TL;DR
OBS Studio 32.1.0 Beta 1 is available as a pre-release with a redesigned audio mixer, a new Add Source dialog and WebRTC simulcast support. The beta also includes UI rearrangements, a number of bug fixes, and platform installers and checksums are provided on the release page.
What happened
The OBS Project published a pre-release tagged 32.1.0-beta1 that bundles feature additions, interface changes and a list of bug fixes. Key feature additions include a redesigned Audio Mixer, a new Add Source dialog and WebRTC simulcast support; missing undo/redo actions for scene items were also restored. Several UI and workflow tweaks were made, such as removing the word "Source" from source names, an updated Edit Transform dialog, changed behavior when copying scene items, disabled dock animations and rearranged default dock positions. The team adjusted default bitrate settings to 6000 kbps and increased media source playback slider update rates, among other changes. The release notes list multiple fixes addressing projector resolution rounding, Preview/Program sync, HEVC NAL types, multivideo encoder scaling, chapter marker timing, black recording thumbnails, NVIDIA Blur artifacts, macOS Screen Capture selection defaults and a PipeWire capture framerate issue. Platform-specific installers and source archives for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu are attached with checksums.
Why it matters
- New audio mixer and Add Source dialog aim to streamline capture and mixing workflows for content creators.
- WebRTC simulcast support could help OBS users leverage adaptive bitrate streaming in WebRTC contexts.
- UI adjustments and restored undo/redo improve day-to-day usability and reduce friction when editing scenes.
- Bug fixes target longstanding stability and quality issues across encoders, macOS capture and Linux PipeWire.
Key facts
- Release: OBS Studio 32.1.0-beta1 (pre-release) published on 2026-01-15.
- New features include a redesigned Audio Mixer, a new Add Source dialog and WebRTC Simulcast support.
- UI and behavior changes: removed "Source" from source names, updated Edit Transform, copy now duplicates all properties, disabled dock animations and rearranged default dock positions.
- Default streaming bitrates were changed to 6000 kbps.
- Multiple bug fixes addressed issues such as projector resolution decimals, Preview/Program sync, HEVC NAL types, multivideo encoder scaling and chapter marker timing.
- Platform assets provided for Windows (x64 and arm64), macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) and Ubuntu 24.04, plus source tarball; checksums are listed in the release.
- Media source playback slider update rate increased and Light theme audio mixer palette enabled.
- The release notes include fixes for NVIDIA Blur banding, black thumbnails for some recordings, a macOS Screen Capture selection default, and a PipeWire framerate capture issue.
What to watch next
- When a stable 32.1.0 release will follow this beta — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether plugin and third-party tool compatibility is affected by the UI and behavior changes — not confirmed in the source.
- Platform-specific performance or encoder regressions after widescale adoption — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- WebRTC Simulcast: A technique in WebRTC that sends multiple encodings of the same video stream at different qualities so receivers can choose the best one for their bandwidth.
- Audio Mixer: A user interface and processing component that lets operators control levels, routing and effects for multiple audio inputs.
- Deinterlacing: The process of converting interlaced video, which contains alternating fields, into a progressive (non-interlaced) frame format.
- Bitrate: The amount of data processed per unit of time in a media stream, typically measured in kilobits or megabits per second; it influences quality and bandwidth usage.
Reader FAQ
How can I get this beta build?
Download links and checksums for source and platform installers are attached to the 32.1.0-beta1 release page.
Is 32.1.0-beta1 a stable release?
No — it is published as a pre-release (beta).
Did the release change default streaming bitrate?
Yes. The release notes indicate the default bitrates were changed to 6000 kbps.
Will this update break existing plugins?
not confirmed in the source
obsproject / obs-studio Public Sponsor Notifications Fork 9k Star 69.7k Code Issues 733 Pull requests 333 Discussions Actions Releases 32.1.0-beta1 OBS Studio 32.1.0 Beta 1 Pre-release Compare github-actions released this…
Sources
- OBS Studio 32.1.0 Beta 1 available
- OBS Studio 32.1 Beta | OBS Forums
- OBS Studio 32.1 Promises New Audio Mixer & WebRTC …
- OBS Studio 32.1.0 Beta 1
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