How Do I Set Up OBS Studio To Do Podcasting??

[Barryb64]

I know that OBS is great for both streaming videos and recording videos. However, I am more into audio podcasting than video. I have made a few attempts at video podcasting. These videos is simply a talking head video with a nice background image. I get it! People tend to prefer audio only for these type of podcasts. Sometimes, I'd use quotes and post them on the screen.

I suspect people are simply listening more than watching. I do have an account with a podcasting host and I'd like to upload high quality audio podcasts. How can I best do this with OBS Studio? I am using a Somson Meteo USB mic. The PC is an i7 with 16GB of RAM. The best part about recording with OBS is that I can switch over to where my notes are on the same PC and it's still recording. Since I'm visually impaired, this is a major help and blessing.

I'm looking forward to learning more.

 

[mrlewismharris]

I'm not sure your requirements are clear.

If you're looking for OBS to output audio-only (i.e. a single MP3 file), it's not capable, because it's primarily video streaming software (and livestreaming platforms like youtube and twitch only allows users to stream video+audio, not audio only AFAIK).

If you're just recording and not livestreaming, you'd be better suited with something like Audacity a free open-source recording software.

If you're livestreaming and recording, I'd just say continue what you're doing with the video and if the podcast site requires audio-only files you can use a tool like ffmpeg (again, free and open-source) to split the audio from the video (but if you don't know how to use command-line this might be a bit of a learning curve).

 

[Barryb64]

I know that OBS makes for a great video recording platform. I've also a blog site called Christianity Explained (https://christianityexplained.blog) and I need to get back into the flow of creating content. If you visit my site, you'll discover that I'm not just writing a blog post. I've created audio podcasts to go with the article. Granted, I can switch to a YT video for the blog site. The hosting site for the podcast accept .MP4 files and will automatically convert it into .MP3. Heck, I can do the same thing with Audacity before uploading to Anchor.fm.

I do not want to create more work for myself as you can guess. I, also have a video editor to edit my videos. The podcast is meant to compliment the blog post. I need to streamline the process hence my question about setting up OBS Studio. BTW, I'm using Filmora for the video editing and do have a YT channel = Christianity Explained YT Channel

 

[mrlewismharris]

I know that OBS makes for a great video recording platform. I've also a blog site called Christianity Explained (https://christianityexplained.blog) and I need to get back into the flow of creating content. If you visit my site, you'll discover that I'm not just writing a blog post. I've created audio podcasts to go with the article. Granted, I can switch to a YT video for the blog site. The hosting site for the podcast accept .MP4 files and will automatically convert it into .MP3. Heck, I can do the same thing with Audacity before uploading to Anchor.fm.

I do not want to create more work for myself as you can guess. I, also have a video editor to edit my videos. The podcast is meant to compliment the blog post. I need to streamline the process hence my question about setting up OBS Studio. BTW, I'm using Filmora for the video editing and do have a YT channel = Christianity Explained YT Channel

Hey very nice blog and YT, can see the effort you've put into it.

I'm not really sure what the question is you're asking. If you want advice for a layout on the podcast, or doing intros/outros during the livestream so you don't have to use an editor at all, that's all possible, but it's entirely dependant on what exactly you want :)

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

I, also have a video editor to edit my videos. The podcast is meant to compliment the blog post. I need to streamline the process hence my question about setting up OBS Studio.

My understanding of the primary intended use case, and my use, of OBS is a video composite tool ... that is bringing in multiple visual elements for recording and/or livestreaming VIDEO.
Unless there is a specific driver for "live" it is usually easier, less stressful, and more reliable to record, upload, and publish, than livestream. This goes for audio or video. Also you are not then dependent on real-time encoding and bandwidth requirements (applies primarily to video)

So, for an audio-only podcast, I'll be looking at an audio editor (as @mrlewismharris noted above) as the appropriate tool, not a video tool like OBS. In a similar vein, for recording video only, depending on exact content, a video editor could be the better tool than OBS (just depends).

*IF* you desire is to create a video, and then extra the audio only from that video recording for a podcast, then using OBS to create a video file might make sense. Extracting the audio track from the video file most likely more efficiently accomplished using other software. You could create a video file with no video source, then remux to MP4... but that would seem to be making unnecessary compromises to use OBS

*IF* it is OBS' ability to have 'sources' pre-configured, and play/insert into audio 'stream', then I'd recommend looking for an audio editor that can do the same [this isn't my area, but Audacity or various Digital Audio Workstation software might be what you are looking for]
If your driver for looking at OBS is the ability to have have content ready for your viewing (ie enable source and its there ready for you), then I suspect OBS is the wrong answer as there are better approaches

 

[Barryb64]

I am glad that I am having these conversations. I'm serious because my analytical nature is kicking in and the discussion brough up a key point. In my audio podcast, I am reading the written blog post and referencing it. With OBS, it was easy to set the program to record while I'm reading my written blog post. Of course, this would not make for good video.

A question came to my mind. Have you tried the same thing with Audacity? No. I just did a quick and dirty record and it works. Of course, I didn't have any shortcut keys set up.