Last updated: 2026-01-15

If you’re just starting out, we recommend using a simple browser studio like StreamYard so you can go live fast, add guests, and get reliable recordings without wrestling with settings. If you specifically want to copy xQc’s dual‑PC setup and scene control, then OBS Studio plus StreamElements is the path he uses.

Summary

• xQc’s main streaming software is OBS Studio on a dual‑PC setup, with StreamElements handling overlays, alerts, and TTS. (StreamYard)
• OBS Studio is free, open‑source desktop software for live streaming and recording, but it takes time and technical setup to master. (LinuxLinks)
• StreamYard runs in the browser with no installs, up to 10 people in the studio, multi‑track 4K local recordings, and easy multistreaming—ideal for most creators who prioritize speed and reliability over deep encoder tweaks.
• For US creators, a practical playbook is: use OBS when you really need xQc‑style control; use StreamYard for interviews, collabs, and everyday live shows where “it just works” matters more than tinkering.

What streaming software does xQc actually use?

xQc primarily uses OBS Studio (the desktop version) as his streaming software. Multiple breakdowns of his setup note that he runs OBS as his main encoder and pairs it with StreamElements for overlays, alerts, and text‑to‑speech. (StreamYard, PropelRC)

On top of that, he uses a dual‑PC workflow with a capture card (for example, an Elgato 4K60 Pro) to separate gaming and encoding. (PropelRC) That greatly reduces the load on each machine, but it also means more hardware, more cables, and more potential failure points.

If your goal is to match his exact pipeline, you’re signing up for OBS + StreamElements, a capture card, and a second PC.

If your goal is simply “look professional and stable on Twitch or YouTube,” that level of complexity usually isn’t required.

Does xQc use OBS or Streamlabs?

xQc is currently associated with OBS Studio rather than Streamlabs as his day‑to‑day streaming app. After a period where he had an exclusive arrangement involving Streamlabs, coverage of his setup notes that once that wrapped, he went back to streaming with OBS. (Dexerto)

Here’s the high‑level breakdown of the tools in his orbit:

• OBS Studio: The core encoding and scene software he uses to go live.
• StreamElements: Runs on top of his stream for alerts, overlays, and chat‑driven features.
• Past Streamlabs relationship: Commercial history, but not his primary current encoder.

For you, the more important question isn’t “OBS or Streamlabs?”—it’s, “Do I actually want a desktop encoder at all?” That’s where options like StreamYard change the equation.

What does xQc’s OBS workflow look like (and what’s public vs private)?

From public breakdowns, we know a few key pieces of xQc’s OBS‑based workflow:

• He uses a dual‑PC setup with a capture card; gameplay runs on one machine, while OBS runs on the other. (PropelRC)
• OBS scenes mix game capture, his camera, and StreamElements overlays.
• StreamElements powers alerts, TTS, and chat integrations layered on top of OBS. (PropelRC)

What you won’t find is a trustworthy, public export of his exact OBS profile—bitrate, encoder choice, keyframe interval, and so on. Reliable sources specifically note that there’s no verified OBS preset file for him. (StreamYard)

That means you can copy the overall architecture—OBS + StreamElements + capture card—but you’ll still need to tune your own settings based on your internet upload speed and PC specs.

xQc’s OBS settings for 1080p60: what’s realistic to copy?

Many US creators search for “xQc OBS settings 1080p 60fps” hoping for a magic profile. There isn’t a confirmed one you can download, but you can follow a sane approach:

1. Start from your bandwidth, not from xQc. Run a speed test and look at your upload. Your maximum video bitrate will be a fraction of that.
2. Use platform presets. Twitch and YouTube both provide recommended bitrates and encoder settings for 1080p60. Those are a safer starting point than an unverified “pro streamer” screenshot.
3. Benchmark your PC. xQc’s hardware is high‑end. If your CPU or GPU is modest, you may need to stream at 720p60 or 900p60 to stay smooth.

This is exactly where a browser studio like StreamYard changes the trade‑off. Instead of asking your PC to both play games and encode at 1080p60, our cloud infrastructure does the heavy lifting. You focus on framing, audio, and chat—not on whether your encoder is dropping frames.

