Is Meld the Best OBS Alternative? Here's My Honest Verdict

After my "OBS. We Need to talk." video blew up, one name kept showing up in the comments: Meld Studio. So I went all in — I tested every single feature so you don't have to. Can a newer, slicker streaming app actually go toe-to-toe with OBS Studio? I cover everything: the interface, the tools, the performance, the catches — and at the end I give you my honest verdict on whether OBS users should make the switch. You might be surprised where I land on this one. 🔗 Check out Meld Studio (Free): https://meldstudio.co 💬 What streaming software are YOU using right now? Drop it in the comments — I read every one. 👍 If this helped, a like goes a long way. And subscribe if you want more no-nonsense streaming guides. #MeldStudio #OBSAlternative #LiveStreaming 00:00:00 Intro: Revisiting Meld in 2026 00:00:23 What is Meld Studio? 00:00:57 Downloading and Installing 00:01:35 Initial Setup and Permissions 00:02:05 Exploring Preferences and Settings 00:03:07 Audio Configuration 00:03:21 Transitions and Interface Options 00:04:10 Advanced Audio and Process Sources 00:05:07 Scenes and Layers (OBS Equivalents) 00:05:42 Adding and Customizing Video Devices 00:06:15 Display Capture and Layer Management 00:06:42 Camera Effects and Lenses 00:07:05 Drop Shadows and 3D Elements 00:07:36 Chroma Key and Green Screen Setup 00:08:02 Creating and Testing Scene Transitions 00:09:22 Adding Browser Sources and Alerts 00:09:47 Text Customization and File Integration 00:10:24 Glow and 3D Object Effects 00:11:11 Markdown and Shape Layers 00:11:42 The Duplicator: Nested Scenes Feature 00:12:24 Overview of Meld Widgets 00:12:48 Event-Based Widgets (Combo, Spotlight) 00:13:30 Confetti and Chat Overlays 00:14:16 Environment Widgets (Snowfall, Goals) 00:15:29 Social Handles and Chat Highlights 00:16:22 Final Verdict: Performance and Improvements 00:17:55 Managing Multiple Stream Setups 00:18:45 Final Thoughts: Is it Still Free? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Sponsors. Riverside ►► https://creators.riverside.com/Michael Voicemod ►► https://x.la/l/yoibdCgs Envato Placeit ►► https://1.envato.market/Q5kkM Own3d Pro ►► http://own3d.gg/michaelfjr-pro Own3d TV ►► http://own3d.gg/michaelfjr ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the channel. EVMux ►► https://evmux.com/?fpr=michael26 NerdOrDie ►► https://nerdordie.com/shop/ref/rp73h3/ Streamyard ►► https://streamyard.com/?fpr=michael45 Restream Studio ►► https://restream.grsm.io/zyibha5km0q4 Envato PlaceIt ►► https://1.envato.market/Q5kkM Envato Elements ►► https://1.envato.market/M9aO3 TubeBuddy for free ►► https://www.tubebuddy.com/MikeFeyrer Subscribe ►►    / @michaelfeyrerjr   Website ►► https://michaelfeyrerjr.com The Gear I use ►► https://michaelfeyrerjr.com/gear-i-use ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Live stream guests ►►    • How To Live Stream Multiple People With Zo...   OBS and live streaming ►►    • OBS Tutorials and live streaming   Live Streaming Tools ►►    • Live streaming tools   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks For watching! DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and buy a product, I receive a small commission. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.