How to livestream on instagram with obs


Stream to Instagram live with Streamon and OBS Studio from your PC

Learn how to start a live stream to Instagram live from you Windows/Linux/MacOS computer with OBS Studio or any broadcasting software.

Instagram is a great platform for artists, creators, businessess because of it's huge user base. Getting your brand out there on Instagram means you have to make sure your audience are enganged. There are a lot of different ways to put your content out there on Instagram and create a brand profile. Instagram live is a feature which helps Instagram users to go live to their followers, but here's the catch. Instagram live only works on your phone and it only supports streaming through their official mobile app.

How can I go live on Instagram from my PC/Laptop?

You have your digital cameras, sound system and a high-end PC setup in your studio, or you simply want to stream a YouTube video or a live video call on Instagram. But, Instagram only support streaming through their offical app. Introducing Streamon! This tiny app can help you setup live streaming to instagram live with all your studio setup right from your Windows/Linux/Mac machine.

Follow these simple steps to setup live streaming to Instagram directly from your PC.

  • You need an Instagram account
  • Download and Install Streamon Client
  • Download and Install OBS Studio

1. Setting up OBS Studio

Head over to OBS Studio's home page to download and install the Software on your system. Once the installation is complete open OBS Studio.

OBS studio start screen

Configuring a new stream profile and video output

Most of your viewers will be on a mobile device and mobile device screens are of a different aspect ration than your computer. Click on Profile menu on OBS at the top and click on New Profile and name the Profile as Instagram Streaming.

Now, Click on settings in the bottom right panel and go to the Video tab. Change the Base (canvas) Resolution to any of the 9:16 aspect ratio, in my case it's 900x1600 of my monitor. And, set the Output (scaled) resolution to 720x1280. Click on Apply and OK.

OBS video settings screen

Adding a video source

Once we configured the video output, we need to add a video source. Connect your camera, or you can simply use your PC's screencast to be used as a video source. Click on the + icon from the bottom left, second panel which says Sources and click on any Video source that you want. In here, I'll be using my PC's screen capture, you can choose your Camera's listed there. A popup will open, click on okay and you can start configuring the view.

Once you have added the view, you can click on the preview and use the handles to drag the added source to fit to the canvas.

OBS aligning a source to canvas

If you want to rotate the scene to a landscape mode so as to cover the entire canvas, right click on the preview and Transform -> Rotate 90 degree.

2. Starting a live stream with Streamon

Once you have configured your OBS studio, quickly open Streamon and sign in to your Instagram account. After logging in click on Start live stream, you will be greeted with a screen containing your Stream URL and Stream key. DONOT click on GO LIVE yet!

Streamon - Instagram live credentials

Configuring OBS Studio with stream credentials

Now, open your OBS studio instance and click on settings and go to Stream tab. In the service, make sure to select Custom and then copy paste the *Server URL/Stream URL** and the Stream Key from the Streamon app into OBS. Click on apply and ok. Now, on the bottom right panel near the Settings Button click on Start Stream!. Once the stream is started, quickly go to the Streamon app and click on Go Live Button. Voila! You are now live on Instagram streaming through OBS Studio.

Streamon - Instagram live

3. Managing live chat

Once you are live, a small speech bubble icon will appear on the bottom right. Clicking on that will open the Live Chat to your stream, if you wish to diable chat, simply toggle the switch on top to mute the chat.

Streamon - Instagram live chat

If you wish to see your stream and live chat on Instagram, simply sign in to your Instagram account from your PC's Browser and goto https://instagram.com/USERNAME/live. Replace the USERNAME with your Instagram username.

Please Note, you won't be able to view your live stream from the Instagram mobile app or desktop directly. You can see the stream through the above method or login via a different Instagram account to view your stream.

You're live on Instagram!

To Stop the live stream, simply click on stop live stream from your OBS Studio and then from the Streamon app.

Stuck with something? Need help?

Head over to our community channel on Telegram (t.me/streamonhq) or Tweet to us at @streamonhq to get help from the community.

Found this project helpful? Consider supporting us via BuyMeACoffee šŸ’–

Can OBS Stream to Instagram? Read This First! (Solved)

OBS is one of the most popular streaming software out there. Itā€™s free and it can be used to stream to many platforms.

But there are some limitations.

