Setting up keyboard shortcuts in Streamlabs OBS

Setting up hotkeys in Streamlabs OBS can significantly increase your effectiveness while streaming. With the right hotkeys, you can perform actions quickly and easily without interrupting the game or the broadcast. In this guide, I will show you how to optimally customize the key commands for your workflow. Let's go through the individual steps together.

Key Insights

• Hotkeys are useful for speeding up operation.
• Avoid confusion by using the same keys for starting and stopping streams or recordings.
• Use keys that are not used in your game, such as F1 to F12.
• Key combinations can also be created to link actions.

Step-by-Step Guide

Start by opening Streamlabs OBS and clicking on the gear icon to open the settings. Here you will find the "Key Commands" section, which allows you to set your hotkeys.

For starting the stream, you can set the F2 key, for example. This will start the stream as soon as you press F2. It is advisable to use the same key for stopping the stream. This ensures you won't get confused - a common problem when different keys are used for similar actions.

Avoid keys that you frequently use in online games, such as letter keys. An unexpected activation could disrupt your stream. Instead, keys like F1 to F12 are sensible, as they are not occupied in most games.

Additionally, you can set up key combinations. For example, if you press CTRL + F, you can establish a combination that offers you more flexibility. However, it is important that you do not use too many combinations, as this reduces clarity.

Next, assign hotkeys for starting and stopping recordings. Here you can also use the F1 key to start the recording and press F1 again to stop it. This keeps everything clearly structured.

If you also use the Studio Mode, you might use F2 and F3 for its control. This allows you to switch between edited and live scenes without going through the tedious clicking process.

Another practical hotkey is helpful for instant replays. Set a hotkey to save replays if you want to capture a great gaming moment. Be sure to activate the replay buffer by selecting the option in the general settings.

Don't forget to set the duration for the replay clips under "Output" – for example, the last 20 seconds. Add the replay buffer to the sources so you can access the clips stored during the stream.

A very useful hotkey is the ability to activate the overlay toggle mode. Do not set a key combination for this, but use other hotkeys to turn the overlay and status on or off separately.

To engage with your viewers, you can also set up a function for the Twitch chat. This allows you to display and edit the chat while you are streaming. It is practical to respond to your viewers without disturbing the stream.

Furthermore, you can define a hotkey for performance mode. If your CPU usage is too high, this helps to make your stream run smoother, even if it means you cannot see your stream's preview.

Another important feature is the alerts. You can assign key commands to easily skip alerts when you are in the stream. This allows you to maintain control over the content presented to your viewers.

An advanced feature also states that you can set hotkeys for individual sources in a scene. This means you can selectively show and hide elements like the alert box or your webcam by simply pressing the corresponding keys.

Use these practices to better customize the interface of Streamlabs OBS for yourself. Remember that each hotkey has a specific function to optimize your workflow and facilitate interaction with your audience.

Also set up hotkeys for scene transitions so you can easily switch between different stream layouts. This ensures a professional appearance and a smooth flow of your stream.

Summary - Setting Up Shortcuts in Streamlabs OBS

In this guide, you have learned how to set up shortcuts in Streamlabs OBS to significantly enhance your streaming experience. You now know which keys are useful and how to assign them for different functions to save time and effort. Experiment with the various settings to find out what best suits your style.