How to Record Videos in OBS Studio
OBS Studio can record videos directly to your computer without a live stream. Set up your camera and microphone, choose a recording folder and quality preset, then click Start Recording.
This is useful for creating content to edit or upload later. You can also record while streaming, but a separate recording setup can put extra demand on your computer.
Set up your picture and sound
Select the scene you want to record. Check that it shows the intended camera, images, and other sources.
Speak and watch the microphone meter in the Audio Mixer. Check whether desktop audio is also being captured so you do not accidentally include sounds from other apps.
For a recording without a live broadcast, use Start Recording, not Start Streaming.
Choose where OBS saves the recording
- 1.Open Settings → Output.
- 2.Choose Simple as the output mode for a straightforward setup.
- 3.Under recording settings, set the Recording Path to the folder you want to use.
- 4.Check that the drive has enough free space before a long recording.
Use a folder you can find easily. Your recording path is separate from the platform where you might eventually upload the video.
Pick a recording quality preset
In Simple output mode, the recording quality choices balance picture quality, file size, and processing demand.
| Preset | When to consider it |
|---|---|
| Same as stream | You want the recording to use your streaming encoder settings. It is not a separate higher-quality master. |
| High Quality | A practical starting point for a test recording with manageable file sizes. |
| Indistinguishable Quality | You want a higher-quality recording and can accept larger files and possible extra processing demand. |
| Lossless | You have a specific production need for very large files. It is usually unnecessary for ordinary creator recordings. |
The most demanding option is not automatically the best choice. Compare short samples before recording a full session. If you use Same as stream, OBS does not allow recording pauses with that setting.
Choose a recording format
For a simple starting point, MKV can preserve a usable recording if OBS or the computer closes unexpectedly. It may need remuxing before some editors or upload sites accept it.
Newer OBS versions also offer Hybrid MP4 or Hybrid MOV. These combine interruption resilience with compatibility benefits. They are different from conventional MP4/MOV recording, which can become unusable if interrupted before the file is finalized.
Check what your editor and upload site accept. The file extension alone does not guarantee they support the video and audio formats inside it.
Make a short test before recording the full video
Apply your settings, click Start Recording, and record a short sample. Move and speak as you expect to during the full recording, then click Stop Recording.
Open the saved file and check the framing, movement, voice volume, background sound, and audio timing. If OBS struggles, try a less demanding preset before changing several settings at once.
Create an MP4 copy if needed
For a compatible recording, open File → Remux Recordings, select the file, and run the remux process to create an MP4 copy.
Remuxing changes the container without re-encoding the picture. It does not convert an unsupported video codec into a supported one. Test the resulting file in your editor or upload workflow before deleting the original.