In this article, weā€™ll talk about Instagram and OBS and show you how to get OBS up and run flawlessly on Instagram.

Hereā€™s If OBS Can Stream To Instagram:

If you want to stream directly from your PC or laptop, then yes, you can use OBS Studio to do so. However, if youā€™re on a Mac or have a gaming console that requires a capture card (like an Xbox One) then unfortunately no. There are some steps you need to follow in order for it to work.

Table of Contents

OBS is a free program that lets you record your screen and stream in real time.

Itā€™s not meant for streaming live video to YouTube or Twitch because those platforms have their own built-in streaming software that does the job better than anything else out there.

Do OBS Work with Instagram Right Out of the Box?

No, but you can integrate it with just a few clicks. You can use the official Livestream plugin or the free OBS Studio Browser Source for this purpose. Both are available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

You can also find some other options in our list below.

If you use XSplit or other streaming software, it may not be able to stream directly to Instagram out of the box. However, there are workarounds for this problem if you have a bit of technical knowledge and time on your hands.

Read our article here about can OBS stream flawlessly to Facebook?

Can Non-Techies Figure Out How to Use Obs with Instagram?

Yes and no.

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a great tool for streaming to platforms other than Twitch. However, itā€™s not always the easiest program to use.

If youā€™re a non-techie who wants to stream on Instagram, there are a few things that you need to know before you start.

First, letā€™s talk about why you might want to use OBS with Instagram in the first place. After all, there are plenty of other options out there.

If you like using OBS because of its versatility, then go ahead and stick with it. Itā€™s an excellent program that offers tons of customization options and support from an active community.

This software has been developed in such a way that it can be used by both non-techies as well as those who are tech savvy.

For example, you donā€™t need any prior knowledge about broadcasting software or streaming services like Twitch or YouTube Gaming etc. , all you need is just basic knowledge about how computers work in general and how they interact with each other over the internet.

How Do You Connect Instagram to OBS?

Facebook and Instagram have been pushing their live video features for a while now. However, it is still not possible to stream directly from OBS to Instagram.

Fortunately, there are ways to stream your content to Instagram using third-party services. In this article, I will show you how to do it with Streamlabs OBS.

How To Stream From OBS To Instagram:

  • Download and install the latest version of Streamlabs OBS (Windows 7 or later).
  • Create an account on Streamlabs and log in.
  • Click on the ā€œCreate Accountā€ button in the top right corner of your screen and follow the steps to create an account. You can also login if you already have one by clicking on the ā€œLoginā€ button instead.
  • Click on ā€œBroadcastā€ on the left side menu of your screen then click on ā€œAddonsā€. This will open a page where all available addons are listed along with their respective icons and descriptions below them. Scroll down until you find Streamlabs OBS and click on its icon to install it on your browser (it will take a few seconds).

Can I Livestream and Use Instagram Live at the Same Time?

Yes, you can livestream and use Instagram Live at the same time.

To do so, simply tap the video camera icon in the upper left-hand corner of your screen. Then, click the Live option to start broadcasting. Once you have started a live stream, you can go back to your story by tapping the Camera icon in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and then clicking on the Story icon.

If you decide that you no longer want to broadcast from Instagram Live, simply swipe up on your phone to stop streaming.

As youā€™re probably aware by now, Instagram Live and Facebook Live are very different services. While they both let users live stream video, they work in different ways, have different audiences and have very different formats.

Facebook Live is a more traditional livestreaming platform: it offers pre-recorded videos that you can share with your followers at any time.

If you want to share your stream with the world, then all of your followers will see it in their news feed (assuming theyā€™re logged in).

Instagram Live works differently because it only allows users to broadcast live content ā€” meaning that viewers will only see a live feed when the streamer is actually streaming. Once the stream ends, itā€™s deleted from Instagram unless someone recorded it using another app.

What Are the Typical Issues People Face?

