My answer is that you do not need paid software or a stack of plugins to stream and record well in OBS. I run OBS on its own for my channels, and when I want one live stream to reach several places at once, I use a free add-on called AITUM. If an NDI source will not show up in OBS, the first thing I would try is running OBS as an administrator, because that is what finally fixed it for me.
The full setup I use in 2026 is in My 2026 OBS Settings for Recording and Streaming. I film six YouTube videos a day, so the setup has to be boring and dependable. My view developed in three steps. The oldest post is the NDI fix from April 2024, a single problem that took me a long time to solve. The 2025 multistreaming post came from a search for a free way to go live on several channels without crushing my processor. The 2026 settings post is the most complete, and it is where I would start.
Audio is where people quietly go wrong. I keep the OBS mixer minimal, with just the microphone and the Cam Link, and a limiter on each source so a click never gets through loudly. Do a clap test in the advanced audio properties and set the sync offset, which is about 75 ms for me, so your lips and claps line up with the video. By default they often do not.
For multiple channels, I use a separate profile for each YouTube channel. I paste the stream key directly instead of signing in, which keeps the chat window from popping up and lets me switch channels instantly. My streams use NVIDIA NVENC at 2560x1440 and 60 fps with a 30 Mbps constant bitrate. Bitrate matters most for high-motion gameplay. I record to MKV and remux to MP4 automatically with H.264, so a power cut does not cost the whole file. I also use constant-QP rate control, which scales the bitrate with how much is moving on screen.
The main principle in my scenes is to use scenes, not source toggling. Each Stream Deck button loads a scene with my face in a set position, or a gameplay or Zoom layout. My Cam Link sits on top with a chroma key filter, and with even lighting on a real pull-up green screen the default chroma key settings work fine. I watch the OBS stats on a side monitor for dropped frames, and I skip transitions entirely. For the gear behind all of this, see my YouTube studio and streaming setup.
To send one stream to several places, my multistreaming post covers the free AITUM plugin. I make Twitch my default stream, let Twitch handle the bandwidth, and then add YouTube channels or Kick. I click start streaming in OBS, then go live from the AITUM panel. The free vertical plugin gives you a separate vertical canvas, so you can run horizontal and vertical together. I tested horizontal to Twitch, YouTube and Kick plus a vertical stream to YouTube on the same channel, each with its own key, and it worked well.
The NDI fix is different. You need the NDI runtime or tools installed, and I assume you have them. If the source still does not show, right-click OBS and choose Run as administrator. Graphics provisioning seems to fail without admin rights. To make it permanent, open the shortcut's properties, go to Advanced, and check Run as an administrator. Details are in my NDI fix post.
Below this opening you will find the contents and then each post in full. If you want more help getting set up for streaming, my YouTube coaching playlist shares what has worked for me, and you can read more about why I coach YouTubers.
On this page
Every post I have written on this subject is below in full, newest first, each under its own heading.
- OBS Multistreaming Made Easy and Free in 2025 with AITUM (June 17, 2026)
- OBS Settings for Streaming and Multistreaming: What I Use (June 15, 2026)
- OBS NDI Source Not Showing? Run OBS as Administrator to Fix It (April 2, 2024)
OBS Multistreaming Made Easy and Free in 2025 with AITUM
From my video published June 17, 2026.
Here is the best way I have found to multi-stream in 2025 on OBS, which is what I use. My whole setup is totally free because I use AITUM.TV. They have a free multi-streaming plugin, and they also have a free vertical stream plugin that I will talk about in a minute. I use both of these with OBS, so I do not pay for Streamlabs at all. This works beautifully, it is a totally free download, and it was super easy to use. It barely impacts the processor load at all, and you can stream to a bunch of destinations all at once, as long as you have enough internet bandwidth.
For me, I am in a studio streaming on two desktop PCs, both hardwired into a gigabit Ethernet connection. I have tested this going live on as many as three channels at once: I did Twitch, Kick, and YouTube at the same time. I also tried it on as many as six different YouTube channels. So in my experience this plugin works and is outstanding.
How I Set It Up
The main way to set it up is to make your default stream Twitch, set your Twitch up to automatically handle the bandwidth and the settings, and then just add YouTube channels or Kick after that. For me, that worked really well. In OBS, all I do is click start streaming. Once I have clicked start streaming in OBS, I go into the AITUM multi-stream and click go live wherever I want to. It is that easy.
It also has this vertical option, which is really nice. So if you want to live stream on YouTube or on TikTok or something vertical, what you can do is download the vertical plugin as well. Both of these are at AITUM.TV. All you have to do is download the vertical plugin and turn it on. Then it gives you a separate vertical canvas, and in the multi-stream you can add your vertical canvas and your horizontal canvas at the same time.
