Quickstart
This is the whole path in one page, start to finish. Each step links to a deeper guide if you want more detail, but you can follow this straight through and be live tonight. Everything except the last step is a one-time setup. After that, going live is just opening your studio and hitting start.
1. Create your channel
Sign up with email and password or with Google, then set your channel name, logo, and socials. This is your stable on-stream identity, and every break you run belongs to it. A setup checklist on your dashboard home walks you through it the first time you sign in, including confirming your email (you need a confirmed email to go live). Branding and socials are optional; you can add them any time from the Channel tabs.
Full guide: Channel setup.
2. Build your break template
Open the studio, go to Break Templates, and create your first template. A template is your look, saved: the overlay your viewers see plus the controls you fire the show from. You need at least one template to go live.
Design the overlay on a vertical (9:16) grid. Add widgets: the fill board that tracks which team spots are sold, a live scoreboard, your name plate, a socials bar, plus any text or images. Drag and resize them, and a live preview shows exactly what the overlay will look like. Then pick the celebration effects and sounds you want on hand, and save.
Full guides: Break templates and Design your overlay.
3. Set up OBS
Breakcastr gives you two links, and each goes into OBS once:
| Link | What it is | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay URL | The graphics your viewers see. | A Browser Source in your OBS scene. |
| Studio URL | Your private control panel. | Any browser on any device, or an OBS dock. |
Add the overlay as a browser source, move it to the top of your sources, and point OBS at the platform you stream to. Your control panel is just your studio logged in, so open it wherever is comfortable: docked in OBS, or on a separate iPad, laptop, or phone signed into the same account. It takes about two minutes and you only do it once.
Full guide: OBS setup.
4. Run your break
From the studio, pick your template, set what you are breaking tonight and your spots, and watch the live preview react. Then hit Start break.
Once you are live, the studio becomes your on-air console. Tap a spot to mark it sold, fire a celebration effect when a big hit lands, and toggle widgets on or off. Everything updates on stream instantly, from whatever device you are holding.
Full guide: Go live with a break.
What is free and what needs a plan
Every new account starts with a 7-day free trial, no card required: create your channel, build templates, and broadcast real breaks. After the trial you subscribe to keep going on air. See Pricing and plans.
Where to next
- Go deeper on the look: Design your overlay and the widget catalog.
- Learn the live controls: Run the live show.
- Something not working? Troubleshooting.