How to Stream 360 Video with OBS Studio

Streaming 360-degree video using OBS Studio allows you to deliver immersive, panoramic experiences to platforms like YouTube and Facebook. While OBS Studio does not natively stitch raw 360-degree camera feeds, you can easily stream 360-degree content by feeding a pre-stitched, equirectangular video source into the software and configuring the correct output settings. This guide will walk you through the precise steps required to set up your camera, configure OBS Studio, and successfully broadcast your live 360-degree feed.

Step 1: Prepare Your 360-Degree Video Source

Before opening OBS Studio, you must ensure your camera feed is “stitched” into an equirectangular format (a flat, 2:1 aspect ratio projection of the 360-degree sphere).

• Hardware Stitching: Many modern 360 cameras (such as the Ricoh Theta or Insta360 series) offer automatic, in-camera stitching and can output a stitched feed directly via USB or HDMI.
• Software Stitching: If your camera does not stitch onboard, you must run the manufacturer’s live-stitching software on your computer. This software will capture the raw dual-lens camera feed, stitch it in real-time, and create a virtual camera input that OBS can recognize.

Step 2: Add the Video Source to OBS Studio

Once your stitched equirectangular feed is ready, import it into OBS:

1. Open OBS Studio.
2. In the Sources dock at the bottom of the screen, click the + (plus) icon.
3. Select Video Capture Device if you are streaming from a live camera, or Media Source if you are streaming a pre-recorded 360-degree video file.
4. Name the source and click OK.
5. In the device dropdown menu, select your 360-degree camera or the virtual camera driver provided by your stitching software. Click OK.

Step 3: Configure Video and Resolution Settings

360-degree video requires high resolutions to look sharp when viewers pan around. Aim for at least 1440p (2K) or 2160p (4K) resolution.

1. Go to Settings in the bottom right corner of OBS.
2. Click on the Video tab.
3. Set the Base (Canvas) Resolution to match your camera’s output resolution (typically 3840x2160 for 4K or 2560x1440 for 2K).
4. Set the Output (Scaled) Resolution to match the Base resolution to avoid downscaling.
5. Set the Common FPS Values to 30 or 60, depending on your camera’s capabilities and network bandwidth.

Step 4: Set High Bitrates for Streaming

Immersive video requires significantly more data than standard flat video. You must increase your bitrate to prevent pixelation.

1. In the Settings menu, click on the Output tab.
2. Change the Output Mode to Advanced.
3. Under the Streaming tab, set your Rate Control to CBR (Constant Bitrate).
4. Set the Bitrate according to your resolution:
   • For 4K 360 Video: 13,000 to 20,000 Kbps (requires an upload speed of at least 25-30 Mbps).
   • For 1440p 360 Video: 10,000 to 13,000 Kbps.
   • For 1080p 360 Video: 5,000 to 8,000 Kbps.
5. Set the Keyframe Interval to 2 seconds.

Step 5: Configure the Live Streaming Platform

OBS Studio sends the flat, equirectangular video to your streaming platform. The platform itself is responsible for rendering the video back into an interactive 360-degree sphere.

For YouTube Live:

1. Go to the YouTube Live Control Room.
2. Create a new stream.
3. In the stream settings, scroll down and toggle the 360° video switch to ON. (Note: YouTube requires this toggle so it knows to decode the flat video as a 360-degree space).
4. Copy your Stream Key and paste it into the Stream tab of your OBS Settings.

For Facebook Live:

1. Go to Facebook Live Producer.
2. Under the post settings, look for the 360 Video option and ensure it is enabled.
3. Copy the Stream Key and paste it into the Stream tab of your OBS Settings.

Step 6: Start the Stream

Once your settings are aligned, click Start Streaming in OBS Studio. Monitor your streaming platform’s preview window for a few moments to confirm that the flat video successfully converts into an interactive, click-and-drag 360-degree viewing experience.