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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor most OBS recordings, choose MKV to protect the file if recording stops unexpectedly. If your editor or upload workflow needs MP4, use OBS’s remux feature to convert the container afterward without re-encoding. Start with the High Quality recording preset, then adjust quality, encoder, and audio settings to fit your hardware, storage, and editing workflow.
Container and codec: two different choices
A container packages video and audio streams into a file; a codec encodes those streams. Choosing a familiar file extension is not enough: check that your editor supports both the container and the codecs inside it. OBS’s official format guide, dated March 26, 2023, describes the available combinations and their trade-offs: OBS Audio/Video Formats Guide.
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Choose a recording container
| Format | Best fit | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| MKV | General-purpose recording where resilience matters | Some editors may need an MP4 remux first. |
| Regular MP4 or MOV | Workflows that specifically need those formats | These formats need file finalization; an interrupted write may leave the recording unrecoverable. |
| Hybrid or fragmented MP4/MOV | Where available and supported by your editor or other destination | These formats improve interruption resilience, but compatibility depends on the workflow. |
Why MKV is the safest default
OBS recommends MKV for most recording workflows because an interrupted recording is less likely to corrupt the entire file. The OBS Project’s Standard Recording Output Guide puts it this way: “MKV is recommended in case of unforeseen issues arising, since MKV will not corrupt the whole file if there is no graceful stoppage of recording.” The guide was dated May 26, 2023: OBS Standard Recording Output Guide.
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Remux MKV to MP4 when needed
- Finish the recording, then in OBS open File → Remux Recordings.
- Select the MKV recording and choose the destination for the remuxed file.
- Start the remux and check that the resulting MP4 opens in your intended editor or upload workflow.
Remuxing changes the container; it is not a re-encode. OBS also documents an automatic-remux option in Settings → Advanced. Confirm the exact label and availability in your installed version. If your editor accepts your MKV and its codecs, you may be able to edit the file directly. OBS’s format guide notes that MOV is often favored in Mac workflows, but codec support still matters.
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Pick a codec your hardware and editor support
OBS’s format guide gives this general quality ordering for local recording when suitable hardware encoders are available: AV1, then HEVC, then H.264. This is guidance, not a guarantee that your computer has all three encoders or that your editing software handles them equally well. The guide is dated March 26, 2023, so check current support in both your installed OBS version and destination software.
| Codec | When it makes sense | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | When broad playback and editor compatibility are priorities | OBS describes it as widely playable across nearly every device or software; it may be less efficient than newer codecs. |
| HEVC | When your hardware and editor support it and smaller files or better quality at a given bitrate matter | OBS says it can offer better quality than H.264 at the same bitrate or file size, but licensing is more restrictive and streaming adoption is weaker. |
| AV1 | When a suitable hardware encoder and compatible editor are available | OBS describes improved quality/file size over HEVC, but weaker editing support. Its guide identifies recent AMD RX 7000, NVIDIA RTX 40, and Intel Arc hardware encoders; verify current availability for your system. |
OBS also lists software AV1 encoders SVT-AV1 and libaom-av1, while warning that real-time compression is demanding. If predictable compatibility matters more than compression efficiency, H.264 may be the safer selection.
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Choose a recording quality preset
In OBS’s Simple output mode, select a preset based on the balance you need between visual quality, file size, and system load. OBS’s Recording Encoder Presets Guide, dated September 14, 2023, describes these options: OBS Recording Encoder Presets Guide.
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| Preset | What to expect | Good fit |
|---|---|---|
| Same as stream | Uses streaming encoder settings and matches stream quality; recording cannot be paused. | When matching the live output matters more than pausing or independent recording settings. |
| High Quality | High-quality video with a medium file size. | A practical first setting for many recordings. |
| Indistinguishable | Higher quality with larger files; may affect performance on older or weaker hardware, depending on encoder. | When quality matters more than storage and the system can handle the workload. |
| Lossless | Lossless video with tremendously large files; uses the CPU encoder. | Only when the workflow specifically needs lossless capture and storage and CPU capacity are sufficient. |
OBS estimates around 7 GB of data per minute for its Lossless preset in that guide. This figure applies to Lossless, not to OBS recordings generally. Storage adds up quickly at that rate; an external drive is a capacity option, not an image-quality upgrade.
