How to Set Up OBS Studio for Online Teaching & Zoom

Learn how to set up OBS Studio for online teaching, connect your camera, prepare virtual audio and test everything in Zoom before going live.

Setting up OBS doesn't need to be complicated. Here's the simple setup I use to get your camera, virtual audio and Zoom working before you go live.

If you've opened OBS Studio before and thought, What am I supposed to do with all of this?, you're not alone.

There are a lot of buttons.

The good news is that you don't need most of them to get started.

For online teaching, workshops and presentations, your first OBS setup can be surprisingly simple: install the software, connect your camera, create a few basic scenes and make sure Zoom can see your OBS Virtual Camera.

That's enough to get moving.

This tutorial is part of my complete Learn OBS beginner's guide, where we're building the complete setup one practical step at a time.

Quick answer: How to Set Up OBS Studio for Online Teaching & Zoom explains how to set up OBS Studio for online teaching, connect your camera, prepare virtual audio and test everything in Zoom before going live.

What Do You Need to Set Up OBS?

For this basic OBS setup, you need:

OBS Studio installed on your computer
a webcam or camera connected to your computer
a computer capable of handling video
ideally, an HD display for the 1920 × 1080 setup we're using
a virtual audio cable for the audio-routing section
Zoom or another application where you can test the OBS Virtual Camera

A green screen is optional.

You certainly don't need one to start using OBS. You can use your real office or room as your background and still add your logo, graphics and other elements.

Later, a green screen gives you much more control. We'll cover that properly in the OBS green screen guide.

How to Set Up OBS Studio Step by Step

Let's keep this simple.

Your first goal isn't to create a television studio.

It's to get OBS installed, connect your camera and prove that the picture reaches Zoom.

Once that works, everything else becomes much easier.

1. Download OBS Studio

Start by downloading OBS Studio from the official OBS Project website:

Download OBS Studio

Make sure you're getting OBS from the actual OBS Project rather than a third-party download page.

Install it using the normal settings unless you have a particular reason to change the location.

Once OBS is installed, open it.

2. Run the Initial OBS Setup

The first time you open OBS, you may see the Auto-Configuration Wizard.

Don't get too worried about the choices here.

We can change settings later.

For the workshop setup, we're working with a standard:

1920 × 1080 canvas

That's Full HD and gives us a useful landscape format for online teaching, presentations and workshops.

You don't have to understand every setting on that first screen.

3. Don't Let the OBS Interface Put You Off

When OBS opens, there are several panels across the application.

For now, concentrate on four areas:

Scenes — the different screens or layouts you want to switch between.

Sources — the things inside a scene, such as your camera, images, videos and screen capture.

Audio Mixer — where you'll see and control audio sources.

Controls — where you'll find important buttons such as Start Recording and Start Virtual Camera.

That's enough.

We'll go through the interface in more detail in OBS Scenes and Sources: A Beginner's Guide.

4. Create Your Main Camera Scene

Look at the Scenes panel.

You'll probably already have a default scene.

Right-click it, rename it and call it:

Main Camera

Now select that scene.

Go to Sources, click the + button and choose:

Video Capture Device

Select the camera you want to use.

You should now see yourself inside OBS.

Your camera image might come in too large.

That's fine.

Grab the handles around the source and resize it until it fits your canvas.

You've now created your first proper OBS scene.

Simple.

5. Make Small Camera Adjustments if You Need Them

One reason I like bringing a camera into OBS first is that it gives you more control over the picture.

Select your camera source and open:

Filters

You can add a Color Correction filter and adjust things such as:

gamma
contrast
brightness
hue

Be careful here.

More adjustment doesn't automatically mean a better picture.

Make small changes and look at the actual result.

6. Create Three Basic OBS Scenes

I recommend creating three scenes before going any further:

Splash Screen

Main Camera

Screen Share

Your Main Camera scene contains your camera.

The other two can stay empty for the moment.

Why create them?

Because we're starting to build a presentation workflow.

Later, you might begin a workshop on a branded splash screen, switch to your camera, then move into a screen-sharing scene when you start teaching.

We'll build that in How to Screen Share and Use Masks in OBS

7. Give Your OBS Files a Permanent Home

Before you start filling OBS with logos, videos and backgrounds, sort out where those files are going to live.

OBS references files from their locations.

If you add an image and later move or rename it, OBS may no longer find it when you reopen the project.

So create a permanent OBS folder.

For example:

Documents → OBS Scenes

You can store:

logos
splash screens
video clips
backgrounds
animations
masks
workshop assets

inside your project folders.

We'll cover this properly in How to Organise OBS Files and Assets.

Get into this habit early.

8. Install the Virtual Audio Cable

The next part of the workshop setup is audio.

For that, we're using VB-CABLE from VB-Audio:

Download VB-CABLE

The virtual cable gives us a software route for audio between OBS and another application.

Don't worry about routing the microphone through it yet.

We'll do that in:

How to Connect OBS Audio to Zoom With a Virtual Cable

For this first setup, the main goal is getting the video connection working.

9. Add a Logo if You Want One

Even without a green screen, you can start making your camera scene look like your own.

Go to your Main Camera scene.

Under Sources, choose:

Image

Then browse to a logo stored in your permanent OBS assets folder.

Resize it and position it in a corner.

That's it.

Later, we'll go much further with transparent graphics and stacking order in How to Add Images and Overlays in OBS.

10. Turn On the OBS Virtual Camera

This is one of the most important buttons in the setup.

