Optimize your Encoder Settings in OBS Studio for Streaming and Recording

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Table of Contents

1. Setting up the Encoder for Streaming and Recording
   • Activating the Game Mode in Windows
   • Starting OBS as an Administrator
2. Video Settings in OBS
   • Adjusting the Base Canvas and Scaled Output Resolution
   • Choosing the Scaling Filter and Frame Rate
3. Encoder Settings for Streaming
   • Selecting the Nvidia NVENC H.264 Encoder
   • Configuring the Encoder Settings
   • Choosing the Preset and Profile
4. Encoder Settings for Recording
   • Selecting the Encoder (H.264, HEVC, or AV1)
   • Adjusting the Encoder Settings for Recording
5. Preparing and Converting Recorded Files
   • Converting MKV Files to MP4
   • Handling AV1 Recordings for Editing
6. Conclusion

🎥 Setting up the Encoder for Streaming and Recording

In this article, we will guide you step by step on how to set up the encoder for streaming and recording using OBS Studio with an Nvidia graphics card. First, it's important to ensure that your Nvidia graphics card is optimized for both gaming and streaming. To do this, we recommend activating the Game Mode in Windows, regardless of whether you're using Windows 10 or the latest Windows 11. Activating the Game Mode allows Windows to allocate your graphics card resources efficiently between the game and OBS, preventing any lag or performance issues.

Another crucial step is to start OBS Studio as an administrator. This ensures that OBS has the necessary permissions to access your Nvidia graphics card and enables certain features, such as the NVENC (Nvidia Encoder) hardware encoder. You can start OBS as an administrator either by right-clicking on the OBS Studio shortcut and selecting "Run as administrator" every time, or by changing the properties of the OBS shortcut to always run as an administrator.

🎞️ Video Settings in OBS

Once you have set up the encoder properly, it's time to configure the video settings in OBS Studio. These settings determine the resolution and quality of your stream or recording. For streaming, we recommend setting the base canvas resolution to 1080p, as it is currently the maximum resolution supported by platforms like Twitch. If you are streaming on YouTube or want to stream at a higher resolution like 1440p or 4K, you can adjust the canvas resolution accordingly.

Next, you'll need to choose the scaling filter and frame rate. For the best results, we suggest using the "Lanczos" scaling filter, as it provides the highest quality downsampling. For streaming, a frame rate of 60 FPS is typically sufficient for most game streaming scenarios. However, you should adjust the frame rate based on your internet speed and the maximum bitrate allowed by the streaming platform. For Twitch, the official maximum bitrate is currently 6000 kbps.

📹 Encoder Settings for Streaming

The encoder settings play a crucial role in determining the quality and performance of your stream. In OBS Studio, you can select the Nvidia NVENC H.264 encoder, which takes advantage of the hardware acceleration provided by your Nvidia graphics card. To configure the encoder settings, go to the Output tab and then select the Stream option.

In the Stream settings, choose the Nvidia NVENC H.264 encoder from the drop-down menu. Once selected, the encoder settings will appear below. Here, you can set the quality regulation method to CBR (Constant Bitrate), which allows you to specify a constant bitrate for your stream. This ensures a consistent quality level throughout your stream.

Additionally, set the appropriate frame rate based on your internet speed and the maximum bitrate allowed by the streaming platform. For Twitch, the official maximum bitrate is 6000 kbps. It's important to match the frame rate and bitrate to your internet connection to avoid buffering or dropped frames.

Other important settings include the preset and profile options. The preset determines the trade-off between quality and performance, with lower presets offering better quality at the expense of higher GPU usage. We recommend starting with the "P7" preset and adjusting it as needed based on your GPU usage and performance. The profile should be set to "high" for optimal compatibility.

📼 Encoder Settings for Recording

In addition to streaming, OBS Studio also allows you to Record your gameplay or other content. When setting up the encoder for recording, you have more options in terms of codecs and settings. In the Output tab, select the option for recording and choose the desired encoder from the drop-down menu.

If you choose the Nvidia NVENC H.264 encoder for recording, the settings will be similar to those for streaming. However, instead of using constant bitrate (CBR), we recommend using constant quality (CQ). With CQ, you can specify the desired level of quality, and the encoder will adjust the bitrate dynamically to maintain that quality level.

The recommended CQ level for recording with the NVENC H.264 encoder is between 14 and 20, with lower values providing higher quality but larger file sizes. Set the keyframe interval to 2 for optimal compatibility with most video players and editors. Adjust the preset, profile, and other settings based on your desired trade-off between quality and file size.

If you prefer to use other codecs like HEVC (H.265) or AV1, OBS Studio provides options for those as well. Keep in mind that AV1 encoding is currently only available on RTX 4000 series graphics cards. Similar to the NVENC H.264 encoder, adjust the settings based on your preferences and hardware capabilities.

🔄 Preparing and Converting Recorded Files

Once you have finished recording your gameplay or content, OBS Studio saves the recordings in the MKV format by default. If you need to prepare the recorded files for editing in video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, you may want to convert them to the more widely supported MP4 format.

To convert the recorded files from MKV to MP4, you can use the OBS Remux tool. Simply go to the File menu in OBS Studio, select "Remux Recordings," and choose the recorded file you want to convert. The tool will convert the file to MP4 format while preserving the audio and video quality. After the conversion, you can delete the original MKV file if desired.

For AV1 recordings, it's worth noting that not all video editing software supports this codec yet. While DaVinci Resolve works well with AV1 files, Adobe Premiere Pro currently has limited support. You may encounter issues importing AV1 files into Premiere Pro, with only the audio track visible. In this case, it's recommended to convert the AV1 recording to a more widely compatible codec like H.264 before editing. Once the editing is complete, you can switch back to AV1 for encoding using the Voukoder plugin in Premiere Pro.

🏁 Conclusion

Configuring the encoder settings in OBS Studio is essential for achieving high-quality and smooth streaming or recording. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can optimize your Nvidia graphics card for streaming and recording, choose the appropriate encoder and settings, and prepare your recorded files for editing. Remember to consider your internet speed, streaming platform requirements, and hardware capabilities when adjusting the settings. With the right configuration, you can create professional-looking streams and recordings that captivate your audience. Happy streaming and recording!

Highlights:

• Learn how to configure the encoder settings in OBS Studio for streaming and recording.
• Optimize your Nvidia graphics card for gaming and streaming by activating the Game Mode in Windows.
• Start OBS Studio as an administrator to ensure proper access to your Nvidia graphics card.
• Adjust the video settings in OBS Studio, including the base canvas and scaled output resolution, scaling filter, and frame rate.
• Choose the Nvidia NVENC H.264 encoder for streaming and adjust the encoder settings for optimal quality and performance.
• Select the appropriate settings for recording, including the choice of codec (H.264, HEVC, or AV1) and the configuration of the encoder.
• Convert recorded files from MKV to MP4 using the OBS Remux tool for better compatibility with video editing software.
• Consider the limitations and requirements of different codecs, such as AV1, when choosing the encoder settings.
• Ensure a smooth streaming or recording experience by adjusting settings based on internet speed, streaming platform requirements, and hardware capabilities.

Resources:

• OBS Studio: https://obsproject.com/
• DaVinci Resolve: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
• Adobe Premiere Pro: https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html
• Voukoder Plugin: https://voukoder.org/