For most OBS recordings, use MKV to protect the file if recording stops unexpectedly, then remux it to MP4 when your editor or upload workflow needs MP4. Start with High Quality in Simple Output for a balance of image quality and file size. In Advanced Output, choose settings for your actual encoder and confirm that your editor supports the resulting codec and container.
Container and codec: two different choices
A container packages the video and audio streams into a file, while a codec encodes those streams. Picking an MP4 container, for example, does not by itself determine whether the video uses H.264, HEVC, or AV1. Your best combination depends on recording safety and the editor or destination that must read the file. OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide and Standard Recording Output Guide explain these trade-offs; their guidance dates to 2023, so check the options available in your installed OBS version.
Which recording format should you choose?
| Format choice | Best fit | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| MKV | Most recording workflows, especially when protecting a long capture from an interrupted stop matters | Some editors need the file remuxed to MP4 first. |
| Regular MP4 or MOV | A workflow that requires broad editor compatibility and can reliably finish recording | These formats require finalization; an interruption while writing can make the file unrecoverable. |
| Hybrid or fragmented MP4/MOV | A compatible workflow that needs MP4/MOV convenience with better interruption resilience | Confirm your editor and playback tools support the specific format. |
Why MKV is the safest default
OBS recommends MKV because an unfinished recording can remain playable and recoverable instead of losing the whole file. The OBS guide puts it plainly: “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.” You may be able to edit MKV directly, but verify that your editor supports the chosen container and codecs.
How to get an MP4 when your workflow needs one
Record to MKV, then use OBS’s remux feature to change the container without re-encoding the video. In OBS, open File → Remux Recordings, select the recording, and start remuxing. OBS also offers automatic remuxing in its Advanced settings. Remuxing does not make an unsupported codec compatible, so check both the container and codec requirements of your editor.
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When hybrid or fragmented formats make sense
OBS describes hybrid MP4/MOV as combining fragmentation resilience with wider compatibility. Fragmented MP4/MOV writes self-contained chunks that do not require the same finalization step as regular MP4/MOV. These are workflow-dependent alternatives, not a reason to skip checking support in your editor and playback software.
Choose a video codec your hardware and editor can handle
OBS’s 2023 format guidance orders suitable hardware encoders for local recording as AV1, then HEVC, then H.264. Treat that as general guidance, not a guarantee that your computer has each encoder or your editing software supports each codec equally.
| Codec | Useful when | Trade-off to check |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | You need broadly compatible files for devices or editing software. | OBS describes it as widely playable, but it may be less space-efficient than newer codecs at comparable quality. |
| HEVC | Your available hardware encoder and editor support it, and you want better quality at the same bitrate or file size than H.264. | OBS notes more restrictive licensing and weaker streaming adoption than H.264. |
| AV1 | Your hardware and complete editing workflow support it, and compression efficiency is a priority. | OBS notes weaker editing support. Software encoding with SVT-AV1 or libaom-av1 is demanding for real-time compression. |
OBS’s guide lists hardware encoders for AV1 on recent AMD RX 7000, NVIDIA RTX 40, and Intel Arc products. Availability varies by system and software version; confirm the encoder actually appears in your OBS output settings. If predictable editor compatibility matters more than compression efficiency, H.264 is often the more practical choice.
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Set recording quality in Simple Output
For a straightforward setup, use Simple Output and set the recording quality preset according to your storage and performance needs. OBS’s Recording Encoder Presets Guide describes the options as follows:
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| Same as stream | Uses the streaming encoder settings and produces the same quality as the stream. OBS says recordings cannot be paused with this setting. | When matching the stream matters more than pausing the local recording. |
| High Quality | High-quality video with a medium file size. | A sensible first choice for most recordings. |
| Indistinguishable | Higher quality with larger files; OBS warns of possible performance impact on older or weaker hardware, depending on encoder choice. | When visual quality is more important than file size and the system can handle the workload. |
| Lossless | Lossless video using the CPU encoder, with extremely large files. | Only when the editing workflow specifically requires lossless capture and you have the storage and CPU capacity. |
OBS’s guide estimates its Lossless preset at around 7 GB of data per minute. That figure applies to that preset, not to OBS recordings generally. For most gameplay captures, start with High Quality and move to Indistinguishable only if you need the additional quality and your storage and encoder can support the larger files.
