OBS Direct-Take Switcher

This page describes how to turn OBS into a video and audio swtcher using hotkeys. It is for those of us who are accustomed to conventional video switchers.

You should first familiarize yourself with configuring hotkeys in OBS.

This configuration works in OBS's Studio mode. There is a window on the left which acts as a "preset" monitor, and a monitor on the right which acts as a "program" monitor.

As I have configured it, the number keys from ` to 0 will act as a "program" bus. Once scenes have been assigned, pressing these keys will immediately take a scene. The keys from Esc to F12 act as a "preset" bus. Typically, the ` and Esc keys are assigned to black.

Before operation, you must first "initialize" Studio mode by executing a transition using the Transition button in the main window located between the Preset and Program windows.

In the Hotkeys configuration window, perform the following steps:

using the "+" buttons, add fields below "Quick Transition". Add one field for each key to be used on the direct-take bus . Enter the hotkeys you wish to use in the direct-take bus starting with ` and adding 1, 2, 3, etc.

For each scene, enter a numeric key (program bus) in the"Switch to Scene" field.

Enter a function key (preset bus) in the unlabeled field below "Switch to Scene".

Close the Hotkeys configuration window.

In the Transition field, select "Enter". This enables fades (dissolves) or other transitions to be used as well as cuts.

In the main OBS window, select Cut as the Quick Transition type. This enables the direct-take keys.

This technique sets up the ESC and function keys as a preset bus. Pressing any of these keys will preset the associated scene, i.e. it will put it in the "preset" (left) window without putting it on "program". It also sets up the "Enter" key to execute the transition of your choice. In this example we have set up the "Enter" key to execute a fade (dissolve).

I have set up my scenes as follows. I have set up a color source as black. Like on video switchers, black is associated with the ` key (to the left of "1") on the program (direct-take) bus, and with the ESC key on the preset bus. Any scene associated with a camera also has my USB audio interface as part of the scene. Any scene without a camera, such as black, has no audio associated with it.

In addition, perform the following steps:

Check "Lock Preview" in Edit menu.

Under Transition settings, set to swap program and preset.

SCENE 1: Black (no audio); assigned to ` on program, ESC on preset

SCENE 2: Webcam #1 + Audio interface; assigned to "1" on program, F1 on preset

SCENE 3: Webcam #2 + Audio interface; assigned to "2" on program, F2 on preset

Enter key: executes dissolve (fade) from preset to program (use the program bus if a cut is desired).