Creating high-quality screen recordings can feel tricky if the software lacks flexibility or clear output. OBS Studio provides a powerful setup for anyone who wants reliable screen capture with professional-level controls. From customizing resolution to adding multiple sources, it supports a wide range of recording needs.
In this article, you will explore how to capture screens using an OBS screen recorder for PCs and mobile.
What is an OBS screen recorder
Open Broadcaster software is specially designed to record your display and stream videos live. It enables users to capture their monitor, webcam, and audio without compromising quality. The software has features that provide enough space to adjust settings like resolution, frame rate, and bitrate. You can easily integrate this software with platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.
The best features of the OBS screen recorder
OBS display capture has become an exceptional tool in social media marketing due to its advanced features. Below are details about the specifications of this software that make it the best choice among creators:
- High-performance capture
The OBS records screen and audio in high definition without any resolution errors. The software uses minimal system resources and maintains a high frame rate, which ensures that your recordings remain clear and lag-free.
- Unlimited scenes
The OBS window capture has features that enable users to create and switch between an unlimited number of scenes. You can set up different layouts for various recording or streaming purposes. This flexibility provides full control over your video content.
- Advanced audio control
The free screen recorder OBS lets you fine-tune both microphone and system audio. The software interface provides advanced tools to adjust volume levels, add filters to reduce noise, and make sound clear for listeners.
- Flexible source management
The OBS interface makes managing different sources easy. Whether you want to capture your display, webcam, or external devices, you can add, remove, and rearrange sources without any extra settings.
- Comprehensive settings
Once the OBS video recorder is downloaded on your PC, you can customize your screen recording work by using different setting tools. You can control video quality, output formats, and streaming options. These settings ensure that your recordings meet your specific needs.
How to set resolution, frame rate, and bitrate in OBS
To get the best video quality in OBS, you need to adjust the resolution, bitrate, and frame rate to suit your project needs. Here's how to adjust these settings:
- STEP 1
- Open settings in OBS
First, open OBS and click on the "Settings" button in the lower-right corner. The settings window will pop out to show different options.
- STEP 2
- Adjust the resolution and frame rate
In the settings window interface, click the "Video" tab. Here, you'll see options to set your "Base (Canvas) Resolution" and "Output (Scaled) Resolution." Select the resolution you want, typically 1920x1080, for high-quality video. Below that, set the "Common FPS Value" to your desired frame rate (usually 30 or 60 FPS).
- STEP 3
- Set the bitrate for output
Next, go to the "Output" tab in the settings window. Under the "Streaming" section, you'll see a "Video Bitrate" field. Adjust the bitrate to a certain speed level and the quality you want. A higher bitrate improves quality but requires more bandwidth. For 1080p at 60fps, set the bitrate to 4500-6000 kbps.
How to record screens with OBS Studio on a PC
OBS recording is an excellent tool for recording your window visual display unit for videos, tutorials, or gameplay. Make sure the OBS studio screen recorder is downloaded to your computer. If you do not have this app, you can get this software from the official website. Then, follow the steps below to get started:
- STEP 1
- Open OBS studio and set up a scene
Start by opening OBS Studio. You will see the "Scenes" box at the bottom. Click the "+" button to create a new scene for your project. A scene is like a container for everything you want to record, like your screen or webcam. Name it whatever you like, then hit "OK."
- STEP 2
- Add a display capture source
Now, click the "Sources" box and select "Display Capture." This enables you to record everything happening on your screen. Choose the monitor you want to record from the options and press "OK." You can adjust the settings later if needed.
- STEP 3
- Start recording
Finally, click "Start Recording" in the lower right of the OBS window. When you're done, click "Stop Recording." Your video or project will be saved in the folder set under "Settings" > "Output".
How to record screens with OBS Studio on a phone
To record your phone screen with OBS Studio, first connect your phone to your PC. Once it's connected, OBS will capture your phone's display. After that, you can begin recording right away.
- STEP 1
- Install OBS studio and set up a phone connection
First, download the OBS screen recorder on a PC for free and connect the mobile to the desktop by using a USB wire or Wi-Fi. You may need an app like "OBS Camera" or "DroidCam" to let OBS detect your phone’s screen.
- STEP 2
- Add your phone as a source in OBS
In OBS, click the "+" button under the "Sources" section. Select "Video Capture Device" and choose your phone from the list of available devices. Your phone's screen will appear in OBS, where you can adjust its position and size.