  • Wrong Resolution: The resolution of your stream may not match with that of your profile picture or bio image. This can be fixed by changing the size of these images in the settings panel of your profile page. You may also need to adjust some other settings like quality or bitrate if they are too high or low for Instagram.
  • Lag: If there is too much movement on-screen while streaming, then this may cause problems with buffering and lag during playback ā€“ especially if you have an HD or 4K video source in OBS Studio.
  • Poor Quality of Video/Audio: This is one of the biggest problems with streaming on Instagram. Although the platform has been improving its platform over time, it still doesnā€™t offer the best quality video or audio. This is why many people prefer using other tools such as OBS Studio or XSplit Broadcaster for their streams.
  • No Chat Support: Another issue with streaming on Instagram is that thereā€™s no chat support for live broadcasts! Youā€™ll have to rely on comments from viewers after the stream has finished, which can be frustrating for viewers who want to interact with you during your broadcast.

What Is the Most Popular Streaming Software for Instagram?

There are many different streaming software options available for Instagram. Some of them are free and others offer a paid service, but some offer both free and paid services. Before deciding which one to use, you should consider your budget, skill level and what type of content you want to stream.

For example, if you want to stream live videos on Instagram, you will need software that allows you to do so easily.

If you want to create a more polished experience with graphics and animations, then you will need more advanced tools. If all you want to do is post photos and videos without any bells or whistles, then there are simpler options available as well.

Streamlabs OBS

This is a free broadcasting software that is the topic of this blog Because it has a lot of features and tools for streaming live videos. It is also very easy to use and has good customer support.

The only downside is that it does not support many platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming yet. However, you can use Streamlabs OBS for streaming on YouTube Live as well as Facebook Live.

So far, Streamlabs OBS does not support any other platform except Facebook Live and YouTube Live but this may change in future updates.

XSplit Broadcaster

XSplit Broadcaster is another popular broadcasting software which allows you to stream your gaming sessions on Twitch, YouTube Gaming or Mixer easily from your computer screen or mobile device.

Through popular websites like Twitch or YouTube Gaming without any lag or buffering issues while using their native streaming sources with minimal configuration requirements

Conclusion

While I wouldnā€™t say itā€™s perfect, OBS is the best free option around for streaming to Instagram.

If youā€™re looking for an all-in-one live streaming app solely for using with Instagram, there are better options, but if you want something thatā€™s great for a wider range of use-cases and is completely free to boot, OBS will work just fine.

Read this blog about can OBS record audio only?

Sources

  • The Verge: How To Start Live-Stream In OBS

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Broadcasting to Instagram from a computer using OBS

I was puzzled by this question when I began to study the principle of online broadcasts and live broadcasts. I was offered to work on the site of a local TV studio and, on my own initiative, I began to dig in the direction of online broadcasting. Before I joined the network, only recordings of the broadcast were posted.

  • Broadcast simultaneously to several social networks using Nginx+RTMP

The first stage was the organization of live broadcasts in classmates. There it is the easiest because there is a choice between ways to send the stream. Having one stream, you can create many broadcasts in different groups and accounts. The number is limited by the capacity of the server where the stream comes from.

At the same time, I started looking at Instagram and looking for different opportunities. And I needed the possibility of complete automation of the process. Getting a broadcast key every day and sticking it into the same OBS is extremely boring. I don't like routine. In the same classmates, broadcasts are created automatically.

For Instagram, I found two working solutions. Anyway, these are the solutions that worked for me. If I had found the second solution first, then I would not look for the first one, because the second option suits me the most. But I will talk about both. And then choose the one that suits you best. But first, let's talk about the most pressing issue of account blocking.

Does Instagram block accounts for streaming with OBS, etc.?

Instagram does not block accounts for the broadcasts themselves. Instagram blocks accounts for suspicious activity. But the account is blocked for our own safety. The security system believes that we messed up the password somewhere and the attackers gained access to our account.

What activities make the security system suspicious?

Frequent authorizations. Some scripts are authorized each time they are launched. Instagram considers this suspicious. But for this, he blocks not an account, but a device by IP from which authorizations come. If you use a proxy, such as Tor, then in this case the account will be blocked, believing that the user has been hacked.

In this situation, the Streamon application is the most appropriate solution because authorization occurs only once and then we only request broadcast keys. From the point of view of Instagram, this is normal behavior and our account will not be blocked.

Streamon

Complete application for various operating systems. but suitable for those who just need to go live with software like OBS, etc. Working with the application is elementary and does not require instructions. Just enter your username and password and log in. After that, in the field, indicate the topic of the live broadcast.

And click the Start Live Stream button.

