Connect OBS to CAM4's external encoder
Use External Encoder when you want OBS to send the stream directly to CAM4. This differs from selecting OBS Virtual Camera in the browser broadcast mode.
Connect the stream
- 1.Install OBS from obsproject.com.
- 2.Add your camera through Sources → Video Capture Device and check microphone audio.
- 3.Open CAM4's broadcast window and select External Encoder → Get Stream Key.
- 4.In OBS Settings → Stream, select the CAM4 service/server and paste your own stream key.
- 5.Configure video and output settings for your connection.
- 6.Start streaming in OBS, then select Start Broadcast in CAM4.
Treat the key as a credential. Do not include it in public screenshots or send it to a viewer.
Choose a documented starting point
CAM4's guide recommends 30 FPS, constant bitrate, a one-second keyframe interval, and zero B-frames for the listed encoders. Its examples include 720p at 3,000 Kbps for 5–9 Mbps upload, and 1080p at 4,000 Kbps above 9 Mbps.
These are starting settings, not guarantees for every device or encoder. Match the canvas and output resolution, check current options, and reduce quality if the connection or computer cannot sustain it.
Confirm the live picture and audio on CAM4. Sending data from OBS alone does not establish that the public CAM4 broadcast has started. Check the OBS statistics to distinguish connection instability from computer overload.