OBS Studio 28.0, released September 1, 2022, was a major update built around HDR and 10-bit encoding, native Apple Silicon builds, and a move from Qt 5 to Qt 6. Before upgrading an older setup, check whether your operating system and essential plugins work with version 28. HDR was a conditional workflow—not a feature that worked with every encoder, filter, platform, or streaming destination.
OBS Studio 28 at a glance
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| HDR and 10-bit encoding | Introduced for AV1 and HEVC, with additional hardware, format, platform, filter, and destination limitations. |
| Qt 6 interface | Replaced Qt 5 and ended support for several older operating systems; Qt 5-dependent plugins might need updates. |
| Native Apple Silicon | Added native builds, while the x86 build remained an option for access to a broader selection of plugins. |
| Bundled obs-websocket 5.0 | Made the automation plugin part of OBS downloads beginning with 28.0.0; this did not guarantee compatibility for every existing client. |
| New production tools | Added, among other features, Windows application audio capture, recording splits, SRT/RIST outputs, and YouTube chat messaging. |
OBS Project’s OBS Studio 28.0 release notes are the reference for platform-specific requirements and the full list of changes. Version 28 is a historical release; later OBS versions have followed, so its platform requirements should not be treated as today’s requirements for OBS.
Check compatibility before upgrading
Operating systems
The Qt 6 transition meant OBS 28 no longer supported Windows 7 or 8, macOS 10.13 or 10.14, Ubuntu 18.04, or 32-bit operating systems. These are version-28-specific changes, not a current compatibility chart. If your computer runs one of those systems, OBS 28 is not a supported upgrade for it.
Plugins
OBS cautioned that some plugins might not be compatible with version 28. Plugins built around Qt 5 components could require updates for Qt 6. Check the OBS 28 release candidate discussion and the compatibility status of each plugin you rely on before changing a production setup. Do not assume a plugin works merely because OBS itself launches.
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- [XLR Mic Input] One XLR microphone input interface is set on the gaming audio mixer, which is great to up your audio quality with your XLR setup. The XLR mixer is a stepping stone to upgrade your live streaming. Audio mixer offered built-in 48V phantom power which opens up more choices for mics. Directly use it with your condenser microphone but do not solve added peripherals. (NOT available for USB mic)
- [Individual Channel Control] Gaming audio mixer for one mic recording with smooth volume slider fader take your streaming recording to a whole new level with full pleasure. Four independent channels set on the DJ mixer give audio volume of the MICROPHONE, LINE IN, HEADPHONE, and LINE OUT channels individual control. Configurable on the PC audio mixer instead of just operating on your game or streaming software.
- [Mute and Monitor] The front mute and monitor buttons but not at the back, make it easier to get the audio interface use. Ability to mute audio, the audio mixer for streaming prevents background noise from damaging your live broadcast. Real-time feedback between speaking and hearing will not distract your attention, which encourage you to speak more confidently. The sturdy-built control button allow you to operate freely and easily during live streaming.
- [Sound Effects] The computer sound mixer supports four pre-recorded customized button that can be recorded and activated at the press of button to post production. 6 kinds of voice changing modes change your output style. 12 auto tune changes the tone of your voice. The podcast mixer being able to add different and fun effects is a huge bonus for your streaming or game voice.
- [Controllable Vibrant RGB] RGB button on the audio mixer DJ meets different live streaming themes. Lights on the video mixer is vibrant but not harsh on your eyes. Flowing or frozen RGB color rotation in a decent pace presents a greatly strong impression as a "light show" to your audience. Even a streaming equipment accessory will not be dull looking when video production.
Apple Silicon architecture
OBS 28 offered native Apple Silicon builds, avoiding x86 emulation for OBS itself. The trade-off was plugin availability: some third-party plugins might not yet have native Apple Silicon versions. OBS’s x86 build remained an option if a needed plugin was unavailable natively, but compatibility still depended on the particular plugin and setup.
What changed in HDR and 10-bit video
OBS 28 added 10-bit and HDR encoding for AV1 and HEVC. HDR setup depended on the encoder and hardware, as well as the output destination and filters in use.
Rank #2
- Analog mixing and equalization for pure sound
- Direct mixing of PC/gaming sounds into the streaming output
- Ultra-low noise analog mixer for streaming, podcasting and recording
- Stereo USB audio interface to connect your computer or mobile device
Color and encoder requirements
- For HDR, OBS recommended the P010 color format and Rec. 2100 PQ color space.
- Ten-bit HEVC had GPU constraints: the release notes specified NVIDIA 10-series, AMD 5000 series, or newer. Intel QuickSync and Apple VT were not yet supported for this path.
- For HDR streaming, version 28 supported YouTube’s HLS service with HEVC. That limitation applies to OBS 28 as described in its release notes; it should not be generalized to every OBS version or streaming service.
Platform, capture, and filter limitations
- On Mac and Linux, HDR support was limited: HDR preview did not work, and several inputs and encoders still needed updates.
- HDR capture depended on the capture device supporting HDR. The release notes listed the EVGA XR1 Pro, Elgato 4K60 Pro Mk.2, and AverMedia Live Gamer 4 as examples, not as required or endorsed devices.
- Several filters did not function when a source rendered with HDR: Apply LUT, Chroma Key, Color Key, Image Mask/Blend, Luma Key, and Sharpness.
- OBS 28 could tonemap HDR games to SDR when composing in SDR.
In practice, confirm that your chosen encoder, graphics hardware, capture device, filters, and destination all fit the intended HDR workflow before relying on it. A project can support HDR in one part of the pipeline without every source or filter supporting it.
