ForgeCaster

ForgeCaster Broadcast · Windows Desktop

Build the scene.
Make it your show.

Arrange gameplay, cameras, artwork, browser sources and your avatar in one local production workspace. Stream or record with scene, source and audio controls close at hand.

Download Desktop for WindowsFollow the setup steps

Free local broadcasting needs no account, subscription or card. Cloud music requests, audience events and other connected tools have separate plans.

ForgeCaster Broadcast with a gameplay scene, avatar, scene list, source list, audio mixer and recording controls.
A complete scene with gameplay, an avatar and overlay artwork, plus the controls used to build it. Approved Desktop 1.5.0 capture · select to enlarge.
Compose

Your scene, arranged visually

Move, resize and crop sources; edit their properties and filters; keep reusable scenes for starting, gameplay and breaks.

Rehearse

Prepare a change in private

Use Studio mode to edit Preview, then intentionally transition it to Program. Check a local recording before trusting a new source or audio setup live.

Produce

Choose your output

Record locally, start supported streaming destinations, or send video through the virtual camera. Additional encoders and outputs use your computer’s resources.

Your first broadcast

  1. Install the current Windows Desktop release and open ForgeCaster.
  2. Choose Broadcast in the main sidebar. Opening the workspace does not start a stream or recording.
  3. Create a scene and add a source from the Sources panel. Start with a display, window, camera, image or browser source you can recognize.
  4. Select the source and check its bounds. Drag to position it, use the resize handles, or open Transform for numeric values. Use Alt-drag for cropping. Test the result at your actual Windows display scaling.
  5. Open Properties or Filters to preview the source while adjusting it. Apply the changes when ready, or cancel the draft. Test device-specific settings with the actual hardware you intend to use.
  6. Choose your audio devices. Check the live meters, filters, monitoring route and a quiet test recording. The virtual camera carries video; it does not provide an audio route.
  7. Configure the destination and encoder in Broadcast settings. Available encoders depend on your hardware. Use a short local recording before an external streaming test.
  8. For additional RTMP/RTMPS destinations, open Streaming destinations. Review each encoder and bitrate before starting the selected output.

Bring an existing scene collection

  1. Export a scene collection from OBS or Streamlabs and keep the original. Stop ForgeCaster outputs and turn Studio mode off before importing.
  2. Open Collection → Manage → Import OBS / Streamlabs / ForgeCaster. Choose OBS scene JSON, Streamlabs scene JSON or .overlay, or a native ForgeCaster JSON export.
  3. Review the scene names, counts and compatibility warnings. Choose a new collection name. Use Locate file for missing local media, then Create collection.
  4. Open Properties to configure cameras and other local capture devices. Unsupported plugins or widgets need manual replacements. Missing filters are preserved but disabled; check the report before relying on them.
  5. Review each scene and make a short recording. Importing retains your current output profile and canvas, so verify framing, encoder and audio settings separately.

For a separate OBS output profile, open Profile → Manage → Import OBS profile (basic.ini). This preserves your existing active profile and does not import stream credentials. Scene collections and profiles are different exports; neither promises identical behavior for every third-party plugin.

Bring in your avatar

Open VTuber Studio in the same sidebar. Choose or import an avatar, start the intended tracking devices and test expressions or idle motion. Add its private local source to Broadcast, then check framing and transparency. The computer rendering the avatar must stay running.

Studio mode and active outputs

With Studio mode enabled, make scene adjustments in Preview and use Transition to publish them to Program. Opening another Desktop page should preserve active outputs; check the output status before closing the app. If a local engine connection is lost, read the recovery status before starting another output.

Updates and locked camera files

A browser or calling application can retain the virtual-camera module after ForgeCaster closes. If the updater identifies a file holder, close that application and retry. The updater verifies existing files, creates a restore point and reports replacement failures; keep its log if recovery needs support.

Before a live show

Check your actual capture devices, DPI, GPU, encoder, audio mix and destination. Imported plugins and third-party virtual devices can behave differently from built-in sources. Save the scene collection and retain your original media files.

Source code and licenses

Settings → About & source code opens the matching source archive and license information. See connection and recovery help for delayed actions, audio issues and installation problems.