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How to multistream and keep Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting

Twitch's Enhanced Broadcasting sends Twitch several qualities straight from OBS, so your viewers can pick one that suits their connection. It has one requirement: OBS has to stream to Twitch itself, with Service set to Twitch. Point OBS's Stream settings at a multistream service and Enhanced Broadcasting turns off.

Multistream's answer: OBS keeps streaming to Twitch on its own, and a second output in OBS sends a copy to Multistream for your other platforms.

Keep OBS on Twitch, send a copy for the rest

Multistream knows OBS streams to Twitch itself and doesn't send Twitch a second copy; the copy from OBS goes to YouTube and Kick and anything else you add.

  1. In the Studio, step 1 (Pick platforms), add Twitch and your other platforms (YouTube and Kick in this example).
  2. In step 2 (Connect OBS), open Twitch tool under Recommended: the Multistream tools for OBS, install Multistream for OBS as it shows, and click Turn on the Twitch tool.
  3. In OBS's Settings → Stream, keep Service set to Twitch with Enhanced Broadcasting on.
  4. Press Go live in the Multistream dock. Its check reads Twitch straight from OBS, the rest through Multistream: a second output in OBS sends the copy for YouTube and Kick.

The second output is a second encode in OBS. It uses your graphics card's encoder when you have one, so check your GPU has room for both.

Where the copy goes

With Multistream Cloud (Pro, $10/mo), the copy is uploaded once and the cloud sends it to up to 12 platforms. With the free Multistream app, the app on your PC sends a copy to each platform, so your upload carries Twitch's stream plus one copy per platform. The app's setup guide offers the same Twitch tool.

Good to know

What Enhanced Broadcasting does. OBS sends Twitch a few qualities at once, encoded on your own graphics card, so viewers on a slower connection can pick a lower one.

Twitch's simulcasting rules still apply. Don't point Twitch viewers to your other streams in the title, links or chat commands, and don't show merged chat from your other platforms on your Twitch stream. Multistream's pre-stream check reminds you when Twitch is on.

Going back is one click. In the Studio's step 2, open the Twitch tool and click Switch back to the simple setup, then point OBS's Stream settings at Multistream again.

Questions, answered

Can I use Enhanced Broadcasting and multistream at the same time?

Yes, if OBS streams to Twitch itself. Multistream's Twitch tool adds a second output in OBS that sends a copy to Multistream for your other platforms.

Why did Enhanced Broadcasting turn off when I set up multistreaming?

Enhanced Broadcasting needs OBS's Service set to Twitch. Most multistream setups point OBS at the service instead, which turns it off.

Does the second output use more of my PC?

Yes, it's a second encode. It runs on your graphics card's encoder when you have one, and on the CPU otherwise.

Does Twitch still get the best quality?

Yes: Twitch gets OBS's own stream with Enhanced Broadcasting, which also keeps Twitch's quality at least as good as the other platforms', as Twitch's simulcast rules ask.

Can I keep Enhanced Broadcasting with the free app?

Yes. The free Multistream app's setup guide offers the same Twitch tool: OBS streams to Twitch itself, and the tool sends the copy to the app on your PC, which sends it on to your other platforms.

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