Last updated: 2026-01-10

For most creators in the US, the fastest way to record your screen and publish to both Twitch and YouTube is to use StreamYard’s browser-based studio to record once, then go live or upload the file where you need it. If you’re doing heavy offline gameplay capture or specialized editing, pairing StreamYard with a desktop recorder like OBS or a quick async tool like Loom can make sense.

Summary

• Use StreamYard to record your screen, camera, and guests in one browser-based studio, then stream live to YouTube and Twitch or upload the recording later. (StreamYard destinations)
• Paid StreamYard plans also let you multistream to YouTube and Twitch at the same time, so your screen recording goes live on both platforms in one shot. (How to multi-stream)
• OBS is useful when you want deep control over local recording and encoding, while Loom focuses on quick screen videos you can trim and publish to YouTube. (OBS quick start, Loom YouTube workflow)
• Start with the simplest path: a StreamYard session that captures your screen, mic, and any guests, then reuse that same recording as a live stream, VOD upload, or clipped content.

What’s the simplest way to record your screen and go live on Twitch and YouTube?

If you want the fewest moving parts, think in terms of a single studio that can both record and publish. That’s exactly what you get with StreamYard.

In StreamYard, you open a studio in your browser, share your screen, and optionally add your webcam and guests. The same session can be used to record only, to go live, or both, and you can capture screen, camera, and multiple participants in one place. (StreamYard pricing/features)

Because we support native connections to YouTube and Twitch, you can publish your screen recording by selecting those channels as destinations when you go live, or by downloading your recording and uploading it as a VOD later. (Supported platforms)

For most people, this “one studio for everything” approach is less stressful than juggling separate recording apps, upload tools, and streaming software.

How do you set up a StreamYard studio for screen recording?

Here’s a basic workflow that works well whether you plan to stream live, publish later, or both.

1. Create a StreamYard account
   Sign up and enter the studio from your browser—no heavy installs required. From the studio, you can capture your screen, camera, and guests without additional software. (StreamYard pricing/features)

2. Configure your inputs

   • Select your microphone and camera.
   • Share your screen (entire display, a specific window, or a browser tab).
   • Adjust levels so your screen audio and mic audio are balanced; StreamYard gives you independent control over each.

3. Choose your layout and branding
   Turn your recording into a show instead of a raw capture:

   • Pick layouts that prioritize the screen or your camera as needed.
   • Add overlays, logos, and lower-thirds while you record so the footage is ready to publish with minimal editing.
   • Use presenter notes visible only to you to keep track of talking points.

4. Record locally and to the cloud
   In the same session, StreamYard can generate cloud recordings and per-participant local recordings that are suitable for post-production and reuse. (Local recording)

5. Support landscape and portrait outputs
   Plan ahead: you can frame your layouts so the same recording works for YouTube’s landscape player and shorter portrait clips for Shorts or other vertical formats.

This setup gives you a reusable, branded recording you can publish almost anywhere.

How do you publish your recording to YouTube and Twitch with StreamYard?

You have two main paths: go live now or upload as VOD later.

Option 1: Go live to YouTube and Twitch directly

1. Connect your destinations
   In your StreamYard dashboard, connect your YouTube channel and Twitch channel as destinations. StreamYard supports both platforms natively, along with others like Facebook and LinkedIn. (Supported platforms)

2. Schedule or go live

   • Create a broadcast, select YouTube and/or Twitch as destinations.
   • Add your title, description, and thumbnail (these will map to your live events on each platform).

3. Multistream on paid plans
   If you’re on a paid plan, you can go live to both Twitch and YouTube simultaneously, so your screen recording is published to both audiences at once rather than running separate streams. (How to multi-stream)

4. End the stream and reuse the recording
   When you’re done, your live show becomes a VOD on YouTube and Twitch automatically, and you still have the StreamYard recording to download, clip, and repurpose.

