Recording settings
OBS Studio recording settings on Windows
# NVIDIA — near-lossless recording:
Type: Standard
Recording Format: mkv
Encoder: NVENC H.264 (new)
Rate Control: CQP
CQP: 18 (lower = better quality, larger file)
# CPU encoding (no GPU):
Encoder: x264
Rate Control: CRF
CRF: 18-23 (18 = near-lossless, 23 = good balance)
Preset: fast (or slower for better quality)
MKV vs MP4
Why record to MKV and remux to MP4
- MKV
- Crash-safe — if OBS crashes, the file is still playable up to the crash point. Cannot be edited directly in most software.
- MP4
- Most compatible. Required for direct YouTube upload. Lost entirely if OBS crashes during recording.
- Remux
- Convert MKV to MP4 after recording: File > Remux Recordings. No quality loss, takes a few seconds.
Always record to MKV. Remux to MP4 after. Never record long sessions directly to MP4 — a crash or power cut loses everything.
FAQ
Recording questions
What is the best recording format for OBS on Windows?
Use MKV during recording for crash safety, then remux to MP4. For direct editing in Premiere/DaVinci, remux to MP4 first. For YouTube uploads, MP4 is required. MKV files from OBS are high quality and losslessly convert to MP4 with File → Remux Recordings.
OBS recording file size is too large — how to reduce?
Increase the CQP/CRF value (higher number = smaller file, lower quality). CQP 23 is a good balance of quality and size. Also consider recording at 1080p30 instead of 60fps — this halves the file size. For very small files, switch to HEVC/H.265 encoding if your editing software supports it.