Install and Use NVIDIA OBS Plugins: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Install and Use NVIDIA OBS Plugins: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

If you’re looking to step up your streaming game, the NVIDIA OBS plugin is a must-have tool. This plugin brings advanced OBS enhancements and powerful filters to your streaming setup, helping you achieve smoother, higher-quality broadcasts without taxing your system. Whether you’re a casual gamer, a content creator, or a streamer wanting to optimise your workflow, installing and using these NVIDIA plugins can make a real difference.

In this tutorial, you’ll get a complete walkthrough on how to install the most useful NVIDIA plugins for OBS Studio, along with practical tips on how to use them effectively. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to leverage these tools to enhance your stream quality and overall efficiency.

Why NVIDIA OBS Plugins Matter Today

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is among the most popular and trusted streaming platforms worldwide. NVIDIA, a leading name in graphics technology, offers several plugins designed specifically to integrate with OBS, delivering improved performance and visual effects by utilising your GPU’s power.

With streaming evolving constantly, and audience expectations rising, quality and efficiency are paramount. Nvidia’s OBS plugins can reduce CPU load by offloading encoding tasks to your GPU, apply better visual filters, and introduce features like noise removal and background segmentation—all without adding complexity to your setup.

This guide is perfect for content creators and streamers who want to:

• Improve stream quality with minimal lag
• Add professional-grade filters easily
• Manage system resources smarter during streaming

Essential NVIDIA OBS Plugins to Know

Before diving into the installation, let’s quickly review the most impactful NVIDIA plugins and features available for OBS:

• NVIDIA NVENC Encoder: Allows GPU-based video encoding that reduces CPU usage significantly.
• NVIDIA Broadcast Effects: Includes AI-powered filters such as noise removal, virtual background, auto frame, and video noise removal.
• NVIDIA RTX Voice Plugin: A classic tool for crystal clear audio through AI noise suppression (though now incorporated in NVIDIA Broadcast).
• NVIDIA DLSS for OBS: Uses deep learning super sampling to upscale lower-resolution streams to a higher resolution in real-time—ideal for saving bandwidth.
• RTX Voice Filters for Video: Filters to improve camera input by removing noise, blurring backgrounds, or enabling virtual green screens.

Step-by-Step Guide to Install NVIDIA OBS Plugins

Step 1: Check System and Software Requirements

First things first, verify that your system supports these plugins:

• A compatible NVIDIA GPU (usually GeForce GTX 10 series or later)
• The latest GPU drivers installed (download from NVIDIA’s website)
• OBS Studio version 28.0 or higher is recommended for best compatibility
• Windows 10 or Windows 11 (some plugins require Windows 11 for advanced features)

Step 2: Download NVIDIA Broadcast App

NVIDIA has bundled many OBS enhancements through the NVIDIA Broadcast app, which is free.

• Go to the NVIDIA Broadcast download page and get the latest installer.
• Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts.
• Restart your PC after installation.

The Broadcast app integrates several enhancements for OBS, from noise removal to virtual backgrounds.

Step 3: Install NVIDIA NVENC Encoder in OBS

OBS supports NVIDIA's NVENC encoder natively, but you should double-check it’s enabled.

• Open OBS and go to Settings > Output > Streaming.
• Under Encoder, select NVIDIA NVENC H.264 (new) or NVIDIA NVENC HEVC (for higher quality with HEVC compatible devices).
• Adjust bitrate according to your streaming platform’s recommended settings (for example, Twitch recommends 4500–6000 kbps).

This setup offloads video encoding from your CPU to your GPU, reducing lag and freeing system resources.

Step 4: Integrate NVIDIA Broadcast Effects into OBS

Once NVIDIA Broadcast is installed, you can start adding its filters in OBS.

• Open the NVIDIA Broadcast app and configure the filters you want, such as noise removal on your microphone or a virtual background on your camera.
• In OBS, go to your audio or video source.
• Add filters by right-clicking the source > Filters.
• Use the audio input from the NVIDIA Broadcast virtual device for your microphone input to get noise suppression benefits.
• For video, select NVIDIA Broadcast as your video capture device in OBS.

Step 5: Install Additional Plugins (Optional)

If you want to experiment further, check if there are specific plugins available on GitHub or NVIDIA forums related to your GPU model for OBS. Examples include advanced AI upscaling filters or streamlining tools for RTX cards.

How NVIDIA Plugins Enhance Stream Quality and Efficiency

GPU-Based Encoding Reduces Lag and Improves Frame Rates

The NVIDIA NVENC encoder is a game-changer for streamers who want to preserve FPS and CPU power during gameplay. By offloading video encoding to your RTX or GTX card, you get faster processing and smoother streams, especially when gaming with resource-heavy titles.

