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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo log OBS stream status during a 24/7 broadcast, connect an external client to OBS’s built-in obs-websocket interface, subscribe to output-state events, and append timestamped changes to a file. Add periodic status requests so the logger can record a fresh snapshot after reconnecting or recovering from a missed event. You can also create an in-OBS Python or Lua script, but keep recurring work on a timer rather than running it on every rendered frame.
Choose a logging approach
OBS supports both external applications that connect through obs-websocket and scripts that run inside OBS. An external client can keep running independently of OBS, while an in-OBS script uses OBS’s scripting runtime. These are architectural differences, not tested reliability guarantees.
| Approach | What it does | Design considerations |
|---|---|---|
| External WebSocket client | Connects to OBS, authenticates, subscribes to output events, and writes records to a file. | Can remain alive if OBS exits, but needs a client library, connection handling, and its own restart plan. |
| In-OBS script | Loads through Tools > Scripts and uses OBS scripting hooks to observe status and write records. | Runs within OBS, so it depends on OBS and its script runtime. Use a timer for periodic work. |
OBS Studio 28 and later include WebSocket support by default; older versions may require the separate legacy plugin. See the OBS Remote Control Guide and check the documentation for the OBS version you have installed before implementing a client.
Plan what the log should capture
Use newline-delimited records so each entry can be read or processed independently. A useful record can include a timestamp, the observed output state, an event or reason when available, and whether the logger itself is connected. Use a consistent timezone, such as UTC, and make that choice clear in the file or its documentation.
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- Write a startup snapshot of the status the logger can observe.
- Record state transitions received as events.
- Write periodic health snapshots to show the logger is still running and provide a recovery point.
- Record logger disconnects and reconnections, then request a fresh status snapshot after reconnecting.
OBS’s protocol supports event subscriptions and request/response messages. Using both lets an implementation combine prompt event-driven changes with periodic resynchronization. It does not guarantee that every event will be received or that a snapshot proves what happened between polls; treat recovery and missed-event handling as design responsibilities. The obs-websocket protocol reference documents the protocol model. Verify exact request names, event names, and payloads against the version you run: a tested turnkey logger or event payload is not established here.
Set up an external WebSocket logger
- Check the OBS version. In OBS, open Help > About and confirm whether you are running OBS Studio 28 or later. If not, consult the Remote Control Guide for the applicable WebSocket setup.
- Enable and secure WebSocket access. Open OBS’s WebSocket server settings, enable the server, and set a password. Keep access limited to the local machine or a trusted network path needed by the logger; do not expose this control endpoint to the public internet.
- Prepare a client. Choose a WebSocket client library for your preferred language. Configure it to connect to the OBS endpoint, authenticate, and subscribe to the relevant output-state events. Use the official protocol reference for the installed version’s request and event names.
- Write records to a file. Append timestamped startup snapshots, observed state changes, periodic snapshots, and connection-state changes. Handle file-writing errors so a full disk or inaccessible path is not silently mistaken for a healthy logger.
- Implement reconnect and resynchronization. If the connection drops, record the logger disconnect, retry according to your chosen policy, authenticate again, resubscribe, and request a fresh status snapshot. Do not assume events that occurred while disconnected will be replayed.
- Test failure cases before relying on it. Confirm that records appear on startup and during a controlled output-state change, then test a logger disconnect and reconnection. Check that the fresh snapshot is written and that the file remains readable.
The OBS Developer Guide describes external applications and scripts as ways to use the WebSocket interface. Exact implementation details depend on your client library and OBS version.
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Build an in-OBS script instead
- Open Tools > Scripts in OBS and load a Python or Lua script.
- Use the scripting hooks to observe the status information available to the script and append timestamped records to a file.
- Schedule recurring snapshots with a timer rather than checking on every rendered frame.
- Test script startup, state changes, file-write errors, and shutdown behavior before leaving it in a long-running broadcast.
OBS’s Developer Guide covers scripts and WebSocket use; the Scripting Guide documents script lifecycle and callbacks. OBS warns: “Be very careful with the code in script_tick, OBS may rapidly become unresponsive if some error or text is logged every frame.” Avoid recurring per-frame logging.
Keep the log and logger reliable
- Choose a polling interval to fit your needs. There is no source-backed universal interval. A shorter interval can reduce the time before a missed change is noticed, but creates more requests and records. Choose based on acceptable detection delay and write volume.
- Bound disk use. Rotate logs or otherwise cap their size; decide how long records must be retained before enabling continuous operation.
- Arrange for restart. For an external client, plan how it will restart after a process or machine restart. An in-OBS script has a different dependency: it cannot log while OBS is not running.
- Separate OBS state from destination health. A log entry that OBS reports an output as active does not establish that YouTube or another destination is receiving, processing, or presenting the broadcast correctly. Check the destination’s own live dashboard or monitoring separately.
Troubleshoot missing or misleading records
- No connection: Check that the WebSocket server is enabled, the client is using the correct endpoint, and authentication matches. Confirm network access is limited but available to the logger.
- Connection drops repeatedly: Add reconnect handling, authenticate and resubscribe after reconnecting, and request a fresh snapshot. Record the disconnected period rather than implying uninterrupted observation.
- State changes are absent: Verify the client subscribed to the right events for the installed protocol version. Request a current snapshot to restore the logger’s view, and test a controlled change.
- OBS becomes unresponsive: Remove per-frame logging or expensive repeated work from script callbacks; move periodic checks to a timer and inspect script errors.
- The log stops growing: Check the output path, file permissions, available disk space, and logger process status. A quiet file alone does not show whether OBS is idle or the logger has failed.
- Log says active but viewers cannot watch: Treat the record as OBS’s observed output state, not proof of a healthy end-to-end broadcast. Check YouTube’s live status and investigate the ingest connection separately.
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