Learn how to record with OBS like a pro! Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need for high-quality recordings!
Learn how to record with OBS like a pro! Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need for high-quality recordings!
December 12, 2023
This makes the editing process so much faster. I wish I knew about Descript a year ago.
Matt D., Copywriter
This makes the editing process so much faster. I wish I knew about Descript a year ago.
Matt D., Copywriter
Have you ever watched a well-produced livestream and wondered how they did it? Those many camera changes, high-res video sources, and fancy lower-thirds letting you know exactly how to spell “TheGrefg”? It might surprise you to know that the tool many streamers depend on for their livestreams is completely and utterly free.
That tool is Open Broadcaster Software (aka OBS Studio). It’s a free, open-source software that makes high-quality livestreaming and screen recording easy.
It’s not the most intuitive software in the world, though. Don’t worry: this guide covers everything from the initial setup to advanced recording techniques with OBS.
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OBS Studio stands out as solid recording software because it's free. This opened up streaming and screen recording to a much wider audience.
There’s still a learning curve, but OBS Studio is designed to be accessible. As soon as you install OBS Studio, you'll get preconfigured settings for streaming and recording that can be used as-is or as a starting point for further customization.
It also lets users customize almost every aspect of their recording and streaming setup, from audio input sources to video resolution and beyond. Here’s how to install OBS:
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As noted, OBS Studio is versatile and powerful for live streaming and screen recording. It combines an excellent feature set with a user-friendly interface, making it popular among creators.
Here’s a breakdown of its key features.
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Scenes and sources management: You can create and customize multiple 'scenes', each with its own media sources like game capture, webcam feeds, images, and browser windows.
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Audio mixer: Includes a multi-track audio mixer with per-source filters like noise gate, noise suppression, and gain, which gives you more control over audio inputs and outputs.
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Video mixing and transitions: Makes real-time video mixing and transitioning between different scenes easy with customizable transitions like fade, cut, and stinger transitions.
Streaming and recording: Offers simultaneous streaming and recording capabilities with adjustable quality settings, supporting popular platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live.
Customizable hotkeys: Lets you set up hotkeys for almost any action, including starting/stopping streams or recordings, muting audio sources, and switching scenes.
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Advanced audio properties: Offers advanced options like audio delay and syncing audio with video.
Real-time audio/video capturing: Captures and mixes high-quality audio and video in real-time, a key requirement for live streaming and professional recordings.
Encoder options: Supports various encoders, including x264 and hardware encoders, so you can optimize your stream or recording based on hardware capabilities.
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Customizable user interface: Features a flexible UI you can arrange and customize to suit your workflows and preferences.
Filters and effects: Offers a variety of filters and effects for sources, such as chroma key (green screen), image masking, color correction, and more for enhanced production quality.
Multi-view: Easily monitor and switch between multiple scenes, which is helpful for complex live productions.
Replay buffer: Save short segments of live video to create instant replays or highlights during live broadcasts.
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Advanced configuration options: Includes a range of advanced settings for video bitrate, frame rate, resolution, and stream delay to tailor your streaming and recording setups.
OBS also includes easy access to plugins and FAQs, which is great for beginners trying to learn their way around the system. An OBS Discord community is yet another perk of using OBS. It’s filled with thousands of users and you can join for free.
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The best way to record with OBS Studio is to adjust a few key settings. Here's how:
Video settings: Go to the 'Settings' menu and click on 'Video'. Set the base (canvas) resolution to the resolution of your monitor if you're doing full-screen recording. For the output (scaled) resolution, you might choose a lower resolution for a smaller file size. Set the downscale filter to 'Lanczos' for high-quality scaling and choose an FPS value (commonly 30 or 60 fps) based on the smoothness you want in your video.
Output settings: In the 'Output' tab, you’ll find options for streaming and recording. Focus on the 'Recording' section. Choose an output mode: 'Simple' for beginners or 'Advanced' for more control. Select your recording path and the folder where your recordings will be saved. Adjust the recording format (like mp4 or mkv) and choose an encoder. If your GPU can handle it, opt for a hardware encoder like NVENC (for Nvidia GPUs) or AMF/VCE (for AMD GPUs) to reduce CPU load.
Camera and audio settings: Add your webcam as a 'Video Capture Device' source. Adjust the camera's resolution and FPS in its properties window. For audio, add sources like 'Audio Input Capture' for microphones. In the 'Audio Mixer' section, you can balance and adjust the levels of your audio sources.
Plugins: OBS supports plugins for added functionality. You can access plugins from the OBS website and install them via the drop-down menu in OBS. Choose ones that enhance your recording needs, like audio processors or scene transitions.
OBS maintains a handy list of 202 plugins in their community forum you can filter through and download for your projects.
