For most OBS recordings, use MKV to protect the file if recording stops unexpectedly, then remux it to MP4 if your editor or upload workflow needs MP4. Start with the High Quality recording preset for a practical balance of quality and file size. Container, codec, encoder, and quality settings all matter—and the best combination depends on your hardware and editing software.
Choose the recording format: MKV or MP4?
A container packages video and audio streams; a codec encodes those streams. Choose both with your recording workflow in mind. OBS’s guides recommend MKV for most recording use because it is resilient to an interrupted recording. Regular MP4 is widely supported, but it needs finalization; if writing is interrupted, the file may not be recoverable. OBS’s Standard Recording Output Guide recommends MKV for this reason.
| Format | Interruption resilience | Compatibility and practical use |
|---|---|---|
| MKV | Resilient; an unfinished recording can remain playable and recoverable. | OBS’s default and general-purpose recommendation. Some editors need the file remuxed first. |
| Regular MP4 or MOV | Requires finalization; an interrupted write may make the file unrecoverable. | Broadly supported by editing software. Choose it only when the recording process can finish cleanly, or use a suitable hybrid or fragmented option. |
| Hybrid MP4/MOV or fragmented MP4/MOV | Designed to improve resilience: hybrid formats combine fragmentation with wider compatibility, while fragmented formats write self-contained chunks that do not require finalization. | Consider when you need an MP4/MOV-based workflow and your OBS version and editor support the option. Confirm compatibility before relying on it. |
Remux MKV to MP4 when needed
Remuxing changes the container without re-encoding the audio or video. In OBS, open File → Remux Recordings, select the MKV recording and remux it to MP4. OBS also offers automatic remuxing in its Advanced settings. Check that the selected codecs are supported by the destination container and your editor; remuxing does not make an unsupported codec compatible.
If your editor accepts the MKV and its codecs, you may be able to edit the recording without converting it. OBS notes that MOV is often favored in Mac workflows, but the right choice still depends on codec and application support. See the OBS Audio/Video Formats Guide.
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Choose a video codec your hardware and editor support
OBS’s general ordering for high-quality local recording is AV1, then HEVC, then H.264 when suitable hardware encoders are available. This is not a guarantee that every computer offers those encoders or that every editor supports them. OBS’s formats guide, dated 2023-03-26, describes the trade-offs below; encoder availability and software compatibility may have changed, so confirm them for your installed OBS version and editing workflow.
| Codec | What to weigh | Practical fit |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 | OBS describes improved quality per file size compared with HEVC, but weaker editing support. | Use when your hardware can encode it and your editor supports it. OBS’s guide lists hardware encoders for recent AMD RX 7000, NVIDIA RTX 40, and Intel Arc products; check your specific system. OBS also lists software options SVT-AV1 and libaom-av1, but describes software AV1 encoding as demanding for real-time compression. |
| HEVC (H.265) | OBS says it can provide better quality than H.264 at the same bitrate or file size. Licensing is more restrictive and streaming adoption is weaker than H.264. | Consider when your hardware encoder and destination editor support it. OBS describes HEVC recording as available through hardware encoders. |
| H.264 (AVC) | Broad compatibility across devices and software; OBS identifies it as the default codec. | A sensible choice when reliable playback and editor compatibility matter more than compression efficiency. |
For audio, AAC is widely supported and OBS’s default. Other options, including ALAC, FLAC, Opus and PCM, depend on the chosen container and video codec. OBS describes Opus as higher quality than AAC but less compatible with editing software; PCM is uncompressed and can support 32-bit floating-point recording. Use these alternatives when your post-production workflow needs them, not simply because they are available.
Pick a recording quality preset
In OBS’s Simple output mode, the preset is a straightforward place to begin. The OBS Recording Encoder Presets Guide, dated 2023-09-14, describes these choices:
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| Preset | Quality and file size | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| High Quality | High-quality video with a medium file size. | A practical first choice for a balanced setup. |
| Indistinguishable | Higher quality, with larger files. | Depending on encoder choice, it may affect performance on older or weaker hardware. |
| Lossless | Lossless video, with tremendously large files; uses the CPU encoder. | Reserve for workflows that specifically need lossless capture and have the storage and CPU capacity. OBS’s guide estimates around 7 GB of data per minute for this preset, not for OBS recording generally. |
Start with High Quality. Move to Indistinguishable if the added quality is worth the storage and performance cost on your system. Lossless is not a default upgrade for ordinary recordings: its storage demand is extreme.
Use Advanced Output settings when you need control
Simple output mode is easier to configure. OBS’s Advanced Recording Settings Guide, dated 2023-11-30, presents the following as encoder-specific baseline values intended to effectively match Simple mode presets—not universal optimal settings. Available controls and results depend on your encoder, hardware, workload and OBS version. Find the settings under Settings → Output, then select Advanced output mode and open the Recording section.
| Encoder | OBS baseline settings |
|---|---|
| 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, CQP, CRF and ICQ, OBS notes that lower quality-number values produce higher quality and larger files. Treat the ranges as starting points, and check which controls your installed encoder actually exposes. If you are not sure which values to use, Simple mode avoids tuning controls that may vary by hardware.
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Set up audio tracks for editing
Advanced output lets you choose which audio tracks to record. Separate tracks can help you adjust or remove sources independently in post-production; they do not improve the video image itself. For example, you may want microphone and desktop audio on distinct tracks, but the right layout depends on your sources and editor. Decide the track assignment in OBS’s audio settings and confirm that your chosen container and editor support the resulting audio streams.
Check the workflow before recording
- Protect the file: Record to MKV unless you have a specific reason and a safe workflow for another container.
- Confirm compatibility: Check that your editing software accepts both the selected container and codecs; remuxing changes the container, not the codecs.
- Balance quality and capacity: Start with High Quality and make a short recording to check image quality, file size and system performance before a long session.
- Match the encoder to the machine: Prefer a suitable hardware encoder when available, but consider editor support as well as compression efficiency.
- Choose audio tracks deliberately: Record separate sources on separate tracks only if your editing workflow benefits from that control.
Troubleshoot common OBS recording problems
The MP4 recording is missing or will not open after OBS stopped unexpectedly
Regular MP4 requires finalization, so an interruption can leave the file unrecoverable. For future recordings, select MKV, then use File → Remux Recordings if you need MP4 for editing.
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The editor will not import the MKV
The editor may not support the container or one of its codecs. Remux to MP4 in OBS and try again. If it still fails, check that the editor supports the video and audio codecs themselves; remuxing cannot change them.
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The recording is much larger than expected
Check the selected quality preset and encoder settings. Indistinguishable creates larger files than High Quality, and Lossless is exceptionally large: OBS estimates around 7 GB per minute for Lossless in its 2023 guide. Return to High Quality or choose a less demanding quality setting if that file size is not justified by your workflow.
The recording causes performance problems
Indistinguishable may affect older or weaker systems, depending on encoder choice; Lossless uses the CPU encoder. Try High Quality or a suitable hardware encoder and check whether the encoder and preset are supported by your system.
The recording looks good but has no audio, or tracks are missing
Review which audio tracks are selected in Advanced output and whether the source audio is assigned to those tracks. Then verify that the chosen container and editor support the audio codec and tracks you recorded.
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