{"id":468,"date":"2025-05-26T17:45:53","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T08:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alive-project.com\/en\/streamer-magazine\/?p=468"},"modified":"2026-03-25T18:23:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T09:23:35","slug":"1406","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alive-project.com\/en\/streamer-magazine\/article\/1406\/","title":{"rendered":"OBS Recording Guide: Step-by-Step Setup for Beginners & Tips for High-Quality Video"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Many people may feel, ‘I want to record with OBS, but I don’t understand the settings…'”<\/p>\n

OBS Studio is a highly functional recording and streaming software that is completely free and features no restrictions on recording time. It is used widely from beginners to professionals.<\/p>\n

Recording with OBS can be completed in the following three steps.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Add scenes and sources<\/li>\n
  2. Audio settings<\/li>\n
  3. Output settings<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This article comprehensively explains how to record with OBS, covering basic settings for beginners, high-quality settings for specific uses, and solutions for common issues.<\/p>\n

    If you are just starting to create gameplay commentary or tutorial videos, please use this as a reference.<\/p>\n

    OBS Studio – A Free Screen Recording Software<\/h2>\n

    OBS is a completely free open-source software that supports recording and live streaming. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.<\/p>\n

    Generally, free screen recording software often has restrictions on recording time and quality, but OBS has no such limitations. Its rich set of features necessary for video creation despite being free is a major attraction.<\/p>\n

    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Item<\/th>\nContent<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Recording Time<\/td>\nUnlimited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Video Quality<\/td>\nHigh-quality support also available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Recording File Format<\/td>\nSupports various formats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Supported OS<\/td>\nWindows, Mac, Linux<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Audio Recording<\/td>\nFlexible settings such as mic audio and PC audio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Other Features<\/td>\nAdvanced features like scene switching and hotkey settings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

    Additionally, the audio settings are also rich, allowing you to record mic audio and PC audio separately, or mix multiple audio sources. It has features that are highly convenient for streaming, such as scene switching and hotkey settings, boasting a level of functionality that belies its free nature.<\/p>\n

    There are no restrictions on recording time or watermarks. The fact that OBS has recording and streaming capabilities comparable to paid software is its strength.<\/p>\n

    For basic usage of OBS, please refer to the following article.<\/p>\n

    >>OBS Studio Guide: Basics to Streaming & Recording for Beginner<\/a><\/p>\n

    How to Set Up OBS for Recording<\/h2>\n

    The recording settings for OBS can be completed in the following three steps.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Add scenes and sources<\/li>\n
    2. Audio settings<\/li>\n
    3. Output settings<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Using the default settings can lead to issues with video quality and audio, so be sure to check everything before recording. Even if you are using OBS for the first time, it will only take about 10 minutes. Please proceed in the order of STEP 1 to STEP 3 below.<\/p>\n

      STEP 1. Add Scenes and Sources<\/h3>\n

      To start screen recording with OBS, first create a “Scene”. Click the \u201c+\u201d button and give it an easily understandable name. It is recommended to name it according to its use, such as “Game Commentary” or “Chat Stream”.<\/p>\n

      Next, choose the source to record. Below is a table summarizing the characteristics of four representative types of capture sources.<\/p>\n

      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Source Name<\/th>\nUse<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Window Capture<\/td>\nRecords only the selected window<\/td>\nIdeal for recording browsers or specific applications<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Game Capture<\/td>\nRecords PC game screens<\/td>\nCan capture DirectX\/OpenGL games at high performance (Windows only)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Video Capture Device<\/td>\nCaptures the screen of gaming consoles via a capture board<\/td>\nFor external devices like Switch or PS5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Screen Capture<\/td>\nRecords the entire desktop screen<\/td>\nConvenient when you want to show multiple applications simultaneously<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

      Please select your source according to the purpose of your recording.<\/p>\n

      STEP 2. Audio Settings for Recording Mic and PC Audio<\/h3>\n

      It is crucial that audio is recorded with OBS; if it’s not, this can be a critical issue. This section explains how to record mic audio and PC audio, or just one of them, as well as how to choose specific audio to record.<\/p>\n

      To record desktop audio (PC audio), follow these steps:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Select “File” > “Settings” > “Audio” from the OBS menu bar<\/li>\n
      2. In the “Desktop Audio” section, select the audio output device you want to use<\/li>\n
      3. Click “OK” to save the settings<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        To record mic audio, follow these steps:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Select “File” > “Settings” > “Audio” from the OBS menu bar<\/li>\n
        2. In the “Mic Audio” section, select the mic you want to use<\/li>\n
        3. Click “OK” to save the settings<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Since version 28 of OBS, “Application Audio Capture (Beta)” has been incorporated. By adding it from the \u201c+\u201d in sources, you can capture only the audio of the application you want to record.<\/p>\n

          Check the volume balance by seeing if the audio mixer bar is moving. If there is no sound in your OBS recording, first check if the desktop audio is set to \u201cdisabled\u201d.<\/p>\n

          STEP 3. Setting the Output Destination, Recording Format, and Quality<\/h3>\n

          Setting the output destination in OBS is done through the “Recording File Path”. By default, it is set to “C:\\Users\\\uff08User Name\uff09\\Videos,” but you can change it to any folder you choose.<\/p>\n

          If your default setting is “mkv,” you will need to change the settings to save in the more widely used mp4 format. Select your desired file format from the “Recording Format” section in the “Output” tab of the settings screen.<\/p>\n

          For output quality settings, set the output mode to “Advanced” and adjust the encoder and rate control.<\/p>\n

          \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Encoder<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\nLoad<\/th>\nQuality<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
          x264<\/td>\nSoftware encoder using CPU<\/td>\nHigh<\/td>\nHigh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          NVENC<\/td>\nHardware encoder using NVIDIA GPU<\/td>\nLow<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Quick Sync Video<\/td>\nHardware encoder using Intel GPU<\/td>\nLow<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

          Currently, you can also choose NVENC HEVC or NVENC AV1 (from RTX 40 series onwards), and for recording purposes, NVENC HEVC, which excels in quality, compatibility, and load balance, is recommended. A constant QP (CQP) rate control is recommended, and a lower value results in higher quality, with around 20 being a guideline.<\/p>\n

          \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Rate Control<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\nFile Size<\/th>\nQuality<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
          CBR<\/td>\nConstant bitrate<\/td>\nLarge<\/td>\nStable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          VBR<\/td>\nVariable bitrate<\/td>\nSmall<\/td>\nVariable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          CQP<\/td>\nConstant quality<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\nStable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

          For the audio encoder, AAC is recommended. AAC pairs well with mp4 format and provides a good balance between audio quality and file size.<\/p>\n

          How to Start, Stop, and Verify the Save Location for OBS Recording<\/h2>\n

          You can start recording simply by clicking the “Start Recording” button located at the bottom right of the OBS screen.<\/p>\n

          To stop recording, click the “Stop Recording” button that appears in the same location. There is no time limit on recording, but be sure to press the button for the required length.<\/p>\n

          You should also verify where the recorded files are saved. To check, select “File” from the menu bar at the top of OBS Studio and click “Show Recordings.” This will open the folder where the recorded files are saved automatically.<\/p>\n

          Even if the output mode is “Advanced,” you can also change it from the “Recording” tab under “Recording File Path.”<\/p>\n

          When recording for the first time, be especially careful to test the following points:<\/p>\n