How to Set Up an OBS Profile for Local Recording

This guide will show you how to create and configure a secondary profile in OBS Studio specifically optimized for high-quality local video recording. By separating your streaming and recording settings into different profiles, you can easily switch to capturing pristine, high-bitrate offline footage without altering your live broadcast configurations.

Step 1: Create a New Profile

Profiles in OBS Studio save your output, transmission, and video settings. Creating a new profile ensures your streaming settings remain untouched.

1. Open OBS Studio.
2. Click on Profile in the top menu bar.
3. Select New from the dropdown menu.
4. Name the profile (e.g., “High-Quality Recording”) and click OK.
5. If the Auto-Configuration Wizard appears, close it to configure the settings manually.

(Optional) You can also go to Scene Collection > New to create a dedicated set of sources and scenes for your recordings.

Step 2: Configure the Output Settings

To get the best recording quality without lag, you need to adjust your encoder and bitrate settings.

1. Click on Settings in the bottom-right corner of OBS.
2. Select the Output tab on the left.
3. Change the Output Mode dropdown at the top from Simple to Advanced.
4. Click on the Recording tab.

Adjust the following settings within the Recording tab:

• Type: Standard
• Recording Path: Click Browse and select a fast storage drive (preferably an SSD) with plenty of free space.
• Recording Format: Select mkv or fragmented mp4. Note: MKV is recommended because if OBS crashes, the recording is saved. You can automatically convert it to MP4 later via File > Remux Recordings.
• Video Encoder: Select a hardware encoder to reduce CPU usage.
  • For NVIDIA cards: NVIDIA NVENC H.264 or HEVC (H.265).
  • For AMD cards: AMD HW H.264 or HEVC.
  • For Intel: QuickSync H.264.
• Audio Encoder: FFmpeg AAC (Default).

Step 3: Set the Rate Control for Quality

Streaming requires a strict Constant Bitrate (CBR), but local recording benefits from quality-based encoding.

1. Set Rate Control to CQP (Constant QP) or CRF (Constant Rate Factor).
2. Set the CQ Level or CRF value:
   • 16 to 18: Near-lossless quality (ideal for high-end editing).
   • 20 to 23: Excellent quality with highly manageable file sizes (recommended for most users).
   • Lower numbers mean higher quality but larger file sizes.
3. Set Keyframe Interval to 2 s.
4. Set Preset to P5: Slow (Good Quality) or P6: Slower (Better Quality).
5. Set Tuning to High Quality.
6. Set Multipass Mode to Two Passes (Quarter Resolution).
7. Keep Profile on high.
8. Ensure Look-ahead and Psycho Visual Tuning are checked.

Step 4: Maximize Video and Audio Resolution

Next, configure your canvas and framerate settings to capture smooth, sharp video.

1. Navigate to the Video tab on the left menu.
2. Set Base (Canvas) Resolution to your monitor’s native resolution (e.g., 1920x1080 or 2560x1440).
3. Set Output (Scaled) Resolution to match your Base Resolution. Scaling down reduces quality, so keeping them identical is best for local recordings.
4. Set Downscale Filter to Lanczos (if resolutions differ) or leave it as default.
5. Set Common FPS Values to 60.

For high-quality audio: 1. Navigate to the Audio tab. 2. Set the Sample Rate to 48kHz. 3. Go back to the Output tab, click on the Audio tab at the top, and set the Audio Bitrate for Track 1 (and any other tracks you use) to 320 kbps.

Click Apply and OK to save your changes. You can now toggle between your streaming and recording profiles instantly using the “Profile” menu at the top of OBS Studio.