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To add a source in OBS Studio, select the scene you want to edit, then click the + button at the bottom of the Sources dock and choose a source type. Configure the properties window if it appears. The source will then be available to arrange in the scene preview.
Choose the right source type
A source is an item in a scene: for example, a screen, camera, audio device, image, or web overlay. Select a source according to what you want the scene to show or hear and which operating system you use. OBS’s Sources Guide and Quick Start Guide cover the built-in options.
| Source | Use it for | Availability or requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Display Capture | An entire display | Windows and Linux; on macOS through 12.6. For macOS 13 and later, OBS directs users to macOS Screen Capture. |
| Window Capture | A specific open window | Windows, Linux, and macOS 12.6 and earlier. On macOS 13 and later, use macOS Screen Capture to capture a display, window, or application. |
| Game Capture | Hardware-accelerated games | Windows only. On other platforms, use an applicable display, window, or macOS Screen Capture source. |
| Video Capture Device | A webcam or capture card | Select a device in the source’s properties. Available controls and device support vary by platform; OBS documents DirectShow-oriented support on Windows, V4L2 on Linux, and separate Blackmagic and AJA source types. |
| Audio Input/Output Capture | A microphone or playback device in a particular scene | Can overlap with devices enabled under Settings → Audio; capturing the same device in both places can cause echo. |
| Browser | A web page, such as an alert or chat overlay | Configure the page in the source properties. |
| Image, Image Slide Show, Text, or Color | A still image or slideshow, text (including text from a file), or a solid color block | These sources provide visual elements for a scene. |
| Media Source | A local audio or video file | OBS lists video formats such as MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. |
| VLC Video | A playlist of media files | Requires VLC to be installed. OBS says 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
Add a source to a scene
- Select the scene: In the Scenes dock, click the scene that should contain the new item. Sources belong to scenes, so selecting the right scene first matters.
- Open the source menu: In the Sources dock, click +. OBS describes the action as: “To add a Source, click on the + button at the bottom of the Sources dock.”
- Choose a source type: Select the item that matches your content, such as Display Capture, Video Capture Device, Image, or Browser.
- Name it if prompted: Use a label that helps distinguish it from other sources, then confirm.
- Set its properties: Follow the dialog for the selected source. For a video device, choose the camera or capture card; for media, select a file; for a browser source, configure the page. Property options depend on the source, operating system, and connected device.
- Confirm and inspect the preview: Click the dialog’s confirmation button if required. The source should appear in the preview and in the Sources list.
OBS’s Video Capture Sources guide explains device-specific behavior, while its Audio Sources and Media Sources guides cover those input types.
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Position, resize, crop, and layer sources
Move and resize
Click a source in the Sources list or preview to select it. Its bounding box appears in the preview. Drag inside the box to reposition it; drag a handle to resize it. For precise placement, use Edit → Transform → Edit Transform (Ctrl-E on Windows or Cmd-E on macOS).
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Other useful Transform commands are Fit to Screen (Ctrl-F / Cmd-F), Stretch to Screen (Ctrl-S / Cmd-S), Center to Screen (Ctrl-D / Cmd-D), and Reset Transform (Ctrl-R / Cmd-R). Fit preserves the source’s proportions while fitting it within the canvas; Stretch fills the canvas and can change proportions.
Crop and change what appears on top
To crop a source in the preview, hold Alt on Windows or Option on macOS while dragging a bounding-box handle. You can also adjust cropping in Edit Transform.
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Sources higher in the list appear above lower sources and may cover them. Drag entries in the Sources list, or use its up/down controls, to change the stacking order. Click the eye icon beside a source to hide it temporarily; click again to show it.
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Troubleshoot common problems
- The source is hidden behind another item: Move it higher in the Sources list, and check that its eye icon indicates it is visible.
- The camera or capture card is missing: Confirm you added Video Capture Device, selected the intended device in its properties, and that the device is supported by your operating system. The controls available can differ between platforms and hardware.
- Audio echoes: Check whether the same input or output device is active both as a scene source and under Settings → Audio. Avoid capturing the same device in both places.
- The capture option does not fit your Mac version: OBS’s guide distinguishes macOS 12.6 and earlier from macOS 13 and later. For newer macOS versions, use macOS Screen Capture for display, window, or application capture.
Test the scene before using it live
After adding and arranging the sources, make a short test recording or test stream. Check that the intended image is visible, sources are layered correctly, and audio is clear before relying on the scene for a live session.
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