Best OBS Recording Settings for High-Quality Recordings

Part 1. Best OBS Settings for Recording

To help you quick set the OBS settings for recording high-quality videos, let’s have a quick look of best OBS settings for recording. Follow the table below to grasp the ideal recording format for OBS.

Best OBS Alternative to Record Video without Complex Settings

Winxvideo AI is a versatile tool similar to OBS Studio for recording and sharing screen activities, online calls, and video tutorials. It offers granular control over the recording process, allowing you to capture only the desired elements, from your screen to your webcam output or audio. Additionally, it provides intuitive editing tools, allowing you to draw on video and edit after recording.

Free Download Free Download

Free Download

Part 2. Understand OBS Key Settings That Affect Video Quality

While you can refer to our recommended OBS settings for recording videos, the optimal settings may vary depending on specific scenarios, computer environments, and other factors. Understanding the parameters that influence OBS video quality will help you find the best configuration for your needs. The parameters outlined below significantly impact OBS recording quality. By experimenting with these settings, you can create content that stands out and resonates with your audience.

1. Video Encoder

In OBS, the video encoder is a crucial component that determines how your video data is compressed and processed. The choice of encoder significantly impacts video quality, file size, and CPU usage.

• x264: Offers excellent quality but can be CPU-intensive.
• NVIDIA NVENC: Hardware-accelerated, providing good quality with lower CPU usage.
• AMD VCE: Hardware-accelerated, providing good quality and performance for AMD GPUs.

2. Video Bitrate

The bitrate determines the amount of data used per second to encode the video. A higher bitrate generally results in better quality, as more information is retained. However, higher bitrates also lead to larger file sizes. A good starting point for 1080p video is 2500 - 4000 kbps, but you can adjust this based on your desired quality and storage constraints.

Learn More: Check the Best Bitrate Settings for OBS Recording >>

3. Resolution

The resolution specifies the number of pixels in the video. Higher resolutions, like 1080p or 4K, offer more detail but require more processing power and storage space. It's generally recommended to match your monitor's resolution for the best viewing experience.

4. Frame Rate

The frame rate determines the number of frames displayed per second. Higher frame rates, like 60 fps, provide smoother motion, especially in fast-paced content like gaming or sports. However, higher frame rates also increase the amount of data required, so you may need to adjust other settings accordingly.

5. Keyframe Interval 

Keyframes are complete frames that can be decoded independently. The keyframe interval, also known as the Group of Pictures (GOP) size, determines how frequently keyframes appear in the video. A shorter keyframe interval can improve quality but increase file size, as the encoder needs to recalculate more frames. A good starting point is 2-4 seconds.

6. Base (Canvas) Resolution

The canvas size is the dimensions of the output video. It should match your target resolution to prevent stretching or distortion.

7. Output (Scaled) Resolution 

The scale determines how your sources (e.g., game captures, webcam feeds) are resized to fit within the canvas. If you need to scale your sources significantly, it can affect image quality.

8. Filters 

Filters can be used to enhance or modify the video's appearance. For example, you might use a denoise filter to reduce noise, a sharpen filter to improve image clarity, or a color correction filter to adjust the color balance.

9. Video Format and Color 

Common OBS recording formats include MP4, AVI, MOV, and FLV. MP4 is versatile, while FLV is suitable for specific platforms. Choose a format that's easy to share and play. Select either "Partial" (16-235) or "Full" (0-255) color range. Full-color offers more vibrant visuals, while partial is often used for compatibility.

10. Audio Settings 

Audio settings in OBS control the quality and format of your recorded or streamed audio. Adjust parameters like sample rate (e.g., 44.1 kHz), channels (e.g., stereo or mono), and bitrate (e.g., 128 kbps) for clear, professional sound. Moreover, enabling audio noise suppression can reduce background noise and enhance audio quality, especially in noisy environments.

Part 3. Recommended OBS Recording Settings for Different Use Cases

As above, different use cases can lead to different OBS settings. Tailor your OBS settings to match the specific scene and purpose of your content. This ensures optimal viewing for your audience while minimizing resource and bandwidth consumption. Let's explore recommended OBS settinsg for recording of common use cases.

Best OBS Settings for Screen Recording Tutorials

• Video Encoder: x264 for compatibility and consistency. NVENC if available.
• Bitrate: 2500-3000 kbps for a balance of video quality and file size.
• Resolution: 1920x1080 for clarity, but 1280x720 can suffice for basic tutorials.
• Frame Rate: 30 fps for most tutorial videos.
• Audio: 128 Kbps for clear voice narration.

Best OBS Settings for Gameplay

• Video Encoder: NVENC if you have a supported Nvidia GPU; otherwise, x264.
• Bitrate: 5000-8000 Kbps for 1080p; consider 12000-24000 Kbps for 4K.
• Resolution: 1920x1080 for Full HD; 2560x1440 or 3840x2160 for higher-end content.
• Frame Rate: 60 fps for capturing fast motions, like Black Myth: Wukong fight scene.
• Audio: 160 Kbps to capture both game sounds and commentary clearly.