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For the best possible OBS settings:
As a starting point, these settings might need to be tweaked based on your specific recording situation and hardware capabilities. The goal is to balance quality with performance for smooth recordings that sound and look great.
Screen recording with OBS Studio on both Windows and Mac is straightforward. Here are the key steps to get you started:
Step 1: Install OBS. Ensure you've installed OBS Studio by following the step-by-step guide for your operating system, whether it's Windows or MacOS.
Step 2: Set up a scene. Open OBS and click the '+' button under 'Scenes' to create a new scene. Name it something relevant, like 'Screen Recording'.
Step 3: Add your sources. Click the '+' button under the 'Sources' window. To capture your entire screen, select 'Display Capture', then choose the display you want to record.
If you want to include webcam footage, add a 'Video Capture Device.' Sources can include multiple elements like images, text, videos, webcam footage, gameplay, and even desktop. Additionally:
Step 4: Set up your recording settings. Navigate to 'Settings' and then 'Output'. Here, set your recording path, select the video file type (such as MP4 or MKV), and choose your encoder settings to balance video quality with file size.
Step 5: Start and stop recordings. Back in the main window, click the 'Start Recording' button when you're ready. To stop recording, click 'Stop Recording'. Your video file will be saved to the recording path you set earlier.
Each step in OBS is designed to be intuitive, from installation to managing your recording settings. With practice, you'll be able to record videos swiftly.
To use OBS Studio for screen recording on mobile devices, you'll need to use your smartphone as a webcam. Here's a revised and accurate approach:
Step 1: Install a compatible app. For both iPhone and Android, install an app that supports streaming your phone's camera to a PC. Options include:
Step 2: Connect OBS on your desktop. Open OBS Studio and create a new scene for mobile recording. In the 'Sources' window, add your phone as a 'Video Capture Device', depending on the app you're using.
Step 3: Start mirroring on mobile. Activate the mirroring or camera streaming feature on your mobile app. Ensure your PC and mobile device are on the same network for a smooth connection.
Step 4: Record the Screen with OBS. Once your mobile camera feed appears in OBS, you can position and resize it as needed. Then, click 'Start Recording' in OBS to capture your mobile screen. Click 'Stop Recording' to end the session.
This approach captures your phone's camera feed, which is ideal for vlogs, tutorials, or demonstrating apps. Remember, this will record whatever your camera sees, so make sure your setup focuses on the content you want to capture.
Capturing clear audio is crucial for creating impactful recordings. Here's how to set up your audio in OBS Studio:
Step 1: Configure your audio sources. Open OBS and click on 'Settings', then 'Audio'. Add your devices under 'Desktop Audio' for system sounds and 'Mic/Auxiliary Audio' for microphones.
Step 2: Next adjust audio levels. Use the 'Audio Mixer' window to manage the volume of your audio sources. Ensure your levels aren't peaking to avoid distortion.
Step 3: Choose your recording format. In 'Settings' under the 'Output' tab, pick an audio format. AAC is common for its balance of size and quality.
Step 4: Start recording. With your audio levels set, click 'Start Recording'. Your audio will be captured along with your video.
For recording multiple tracks, you can adjust advanced settings:
Keep in mind that good audio recording starts with quality hardware and a quiet environment. OBS Studio provides the tools to capture audio effectively, but it's up to you to ensure the source audio is as clean as possible.
Once you click 'stop recording' in OBS Studio, the video file is automatically saved to your computer. The default recording path depends on your operating system.
However, you can find or change where OBS saves your recordings by opening the software, clicking on 'Settings', and navigating to the 'Output' tab. There, in the 'Recording' section, you'll see a field labeled 'Recording Path'. This is where OBS stores your recordings. You can click 'Browse' to change this location or simply note it to find your files.
Suppose you're having trouble locating your recordings. In that case, you can always right-click the 'Start Recording' button in the main OBS window and select 'Open Recordings Folder, ' and a window will pop up showing all your saved video files. OBS typically saves files in MKV or MP4 format by default, depending on your specified settings.
All in all, OBS is a hefty recording solution that requires you know at least some technical know-how around audio and video. In other words, it isn’t the easiest recording solution out there.
If you're looking for an alternative to OBS Studio that excels in both screen and audio recording, Descript is an easy solution. But easy doesn’t mean basic. Descript’s recording features help you create high-quality screen captures without the need to set scenes or configure a bunch of audio and video settings.
Descript combines screen recording and advanced audio features in one package, streamlining the post-recording process. It's particularly handy for creating tutorials or recording high-quality video content without a need for a separate video editing solution.
Thousands of video creators already rely on Descript for high quality screen capture and video editing. If you’re ready to join them, take a tour of Descript today.
Vivian is a content marketer who loves writing, creativity, and is obsessed with the art of storytelling. Her free time is taken up by learning golf, reading books, and touching grass.