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Advanced Output settings: encoder-specific baselines
Use Simple output unless you need finer control. OBS’s Advanced Recording Settings Guide, dated November 30, 2023, describes the values below as baselines intended to effectively match Simple-mode presets—not universal optimal settings. Available controls and performance vary by encoder, hardware, workload, and OBS version. Find the guide at OBS Advanced Recording Settings Guide.
| Encoder | OBS baseline values |
|---|---|
| NVENC | Rate Control: Constant QP; Constant QP: 16–23; Keyframe Interval: 2; Preset: P5; Tuning: High Quality; Multipass Mode: Two Passes (Quarter Resolution); Profile: High; Look-ahead: Off; Adaptive Quantization: On; B-frames: 2. |
| x264 | Rate Control: CRF; CRF: 16–23; Keyframe Interval: 2; CPU Usage Preset: veryfast; Profile: High; Tune: None. |
| AMD | Rate Control: CQP; CQ Level: 16–23; Keyframe Interval: 2; Preset: Quality; Profile: High; Max B-frames: 0. |
| Quick Sync | Rate Control: ICQ; ICQ Quality: 16–23; Target Usage: TU4; Profile: High; Keyframe Interval: 2; Latency: normal; B-Frames: 3. |
For CQ, CRF, and ICQ, OBS says lower quality-number values produce higher quality and larger files. The listed ranges are starting points; test a short recording in your own workload, inspect image quality and file size, and check the controls available for the selected encoder in your OBS version.
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Set audio tracks and codec for your editing workflow
Advanced Output mode lets you select which audio tracks are recorded. Separate tracks can help with later editing—for example, keeping microphone and desktop audio apart, or excluding a source from the recording. Track layout depends on your sources and editor; separation does not improve video image quality.
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Set up and check a reliable recording
- In OBS, open Settings → Output. In Simple output mode, set the Recording Quality preset to High Quality as a balanced starting point.
- Choose MKV as the recording format for interruption resilience. Choose a video encoder supported by your hardware and target editor; favor compatibility over compression efficiency if you are unsure.
- If you need more encoder control, change Output Mode to Advanced and use the matching encoder’s baseline values above as a starting point. Do not copy settings from another encoder’s row.
- Set audio tracks and codecs to match your source layout and editor. Avoid recording tracks you do not need.
- Record a short sample of the actual scene or game. Review playback, audio sync, file size, and system performance before a long capture.
- If the editor needs MP4, use File → Remux Recordings after recording and confirm the output works in that editor.
OBS labels, available encoders, and third-party editor support can change. The official guides cited above are dated 2023; verify the relevant options in your current installation and destination workflow.
Troubleshoot common recording problems
- The MP4 is missing, truncated, or will not open after OBS or the computer stopped unexpectedly: Regular MP4 needs finalization. Record to MKV, then remux after a completed capture; consider hybrid or fragmented formats only if your editor supports them.
- Your editor will not import MKV: Remux it to MP4 through File → Remux Recordings. If the remuxed file still fails, check whether the editor supports the video and audio codecs inside it.
- The file is much larger than expected: Check whether you selected Indistinguishable or Lossless. Lossless is exceptionally large—OBS’s guide estimates around 7 GB per minute for that preset. Try High Quality if your workflow does not require lossless capture.
- Recording affects game or application performance: Indistinguishable can impose a performance cost on older or weaker systems. Try High Quality, check whether a suitable hardware encoder is available, and test the settings under the actual workload.
- The video looks poor despite a high-quality preset: Confirm the selected recording encoder and rate-control settings, and distinguish local recording settings from streaming settings. In Advanced Output, use the baseline for the selected encoder and test a sample rather than assuming one encoder’s controls apply to another.
- Audio is missing or difficult to edit separately: In Advanced Output, check which tracks are selected for recording and whether your editor supports the chosen audio codec. Use separate tracks only when they match the way you intend to edit.
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