Record PC Gameplay with OBS

Build it step by step

1. 01

   Let OBS check your setup

   Open Tools → Auto-Configuration Wizard and select the recording-focused option. Apply the suggested settings. Create a folder for your recordings on a drive with free space, and close apps you do not need during capture. The wizard gives you a starting point; the test recording below will tell you whether it suits your game.

2. 02

   Choose a sensible resolution

   For a standard widescreen video, open Settings → Video and use a 1920 × 1080 canvas and output. Start at 30 FPS on a modest PC; try 60 FPS for fast movement if your system handles it. If your game uses an ultrawide or different aspect ratio, preserve its proportions instead of stretching it to fill the frame.

3. 03

   Set the recording folder and format

   In Settings → Output, use Simple mode and choose your Recording Path. Select High Quality, Medium File Size and MKV. Use an available hardware encoder; H.264 is a practical starting choice for editor compatibility. MKV is more resilient to an interrupted recording, and you can remux it to MP4 afterward.

4. 04

   Create one gameplay scene

   Start your game. In OBS, use the + under Scenes to create Gameplay. Under Sources, add Game Capture, choose Capture specific window and select the game. Right-click the preview source and choose Transform → Fit to Screen. Lock the source after positioning it so you do not move it accidentally.

5. 05

   Listen to the mix before recording

   In Settings → Audio, select the output device used by the game and your microphone, if needed. Watch the mixer while playing and speaking: each intended source should move and be unmuted. Wear headphones, lower game volume until speech is easy to follow, and avoid capturing the same device twice. Mute the microphone if you only want game sound.

6. 06

   Record a representative 30 seconds

   Click Start Recording, play a busy section and speak at your normal commentary volume. Include one louder sentence. Stop, then use File → Show Recordings to find the result. Play the whole file with headphones; check movement, voice clarity, echo and any notifications that slipped into the capture.

7. 07

   Prepare the file for editing

   If your editor does not accept MKV, open File → Remux Recordings, select the recording and remux it to MP4. Open that MP4 in your editor before recording a long session. Remuxing changes the container, not the encoded picture or sound; an unsupported codec will still need conversion. Keep the original until the working copy is checked and backed up.