- STEP 3
- Start recording
Click the "Start Recording" button in OBS. Your phone’s screen will be recorded until you click "Stop Recording." Your video file will be automatically saved in the folder you’ve selected.
The best alternative way to record and edit screens: CapCut
CapCut desktop video editor provides a smooth and efficient way to record and edit screens on your PC. It supports HD screen capture and instantly adds your footage to the timeline for easy editing. What makes it stand out is its smart analysis of a portrait recording and suggestions like color adjustment, voice enhancement, and auto-captions. It's a reliable, all-in-one tool for refining and enhancing your recordings with ease.
Key features
- Record screen in one click
CapCut’s built-in screen recorder lets you instantly capture your entire screen or a selected area with audio. This makes it quick and convenient for any recording task.
- Versatile AI voice changer
The voice changer feature enables you to easily modify your voice with various filters and characters to match different styles or moods in your videos.
- Generate accurate captions
With the auto caption generator, you can instantly create precise subtitles, which saves you time while enhancing accessibility.
- Advanced multi-layer editing
Advanced multi-layer editing lets you work with multiple video, audio, and text tracks at once. This gives you more creative control over complex edits.
- Add custom AI fonts to videos
CapCut AI font generator enables you to add custom font styles that perfectly complement the theme of your video.
How to record and edit screen with CapCut
To start recording the screen, click the download button below and follow the on-screen instructions to install this app easily. Then, sign up with your official Facebook, Google, or TikTok account.
- STEP 1
- Record your screen
Open the CapCut editing interface and click the "Record screen" button on the main screen or next to the import option within your project. Choose to capture the entire screen or a specific area. Set your audio input by selecting either the internal or external microphone. Click "Start recording" to begin, and once done, hit "Stop recording" to end the session. Then, choose the "Edit more" option to enhance it within CapCut.
- STEP 2
- Edit the screen recording
Your recording will be automatically placed in the timeline. You can adjust the video size and crop it if needed. Then, go to the "Captions" feature and apply "Auto captions" to generate subtitles. Alternatively, you can use the "Effects" tab to search for and add your desired effects. You can also fine-tune the audio using advanced tools like noise reduction, voice enhancement, and loudness normalization.
- STEP 3
- Export and share
When you complete your recording process, then hit the "Export" option. Then, adjust settings like resolution, framerate, and bitrate. Once you finalize the adjustment, click "Export" again to save your project. Now, you can share your recording directly on TikTok and YouTube.
Conclusion
To sum up, OBS recording is a powerful tool for capturing high-definition videos, perfect for tutorials, live streaming, and broadcasting. However, it can sometimes come with challenges, such as low frame rates, lag, and audio-video sync issues. These can be mitigated by adjusting your settings, such as resolution and bitrate.
For a smoother and more efficient experience, consider switching to the CapCut desktop video editor. It provides high-quality screen recording and advanced editing tools, which makes it a great alternative for creating professional videos easily.
FAQs
- 1
- What are the ideal bitrate and resolution for OBS video capture?
The ideal bitrate and resolution for OBS video capture depend on your quality preference. If you want video quality for 1080p at 60 frames per second, then the bitrate of 4,500 kilobits per second is best for your project. You can select a bitrate of 20,000 kbps to achieve 4K resolution for high-quality projects. To streamline your recording and editing process, consider using the CapCut desktop video editor, which not only provides HD recording but also offers quick and easy editing tools to enhance your footage.
- 2
- Can I optimize CPU and GPU usage for OBS video capture?
You can optimize CPU and CPU usage for OBS video capture. To reduce CPU load, lower the frame rate and resolution of the project. For example, recording at 30fps instead of 60fps can significantly improve performance. If your system has a dedicated GPU, enabling hardware encoding will offload the encoding process from the CPU to the GPU, boosting efficiency. If you are looking for more efficient recording, the CapCut desktop video editor is a great alternative. It ensures optimal system performance with advanced features for both recording and post-production.
- 3
- Which plugins improve OBS video quality the most?
You can use different plugins to improve OBS video quality for a better user experience. StreamFX and ReaPlugs VST FX Suite are widely used due to their advanced effects. StreamFX improves visual due to its 3D transmission and color grading. ReaPlugs VST FX Suite provides audio processing tools to enhance sound clarity. You can remarkably improve both the audio and video quality of your stream or recording. For an all-in-one solution, try the CapCut desktop video editor, which includes advanced features to capture and enhance your recordings directly without additional plugins.