I tested that and it worked fantastic. I live streamed horizontal on Twitch, YouTube, and Kick, and then I did a vertical stream on YouTube at the same time, on the same channel. All you have to do is add each of them with a different streaming key on YouTube. It works really well.
Why I Went Looking for This
I was struggling to find the best multi-streaming solution for myself as a YouTuber. I wanted something totally free that does not crap out on my processor and that could work for horizontal, could work for vertical, and could work for any number of channels. This is the best setup I have seen. Another creator, Supoman, tested this setup too. He had put off multi-streaming for a long time until I showed him that I use this. So I want to make sure that anyone else who wants to know how to multi-stream knows it is just as easy as using this.
Installing It Step by Step
If you want to get this set up, here is exactly how easy it is in real time. You just click download on it, and I use OBS on this computer to install it. Once it has downloaded in Chrome, you open up the installer, click yes, click next or install, and click finish setup.
Then you go back into OBS Studio. On my gaming and music PC, this is not actually the machine I stream on, so it is a clean example. In there, under the docks, you click on AITUM multi-stream. You can put it in a little panel if you want, but it works really nicely if you put it in a vertical panel when you are going live in a bunch of places.
Your default stream should be Twitch. From there, all you need to do is go over to your settings, go to main canvas, and click add an output. Then choose whatever platform you want. For example, if you put it on YouTube, you just put your YouTube stream key in, click create output, and you will have everything in there. You can rename any of these when you add them. The vertical canvas is right there too, but you have to install the other plugin with it, which is super easy. So it has everything separated by main canvas and vertical, and that is all you have to do. It is literally that easy.
I am a full-time YouTuber. I have been on YouTube for 14 years, and I put out videos every day that I hope will help you. If you want more help getting set up with streaming and growing as a creator, you can dig into my YouTube Coaching playlist, where I share what has worked for me.
OBS Settings for Streaming and Multistreaming: What I Use
Originally published June 15, 2026.
My answer is that you do not need paid software or a stack of plugins to stream and record well in OBS. I run OBS on its own for my channels, and when I want one live stream to reach several places at once, I use a free add-on called AITUM. If an NDI source will not show up in OBS, the first thing I would try is running OBS as an administrator, because that is what finally fixed it for me.
The full setup I use in 2026 is in My 2026 OBS Settings for Recording and Streaming. I film six YouTube videos a day, so the setup has to be boring and dependable. My view developed in three steps. The oldest post is the NDI fix from April 2024, a single problem that took me a long time to solve. The 2025 multistreaming post came from a search for a free way to go live on several channels without crushing my processor. The 2026 settings post is the most complete, and it is where I would start.
Audio is where people quietly go wrong. I keep the OBS mixer minimal, with just the microphone and the Cam Link, and a limiter on each source so a click never gets through loudly. Do a clap test in the advanced audio properties and set the sync offset, which is about 75 ms for me, so your lips and claps line up with the video. By default they often do not.
For multiple channels, I use a separate profile for each YouTube channel. I paste the stream key directly instead of signing in, which keeps the chat window from popping up and lets me switch channels instantly. My streams use NVIDIA NVENC at 2560x1440 and 60 fps with a 30 Mbps constant bitrate. Bitrate matters most for high-motion gameplay. I record to MKV and remux to MP4 automatically with H.264, so a power cut does not cost the whole file. I also use constant-QP rate control, which scales the bitrate with how much is moving on screen.
The main principle in my scenes is to use scenes, not source toggling. Each Stream Deck button loads a scene with my face in a set position, or a gameplay or Zoom layout. My Cam Link sits on top with a chroma key filter, and with even lighting on a real pull-up green screen the default chroma key settings work fine. I watch the OBS stats on a side monitor for dropped frames, and I skip transitions entirely. For the gear behind all of this, see my YouTube studio and streaming setup.
To send one stream to several places, my multistreaming post covers the free AITUM plugin. I make Twitch my default stream, let Twitch handle the bandwidth, and then add YouTube channels or Kick. I click start streaming in OBS, then go live from the AITUM panel. The free vertical plugin gives you a separate vertical canvas, so you can run horizontal and vertical together. I tested horizontal to Twitch, YouTube and Kick plus a vertical stream to YouTube on the same channel, each with its own key, and it worked well.
The NDI fix is different. You need the NDI runtime or tools installed, and I assume you have them. If the source still does not show, right-click OBS and choose Run as administrator. Graphics provisioning seems to fail without admin rights. To make it permanent, open the shortcut's properties, go to Advanced, and check Run as an administrator. Details are in my NDI fix post.
Below this opening you will find the contents and then each post in full. If you want more help getting set up for streaming, my YouTube coaching playlist shares what has worked for me, and you can read more about why I coach YouTubers.
