OBS Studio 32.2 beta adds SDR-to-HDR filter and dynamic bitrates

This update signals the maturation of high-fidelity streaming workflows by lowering the barrier for HDR adoption through native software-driven conversion. By integrating dynamic bitrate support for multitrack video, OBS is directly supporting the shift toward client-side transcoding—a strategy pioneered by Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting to reduce server costs while providing viewer-side quality options. For the broader ecosystem, it reinforces OBS's role as the de facto reference implementation for next-generation encoding standards like AV1 and HEVC. Watch for whether this SDR-to-HDR filter becomes a standard for hardware vendors like NVIDIA to implement at the driver level for zero-latency capture.

The introduction of SDR-to-HDR tools in OBS Studio 32.2 follows a broader industry push to standardize high-dynamic-range content across live platforms. In early 2024, NVIDIA launched its RTX Video HDR technology, which uses AI to convert SDR video in browsers to HDR10, according to NVIDIA. This release bridges the gap for creators who want to maintain professional HDR streams while using standard legacy overlays or graphics.

Dynamic bitrate support for multitrack video is particularly timely following the general availability of Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting in June 2026. Per Twitch, this technology allows streamers to send multiple concurrent encodes—such as 1440p and 720p—directly to the platform, ensuring viewers receive the best available quality without requiring expensive server-side transcoding. By adding dynamic bitrates to this specific feature, OBS enables more stable multi-track broadcasts on consumer-grade upload speeds, which remains a primary bottleneck for high-resolution streaming.

On the hardware and OS front, the move to force native Apple Silicon updates reflects the final stages of the industry's transition away from Intel-based Mac architectures. Meanwhile, the PipeWire improvements on Linux address long-standing capture issues on Wayland-based systems. These updates coincide with market forecasts from Mordor Intelligence in May 2026, which project the video streaming software market will reach $18.95 billion this year as professional-grade production tools move from fixed-function hardware to flexible, programmable software stacks.