Best OBS Settings for YouTube Streaming

• Video Encoder: x264 or NVENC, depending on your GPU and preference.
• Bitrate: 4000-6000 Kbps
• Resolution: 1920x1080 for a standard stream.
• Frame Rate: Depending on the contents, 30 fps for talk shows or low-motion content; 60 fps for gaming or high-motion broadcasts.
• Audio: 128-160 Kbps

Best OBS Settings for Video Calls & Conferences

• Video Encoder: x264 for broad compatibility across devices.
• Bitrate: 1500-2500 Kbps for a clear image without network strain.
• Resolution: 1280x720 for smooth video calls
• Frame Rate: 30 fps
• Audio: 128 Kbps for clear voice.

Best OBS Settings for Low-end PC

• Video Encoder: Use x264 for a balance of quality and performance.
• Bitrate: Start with a lower bitrate (1000-3000 kbps) and adjust based on performance.
• Resolution: Consider lower resolutions like 720p or 480p to reduce processing.
• Frame Rate: Lower the frame rate to 30fps or even 24fps to decrease data processing.
• Audio: 128 Kbps
• CPU Usage Preset: Prioritize performance by setting "Very Fast."
• Color Range: Set to Limited.
• Recording Format: Choose MP4 for efficiency on low-end systems.

Part 4: How to Set the Best OBS Settings for Recording

Now that we've covered the optimal OBS settings for different scenarios, it's time to put them into practice! Let's dive into a tutorial on how to configure your OBS settings. We'll walk through the Output, Video, Audio, and advanced settings step by step.

Output Settings

1. Go to "File" in the top-left corner of OBS and select "Settings."
2. Navigate to the "Output" tab in the Settings window.
3. Choose "Advanced" from the Output Mode dropdown and select your preferred recording format (e.g., MP4).
4. Specify the location where you want to save your OBS recordings.
5. Select "x264" as the Video Encoder and set a Bitrate of at least 8000 kbps for 1080p.
6. Set a Keyframe Interval between 2 and 4 for most scenarios.
7. Set the CPU Usage Preset to "Faster."
8. Switch to “Audio” column to make changes to the audio bitrate based on your requirements. Higher value leads to better quality and larger size.

Video Settings

1. Navigate to “Video” column at the left in the Settings window.
2. Set your Base (Canvas) Resolution to your monitor's native resolution or the desired recording resolution.
3. Choose the Output (Scaled) Resolution based on your target platform and audience. Consider 1080p for high-quality recordings if your hardware allows.
4. Select the desired Common FPS Values for your recording. 60 FPS provides smoother motion, while 30 FPS is suitable for standard videos.
5. Select a downscale filter like Bicubic or Lanczos for better quality, but be aware of increased processing demands.

Audio Settings

1. Press the "Audio" tab in the Settings window.
2. Choose your desired sample rate (e.g., 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz) for audio quality.
3. Choose "Stereo" for most recordings. "Mono" is suitable for smaller file sizes.

Advanced Settings

1. Go to “Advanced” option in Settings window.
2. Set Colour Format to NV12 for optimal performance and compatibility.
3. Use “Full” color range to get the most vibrant and accurate colors in your recordings.
4. Choose “Rec. 709” color space for most modern displays. If you’re using older screens, Rec.601 is a good choice.

After configuring the desired recording settings of OBS Studio, click "Apply" to save your settings and "OK" to close the Settings window. With your optimized OBS settings, you're ready to capture high-quality videos.

Part 5. Best OBS Alternative to Make Recording Simple Yet High-quality

If the complexity of OBS settings is wearing you down, consider switching to an OBS alternative. Winxvideo AI is a great option, offering a simpler setup without sacrificing video quality. This OBS alternative offers three versatile recording modes: screen recording, picture-in-picture, and webcam. You can capture videos in stunning 1080p or 4K resolution, with frame rates up to 60 FPS. It has no limit on recording time and size, but offering handy editing features like trimming, merging, cropping etc. Besides, you're able to export recordings in various formats like MP4, MKV, or MOV for seamless sharing.

Free Download Free Download Free Download

Note: AI tools for Mac are currently unavailable, but they're coming soon. Stay tuned.

Step-by-Step Guide to Record Video with Winxvideo AI

Step 1. Download and install Winxvideo AI.

Download and install Winxvideo AI. Launch Winxvideo AI and open your desired screen to be recorded, such as Black Myth: Wukong game.

Step 2. Set the Recording settings.

Select the "Recorder" option in Winxvideo AI. Click the "Screen" button to capture your gameplay. Then click on the gear-shaped “Settings” button, where you can set video encoder, format, audio and more.

Step 3. Start Recording

Set the Crop width and height, audio and microphone. And click the "Browse" button to select an output folder. Then tap the “REC” button to start recording, and stop recording when finished.