How to Record With OBS (Settings That Save Your Video)

OBS isn't only for live streaming. It's one of the best free screen recorders around for tutorials, product demos, course videos and client walkthroughs. The recording side has a few settings worth getting right before you press the button, especially the file format, which can save you from losing a whole recording.

How to record your screen with OBS, step by step

1. Open OBS and select a scene (or use the default one).
2. Click + in the Sources dock and add Display Capture on Windows, or macOS Screen Capture on a Mac.
3. Add your webcam with Video Capture Device if you want to appear on screen.
4. Speak and check the microphone meter moves in the Audio Mixer.
5. Click Start Recording in the Controls dock.
6. Click Stop Recording when you finish.
7. Find your video in the recording folder set in Settings, Output.

The recording settings that matter

Setting	Where	What to choose
Recording Path	Settings, Output	A folder you'll remember, with plenty of free space
Recording Format	Settings, Output	MKV, then convert to MP4 (see below)
Recording Quality	Settings, Output (Simple)	Same as stream uses the fewest resources
Audio tracks	Settings, Output (Advanced)	Separate tracks if you want to edit voice and music apart

The catch: record in MKV, not MP4

This is the setting that saves recordings. The OBS team recommends MKV because if OBS crashes, your computer restarts or the recording doesn't stop cleanly, an MKV file won't be corrupted as a whole. An MP4 in the same situation can be unreadable, and you lose everything. It's not a risk worth taking on a long webinar or client session.

The catch with MKV is that some editors and social platforms prefer MP4. OBS solves that for you:

• Convert after recording: go to File, then Remux Recordings, choose the file and click Remux.
• Convert automatically: go to Settings, then Advanced, and tick Automatically remux to mp4. OBS converts each recording the moment you stop.

Recording just one window

If you don't want notifications or other apps appearing, record a single window instead of your whole screen. On Windows, add Window Capture. On a Mac, use macOS Screen Capture and switch it to capture an application or window. It's a good habit when you're recording inside your email or client dashboards, so nothing private slips into the video.

Recording sound from your computer

By default OBS records your microphone and your desktop audio. On a Mac, desktop audio used to need extra software, but OBS's guide says that from macOS 13 (Ventura) with OBS Studio 30 or later, the macOS Audio Capture source handles it, including capturing just one app.

Test before you record anything long

The OBS quick start guide strongly encourages running a short test first. Record thirty seconds, play it back and check three things: you can hear yourself clearly, the screen is captured (not black), and the video isn't choppy. Fix any of those before the real take.

Tips for clean screen recordings

• Close notifications and unrelated tabs before you start.
• Increase your browser zoom so text is readable on a phone.
• Use a decent microphone. People forgive average video, not bad sound.
• Pause briefly between sections so you've got clean edit points.
• Keep the mouse still when you're not pointing at something.

Editing your recording

Once remuxed to MP4, your recording opens in any editor. Trim the start and end, cut mistakes and add captions. If you mainly record talking demos, my guide to recording screen and audio for professional demos has more on getting it right first time.

Recording a tutorial with your face in the corner

1. Add your screen capture source first so it fills the scene.
2. Add your webcam as a Video Capture Device source.
3. Drag the webcam's corner handles to shrink it, then move it to a corner that won't cover anything important.
4. Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) and drag an edge of the webcam source to crop off any background you don't want.
5. Do a quick test recording and check your face and screen both look right.

People engage far more with tutorials when they can see the person teaching. It doesn't need to be big; a small box in the corner is enough to make it feel personal.

Organising your recordings

OBS names recordings by date and time by default, which keeps them in order but tells you nothing about what's in them. Rename each file as soon as you finish, or set up a folder for each project or client. Future you will be grateful when you need to find one specific demo among dozens.

My verdict

Add your screen and webcam as sources, check the mic, and click Start Recording. Set the format to MKV so a crash can't wipe out your recording, and switch on automatic remux to MP4 so the file is ready to edit. Test for thirty seconds before anything important. If OBS feels like overkill, my list of screen recording software has simpler options.

Frequently asked questions

Can OBS record my screen and webcam together?

Yes. Add both as sources in the same scene, resize the webcam into a corner and start recording.

Where does OBS save recordings?

In the Recording Path set under Settings, then Output.

Should I record in MKV or MP4 in OBS?

MKV. OBS recommends it because a crash won't corrupt the whole file. Then remux it to MP4.

How do I convert OBS recordings to MP4?

Use File, then Remux Recordings, or tick Automatically remux to mp4 under Settings, then Advanced.

How do I record only one window in OBS?

Add Window Capture on Windows, or use macOS Screen Capture in window or application mode on a Mac.

Why is my OBS recording black?

Check the capture source and permissions. On some laptops, the graphics card OBS uses causes black display captures.

Does OBS record desktop audio on a Mac?

Yes, on macOS 13 or later with OBS Studio 30 or later, using the macOS Audio Capture source.