How to setup your first DJ livestream to Facebook with OBS

Your first DJ livestream to Facebook with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is not difficult to set up and in this article we’ll guide you through the process. As a DJ you want to let as much people as possible hear you play. Live streaming your DJ set gives you an opportunity to broadcast your music all over the world. This is an activity we have been doing for years, one of our monthly livestreams is Friday Naadt Live. This step-by-step overview is created from our experience and explains how to set up a high quality live stream with OBS studio on Facebook using a stream server and a stream key.

What you need to livestream your DJ set

A decent laptop or computer.
The latest version of Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).
A high quality webcam like Logitech C922 Pro or a GoPro with a capture card.
Line-in jack cable for audio input into your laptop or computer.
Your DJ gear.
A Facebook artist page.
A high speed internet connection.

Setup your gear and connect it to your computer

Pick a good camera angle that shows you and your gear in the frame.
Connect your webcam or Gopro to your computer.
Connect the audio you want to broadcast with a line-in to your laptop or desktop computer.

How to setup your DJ livestream in OBS

Install and open the program Open Broadcaster Software.
In this window you’ll first add the scene. In a scene you can add all the sources you want to broadcast. Add a scene by clicking on the ‘+’ and give it a name.
Add two sources to the scene you just created.
First add your webcam by clicking on the ‘+’ in the source menu. Click on Video Capture Device. Add new and give it a name. Click ‘OK’. As a default it opens your basic webcam. You can select the camera you want to use by clicking on ‘ device’ and selecting the right one. Click OK again and you’ve added your video input.
Second, add your audio by clicking on the ‘+’ in the sources menu again. Select ‘Audio input capture’ from the options. A new window opens up. Click on ‘Device’ and select the audio input you want to use.
Now you’ve installed your devices in OBS. It’s time to connect OBS to Facebook and start your live stream.

How to connect OBS to your Facebook Livestream

Go to your Facebook artist page and click in the upper menu on ‘publishing tools’. Next you’ll click on ‘Open Creator Studio’.
Click on ‘Create post’ and select ‘Go Live’ from the dropdown menu. A new screen opens and select the ‘Connect’ tab. Facebook shows a Server URL and a Stream key. You need to ‘Copy’ the stream key.
Navigate back to OBS and click on ‘Settings’ in the right corner.
Select ‘Stream’ from the left menu. In that window you select ‘Facebook Live’ as a service. Let the server be set to Default and paste your Facebook stream key in the ‘Stream Key’ field. When you’re done, click ‘Apply’.
When you’re ready click on ‘Start streaming’.
Navigate back to Facebook to see if the signal comes through.
If it is successful, Facebook will show you a preview of how the stream will look.
If you like what you see, add a title and description to your live stream.
Click on ‘Go Live’ and you’re done.
Start your DJ set and enjoy the stream!

PRO tip: If you want to make sure you will have a recording of your DJ set, also record it in OBS by clicking on ‘Start recording’. This way, any copyright strikes or connection failures won’t hurt your performance and gives you the opportunity to share the DJ set to other platforms like Youtube.

Looking for inspiration?

Through the years we have gained a lot of experience with livestreaming and audio visual production. We practice three different concepts at the moment. If you want to see what kind of camera setups and backgrounds we use, navigate to our event page.

DJ livestream Facebook Live OBS Tutorial