OBS Alternative

PhilMac

New Member
It's obvious by all the posts in here that OBS is having major issues, especially on Mac computers. Has anyone found an alternative to OBS that works on Mac?
 

Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
I would disagree
OBS is FOSS - free open-source software, that has implications for the level of user self-education expected, and the vast majority of issues I've seen in these forums over the last year are self-inflicted [compounded by failure to follow basic scientific method for determining root cause]. Real bugs/issues [not defined by users emotional state] seem to be addressed promptly.
Users wanting to get a very complex real-time video encoding/compositing tool for free, and get late '80s level WordPerfect support.. PEBKAC

Other issue, Apple makes huge architectural change, and [...bleep negative descriptors... ] folks thinking that complex FOSS software is going to be ready immediately or shortly afterwards with complete re-writes/re-compiles for the new environment... Or in this case, that there is actually enough demand/justification to update existing software (with limited/early release toolsets) for the new platform. You remember the change from 16 to 32 to 64 bit software.... platform architectural changes takes time. And then there is the reality that a lot of folks use plug-ins, written by other people, and those may also need updating (not the responsibility of the OBS Studio authors).. patience is required

That said, there are a number of pay alternatives to OBS which a simple search would have shown you, so what is your point in asking here? to vent?
If your issue is having the new M1 chip based Mac and running software (OBS in this case) designed for Intel platform not working optimally on it... ? though looking at your recent posts, it appears that isn't the case
Or is this the typical Apple user (lover of walled garden) getting tripped up by needing/using complex software [and not RTFM]? Or, are you absolutely sure a MacOS update isn't itself the problem and maybe a fresh OS install is required? Sometimes an App un-install leaves remnants behind (not always the Apps fault)... maybe you need to go beyond the simple/basic to properly prepare your system for an App re-install [and this is where Apple makes things REALLY hard]... and have you eliminated ALL 3rd party OBS plug-ins?
have you learned to review OBS logs? other than complaining, have you posted OBS crash logs?

sorry ... after decades of watching IT users blaming others rather than taking responsibility for themselves and the tools they use is something I don't have patience for... just a personal statement and other than being a happy user OBS I have no affiliation with the authors and maintainers of OBS. my opinions are my own... and I'm a little grumpy this morning
 

thewitt

Member
There are always commercial alternatives. Free, Open-Source software will always have strengths and weaknesses.

To use it effectively, you need discipline to not just grab the latest release of the software or a plug-in and throw it on your production system.

I upgrade everything on a test system and make sure it's working before I upgrade my commercial system, and I don't mean just test to see if it doesn't crash when I start it up. I have test scripts I use that include streaming for several hours to a private stream and make sure that all my scenes work, all the effects work as expected, etc.
 

nottooloud

Member
you need discipline to not just grab the latest release of the software

Conversely, you need to keep up with discussion of bugs and revisions, so you know when your particular issue gets fixed. For instance, we're hoping this next release solves a bunch of long-standing audio/video sync issues.
 

Videobuff

Member
It's obvious by all the posts in here that OBS is having major issues, especially on Mac computers. Has anyone found an alternative to OBS that works on Mac?
Just for balance, it’s also obvious by all the posts in here that OBS is a wonderful product resolving many major issues that people have on Macs as well. I’ve had issues with OBS (as I have had with every piece of software I’ve ever used) but I don’t think I’ve ever learned as much, or had as much fun trying to resolve those issues, as I’ve had with OBS. And its all for free or for you to decide if you want to contribute something for a good solution. It doesn’t get much better than that :) Bliss!
 

twindux

Member
It's obvious by all the posts in here that OBS is having major issues, especially on Mac computers. Has anyone found an alternative to OBS that works on Mac?
Lots of paid options out there....but I'm perfectly happy with OBS on my less than new mac laptops. Perfect? No. But does everything I need to keep my church connected with our congregation for 13 months now.

You're also in a forum where people go to get help, so ya, you're going to get more posts talking about problems than if you were talking to all OBS users.
 

