The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To crop a prerecorded video in OBS while keeping your YouTube stream resolution unchanged, add it as a Media Source, crop the source with Alt-drag on Windows or Linux (or Option-drag on macOS), and leave Settings > Video > Output (Scaled) Resolution at your intended stream size. Cropping changes how much of that source appears in the scene; it does not resize the stream canvas.
Crop the video source in OBS
- Add the clip. In the scene’s Sources panel, select + and add a Media Source. Choose the prerecorded video file. OBS uses Media Sources to add audio and video files to a scene. See the OBS Sources Guide.
- Select the source. Click the Media Source in the Sources list or in the preview so its bounding box appears.
- Crop an edge. On Windows or Linux, hold Alt and drag a bounding-box edge inward. On macOS, hold Option and drag. The crop edges appear green while you adjust them. This trims the visible portion of the source in the scene; it does not alter the video file.
- Position the result. Move or resize the source as needed to compose the remaining image on the canvas. Cropping and placement are source-level composition tasks.
- Keep the output size. Open Settings > Video and confirm that Output (Scaled) Resolution is still set to the dimensions you want OBS to send to YouTube. Do not change it just to reframe this clip.
The OBS Overview Guide explains the distinction between source cropping and the output resolution used for streaming or recording.
Choose a crop method
Preview handles: quickest for visual adjustments
Alt/Option-drag lets you crop by eye directly in the preview. Use it when you can judge the framing visually and do not need to record exact crop amounts.
Edit Transform: precise, repeatable values
For measured crop amounts, open the source’s Transform > Edit Transform controls and enter the crop values. The Sources Guide also lists shortcuts: on Windows, Ctrl-E opens Edit Transform, Ctrl-R resets the transform, Ctrl-F fits the source to the screen, Ctrl-S stretches it to the screen, and Ctrl-D centers it. On macOS, use the corresponding Cmd shortcuts. These transform commands help position or size the source; they do not change the configured output resolution.
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Crop/Pad filter: when you want a filter-based crop
OBS also provides a Crop/Pad effect filter. The Scaling/Aspect Ratio filter can set a source-level resolution or aspect ratio. These are optional ways to adjust a source, not prerequisites for basic preview cropping. See the Scaling/Aspect Ratio Filter guide.
Understand which resolution setting controls what
| Control | What it affects | What to do for this crop |
|---|---|---|
| Base (Canvas) Resolution | The workspace dimensions where OBS sources are arranged. Changing it can require sources to be realigned. | Leave it alone unless you intend to change the scene canvas. |
| Output (Scaled) Resolution | The dimensions OBS sends to the stream or recording, using the selected downscale filter. | Keep the intended YouTube output dimensions here. |
| Source crop | Hides edges of the selected source within the scene composition. | Adjust this to reframe the prerecorded clip without resizing the stream output. |
OBS notes that changing Output (Scaled) Resolution does not require sources to be resized or realigned, while changing Base (Canvas) Resolution can. The source crop is separate from both canvas dimensions and output dimensions.
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Troubleshoot framing without changing stream size
- There is unexpected empty space: select the source and inspect its crop and position or size in Edit Transform. Adjust the source’s composition on the canvas.
- The subject is cut off or poorly framed: revise the crop values or drag the crop handles back, then reposition or resize the source as needed.
- The stream output changed unexpectedly: check Settings > Video > Output (Scaled) Resolution. That setting determines stream and recording dimensions; changing a clip’s crop is not the way to change it.
- You need a new cropped video file: cropping a source in an OBS scene is not the same as exporting a standalone file with a different frame size. Scene cropping does not change the encoded canvas dimensions.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the finished OBS scene is part of a prerecorded-video YouTube stream you want to keep running, StreamNeo can loop uploaded videos from the cloud: upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; uploaded video streams at its original quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot. It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, and monthly service is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams of uploaded videos, not camera streams. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free day.
Quick Recap
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