Other notable features in OBS 28
Audio, capture, and effects
- Windows application audio capture: capture audio from a single process.
- macOS ScreenCaptureKit: support for macOS 12.5 and later; on macOS 13 and later, it enabled direct application audio capture without a third-party solution.
- NVIDIA Background Removal: added on Windows and required the NVIDIA Video Effects SDK Runtime. Room Echo Removal in NVIDIA Noise Suppression required the NVIDIA Audio Effects SDK runtime.
- Apple VT encoder options: on Apple Silicon, added CBR, CRF, and Simple Mode support. CBR required macOS 13 or later.
- Virtual camera: allowed a separate video mix to be selected.
Recording, output, and integrations
- Automatic recording splits: split recordings by file size or duration, automatically or with a hotkey.
- SRT/RIST: added native outputs for these protocols.
- YouTube chat: added the ability to send YouTube chat messages from OBS.
- obs-websocket 5.0: integrated the plugin as a first-party component. The OBS Project announced that version 5 would be included with OBS downloads starting at 28.0.0; it had also been released as a standalone plugin intended for OBS 27.2. See the OBS Project’s obs-websocket announcement. Integration alone does not establish that every existing automation client works without configuration changes.
Interface, accessibility, and maintenance
- Introduced the Yami theme as the new default and added settings to change the colors of certain interface elements for accessibility.
- Added a whole-interface reset option and a Windows file-integrity check to validate and repair the current OBS installation.
- Added a source rotation handle and spacing helpers in the preview, scene-item transformation copy and paste, and copy and paste for visibility transitions.
- Added multiview layouts without preview/program, dotted borders for cropped selections, and scene names in Studio Mode labels; in vertical Studio Mode, Program moved above Preview.
- Hotkeys began requiring exact modifier matches. The update also added an audio-mixer toolbar and improved the macOS startup permissions flow.
- On Windows, settings changed through Configure for Video Capture Device sources were saved. macOS and Linux gained a “What’s New” dialog.
- The default reconnect delay was reduced to two seconds, alongside improvements to reconnecting after stream disconnections.
- Linux rendering switched from GLX to EGL, and a low-latency audio-buffering option was added for outputs such as Decklink and NDI.
- The M3U8/HLS recording format was removed from Simple output and remained available in Advanced output.
- Windows and macOS allowed any Python 3 version rather than limiting support to Python 3.6.
- The AMD encoder implementation on Windows was updated, and OBS 28 updated dependencies.
Upgrade checklist
- Confirm the operating system. If you are on Windows 7 or 8, macOS 10.13 or 10.14, Ubuntu 18.04, or a 32-bit system, version 28 does not support that platform.
- Inventory essential plugins. Check current compatibility for your operating system and CPU architecture, paying particular attention to Qt 5 dependencies and Apple Silicon availability.
- Validate any HDR workflow separately. Check encoder and GPU support, recommended color format and color space, capture-device capability, filter behavior, and—if streaming HDR with OBS 28—the YouTube HLS and HEVC limitation.
- Check automation clients. OBS 28 bundled obs-websocket 5.0, but the release information does not promise that every existing client will work without changes.
- Review recording output settings. If you used M3U8/HLS in Simple output, version 28 removed that option there; it remained in Advanced output.
When OBS 28 is not the right upgrade
Do not move a working production setup to version 28 until its operating system and must-have plugins are accounted for. The release’s headline capabilities also come with meaningful HDR constraints: AV1 or HEVC encoding, hardware and platform conditions, filter limitations, and YouTube HLS with HEVC for HDR streaming in this version. If those checks do not fit your setup, the headline feature may not help your actual workflow.
Rank #3
- Compact, feature-rich livestreaming USB audio mixer provides high-quality sound for desktop audio production
- Plug-and-play connectivity to computer or mobile device (no special drivers required)
- Loopback function makes it easy to mix mic and instrument inputs with background music, game sounds, or other audio input from a computer – and send the stereo mix back to the computer for streaming
- High-performance A/D converter with resolution up to 24-bit/192 kHz provides crystal-clear output for voice and instruments
- Equipped with a single mic input (XLR or ¼"), two LINE inputs for guitar and keyboard, and USB-C input for connecting to a computer
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 10 channel mixer with USB and SPX digital effects
- Featuring studio grade discrete class A D PRE amps with inverted Darlington circuit providing fat, natural sounding bass and smooth, soaring highs
- 3 band EQ and high pass filters give you maximum control and eliminate unwanted noise, resulting in a cleaner mix
- 1 knob compressors allow easy control resulting in livelier guitars, punchier bass lines, a tighter snare and a cleaner vocal sound
- MG Series mixers feature a rugged, impact resistant, powder coated metal chassis; Equivalent input noise 128 dBu, residual output noise 102 dBu
Rank #4
- Pro performance with great pre-amps - Achieve a brighter recording thanks to the high performing mic pre-amps of the Scarlett 3rd Gen. A switchable Air mode will add extra clarity to your acoustic instruments when recording with your Solo 3rd Gen
- Get the perfect guitar and vocal take with - With two high-headroom instrument inputs to plug in your guitar or bass so that they shine through. Capture your voice and instruments without any unwanted clipping or distortion thanks to our Gain Halos
- Studio quality recording for your music & podcasts - Achieve pro sounding recordings with Scarlett 3rd Gen’s high-performance converters enabling you to record and mix at up to 24-bit/192kHz. Your recordings will retain all of their sonic qualities
- Low-noise for crystal clear listening - 2 low-noise balanced outputs provide clean audio playback with 3rd Gen. Hear all the nuances of your tracks or music from Spotify, Apple & Amazon Music. Plug-in headphones for private listening in high-fidelity
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
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