Best OBS Settings for Recording Videos [Video & Audio]

I often get asked what the best OBS settings are for recording videos. And I guess that is what you’re here for too. So let’s get straight into this.

The settings below are my recommendations, but OBS recording settings vary from one person to the next depending on the computer you are using and the speed of your internet, so you may have to play around with some of the adjustments until you find which work best on your equipment.

Best OBS Settings for Recording Videos

When setting up OBS recording settings, go into Settings>Output and update Output Mode to 'Advanced".

From there, go into the recording tab. This will bring up a list of options. First of all, make sure “type" is set to standard and select a recording path. This is the location where you want to store your screen captures. You do this by creating a new folder on your computer in the usual way. Then all you have to do is select browse and choose the appropriate link.

Update the recording to MP4 and set audio track to 1

If you’ve got a better graphics card than the x264 in OBS settings, select the graphics card you want

Select rate control to CBR and set bitrate to 40000. If you have low-end specs, you will need to downscale bitrate to 15000-25000. If your computer can handle it, you can upscale bitrate.

OBS record settings

The last OBS settings to change in this screen are in the Two-Pass Encoding. Set GPU to 0 and B-frames set to 2.

Best audio settings for OBS recording

The first audio setting to change is in the Output menu. Go to the audio tab and set the audio rate to 320 in track one. If you are using more than one track, boost the scale to 320 also. This is typically the best sound, but you may need to adjust settings that work best with your computer.

OBS audio settings I

Then go into the Audio menu from the list on the left. Set the sample rate to the same rate as your microphone. If you’re using a second desktop device, select it from the relevant field, otherwise keep the setting at disabled.

OBS audio setting II

Then select the microphone you want to record with. Leave all the other settings as they are.

Best Video Settings for OBS Recording

Then go into the video tab from the menu bar on your left

If you’re recording in 1080p leave the base resolution as it is. If the quality of the recording is not good, downscale the resolution to 1280 x 720. Set the output resolution field to the same setting.

If the quality of your video is poor downscale the resolution appropriately. Again, you may need to try several settings until you find the best resolution.

Set the downscale filter to 32 samples

OBS video settings

YouTube can handle 60 FPS, but leaving OBS recording settings at 30 FPS is okay too. To save your settings in the video screen click apply.

Advanced Setting for OBS

The last to do when setting up OBS is in the 'Advanced’ menu.

Leave the process priority at above normal and renderer on Direct3D 11

Code format should be set to NV12, YUV color space to 709 and YUV color range to FULL. This will give you the best colour rendering.

OBS advanced settings

Click ok to save the changes and start recording.