Advanced Output: encoder-specific starting values
Use Advanced Output only if you need more precise control. OBS’s Advanced Recording Settings Guide, dated 2023-11-30, calls its values baselines intended to effectively match Simple mode presets. They are starting points, not universal optimal settings; available controls and performance depend on your encoder, hardware, workload, and OBS version. The guide generally recommends Simple Output for ease.
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| 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 Constant QP, CRF, CQ, and ICQ, lower quality-number values produce higher quality and larger files. Keep the encoder-specific rate-control mode and settings together; do not copy a value from one encoder row to another as though the controls were interchangeable. Check the labels and available choices in your own OBS version.
Audio tracks and codec choices
Advanced Output lets you choose which audio tracks to include in a recording. Separate tracks are useful for editing and source control—for example, when you want to keep microphone and desktop audio apart or exclude a source from the final recording. Choose a track layout based on your sources and editing workflow; separate tracks do not improve video image quality.
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OBS lists AAC as a widely supported default audio codec. ALAC, FLAC, Opus, and PCM availability depends on the selected container and video codec. OBS describes Opus as higher quality than AAC but less compatible with editing software, while PCM is uncompressed and supports 32-bit floating-point recording. Use lossless audio only when post-production calls for it; compatibility and storage are also relevant choices.
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Recommended setups by workflow
- Most gameplay recordings: MKV, High Quality, and a hardware encoder your system and editor support. Remux to MP4 if the next step requires it.
- Editing compatibility first: check your editor’s supported containers and codecs, then select a compatible combination. H.264 is the safer choice when broad support matters more than compression efficiency.
- Higher-quality capture: try Indistinguishable, then check file size and system performance during the kind of recording you plan to make.
- Lossless post-production: choose Lossless only if the workflow needs it and you can accommodate the CPU workload and very large files.
- Separate audio editing: configure tracks in Advanced Output to suit your sources and editor rather than relying on one mixed track.
Common recording problems and fixes
The file will not open in your editor
The editor may not support the container, codec, or both. Check the editor’s format requirements. If it accepts the codec in MP4 but not MKV, remux the MKV with File → Remux Recordings; if it still cannot read the file, the codec may be the incompatibility.
An interrupted recording is unusable
Regular MP4/MOV needs finalization, so interruption during writing can leave it unrecoverable. Record to MKV for future captures, then remux when necessary. A remux cannot repair a recording that was already lost or make an unsupported codec readable.
The recording is much larger than expected
Indistinguishable produces larger files than High Quality, and Lossless can be enormous: OBS estimates around 7 GB per minute for its Lossless preset. Return to High Quality if storage is the constraint, or confirm you have enough space before using Lossless.
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Recording affects gameplay or the system
Encoder choice, preset, and workload affect performance. Indistinguishable may affect older or weaker hardware; Lossless uses the CPU encoder. Try High Quality or a suitable available hardware encoder, and verify the result on your system rather than assuming a setting will perform identically on another computer.
The recording cannot be paused
OBS says the Same as stream quality option does not allow recordings to be paused. Choose another recording quality preset if pausing the capture is important.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can OBS record directly to MP4?
Yes. Regular MP4 is convenient, but OBS warns that an interrupted write can leave it unrecoverable because it needs finalization. Recording to MKV and remuxing to MP4 avoids that particular risk.
Does remuxing reduce video quality?
Remuxing changes the container without re-encoding the video. It does not convert an unsupported codec into a compatible one.
Quick Recap
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