PhilMac

New Member
I would disagree
OBS is FOSS - free open-source software, that has implications for the level of user self-education expected, and the vast majority of issues I've seen in these forums over the last year are self-inflicted [compounded by failure to follow basic scientific method for determining root cause]. Real bugs/issues [not defined by users emotional state] seem to be addressed promptly.
Users wanting to get a very complex real-time video encoding/compositing tool for free, and get late '80s level WordPerfect support.. PEBKAC

Other issue, Apple makes huge architectural change, and [...bleep negative descriptors... ] folks thinking that complex FOSS software is going to be ready immediately or shortly afterwards with complete re-writes/re-compiles for the new environment... Or in this case, that there is actually enough demand/justification to update existing software (with limited/early release toolsets) for the new platform. You remember the change from 16 to 32 to 64 bit software.... platform architectural changes takes time. And then there is the reality that a lot of folks use plug-ins, written by other people, and those may also need updating (not the responsibility of the OBS Studio authors).. patience is required

That said, there are a number of pay alternatives to OBS which a simple search would have shown you, so what is your point in asking here? to vent?
If your issue is having the new M1 chip based Mac and running software (OBS in this case) designed for Intel platform not working optimally on it... ? though looking at your recent posts, it appears that isn't the case
Or is this the typical Apple user (lover of walled garden) getting tripped up by needing/using complex software [and not RTFM]? Or, are you absolutely sure a MacOS update isn't itself the problem and maybe a fresh OS install is required? Sometimes an App un-install leaves remnants behind (not always the Apps fault)... maybe you need to go beyond the simple/basic to properly prepare your system for an App re-install [and this is where Apple makes things REALLY hard]... and have you eliminated ALL 3rd party OBS plug-ins?
have you learned to review OBS logs? other than complaining, have you posted OBS crash logs?

sorry ... after decades of watching IT users blaming others rather than taking responsibility for themselves and the tools they use is something I don't have patience for... just a personal statement and other than being a happy user OBS I have no affiliation with the authors and maintainers of OBS. my opinions are my own... and I'm a little grumpy this morning
Well hello grumpy. To reply to your less than welcome grumpy response, maybe I can clear some of your illustrious know it all questions up. Our church just spent $17,000.00 to have a video recording system installed to record our Pastor's sermons. We purchased 3 PTZ 4K cameras and a Blackmagic Television Studio 4k console. We also purchased two new iMac computers. The installer installed OBS as our recording software. There are no Plug-Ins installed. The system has had glitches since day one using OBS. Loss of sound was our main issue to begin with and so we uninstalled and re-installed OBS and the problem seemed to be fixed until a week or so later when OBS all of sudden crashed. We have uninstalled, reinstalled OBS but it continues to crash. I have not posted a crash report because the installer has stated that he's pretty sure it is a conflict with the Big Sur OS on the iMac. Not necessarily a confirmed prognosis but I think he's fairly close. I came here looking solutions because I saw where your posts were blaming the Big Sur updates from Apple as the culprit and I'm inclined to agree. However, this appears to have been going on since January. We are in April for Christ's sake. Someone should have figured something out by now. I seriously doubt that just booting up our computer and opening OBS and clicking on "RECORD" broke nothing. Your assumptions there are rather rude and inconsiderate. Based on attitudes from a lot of people in this group I just felt like asking was there an alternative to OBS. We're not really concerned about the money. We just want something that works and OBS does not work, at least not with Big Sur.
 

nottooloud

Member
Our church just spent $17,000.00 to have a video recording system installed to record our Pastor's sermons.

Wow. Good money in the Jesus game, huh?

You are aware that the people who write this software don't get paid, right? They work on the parts they're interested in working on. You don't get to demand support.

Check out Ecamm. StreamYard. StageTen. Wirecast.
 

PhilMac

New Member
Wow. Good money in the Jesus game, huh?

You are aware that the people who write this software don't get paid, right? They work on the parts they're interested in working on. You don't get to demand support.

Check out Ecamm. StreamYard. StageTen. Wirecast.
I do realize that it's open source and NO, Jesus is not a game.
 
Well, if you're not happy with what he installed, you might do well to contact him to help sort out your issues.

Ask him about the apps nottooloud suggested, and ask about HyperDeck as well.

And, BTW, blessed are the meek.
 

Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
I'm grumpy with just cause ;^)

3x4K cameras for recording a sermon... oy vay ... that paints a distinct picture of the environment...

