OBS Speedrun Layout with Multiple Split Timers

Creating a professional speedrun stream requires a clean, easy-to-read layout that displays your gameplay alongside your timing data. This article will show you how to set up OBS Studio for speedrunning, configure multiple split timers using software like LiveSplit, capture them seamlessly in OBS, and arrange your layout for maximum viewer engagement.

Step 1: Preparing Your Split Timers in LiveSplit

Before configuring OBS, you need to set up your timer. LiveSplit is the industry standard for speedrunning. To display multiple timers (such as your overall run time, current segment time, and world record pace):

1. Open LiveSplit, right-click the window, and select Edit Layout.
2. Click the Plus (+) button to add components.
3. Add a Timer for your main run time.
4. Add a second Timer or a Detailed Timer component. In its settings, set the comparison or timing method to track a different metric, such as “Segment Time” or “Delta.”
5. Add the Splits component to show your past and upcoming split comparisons.
6. In the Layout Settings, check Allow Transparency if you want a transparent background, or set the background to a solid color (like chroma key green) to filter it out later.

Step 2: Importing the Timers into OBS Studio

Once your layout is configured in LiveSplit, you need to bring it into OBS:

1. Open OBS Studio and navigate to your active Scene.
2. Click the Plus (+) icon under the Sources dock and select Window Capture.
3. Name the source “LiveSplit” and select the LiveSplit window from the dropdown menu.
4. Set the Capture Method to Windows 10 (1903 or agreeable). This setting natively supports LiveSplit’s alpha channel transparency.
5. If your timer background is not automatically transparent, right-click the LiveSplit source in OBS, go to Filters, add a Color Key or Chroma Key, and select your background color to filter it out.

Step 3: Arranging the Speedrun Layout

How you arrange your layout depends on the aspect ratio of the game you are playing:

• Retro Games (4:3 Aspect Ratio): This aspect ratio leaves empty space on widescreen 16:9 streams. Place your game capture on one side of the screen, and use the remaining vertical space on the opposite side to stack your webcam, main split timer, and secondary segment timers.
• Modern Games (16:9 Aspect Ratio): Since the game fills the entire screen, you should overlay your timers. Place your primary splits in a corner where they do not block crucial in-game HUD elements. Reduce the opacity of the timer background in LiveSplit to keep the gameplay visible underneath.

Step 4: Adding Multiple Independent Timers

If you need entirely independent timer windows (for example, one tracking Real Time/RTA and another tracking Game Time/IGT):

1. Create a copy of your LiveSplit folder to run two independent instances of the program.
2. Configure the first instance for RTA and the second instance for IGT in their respective settings.
3. In OBS, add two separate Window Capture sources, targeting each respective LiveSplit window.
4. Crop the captures if necessary by holding the Alt key while dragging the bounding box edges in OBS, then position them side-by-side.