How to Use OBS Source Record Plugin for Clean Webcam

This article explains what the Source Record plugin is for OBS Studio and provides a step-by-step guide on how to use it to capture a clean, isolated webcam feed. By using this tool, you can record your raw camera footage in the background while simultaneously broadcasting or recording your main stream layout complete with overlays, alerts, and gameplay.

What is the Source Record Plugin?

The Source Record plugin is a free, third-party add-on for OBS Studio developed by Exeldro. Traditionally, OBS Studio only allows you to record your entire canvas exactly as your viewers see it. The Source Record plugin changes this by allowing you to apply a recording filter directly to any individual source or scene.

By applying this filter to your webcam source, OBS will generate a separate, high-quality video file containing only your camera feed. This is incredibly useful for content creators who want “clean” footage for video editing, YouTube shorts, or TikToks without stream overlays blocking the view.

How to Install the Source Record Plugin

1. Go to the official OBS Project website and navigate to the Resources section to find the Source Record plugin.
2. Download the installer compatible with your operating system (Windows or macOS).
3. Close OBS Studio if it is currently running.
4. Run the installer or manually extract the files to your OBS Studio installation folder.
5. Relaunch OBS Studio to activate the plugin.

How to Set Up a Clean Webcam Record

Once the plugin is installed, setting up your clean webcam feed takes only a few minutes.

Step 1: Add the Filter to Your Webcam

1. In the Sources dock of OBS Studio, locate your webcam source (often named “Video Capture Device”).
2. Right-click on the webcam source and select Filters.
3. In the Filters window, click the + (plus) icon under the Effect Filters section at the bottom.
4. Select Source Record from the list and name it (e.g., “Webcam Record”).

Step 2: Configure the Recording Settings

After adding the filter, you will see a list of settings in the properties window:

• Record Mode: Choose when you want the plugin to record. Set this to Recording if you want it to start and stop automatically when you click “Start Recording” in OBS. Set it to Streaming if you want it to trigger when you go live.
• Path: Click “Browse” and choose the folder on your computer where you want the clean webcam video files to be saved.
• Format: Select your preferred video format. MKV is recommended to prevent file corruption if OBS crashes, but MP4 is widely compatible with editing software.
• Encoder: Choose your video encoder. If you have a dedicated graphics card, select NVIDIA NVENC or AMD AMF to reduce CPU usage.

Step 3: Test and Capture

Once your settings are configured, close the Filters window. To test the setup, click Start Recording (or Start Streaming, depending on your chosen Record Mode) in the main OBS interface.

After stopping the session, check your designated folder. You will find two files: your main OBS recording featuring your full layout, and a separate, clean video file containing only your webcam feed.