For an always-on OBS broadcast, use OBS’s built-in obs-websocket interface to record output-state events in a file, then periodically request the current state so your logger can recover after a disconnect or missed event. You can run the logger as a separate client or as a Python or Lua script inside OBS. Treat the log as OBS’s report of its output—not proof that YouTube or another destination is receiving and presenting the broadcast correctly.
Choose where the logger runs
OBS supports two practical approaches: an external WebSocket client, or a script loaded into OBS. OBS’s developer documentation describes both external applications and scripts as ways to work with OBS: OBS Developer Guide.
| Approach | What it does | Design consideration |
|---|---|---|
| External WebSocket client | Connects to OBS, subscribes to output events, requests current status, and writes records to a file. | It can remain running if OBS exits, but it needs its own restart and reconnect handling, plus whatever WebSocket client runtime or library you choose. |
| OBS Python or Lua script | Runs in OBS and can use scripting callbacks to observe and log activity. | It depends on OBS’s script runtime. Use a timer for recurring checks rather than doing file work on every rendered frame. |
These are architectural trade-offs, not tested performance results. The official sources do not provide a tested turnkey file logger or prescribe a polling interval.
Check the OBS version and secure its WebSocket
WebSocket support is built into OBS Studio 28 and later. Older releases may require the separate legacy plugin. Before setting up a client, confirm which OBS version is installed and use a client compatible with its protocol.
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OBS strongly recommends password protection for the WebSocket interface because it can enable control of OBS. Enable authentication and keep the connection on the same machine or a trusted network; do not expose the endpoint to the public internet for this logging task. See the OBS Remote Control Guide.
Set up an external logger
The external-client design is a good fit when you want the logger’s process to be independent of OBS. At a high level, it connects and authenticates, subscribes to relevant output events, writes timestamped records, and periodically queries the current output status.
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- Enable and secure WebSocket access. In OBS, configure Remote Control/WebSocket access, set a password, and note the connection details needed by your client. Keep credentials out of source code and log files where practical.
- Connect and authenticate. Use a WebSocket client compatible with the installed OBS version and authenticate using the configured password. The OBS protocol uses request/response messages and event subscriptions; check the protocol reference for the version you run: obs-websocket protocol reference.
- Subscribe to output-state events. Select the event subscriptions that cover the output whose status you need to record. Event names and payloads can vary with protocol version; verify the exact requests and events in the reference rather than relying on an unverified example.
- Write a startup snapshot. Request the current output status after connecting, then record it. This makes the log useful even if the output was already active before the logger started.
- Append event changes and periodic snapshots. Write each observed transition and request the current status at an interval you choose. Events capture changes while connected; snapshots give a recovery point and indicate that polling is still occurring.
- Reconnect and resynchronize. If the WebSocket connection drops, record the disconnection and its timestamp. Reconnect, authenticate again, and request a fresh status snapshot before treating subsequent events as continuous history.
- Make the logger restartable. Arrange for the client to restart after its own failure or a machine restart, using the process-management method appropriate to your operating system. This is an operational choice, not an OBS setting.
Use an OBS script instead
If you prefer to keep the logger inside OBS, OBS Studio’s script system supports Python and Lua. Add or manage scripts through Tools > Scripts, then implement script lifecycle handling and a timer-based recurring check. Consult the OBS Scripting Guide for callback behavior.
Do not put repeated file writes or status checks in a per-frame callback. OBS warns: “Be very careful with the code in script_tick, OBS may rapidly become unresponsive if some error or text is logged every frame.” Use a timer for periodic work and keep callbacks short.
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Choose a useful log format and recovery policy
A plain newline-delimited format is straightforward to inspect and process. Each record should include a consistent timestamp and enough context to distinguish the observed output state from the logger’s own connection state.
- Timestamp: Use a consistent timezone, preferably UTC, and make that choice clear in the file or record format.
- Observed state: Record the output status reported by OBS, plus an event or reason when the protocol provides one.
- Logger connection state: Record connection loss, reconnection, and successful resynchronization separately from output transitions.
- Snapshot or event: Label periodic status snapshots and event-driven changes so a reader can tell how each record was produced.
- File growth: Set a size or age limit and rotate or bound the log. The appropriate policy depends on how often you poll and how long you retain records.
A poll only observes the status at the time of the request. If the logger disconnects, the file cannot capture events it did not receive; after reconnection, a fresh snapshot reports the current OBS status but does not reconstruct the missing interval. Select a polling interval based on the maximum detection delay you can accept and the amount of file output you want. OBS does not prescribe an interval or log-rotation policy.
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Know what the log can and cannot tell you
An OBS output state is not an end-to-end health check. An active state in the log does not establish that the destination platform is receiving, processing, or displaying the stream correctly. For platform-side delivery or playback issues, check the destination’s own live dashboard or viewer-facing output as well.
Similarly, a missing transition during a logger outage is not evidence that no transition occurred. Keep the logger’s connection records and output-state records distinct so someone reviewing the file can see where observation stopped.
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Troubleshoot common logging failures
- The client cannot connect: Confirm OBS is running, WebSocket support is available for your OBS version, the host and port are correct, and the connection is not blocked by local network or firewall settings.
- Authentication fails: Check the configured WebSocket password and the authentication method expected by the client for that protocol version. Do not disable authentication as a shortcut on an exposed network.
- The log starts late or has gaps: Write a status snapshot at startup and after every reconnection. Events are only useful to the logger while it is connected and subscribed.
- OBS becomes unresponsive: Move recurring work out of frame callbacks, reduce excessive logging, and use a timer for periodic checks. OBS specifically cautions against frequent per-frame logging in scripts.
- The file grows without limit: Add a bounded retention or rotation policy and select snapshot frequency according to the detection delay and write volume you need.
- The log says active but the stream is unavailable: Treat the record as OBS’s output status, not confirmation of destination-side reception. Check the platform’s live status independently.
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Quick Recap
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