The Tool Desk
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Choose a transition that fits the change
OBS Studio includes Cut and Fade transitions, with additional choices such as Swipe, Slide, Fade to color, and Luma Wipe. You can select transitions and adjust their duration in the Scene Transitions controls. See the OBS Studio Overview Guide for the controls.
- Cut: changes scenes immediately. Use it when an instant change suits the content.
- Fade: eases between scenes and can suit a restrained change or brief pause.
- Swipe, Slide, Fade to color, or Luma Wipe: add a more visible visual effect when it fits the stream’s style.
There is no universal duration that makes every transition smooth. Set a duration that suits the moment, then preview or record a test with your actual scenes before using it live.
Prepare a scene without showing edits to viewers
Studio Mode separates the live scene from the scene you are preparing. You can check the next scene’s sources and layout in the edit view while viewers continue to see the current live scene.
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- Open Studio Mode in OBS.
- Select the scene you want to prepare in the edit view.
- Check its sources and framing, then choose the transition you want to use.
- When it is ready, send it live with Transition, a configured Quick Transition, or an assigned hotkey.
This is the safest workflow when a scene needs adjustments before it is shown: verify the target scene first, then make the change live.
Set a scene-switching hotkey
OBS supports hotkeys for switching to a specific scene. In OBS, open Settings > Hotkeys, find the scene-switching action for the target scene, and assign a key or key combination. The OBS guide documents scene hotkeys and Studio Mode.
- Choose a key combination that is easy to reach during your stream.
- Avoid keys already used by the game or application you capture, since those conflicts can trigger unwanted actions.
- Test the hotkey from the scenes you will use, and confirm that the intended transition and destination scene are correct.
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Set up an animated stinger
A stinger plays video over the scene change. At a specified cut point, the outgoing scene is replaced by the incoming one. OBS lets you specify that point in frames or milliseconds. Elgato’s stinger guidance also describes cut timing in frames or milliseconds and notes WEBM as a format that supports transparency in streaming software. Confirm the format and asset requirements for the software you use.
Choose the cut point
Set the cut point to the moment in the animation when the new scene should appear. A point that comes too early or too late can make the switch feel abrupt or leave the animation covering the wrong scene. Preview the stinger with the actual outgoing and incoming scenes; do not rely on timing alone.
Use one file for a track-matte stinger
In OBS track-matte mode, the animated mask determines how the outgoing scene gives way to the incoming scene: black represents the outgoing scene, white the incoming scene, and intermediate gray values blend between them. OBS says it cannot guarantee that separate stinger and matte files will decode in sync, so it recommends combining them into one file, either side by side or stacked. See the OBS Track Matte Stinger Transitions guide, dated August 25, 2021.
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For two 1920×1080 portions, OBS’s layout examples are 3840×1080 side by side or 1920×2160 stacked. These are examples for those source dimensions, not universal output requirements. For other sizes, preserve the same side-by-side or stacked arrangement at the dimensions your asset and software support.
Rehearse the complete switch
Before going live, test every relevant transition path from its starting scene. Check the trigger, visual effect, duration, audio behavior, and the destination scene’s sources. A configuration that looks right in a preview may still expose a missing source, unexpected audio, or a hotkey conflict during the live sequence.
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- Confirm the intended scene is selected in the preview before pressing Transition.
- Test each assigned hotkey while the captured game or application is running.
- Watch a recording of the full switch, especially when using a stinger or track matte.
- If a transition looks wrong, test the same scenes with a built-in Cut or Fade to isolate whether the issue is the custom asset or the scene setup.
Common scene-transition problems
The wrong scene appears or a setup edit is visible
Likely cause: the target scene was not checked in the preview, or edits were made to the live scene. Fix: prepare and verify the target in Studio Mode before using Transition, Quick Transition, or the hotkey.
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A hotkey triggers the game or another application
Likely cause: the chosen key overlaps with a shortcut used by captured software. Fix: assign a less-conflicting combination in OBS Settings > Hotkeys, then test it with the captured application active.
The stinger cut feels mistimed
Likely cause: the cut point does not match the animation’s visual reveal. Fix: adjust the cut point in frames or milliseconds and preview it with the actual scenes.
The track matte appears out of sync
Likely cause: separate files may decode at different times; OBS does not guarantee synchronization for that arrangement. Fix: use one file with the stinger and matte side by side or stacked, following OBS’s track-matte layout guidance.
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The transition feels too fast or too elaborate
Likely cause: the chosen style or duration does not suit the moment. Fix: try a simpler Cut or Fade, adjust the duration, and compare recordings rather than relying on a universal timing rule.
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