On this page
Every post I have written on this subject is below in full, newest first, each under its own heading.
- OBS Multistreaming Made Easy and Free in 2025 with AITUM (June 17, 2026)
OBS Multistreaming Made Easy and Free in 2025 with AITUM
From my video published June 17, 2026.
Here is the best way I have found to multi-stream in 2025 on OBS, which is what I use. My whole setup is totally free because I use AITUM.TV. They have a free multi-streaming plugin, and they also have a free vertical stream plugin that I will talk about in a minute. I use both of these with OBS, so I do not pay for Streamlabs at all. This works beautifully, it is a totally free download, and it was super easy to use. It barely impacts the processor load at all, and you can stream to a bunch of destinations all at once, as long as you have enough internet bandwidth.
For me, I am in a studio streaming on two desktop PCs, both hardwired into a gigabit Ethernet connection. I have tested this going live on as many as three channels at once: I did Twitch, Kick, and YouTube at the same time. I also tried it on as many as six different YouTube channels. So in my experience this plugin works and is outstanding.
How I Set It Up
The main way to set it up is to make your default stream Twitch, set your Twitch up to automatically handle the bandwidth and the settings, and then just add YouTube channels or Kick after that. For me, that worked really well. In OBS, all I do is click start streaming. Once I have clicked start streaming in OBS, I go into the AITUM multi-stream and click go live wherever I want to. It is that easy.
It also has this vertical option, which is really nice. So if you want to live stream on YouTube or on TikTok or something vertical, what you can do is download the vertical plugin as well. Both of these are at AITUM.TV. All you have to do is download the vertical plugin and turn it on. Then it gives you a separate vertical canvas, and in the multi-stream you can add your vertical canvas and your horizontal canvas at the same time.
I tested that and it worked fantastic. I live streamed horizontal on Twitch, YouTube, and Kick, and then I did a vertical stream on YouTube at the same time, on the same channel. All you have to do is add each of them with a different streaming key on YouTube. It works really well.
Why I Went Looking for This
I was struggling to find the best multi-streaming solution for myself as a YouTuber. I wanted something totally free that does not crap out on my processor and that could work for horizontal, could work for vertical, and could work for any number of channels. This is the best setup I have seen. Another creator, Supoman, tested this setup too. He had put off multi-streaming for a long time until I showed him that I use this. So I want to make sure that anyone else who wants to know how to multi-stream knows it is just as easy as using this.
Installing It Step by Step
If you want to get this set up, here is exactly how easy it is in real time. You just click download on it, and I use OBS on this computer to install it. Once it has downloaded in Chrome, you open up the installer, click yes, click next or install, and click finish setup.
Then you go back into OBS Studio. On my gaming and music PC, this is not actually the machine I stream on, so it is a clean example. In there, under the docks, you click on AITUM multi-stream. You can put it in a little panel if you want, but it works really nicely if you put it in a vertical panel when you are going live in a bunch of places.
Your default stream should be Twitch. From there, all you need to do is go over to your settings, go to main canvas, and click add an output. Then choose whatever platform you want. For example, if you put it on YouTube, you just put your YouTube stream key in, click create output, and you will have everything in there. You can rename any of these when you add them. The vertical canvas is right there too, but you have to install the other plugin with it, which is super easy. So it has everything separated by main canvas and vertical, and that is all you have to do. It is literally that easy.
I am a full-time YouTuber. I have been on YouTube for 14 years, and I put out videos every day that I hope will help you. If you want more help getting set up with streaming and growing as a creator, you can dig into my YouTube Coaching playlist, where I share what has worked for me.
OBS NDI Source Not Showing? Run OBS as Administrator to Fix It
From my video published April 2, 2024.
If you're missing NDI in OBS, the first thing to try is to run OBS as an administrator, because this immediately worked for me to fix it. I'm assuming you've already downloaded the NDI runtime or the NDI tools, which is what lets you send your screen from one PC to another. I did all of that and it still wasn't working, and it took me quite a while to figure out that the missing piece was simply running OBS with administrator privileges.
The fix: run OBS as an administrator
What I needed to do on OBS was right-click it and then click on Run as administrator. There seems to be some error going on with the graphics provisioning if you're not running as an admin. So once I clicked Run as administrator, everything worked and the NDI source showed up.
Make OBS always launch as an administrator
What you can also do is set OBS to run as an administrator every time. Right-click the OBS shortcut and go into Properties, then go into the Advanced options, and from there you can check Run as an administrator. You can do this on the shortcut for any program, including OBS. After that, by default it will launch OBS as an administrator, which is how I run OBS now.
If you found this helpful, you might also like my 2026 OBS settings for recording and streaming, and I share more of my streaming and YouTube workflow in my YouTube Coaching playlist.