Everything You Need to Know About OBS WebSockets

If you are a streamer or content creator, you must have heard of Open Broadcaster Software (OBS). It is a free and open-source software used for live streaming and recording videos. OBS has become a popular choice among streamers due to its flexibility and customization options.

One of the features that make OBS stand out is its support for WebSockets. WebSockets are a protocol that enables real-time communication between clients and servers. In this article, we will look at everything you need to know about OBS WebSockets and how they can benefit your streaming experience.

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What are WebSockets?

WebSockets are a protocol that enables real-time communication between clients and servers. Unlike HTTP, which is a request-response protocol, WebSockets allow bi-directional communication between clients and servers. This means that both the client and server can send messages to each other without having to wait for a response.

WebSockets were first introduced in 2011 as a part of HTML5. They are designed to work over TCP/IP and can be used in web browsers as well as standalone applications.

What is OBS?

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a free and open-source software used for live streaming and recording videos. It was first released in 2012 and has since become a popular choice among streamers due to its flexibility and customization options.

OBS supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. It also supports a variety of streaming platforms, such as Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook.

What is OBS WebSockets?

OBS WebSockets is a plugin for OBS that enables real-time communication between OBS and other applications. It allows developers to build custom applications that can interact with OBS in real-time.

The OBS WebSockets plugin exposes an API that developers can use to send and receive messages from OBS. This API can be used to control OBS, such as starting and stopping a stream or changing scenes, as well as to receive notifications from OBS, such as when a stream starts or stops.

How to Install OBS WebSockets

Installing OBS WebSockets is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it:

Download the OBS WebSockets plugin from the OBS website.
Extract the contents of the ZIP file to the OBS plugins folder.
Restart OBS.

Once you have installed the plugin, you can enable it by going to Tools > WebSockets Server Settings in OBS. Here, you can configure the plugin settings, such as the port number and password.

How to Use OBS WebSockets

Using OBS WebSockets requires some programming knowledge. Developers can use various programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript, and C++, to interact with OBS using the WebSockets API.

Here’s an example of how you can use Python to control OBS using the WebSockets API:

import asyncioimport websocketsasync def change_scene():async with websockets.connect('ws://localhost:4444') as websocket:await websocket.send('{"request-type":"SetCurrentScene","scene-name":"Scene 2"}')
asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(change_scene())

This code connects to the WebSockets server running on localhost:4444 and sends a message to change the current scene to “Scene 2”.

Benefits of Using OBS WebSockets

Using OBS WebSockets can provide several benefits for streamers and developers:

Real-time Communication

WebSockets enable real-time communication between OBS and other applications. This means that developers can build custom applications that can interact with OBS in real-time, such as changing scenes or starting/stopping a stream.

Customization

OBS WebSockets allows developers to build custom applications that can interact with OBS in real-time. This provides a high degree of customization and flexibility, allowing developers to create unique streaming experiences for their viewers.

Automation

Using OBS WebSockets, developers can automate various tasks in OBS, such as changing scenes or starting/stopping a stream. This can save time and effort for streamers, allowing them to focus on creating content rather than managing their stream.

FAQ

What is OBS?

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a free and open-source software used for live streaming and recording videos.

What is WebSockets?

WebSockets are a protocol that enables real-time communication between clients and servers.

What is OBS WebSockets?

OBS WebSockets is a plugin for OBS that enables real-time communication between OBS and other applications.

How do I install OBS WebSockets?

You can install OBS WebSockets by downloading the plugin from the OBS website, extracting the contents of the ZIP file to the OBS plugins folder, and restarting OBS.

How do I use OBS WebSockets?

Using OBS WebSockets requires some programming knowledge. Developers can use various programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript, and C++, to interact with OBS using the WebSockets API.