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To record in Streamlabs Desktop, set your recording options under Settings > Output, prepare the sources you want to capture, then click Record in the editor. Click it again to stop, and check the completion notification to find and verify the saved file. You can record without going live.
Set up a recording
- Choose recording during setup if this is your first launch. Streamlabs Desktop offers recording as a setup use alongside live streaming.
- Add the picture source. In the editor, add Display Capture to record your whole monitor or Window Capture to record one application. For Window Capture, open the target application and keep it unminimized so it can appear in the selection list.
- Choose audio sources. Add or select a microphone for narration and a computer-audio source if you need game or desktop sound and your setup supports it. A built-in microphone may be enough; an external or USB microphone is optional. Add a webcam only if you want camera footage. Avoid adding the same audio source twice, which can cause echo.
- Set the recording options. Open Settings > Output and choose the destination folder, filename options, quality and file format available in your installed version.
- Make a short test recording. Confirm that the picture, microphone and computer audio you need are present and at usable levels. Some applications may restrict capture, and permissions can affect what appears, so verify the actual recording rather than relying only on the preview.
- Record the session. Click Record in the editor to start and click it again to stop. When Streamlabs displays a completion notification, use it to inspect or open the saved recording.
Choose capture area and recording quality
Display Capture or Window Capture
Use Display Capture when the recording should include the whole monitor, such as gameplay across a full screen or a demonstration that moves between applications. Choose Window Capture when you want a particular open application rather than everything on the display. Window Capture may not show a minimized or closed window, and some applications can block capture or require permissions. Test the target application before recording anything important.
Resolution, frame rate and scaling
For gameplay, Streamlabs’ recording tutorial recommends matching the base canvas to the monitor resolution, then selecting an output resolution appropriate to the desired result. It suggests considering 60 FPS for fast action and 30 FPS for more static content. These are starting points, not universal settings: higher output demands more from the computer and can make recording less stable. If performance suffers, reduce output resolution or quality and test again.
The tutorial identifies Lanczos as a quality-oriented downscale filter, with additional CPU cost. It is worth trying when scaling down matters more than minimizing processing load; if the system struggles, use a less demanding setting or avoid scaling where possible.
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
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- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Encoder and quality controls
In its recording tutorial, Streamlabs describes x264 as CPU-based software encoding and NVENC as a hardware-encoding option for NVIDIA graphics cards. It suggests CQP as a starting rate-control method, CRF when using x264, a CQ level starting point of 17, and the Max Quality preset when performance allows. Treat these as settings to test on your own hardware, not as guaranteed best settings. After raising quality or choosing a more demanding preset, check the recording and system performance; lower the settings if the computer cannot keep up.
Record microphone and game audio on separate tracks
Separate tracks can make it easier to adjust narration and game or desktop sound independently during editing. Streamlabs’ multitrack guide documents up to six separate audio tracks. In the documented workflow:
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Open Settings > Output and change Output Mode to Advanced.
- Open the Recording section and select the audio tracks you want the recording to contain.
- In the advanced audio mixer, assign each input—such as the microphone and desktop or game audio—to the appropriate tracks.
- Choose MP4 or MKV for the recording if you need multitrack audio. The guide says the default FLV format does not support multiple audio tracks.
- Record a short test and confirm in your editing software that the desired sources are separated and audible.
If you stream and record at the same time, check which audio track is selected for the live stream. The recording can have multiple tracks, but the stream sends one selected audio track; make sure that track contains the intended live mix.
Record computer audio on a Mac
Streamlabs’ Mac-specific guide says macOS does not allow Streamlabs Desktop to directly capture audio from other applications in the described setup. Its documented workaround routes system sound through a virtual audio device such as BlackHole, then selects that device as a Mic/Auxiliary source. The precise setup depends on your macOS version and audio-routing software; follow the current guide for the steps and test the result before recording a full session.
Rank #3
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Fix common recording problems
- The recording has no picture or the wrong picture: Check that you added the intended Display Capture or Window Capture source. For Window Capture, open and unminimize the target application. Check permissions or application restrictions, then make a brief test recording.
- There is no microphone or game sound: Confirm that the source is added and selected, its levels register in the mixer, and it is assigned to the intended recording track. On Mac, system-audio capture may need a virtual audio device such as BlackHole.
- The audio echoes or doubles: Look for duplicate microphone or desktop-audio sources and remove the duplicate. Check that the same signal is not being captured through more than one route.
- The recording stutters or the computer struggles: Reduce output resolution or recording quality, reconsider the frame rate, or choose a less demanding encoding setup. Change one setting at a time and test again so you can identify what improves performance.
- No file appears after recording: Check the destination shown under Settings > Output, confirm there is enough disk space, and make sure your account can write to the selected folder. Check the completion notification after stopping.
- A Windows recording error persists: Streamlabs’ troubleshooting guide lists updating graphics drivers, installing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2017, and running Streamlabs Desktop as administrator as possible remedies for certain Windows errors. These suggestions may not apply to every failure; use them when the error and system circumstances fit.
Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
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Rank #4
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- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
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