connected for the entire time you wish to interact with callers from Call in Studio.

This setup works well for a one-person broadcast studio.

ADVANCED: If you have multiple audio sources that you want Call in Studio callers to hear, such as a second microphone, a mixer, or audio from another app like FaceTime, you may need a virtual audio routing app such as Loopback or BlackHole (macOS), or VB-CABLE or Voicemeeter (Windows). These tools let you create a virtual microphone device that combines several audio sources into one input. Select that virtual device as the microphone in the Call in Studio WebRTC Host Audio window and, if desired, as an audio source in OBS. Do not include the Call in Studio browser audio in that virtual microphone mix. Caller audio should go to OBS and your headphones, but it should not be sent back into Call in Studio. That mix-minus setup prevents echo and feedback.

Important: keep the Call in Studio WebRTC audio window open while streaming. If that window is closed, refreshed, muted, or blocked from microphone access, your Call in Studio audio connection may drop.