Copy the server and broadcast key, paste it into OBS and start broadcasting. Everything is simple. Do not forget to press the button in Streamon to end the live broadcast.

This application has one caveat. It does not work with two-factor authentication. I donā€™t know what the problem is, but the application gives an error when you enter the verification code.

Download Streamon: https://getstreamon.com/downloads

Itā€™s A Gram Live

It's A Gram Live is a Python library. This solution is suitable for those who want to automate the launch of live broadcasts without the need for manual control. This is the solution I've been looking for all this time.

You can download the library from the link https://github.com/harrypython/itsagramlive

To install the library on the system, just run the command:

 pip3 install ItsAGramLive 

0049

Create session:

 live = ItsAGramLive(username='user', password='pass' ) 

Where instead of user and pass is username and password.

Now let's look at the main methods.

live.login() - log in.

live.create_broadcast() - create a broadcast

live. start_broadcast() - start the broadcast

live.end_broadcast() - stop the broadcast

90_streamer6.0064 ā€” server for broadcasting

live.stream_key ā€” broadcast key

Additional methods:

live.add_post_live_to_igtv( ā€˜Commentā€™, ā€˜Titleā€™ ) ā€” ends the broadcast and publishes it to IGTV. Rarely does it actually work. Sometimes it can hang the script in an endless loop of requests. If it is so necessary to save the broadcast in IGTV, then it is better to record the broadcast and then upload it separately.

live.mute_comments( ) - disables comments

live.unmute_comments( ) Turns on comments

live.get_viewer_list() Returns viewer information. The method will return an array of two arrays. The first array contains nicknames and the second array contains identifiers. With this method, I collect statistics and write them to a SQLite3 file. A handy thing when you need a database, and deploying a server like MySQL is redundant. After each broadcast, you can see the coverage, who watched the longest, etc.

Information on other methods can be found on the project page or in the source code of the module. In fact, there are not many of them.

Having such a tool in service, we can do anything with the broadcast.

Since I have an RTMP server running on Nginx, all I have to do is take the stream from the server and send it to instagram.

 ffmpeg -i 'rtmp:///live/stream' -t 00:30:00 -vcodec libx264 -preset:v ultrafast -acodec aac -f flv '{stream_server}{stream_key}'" .format( stream_server=live.stream_server, stream_key=live.stream_key ) 

If you suddenly decide to copy the command above, please note that the -t 00:30:00 parameter tells the program work for 30 minutes and disconnect , thereby completing the live broadcast.

Since the broadcast video is in landscape orientation, and Instagram expects the video in portrait orientation, the video in the broadcast was cut off and only the middle was visible. Obviously, no one will change the video format for Instagram. The solution turned out to be simple: rotate the video 90 degrees clockwise. To do this, ffmpeg needs to provide an argument with the appropriate option: -vf ā€˜transpose=1ā€™

Here is the result:

It certainly looks strange, but you don't need to crop or scale anything. The subscriber just needs to turn the phone to a horizontal position and you can watch the video.

Attention! With frequent authorizations, IP blocking is possible. Using a proxy won't help. The security system will consider that you have screwed up your password and will require you to change it.

If you need automation, but you are not a programmer, I will be happy to help. If the task is trivial, then it will not cost much.

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How to go live on Instagram - how to do it from your phone

How to make a live broadcast on your Instagram profile from your phone, as well as how to save or download the live broadcast in the archive. You will learn about it in this short article.

How to livestream to Instagram from your phone

With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram has become a famous social media app. The application is designed to make it easy for its users to share photos, videos, IGTV videos, videos, stories. In 2016, Instagram launched the live video feature. For those who don't know, the Instagram live feature allows users to stream live video to their followers and share with others. Many celebrities, bloggers, influencers, brands use Instagram live to communicate directly with their followers.

Starting a live stream on Instagram is pretty easy. Just be aware that Instagram live videos can be up to an hour long, and followers may be notified when you go live so they can tune in and interact with you while you stream. When you finish streaming, your video will disappear as soon as the stream stops.

If you are wondering how to start live video streaming on Instagram, here is a step by step guide you can follow.

How to start live video from Instagram app

Steps you can follow to start live video from Instagram app.

