How to minimize delay when streaming with OBS + MixStage
This guide shows how to configure OBS for the lowest possible latency when streaming to MixStage using WHIP.
Follow the steps below for near-real-time audio and video playback.
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What you need
• OBS Studio 30.1 or newer
• A stable wired internet connection (Ethernet strongly recommended)
• A MixStage session
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1. Stream settings (WHIP)
In OBS → Settings → Stream:
• Service: WHIP
• Server / URL: Paste the WHIP URL from MixStage
• Stream Key: Leave empty (not used for MixStage, the code is embedded in the stream url)
WHIP is designed specifically for real-time streaming.
Avoid RTMP or third-party gateways if latency matters.
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2. Output settings (most important)
Go to Settings → Output and switch Output Mode to Advanced.
Video encoder
Always prefer a hardware encoder when available.
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macOS (Apple Silicon)
• Encoder: Apple VT H.264 (Hardware)
• Rate Control: CBR
• Keyframe Interval: 1
• B-frames: 0
• Profile: Baseline (or Main if Baseline isn’t available)
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Windows (NVIDIA GPU)
• Encoder: NVENC (new)
• Preset: Low-Latency or Low-Latency Performance
• Rate Control: CBR
• Keyframe Interval: 1
• B-frames: 0
• Look-ahead: Off
• Psycho Visual Tuning: Off
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Windows (Intel CPU with Quick Sync)
If your system supports Intel Quick Sync Video:
• Encoder: H.264 (QSV)
• Rate Control: CBR
• Target Usage / Preset: Speed or Low-Latency
• Keyframe Interval: 1
• B-frames: 0
• Profile: Baseline or Main
• Latency or Look-ahead options: Disabled
Notes for Intel systems
• Quick Sync is often available on laptops and desktops with Intel CPUs
• Performance is usually better than software encoding, but not as fast as modern NVENC
• If you see dropped frames, reduce resolution or bitrate slightly
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Why these settings matter
Features like B-frames, long keyframe intervals, and look-ahead require frame reordering.
That improves compression — but adds delay.
These settings trade compression efficiency for immediacy.
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3. Audio settings
In Settings → Audio:
• Sample Rate: 48 kHz
• Channels: Match exactly what you are sending (Stereo, 5.1, etc.)
In Settings → Output → Streaming (Audio):
• Codec: Opus
• Bitrate:
• Stereo: 128–192 kbps
• Multichannel: scale proportionally
Avoid audio filters that introduce delay, such as limiters or noise suppression with look-ahead.
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4. Video timing
In Settings → Video:
• Base (Canvas) Resolution = Output Resolution
• FPS: Match your source exactly (for example 25, 30, or 50)
Avoid unnecessary scaling or frame-rate conversion — each step adds latency.
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5. Advanced settings
In Settings → Advanced:
• Process Priority: Above Normal (or High on a dedicated machine)
• Disable any dynamic bitrate or RTMP-specific latency options
(WHIP already handles congestion automatically)
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6. Scene and source best practices
For stable low latency:
• Avoid heavy browser sources
• Avoid complex filter chains
• Avoid unnecessary nested scenes
If OBS stalls internally, the receiver compensates by buffering — increasing delay.
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7. Network recommendations
• Use wired Ethernet whenever possible
• Avoid Wi-Fi for critical sessions
• Use a MixStage region close to your location if available
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What to expect
With the above configuration:
• Typical glass-to-glass delay: ~250–500 ms
• Stable playback
• No manual latency tuning required during the session
If you experience several seconds of delay, it’s usually due to:
• B-frames enabled
• Keyframe interval above 1 second
• CPU overload from software encoding
• Audio filters with look-ahead
• Unstable network connection
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Need help?
If you’re unsure about:
• Which encoder to use (Apple VT, NVENC, or Intel QSV)
• Multichannel audio configuration
• Matching OBS output to your DAW or Cast Mode workflow
Contact MixStage support — we’ll help you dial it in quickly.