I've spent less than $5K so far on our church stream setup. (a single PC, dual monitor and 1 Panasonic 1080p NDI PTZ camera so far, as its plenty for now, though with in-person Sanctuary attendance to start soon (end of May?) we'll see if/how soon this changes. I have an vaulted ceiling drop stereo microphone to purchase & install for pipe organ and choir, and I've started looking at additional cameras)

I've spent a LOT of time learning OBS, and it works fine.
If your OBS setup isn't working correctly, then get someone who knows how to configure it and the computers, and fix it. not really that hard... this isn't rocket science (my son graduating with aerospace engineering degree in a couple of months... and that stuff is complex... real-time video encoding, not so much)

And if you spent that much money, I'd be really concerned about the decision making process that led to using an iMac (could be a good reason, I suspect not, though)... always start with right tool for the job (and then properly trained people to use that tool)

And when you say it wasn't what the guy installed.... comes across as you either your expectations were off, or unreasonable, or the guy didn't deliver what he was supposed to (in terms of a stable, reliable, functional system). So, your posts come across as whining about OBS, when it seems like your frustration should be directed at the person who set up your system. So if your organization had wisdom, it wouldn't have paid for the installers work until he fixed (finished) his install.
Is this a case of you already paid in full and the installer won't help? uh oh... got a lawyer in the parish?

As to the point - as for resolving your setup, having spent that much money, hopefully you can afford to find someone who can clean up the mess your installer appears to have left behind. And I'd be concerned if the issue is just the OBS/iMac setup. Are the problems related to the rest of the setup? Or is this a case of the installer strongly recommending something (ex not using WiFi) and your church insisting on going against the recommendation? I mention this only as the fix may not be on the iMac/OBS, but elsewhere is the data and audio flow (the fact that someone hasn't noticed an issue elsewhere doesn't mean it isn't there)... I'm just throwing out thoughts... lots of possible areas of 'challenges'

Good Luck, and have Hope and Faith during Easter
 

twindux

Member
Well hello grumpy. To reply to your less than welcome grumpy response, maybe I can clear some of your illustrious know it all questions up. Our church just spent $17,000.00 to have a video recording system installed to record our Pastor's sermons. We purchased 3 PTZ 4K cameras and a Blackmagic Television Studio 4k console. We also purchased two new iMac computers. The installer installed OBS as our recording software. There are no Plug-Ins installed. The system has had glitches since day one using OBS. Loss of sound was our main issue to begin with and so we uninstalled and re-installed OBS and the problem seemed to be fixed until a week or so later when OBS all of sudden crashed. We have uninstalled, reinstalled OBS but it continues to crash. I have not posted a crash report because the installer has stated that he's pretty sure it is a conflict with the Big Sur OS on the iMac. Not necessarily a confirmed prognosis but I think he's fairly close. I came here looking solutions because I saw where your posts were blaming the Big Sur updates from Apple as the culprit and I'm inclined to agree. However, this appears to have been going on since January. We are in April for Christ's sake. Someone should have figured something out by now. I seriously doubt that just booting up our computer and opening OBS and clicking on "RECORD" broke nothing. Your assumptions there are rather rude and inconsiderate. Based on attitudes from a lot of people in this group I just felt like asking was there an alternative to OBS. We're not really concerned about the money. We just want something that works and OBS does not work, at least not with Big Sur.

I've been using OBS on two 15" macbook Pros of various vintages (2015 with thundebolt 2 and 2017 with thunderbolt 3) with absolutely no problems either recording or streaming. That said, I'm not on Big Sur....I'm on Mojave at this point, and not inclined to upgrade anytime soon. And I"m not using BlackMagic...I have my 3 or 4 cameras connected directly via USB (or USB using an HDMI capture device).

Are your iMacs of a vintage you could downgrade them to something NOT Big Sur?

Or are you able to try your inputs without running through the black magic device...for testing if nothing else? If sound is the entire problem, maybe just plug sound directly into the Mac via XLR>USB adapter. The one I use is $25....works perfectly. If the sound doesn't glitch, then you've gotten a little closer to a resolution.

That said, it took me a bunch of hours of troubleshooting to get everything running smoothly in March 2020 (COVID). I've been streaming multiple times weekly since then.
 
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