How to Set Up OBS DeckLink Clean Feed Output

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to configure a secondary “Clean Feed” output in OBS Studio using a Blackmagic Design DeckLink card. A clean feed allows you to output your raw video mix or a specific source to external monitors, recorders, or vision mixers without any of the overlays, alerts, or user interface elements present on your main stream or recording.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure that you have your Blackmagic Design DeckLink card installed, the latest Blackmagic Desktop Video drivers installed on your operating system, and OBS Studio open. The DeckLink output tool is natively integrated into modern versions of OBS Studio.

  1. In OBS Studio, navigate to the top menu bar.
  2. Click on Tools.
  3. Select DeckLink Output from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Configure the Clean Feed Source

  1. In the DeckLink Output settings window, locate the Source dropdown menu.
  2. To output a “Clean Feed” (a feed without stream overlays, alerts, or graphics), select the specific Scene or Source you want to send to your external device (e.g., your raw camera scene or gameplay source) instead of selecting “Program”.
  1. Click the Device dropdown menu.
  2. Select the specific DeckLink card or output port you wish to use for this feed.

Step 4: Match Video and Audio Settings

  1. Click the Video Format dropdown and select the resolution and frame rate that matches your OBS video canvas settings and the capabilities of your external hardware (for example, 1080p at 59.94 fps).
  2. Set the Audio Channels configuration to match your destination hardware’s requirements (typically Stereo or 8-channel).

Step 5: Activate the Output

  1. Check the box for Start on launch if you want this clean feed to activate automatically every time you open OBS Studio.
  2. Click the Start button to begin broadcasting the clean feed to your DeckLink device.
  3. Click Close to save your settings and return to the main OBS interface.