  • Step 1: First, open the Instagram app on your smartphone.
  • Step 2: Next, log in with the required information.
  • Step 3: On the home page, click the plus sign in the top right corner of the feed, or swipe right from anywhere in the feed.
  • Step 4: Now scroll down to ā€œLiveā€ at the bottom of the screen, then click on the round Capture button to start live streaming.

When the live broadcast starts, the live icon will appear in the upper left corner of the screen. The number of viewers will appear at the top of the screen, and the comments at the bottom.

If you wish, you can add a comment by touching the Comment button at the bottom of the screen. Click on a comment and click Pin Comment to pin it so viewers can see it more easily.

After finishing the live session, click on ā€œEndā€ in the upper right corner, then click on confirm. After that, you can click on the ā€œDownloadā€ icon on the top left corner to save the Instagram live video or share it on IGTV.

However, be aware that when you save an Instagram Live video, only the video is saved, not the comments, likes, or viewers. According to the official website of Instagram, it may take a minute for the download to save the live video to your phone, especially for long videos.

How to manage live - Broadcast options

You can easily hide comments on Instagram Live. To disable comments, tap Menu (three dots), then select Turn off commenting. Remember that any keyword filters you have enabled will also apply to the comments on your live video.

You can also turn off requests to go live with you. To do this, press Menu (three dots) and then select Turn off live requests.

Please note that you will not be able to start a live video on Instagram if you have previously posted something that was removed for violating the Instagram Community Guidelines.

Live to Instagram using Streamon and OBS Studio

Learn how to start live streaming to Instagram from a Windows/Linux/MacOS computer using OBS Studio or any other broadcast software.

How can I livestream on Instagram on a computer or laptop

Do you have digital cameras, a sound system and a high-end computer in your studio, or do you just want to stream a YouTube video or a live video call on Instagram. But Instagram only supports live streaming through its official app. Introducing Streamon! This little app will help you set up a live Instagram live stream with all your studio settings right from your Windows/Linux/Mac computer.

Follow these simple steps to set up an Instagram live stream right from your computer.

  • You need an Instagram account.
  • Download and install Streamon Client.
  • Download and install OBS Studio.
Installing OBS Studio

Go to the OBS Studio home page to download and install the software on your system. Once the installation is complete, open OBS Studio.

Set up a new stream profile and video output

Most of your viewers will be watching videos on mobile devices, and mobile device screens have a different aspect ratio than your computer. Click on the "Profile" menu at the top of OBS, select "Create" and name the profile as "Instagram Streaming".

Now click "File" and go to "Settings". In the left pane, go to the Video tab. Change the base resolution (canvas) to any of the 9:16 aspect ratio, in my case it's 900x1600 of my monitor. And set the output (scaled) resolution to 720Ɨ1280 . Click Apply and OK.

Adding a video source

After we have configured the video output, we need to add a video source. Plug in a camera, or you can just use your PC's screen recording as the video source. Click on the + icon at the bottom left, in the second panel labeled "Sources" and select any video source you need. Here I will use my PC screen capture, you can choose the camera listed. A pop-up window will open, click on OK and you can start customizing the view.

After adding the view, you can click on the preview and use the mouse to drag the added source to fit on the canvas.

If you want to rotate the scene in landscape mode to cover the entire canvas, right-click on the preview and choose Transform -> Rotate 90 Degrees.

Starting a Live Stream with Streamon

Once you've set up OBS Studio, open Streamon and log into your Instagram account. After logging in, click on ā€œStart Live Streamingā€ and you will be presented with a screen containing your stream URL and stream key. DO NOT click on GO LIVE!

Setting up OBS Studio with streaming credentials

Now open your instance of OBS studio, click on settings and go to the Stream tab. In the service, make sure to select Custom and then copy and paste *Server URL / Stream URL** and Stream Key from the Streamon app to OBS. Click on the Apply and OK button. Now on the bottom right panel, next to the Settings button, click on Start streaming! Once the stream is running, quickly navigate to the Streamon app and click on the Go Live button. Voila! You are now live streaming to Instagram through OBS Studio.

Live chat control

Once you go live, a small speech bubble icon will appear on the bottom right. If you want to mute the chat, just toggle the switch on the top to mute the sound.

If you want to see your stream and chat on Instagram, just log in to your Instagram account through a browser on your computer and go to https://instagram.com/USERNAME/live . Replace USERNAME with your Instagram username.


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