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frame rate

How to Transcode Videos to Match OBS Resolution and Frame Rate

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To match a video to OBS, first identify the output resolution and frame rate in OBS → Settings → Video. In HandBrake, preserve or set the video dimensions deliberately, then choose either variable frame rate (VFR) to retain source timing or constant frame rate (CFR) to conform the file to a steady rate. A preset can silently resize the video or cap its frame rate, so check its effects and test a short encode before converting the full file.

Find the OBS resolution and frame rate you need to match

Open OBS → Settings → Video and note these three fields:

  • Base (Canvas) Resolution: the size of the OBS composition canvas.
  • Output (Scaled) Resolution: the size sent to the output. Match this when you want the transcoded file to match the resolution of the stream or recording output.
  • Common FPS Value: the target output frame rate.

The canvas and output can differ. For example, a scene composed on a 1920×1080 canvas can be scaled to a smaller output. Do not assume the canvas resolution is the encoded resolution; use the output value when matching the stream or recording.

If you are converting a file for playback in an OBS scene, the right target depends on the intended workflow. The video does not necessarily need transcoding just to be added: OBS troubleshooting guidance points to Media Source or VLC Source for media playback in a scene (OBS encoding performance troubleshooting).

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Inspect the source before choosing a frame-rate mode

Check the file’s actual dimensions and frame-rate behavior before encoding. A nominal or displayed rate alone does not establish that every frame follows a constant cadence. Modern recordings can vary their frame rate over time, as HandBrake notes in its frame-rate guidance (the page is marked as a draft).

Choose based on what the destination needs:

  • Same as Source with VFR: preserves variable portions of the source timing. Choose this when retaining that timing matters and the destination handles VFR.
  • Same as Source with CFR: uses a constant rate based on the detected source rate. Choose this when the destination requires constant timing but you do not need to conform to a different target rate.
  • A specific CFR rate: conforms the file to the rate you choose, such as the OBS target. When the source rate differs, the conversion may duplicate or omit temporal samples; check motion and duration in the result.

HandBrake describes CFR as a special-case choice, including for non-linear editing imports or older devices. Its frame-rate page explains the available behaviors.

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Transcode in HandBrake without changing the target by accident

  1. Open the source file in HandBrake and confirm its dimensions and source frame-rate information.
  2. Choose a preset carefully. Check its dimensions and frame-rate limit before encoding. HandBrake presets can scale and peak-limit video; for example, a 720p30 preset can turn a 1080p60 source into 720p video with a 30-fps peak. See HandBrake’s official presets.
  3. Set the dimensions. Preserve the source dimensions if they already match the desired output. Otherwise, set the intended width and height, keeping the aspect ratio correct. Avoid a preset that resizes the picture unless that change is wanted.
  4. Set the frame-rate behavior. Choose Same as Source with VFR to preserve variable timing; choose Same as Source with CFR for a constant source-rate output; or select a specific rate with CFR when you need to conform to the OBS target.
  5. Encode a short sample. Play it back or import it into the intended OBS scene or workflow. Check dimensions, motion, duration, and audio/video synchronization before processing the full file.
  6. Encode the full video only after the sample behaves as expected.

There is no universally best combination of resolution, frame-rate mode, quality, and file size: the suitable choice depends on the source and destination. Higher output frame rates can also demand more system resources, so verify the OBS configuration with a test. The OBS Project’s overview guide advises checking system capacity for 60 fps.

Use FFmpeg if you prefer a command line

FFmpeg is an alternative for transcoding and frame-rate control. The appropriate command depends on the input, target dimensions, codec, and whether you need to preserve variable timing or produce CFR. Consult the FFmpeg documentation for its conversion and frame-rate options; do not apply a frame-rate conversion blindly, since it can change the timing samples in the output. As with HandBrake, test the result in the intended workflow.

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OBS recording is a different job from transcoding an existing file

If you are recording in OBS rather than converting a finished video, OBS recommends MKV because an ungraceful stop is less likely to leave the recording unusable. If another workflow requires MP4, OBS has a built-in remux function to change the container. Remuxing is not the same as re-encoding: it does not by itself change video resolution or frame rate. See the OBS Standard Recording Output Guide.

OBS’s Recording Encoder Presets Guide, dated September 14, 2023, gives an approximate example of around 7 GB per minute for its Lossless recording preset. That is an example, not a guaranteed file size; content and configuration affect the result.

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Troubleshoot mismatched output

  • The output is smaller than expected: inspect the HandBrake preset and dimensions. A preset may downscale the video; choose settings that preserve or explicitly set the intended size.
  • The video has fewer frames per second than expected: check whether the preset applies a peak frame-rate limit and whether the selected frame-rate mode is VFR, CFR, or a specific rate. A preset’s nominal label may not describe every detail of its effect.
  • Motion looks uneven or the duration changes: compare the source and output rates and confirm whether you converted to CFR. Conforming rates can duplicate or omit temporal samples; try a short sample with the intended mode and inspect it before a full encode.
  • OBS struggles during playback or streaming: check the OBS output resolution and FPS, then test system capacity at those settings. A higher frame rate can increase resource demand; encoding or playback trouble does not automatically mean the source file needs transcoding.
  • A recording will not open after OBS stopped unexpectedly: OBS recommends recording to MKV for resilience. When a usable MKV needs to become MP4, use OBS’s remux function rather than assuming a transcode is required.

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