A Step-by-Step Guide to Make OBS Recordings Take Less Space
"I’ve recorded a 5-minute video from a game, but it eats 1.8 GB of my precious storage space!" It’s frustrating. But today, you don’t have to pick between deleting recordings and a full hard drive, as you can make OBS recordings take less space. With only simple tweaks to using powerful software, this guide will share four ways to lower file size in OBS recording. Get things started now to reclaim that valuable space.
Guide List
Make OBS Recordings Take Less Space with OBS File Size Calculator Adjust OBS Recording Settings to Lower File Size Change the Recording Format to Reduce OBS Video File Size The OBS Recording File Size Still Too Big? Try This OBS AlternativeMake OBS Recordings Take Less Space with OBS File Size Calculator
When recording using OBS, the file size quickly becomes large, especially if you have set the recording at high resolutions and frame rates. But the good news is that you can make OBS recordings smaller by using its Calculator. Using the OBS File Size Calculator will help you estimate the file size based on your recording settings.
Here’s how to make OBS recordings take less space using the Calculator:
Step 1.Launch OBS on your computer. Go to the OBS File Size Calculator tool, which can be found online or on OBS forums or sites.
Step 2.From there, you need to enter the resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and recording time, then click the "Calculate" button. It will then show you the estimated file size.
Step 3.If the size is too large, adjust the following settings: resolution, bitrate, and frame rate. Once you’re okay with the file size estimate, use these settings in OBS studio and begin recording.
Adjust OBS Recording Settings to Lower File Size
Since OBS has a bunch of customizable settings that let you optimize the recording's quality, you can make key tweaks, significantly reducing the size of your recordings. Doing so will make OBS recordings take less space without compromising too much on quality.
A step-by-step guide to adjust the OBS recording settings will be seen below:
Step 1.Unleash the OBS Studio on your computer. Slide to the lower-right corner to access the "Settings" menu button. Here, go to the "Video" tab and alter the resolution for both Base and Output. In the "Common FPS Values" dropdown, you may set it from 60 FPS to 30 FPS.
Step 2.Next, opt for the "Output" tab, then look for the "Video Bitrate" setting and lower it to around 3000-5000 kbps (720p); otherwise, 8000-10000 kbps (1080p).
If available, you can enable hardware encoding by selecting the "Hardware (QSV)" or "NVENC".
Step 3.Afterward, aim for the "Audio" tab where you can set the "Audio Bitrate" for both Desktop and Mic/Auxiliary. If the file is still too large, tweak the settings further.
Step 4.Once you have made all crucial adjustments, click the "OK" button to apply all the settings and click the "Start Recording" button on the OBS main screen.
Change the Recording Format to Reduce OBS Video File Size
One of the simple ways to make OBS recordings take less space is by transforming the recording format. Different formats have different compression, and having the right one can help lessen the file size while keeping the quality intact.
Follow the complete instructions to get the best recording format in OBS and reduce file size:
Step 1.Start by running the OBS Studio on your computer. Then, click the "Settings" button in the bottom-right corner. Go to the "Output" tab, and then make sure you have chosen "Advanced" in the "Output Mode’" dropdown.
Step 2.Once selected, scroll down to the "Recording Format" dropdown menu and select either MP4 or MKV. These two have a good balance between file size and compatibility.
Besides format, you can also set the audio and video codec settings. Use AAC for audio compression, and as for video codec, use x264.
Step 3.Click the "OK" button to save all changes, then make a short test recording to ensure all sounds great. Once okay, click the "Start Recording" button.
The OBS Recording File Size Still Too Big? Try This OBS Alternative
Despite being able to adjust the necessary settings to make OBS recordings take less space, sometimes the file sizes may still be too large for your storage capacity. Therefore, you may use other recording tools with better compression without degrading the quality. One such tool is the AnyRec Screen Recorder, a powerful software that is designed to capture video, audio, and webcam while maintaining smaller file sizes and higher quality output at the same time. It can adjust the resolution, frame rate, output format, and more, achieving the best balance between size and quality. Besides that, AnyRec Screen Recorder offers editing tools so you can trim, cut, and fine-tune your recordings before getting them saved to a smaller file size. Experience here the streamlined process to capture, edit, and convert your videos!
Record everything on screen in HD quality up to 4K resolution.
Choose specific resolution, frame rate, and audio settings for more control.
Can add annotations, lines, shapes, text, and more in real time.
Able to compress the size of recordings without compromising quality.
100% Secure
100% Secure
Step 1.First, launch AnyRec Screen Recorder on your computer. Remain in the "Video Recorder" window, then select "Full" to capture the entire screen or "Custom" to focus on a specific section. You may easily adjust the area by dragging the frame to your desired size.
To fine-tune recording settings to your liking, go to "Settings" and choose "Output". Here, you can set the quality, frame rate, format, etc.
Step 2.To record sound from your computer, ensure the "System Sound" switch is set on. If you wish to voiceover, simply turn on the "Microphone" switch, too. Adjust the volume levels for both by dragging their sliders.
Step 3.Once everything has been adjusted, click the "REC" button. While doing so, you can annotate right on your screen via the toolbar and click the "Camera" button for a snapshot.
Step 4.When you’re finished, click the "Stop" button to end the session. In the preview window, you can trim, adjust the volume, compress, and do more edits to your videos. Once you’re okay with it, click the "Save" button to get your recording in your desired format.
Conclusion
To make OBS recordings take less space is not a daunting task. By simply adjusting the settings, you can lower the file size without affecting the quality too much. Even so, if you’re struggling to face a huge file size using OBS, you need AnyRec Screen Recorder as assistance. With this tool, you cannot only customize the settings but also make use of its advanced video compression, real-time edits, converting, and more. Whether you want to capture gameplay or a long video or presentation, AnyRec Screen Recorder offers high-quality results with smaller file sizes.