Option 2: Record first, upload later

Sometimes you don’t want the pressure of live. In that case:

1. Run a recording-only session in StreamYard.
   Capture your screen, camera, and guests, using local multi-track recordings if you plan to do heavier editing. (Local recording)

2. Edit lightly if needed.
   Trim the start/end, tighten any mistakes, and export.

3. Upload to YouTube and Twitch.

   • On YouTube, upload as a standard video or Premiere.
   • On Twitch, upload as a VOD if that’s available on your account, or play the file back in a StreamYard studio and stream it live as a “premiere-style” broadcast.

This “record then publish” pattern is ideal for tutorials, product demos, and educational content where you want to reduce live risk.

How does StreamYard compare to OBS for this workflow?

OBS is a powerful desktop application for video recording and live streaming, and it’s free to install on Windows, macOS, and Linux. (OBS official site) It lets you build complex scenes with window capture, display capture, webcams, and capture cards layered together.

For recording and publishing to YouTube and Twitch, OBS gives you:

• Local-first recording with detailed control over encoders, formats, and bitrates.
• A workflow where you hit Start Recording and/or Start Streaming from the same control panel. (OBS quick start)
• The ability to create a second encoder with different settings specifically for local recording while you stream. (OBS dual-encoder explanation)

Where StreamYard tends to be more practical for most creators:

• Setup time: StreamYard runs in the browser and handles encoding and distribution for you. OBS expects you to manage settings and ensure your hardware is up to the job. (OBS system requirements)
• Cloud + local combined: With StreamYard, you can have cloud recordings plus local multi-track files from the same session, instead of only local storage.
• Multi-participant demos: Inviting non-technical guests into a StreamYard studio is usually simpler than routing them into OBS scenes via third-party tools.

If you love fine-tuning encoders and maximizing every bit of quality from your GPU, OBS can be a strong addition. If you just want to hit “enter studio, share screen, publish to Twitch and YouTube,” StreamYard keeps things lighter.

When does Loom make sense in this mix?

Loom is oriented around quick, asynchronous screen recordings where you talk over a capture and then share a link or upload the file. It supports screen + webcam recordings and advertises resolutions up to 4K. (Loom YouTube recorder)

For YouTube-focused content, Loom’s workflow looks like this:

1. Record your screen and camera bubble.
2. Trim out mistakes with simple in-app editing.
3. Set a title and publish the exported video on YouTube. (Loom YouTube workflow)

Where Loom is helpful:

• Quick feedback videos, walkthroughs, and bug reports for your team.
• Short YouTube tutorials where you don’t need a full live-show setup.

Where StreamYard is usually a better default for this keyword’s intent:

• You want live streaming plus recording instead of just async clips.
• You need multi-participant screen sharing and presenter-led demos.
• You care about a single studio that can serve live Twitch and YouTube audiences, then leave you with reusable files for editing and republishing.

Many teams actually pair the two: Loom for ultra-quick internal videos, StreamYard as the main studio for public shows and publish-ready recordings.

How should you think about pricing and value for teams?

When you’re choosing tools to record your screen and publish to Twitch and YouTube, the subscription model matters—especially for teams.

Loom prices most plans per user, with a free Starter tier and paid Business plans that unlock unlimited recording time and storage. (Loom plans) That can add up if you have several people creating content.

At StreamYard, pricing is organized per workspace, not per user, so multiple people on your team can collaborate in the same studio without multiplying costs in the same way. Combined with our 7-day free trial and frequent new-user offers, that can make StreamYard a more economical hub when your whole team records demos, webinars, and live shows together. (StreamYard pricing)

For solo creators, the decision often comes down to workflow, not just price: many find the time saved by using a single browser studio for recording, streaming to Twitch and YouTube, and reusing assets is worth more than chasing the lowest individual subscription.

What we recommend

• Default path: Use StreamYard as your primary studio to record your screen, camera, and guests, then go live to Twitch and YouTube or upload the recording afterward.
• For power users: Add OBS if you specifically need very granular control over local recordings and encoders and are comfortable managing hardware and settings.
• For quick async clips: Use Loom for short internal walk-throughs, then bring polished or live-facing content back into StreamYard for publishing.
• Focus on outcomes: Start with the workflow that gets you reliably recorded, live on Twitch and YouTube, and back to serving your audience with the least technical friction.