Look in the OBS Controls area and click:

Start Virtual Camera

You probably won't see anything dramatic happen.

That's normal.

What you've done is make your finished OBS output available as a virtual camera that another application can use.

The route becomes:

Camera → OBS → OBS Virtual Camera → Zoom

Remember that.

11. Connect OBS to Zoom

Now start a private test Zoom session.

Don't invite anyone.

You're testing.

Open the video settings in Zoom and change the camera from your normal webcam to:

OBS Virtual Camera

If you've started the Virtual Camera in OBS, you should see the OBS scene inside Zoom.

Now change scenes in OBS.

Zoom should follow.

That's when OBS starts making sense.

Zoom isn't controlling the presentation anymore.

OBS is.

Why Is OBS Virtual Camera Showing a Blank Screen in Zoom?

This is an easy mistake.

You've selected OBS Virtual Camera in Zoom but you're seeing a blank or incorrect image.

Before changing everything else, check OBS.

Did you click:

Start Virtual Camera

If not, turn it on.

Also check that Zoom is actually using OBS Virtual Camera rather than your normal webcam.

Small problem.

Easy fix.

12. Keep Your Normal Microphone Selected for Now

At this stage of the workshop, you can still use your normal microphone directly inside Zoom.

We're deliberately separating video setup from the more advanced audio routing.

Initially:

Video: OBS Virtual Camera

Audio: Your normal microphone

Once you've proved the camera setup works, we'll change the audio route.

That's the next tutorial:

How to Connect OBS Audio to Zoom With a Virtual Cable

Don't jump ahead if the video side isn't working yet.

13. Turn Off Unnecessary Zoom Video Effects

If you're controlling your visual presentation inside OBS, be careful about stacking extra Zoom effects on top.

Virtual backgrounds can create ugly edges around fingers, hair and moving objects.

If you're not using a green screen, a clean real background can sometimes look far better than an artificial background that's constantly popping around your head.

Think again before assuming a virtual background automatically looks more professional.

We'll deal with proper background removal in How to Use a Green Screen in OBS.

14. Run a Complete Test Before the Real Session

This is one of the biggest habits I want you to take from the whole OBS series.

Test, test, test.

Before your actual workshop:

Open OBS.

Check the camera.

Turn on OBS Virtual Camera.

Start a private Zoom meeting.

Select OBS Virtual Camera.

Check your microphone.

Move between your scenes.

Make sure everything behaves as expected.

You don't want the first complete test of your system to happen when your audience arrives.

Your Basic OBS Setup Checklist

Download and install OBS Studio
Open OBS successfully
Work with the 1920 × 1080 workshop canvas
Create a Main Camera scene
Add your camera as a Video Capture Device
Create Splash Screen and Screen Share scenes
Give your OBS files a permanent folder
Install VB-CABLE ready for the audio setup
Turn on OBS Virtual Camera
Select OBS Virtual Camera inside Zoom
See your OBS scene inside a private Zoom test
Hear your normal microphone in Zoom
Test everything before using it live

If all of that is working, you're ready.

Learn OBS With Me in the Free Workshop

OBS makes much more sense once you start moving scenes around and watching the result.

That's why I created the free Learn OBS Workshop.

Learn OBS Workshop | Present, Stream & Record Better

If you'd rather see the whole journey first, start with the Learn OBS: Beginner's Guide to Stream, Record & Present.

FAQ About Setting Up OBS Studio

Is OBS difficult to set up for beginners?

The initial setup doesn't need to be difficult if you focus on the few features you actually need. Start with your camera, scenes and OBS Virtual Camera rather than trying to learn every OBS setting.

What resolution should I use for OBS?

The workshop uses a 1920 × 1080 canvas for the main HD setup.

Can I use OBS with Zoom?

Yes. Start OBS Virtual Camera and select OBS Virtual Camera as the camera inside Zoom.

Do I need VB-CABLE to use OBS with Zoom?

Not for the initial video connection. VB-CABLE becomes useful when you want to route your microphone and other OBS audio through OBS before it reaches Zoom.

Why is OBS Virtual Camera not working in Zoom?

First check that Start Virtual Camera is turned on inside OBS. Then check that OBS Virtual Camera is selected as the video source inside Zoom.

Do I need a green screen for OBS?

No. You can use your normal office or room and still add logos, images and other sources.

Can I add my logo to OBS without a green screen?

Yes. Add the logo as an Image source and position it over your camera scene.

Should I test OBS before a live workshop?

Yes. Create a private Zoom session and test the full setup before your audience arrives.

What To Do Next

Don't start adding ten effects yet.

Get this basic setup reliable first.

You want to know that:

Camera → OBS → Zoom

works reliably.

Then move on to How to Connect OBS Audio to Zoom With a Virtual Cable.

That's where we take the microphone out of Zoom, route it through OBS and start gaining proper control of your audio.

Join the free Learn OBS Workshop and follow the complete setup step by step.

FAQ

Who is How to Set Up OBS Studio for Online Teaching & Zoom for?

How to Set Up OBS Studio for Online Teaching & Zoom is for course creators, coaches and educators who want a clearer OBS setup for recording lessons, streaming sessions or creating better video content for their online business.

How does this OBS workflow connect with New Zenler?

Creators can use OBS to improve video and live-session production, then use New Zenler to host courses, deliver memberships, run live sessions, build funnels and manage learners in one platform.

What should creators check before recording or streaming with OBS?

Check the scene layout, microphone input, audio filters, camera framing, recording settings, internet connection and where the finished lesson or live replay will be delivered in New Zenler.

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