How to set up StreamElements with OBS (xQc‑style overlays and TTS)

If you do want to follow xQc’s general stack, the workflow with OBS and StreamElements looks roughly like this:

1. Create a StreamElements account and connect it to your Twitch or YouTube channel.
2. Build an overlay inside StreamElements: add alert boxes, chat boxes, labels, and TTS widgets.
3. Copy the overlay URL that StreamElements generates.
4. In OBS, add a Browser Source and paste that URL. Resize it to fit your canvas.
5. Configure TTS and alerts inside StreamElements so they trigger on subs, tips, bits, and other events.

Once that’s wired up, any event routed through StreamElements appears on top of your OBS scene without extra plugins.

It’s a powerful combo—but it’s also another layer to maintain. By contrast, StreamYard builds overlays, comments, and on‑screen graphics directly into the studio, so you don’t need an external overlay system to get a clean, branded look.

Can StreamYard replicate xQc’s workflow (browser studio vs dual‑PC OBS)?

You won’t mirror every aspect of xQc’s high‑end, dual‑PC gaming rig with a single browser tab. But for what most US creators actually need—high‑quality live video, reliable recordings, easy guest management, and basic branding—StreamYard covers the ground with far less friction.

Here’s how the two paths stack up on the outcomes most people care about:

• Getting started fast

  • OBS path: Install software, configure scenes, tune encoder settings, and test your hardware.
  • StreamYard path: Open a browser, log in, pick your destinations, and hit “Go live.” StreamYard runs entirely in the browser, so there are no installs for you or your guests. (StreamYard)

• Guests and collabs

  • OBS path: You’ll bolt on Discord, Zoom, or another tool, then capture it inside OBS. More moving parts, more audio routing.
  • StreamYard path: Share a guest link and they join from a browser—no account, no download. Our users consistently call out how “guests can join easily and reliably without tech problems,” and that StreamYard “passes the ‘grandparent test’.”

• Recording quality and repurposing

  • OBS path: You record locally. Quality is good, but file management is on you.
  • StreamYard path: On paid plans, broadcasts are recorded in HD in the cloud (up to 10 hours per stream), and we also support multi‑track local recording in 4K UHD, so you have studio‑quality files for editing or clips. (StreamYard Support)

• Multistreaming

  • OBS path: Native multistreaming typically requires extra services and configuration.
  • StreamYard path: On paid plans, you can stream to multiple platforms at once from a single studio—like YouTube and Facebook at the same time—without a separate relay. (StreamYard Support)

• Layouts and branding

  • OBS path: Pixel‑level control and plugin freedom, but also a real learning curve.
  • StreamYard path: You get flexible, pre‑built layouts, on‑screen banners, logos, and backgrounds that are easy to adjust mid‑show. For typical talk‑show, podcast, or webinar formats, most people don’t miss the extra complexity.

For gaming‑only streams where you’re chasing ultra‑fine visual control, OBS is still a strong option. But if you care more about running smooth shows with guests, sponsors, and audience interaction, many creators default to StreamYard for their “serious” broadcasts and keep OBS in their toolkit for niche use cases.

How does pricing and value stack up for real‑world creators?

OBS Studio is free to download and use, which is compelling on paper. (Steam) Streamlabs offers free tools plus a subscription bundle, and Restream mixes free and paid plans with different channel and upload limits. (Streamlabs, Restream)

StreamYard also has a free plan so you can run real shows in the browser and see if the workflow fits you. When you’re ready for more destinations, longer recordings, and advanced features like multi‑track 4K local recording or Multi‑Aspect Ratio Streaming (landscape and vertical at the same time), you can move to a paid plan on an annual subscription.

When you compare the time cost, the calculus often flips: many creators find that spending hours configuring a free desktop stack is more expensive than paying for a tool that “just works” for their core use cases—live shows, interviews, webinars, and recurring branded content.

What we recommend

• If you specifically want to emulate xQc’s exact tech stack and you’re comfortable managing a dual‑PC rig, use OBS Studio with StreamElements and a capture card.
• If you mainly want to go live reliably, bring on guests, and get high‑quality recordings without a steep learning curve, start with StreamYard’s browser studio.
• If you’re unsure, test both: run a few solo gaming streams in OBS, then host an interview or Q&A in StreamYard and notice which workflow gives you more confidence on camera.
• Default to the setup that lets you focus on content, not configuration—most creators in the US care more about consistency and ease than copying every detail of a pro streamer’s rig.