AI-Powered Noise Removal Filters

Noisy microphones or fluctuating background noises can hurt overall stream quality. NVIDIA Broadcast’s AI filters offer one of the best real-time noise suppressions on the market, filtering out keyboard clicks, fan noise, and environmental sounds. This means your voice stays clear without needing expensive microphones.

Background Replacement & Auto Frame

Virtual backgrounds or green screening used to require physical setups, but NVIDIA’s tools now let you blur or replace your background with minimal CPU impact. The Auto Frame feature keeps you centred, tracking your movement seamlessly.

Deep Learning Supersampling (DLSS)

For streamers who want to stream in higher resolutions but are bound by hardware or bandwidth constraints, using DLSS helps you render at lower resolutions while broadcasting a crisply upscaled video. This can be a powerful option for high-quality streams on moderate internet speeds.

Expert Insights and Warnings

While NVIDIA plugins greatly enhance OBS streaming, there are a few points to keep in mind:

• Some features require recent NVIDIA hardware (RTX series preferable for best AI features).
• The plugins can occasionally conflict with other third-party OBS plugins, so keep your setup minimal if you encounter crashes.
• AI-powered filters demand GPU power, so enabling too many at once can affect game performance.
• For macOS or Linux users, most NVIDIA plugin features are unavailable or limited—Windows remains the primary platform.

If your PC has an older GPU, you may not benefit as much from these plugins and might want to consider upgrading your hardware for the full experience.

Alternatives and Similar Tools

If you don’t have an NVIDIA GPU or want alternatives, consider:

• AMD Advanced Media Framework (AMF) encoder for OBS users with AMD GPUs
• StreamFX plugin for OBS that adds enhancements including blur filters and 3D transformations
• Krisp.io for AI noise suppression (software-based, cross-platform)
• XSplit VCam for background removal in streams without a green screen

Each tool serves slightly different needs, but NVIDIA’s native integration generally offers superior performance and lower latency for compatible hardware.

Quick Summary

• Best for CPU offloading: NVIDIA NVENC Encoder in OBS
• Best for audio clarity: NVIDIA Broadcast noise removal filter
• Best for video effects: NVIDIA Broadcast virtual background and auto frame
• Best for upscaling: NVIDIA DLSS for OBS plugin

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use NVIDIA Broadcast filters with any OBS version?
You need OBS Studio 28.0 or higher to ensure plugin compatibility with NVIDIA Broadcast features.

Will using NVIDIA NVENC reduce my game’s FPS?
No, it usually improves FPS by offloading encoding work from the CPU to the GPU.

Do I need an RTX GPU for NVIDIA Broadcast?
Most AI features in NVIDIA Broadcast require RTX GPUs, but basic NVENC encoding works on GTX 10-series and later.

Can I use virtual backgrounds without a green screen?
Yes, NVIDIA Broadcast uses AI to separate you from your background without needing a green screen.

How much do these plugins cost?
NVIDIA Broadcast and NVENC support come free with compatible NVIDIA GPUs.

Does using many filters increase GPU load?
Yes, enabling several filters at once may impact GPU performance, depending on your card’s power.

Pricing and Where to Get NVIDIA OBS Plugins

The great news? All the core NVIDIA OBS plugins and tools, including NVIDIA Broadcast, come free with NVIDIA GPUs. Your main investment should be:

• A compatible GPU, with prices ranging from around $300 for mid-range RTX 3050 cards to over $1000 for high-end RTX 4080/4090.
• Optional hardware upgrades like a better microphone or webcam for improved results.

Download the latest NVIDIA drivers and the Broadcast app directly from NVIDIA’s official site, and get OBS Studio from obsproject.com.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

Installing and using NVIDIA OBS plugins is one of the best upgrades streamers and content creators can make to maximise stream quality and efficiency. By harnessing the power of your NVIDIA GPU, you reduce CPU load, improve audio clarity, and add professional video effects with ease.

If you haven’t already, install NVIDIA Broadcast and enable NVENC encoding today—it’s a straightforward process that pays off with higher FPS and more polished streams. Combine these with OBS’s native features and third-party plugins, and you'll have a powerful, future-proof setup.

Ready to level up your streaming?

• Explore related guides on optimising OBS settings
• Compare other GPU encoders for streaming
• Subscribe for updates on streaming tech trends

Stream smarter, play better.

Internal links for further reading

• How to optimise OBS for live streaming
• Best microphones for streaming in 2024
• Guide to streaming PC builds for 2024

Image credit: NVIDIA and OBS Studio