Best Recording Settings for OBS Studio on Mac [2024]

[@LASCurry]

Get Stream Overlays for Recording + Streaming 👉 www.streamdesignz.com/collections

[@Geanerikc_Ent.]

More videos on using OBS with Mac 😃

[@LASCurry]

More on the way: Is there anything specific you want me to create content on.

[@Geanerikc_Ent.]

​@@LASCurry connecting OBS and PS5 for streaming with a Macbook Pro. I'm definitely doing something wrong 😨

[@LASCurry]

@@Geanerikc_Ent. I got you, let me see if I can get this video recorded next week.

[@duhreddudnextdoor2424]

For some reason my rate control is stuck at Abr. What do I do?

[@LorenaAbreu]

This is the ONLY video that helped me identify the reason behind my pixelated exports despite having the correct dimensions. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!! 😭

[@kill3rbyysight]

what's de solution?

[@JillRhoads]

Have been testing these settings out and they are *almost* perfect! The only tweak I had to do was lower the CBR or the file got a bit too big. This is almost the only Mac OBS specialized video Ive found that works for recording! BIG THANKS!

[@TheNutCaseNetwork]

Hi, I’m a technology cavewoman, but I appreciate your breakdown. I was to start recording gaming and this will be great because I’m on a Mac and they gets no love, thanks!

[@ijuscape]

TY FOR THIS VIDEO!!!! before my recordings would save at like 2 frames per MINUTE and it drove me insane this video saved me

[@ItsOfficialBlu]

Got everything set up, do have a question though. In my encoder settings I only have ABR and do not even see an option for CBR or CRF

[@ChadAndrewTaylor]

@@ItsOfficialBlu any help on this ?

[@ItsOfficialBlu]

@@ChadAndrewTaylor haven't found anything to fix it yet :/ haven't tried too hard since though.

[@enemysamurai]

He has a recording tips video set in 2023 that looks like our obs settings. Its looking like it should work for us

[@mrkoalaGuy]

Same with me is there any way to fix it!

[@ijusthaveapotato]

Thank you so much for saving my time i have tweaked so much but when i clicked your video and tested it was perfect!! BIG THANKS!!!!!

[@ok-xc3ps]

hey I'm having trouble with my encoder setting I seem to only have ABR as a option how do I fix this??

[@rootbindev]

Same

[@mbamindpodcast]

Same

[@enemysamurai]

He has a recording tips video set in 2023 that looks like our obs settings. Its looking like it should work for us

[@pecktec]

I only have ABR as an option in my encoder settings?

[@brosnshows]

Same our encoding options only show ABR as well, hoping this isnt whats causing our lag

[@threeeyedtribe]

@@brosnshows Did you ever figure anything out?

[@gameboyglitch4796]

Bruh can’t do it because you uploaded a few days before it updated and now I can’t access CBR and now I’m stuck on ABR 😭😭😭😭😭. Edit: so I learned that my Mac doesn’t have the ability to access the things that you have so whoops

[@LASCurry]

When I shot this video, I was on the latest Mac and OBS versions. What kind of Mac are you using, and you want to use CRF if you have it.

[@MrAKirby]

I can’t access to CBR. Everything you doing my Mac won’t let me. I have the MacBook Pro 2019 version

[@CrazyBoy-fj5lf]

@@MrAKirbysame problem bro I have 2020 did you fix it ?

[@MrAKirby]

@@CrazyBoy-fj5lf No. it still doing the something. It’s given me messages about my record setting every time I get on OBS.

[@adhvaitchauhan8449]

@@MrAKirby y'all got a solution? I'm on an iMac M1. Still can't figure out what the hell it wants to do a proper recording..

[@SouljaOrleans504]

I only have ABR for my encoder settings. How do I get that CRF selection?

[@Bunduke]

Same

[@ChalkyPhalanges]

Same here too.

[@KennisonKrew]

@@ChalkyPhalanges I also only have the ABR option and am on a Mac from 2018, with intel core i5 processor the Mchips came out the next year I think lol... but so far the ABR setting has been okay for me.

[@helijarvenpaa]

You saved my day and budget! thought already that my iMac 2017 is too old to work with OBS, but with these settings it works just fine. Gonna subscribe, thanks for helping me out!

[@yzkniJ]

I’m recording games on a 2017 MacBook Pro, did this help you with yours?

[@helijarvenpaa]

@@yzkniJ Yes it did!

[@emunkskater1]

I Think Im running the same software that you are, following this vid, I cannot change my Rate control from ABR to any thing else. it does not give me another option at all. can you give some insight? thank you!

[@hywandra]

Thank You sooooo much!!! I've been trying to set up my macPro to stream properly for 2 days and then BOOOM, this video saved me!

[@dirtybaker]

Thanks for this! I just switched out all of my current settings to match what you have here and I am excited to start testing! Finally got a decent mic configuration but definitely noticed poor video quality. I'm getting close to finalizing my set up now!

[@kfvsb628]

Hi! Great video, I got a problem. It records the sound from my computer but not when me or other people talk. How do I fix this?

[@SRodsPlace]

great video I'm setting up my obs this tutorial was great thanks pal.

[@sinny_mac]

My OBS is missing a bunch of these settings options. I checked, and there are no updates.

[@AlexNunziato]

Thank you so much for remaking this video. I was literally just watching your old video from a year or so ago and was so confused! This clarified so much and thank you so much for including how to change it from the mkv to mp4. Also 2 quick questions: do you recommend that I downscale the resolution to save storage because with the resolutions matching 1 min of footage is like 1 GB and do you still need the blackhole stuff for recording in game audio? I have it all set up but I noticed that there is now some other settings that make me wonder if I even still need it.

[@LASCurry]

The file size is going to connect more to the CBR or CRF settings so the lower you go the smaller the file size but you may lose some quality. For audio capture I would just use the macoS audio capture source

[@KennisonKrew]

I used blackhole to be able to have game, desktop and mic audio recorded. Then I found Caster!!! its a great Audio plug in and so far its been perfect for recording audio separate to edit not attached to my game audio.

[@Shan_Poo_]

For anyone wondering why they don't have Apple VT HEVC hardware encoder, I deleted OBS and reinstalled the silicone version. I think I had the Intel version downloaded.

[@hybridsimrig]

works as described. well done

[@tayep_iamlegend9462]

This was perfect! My only question is what do I do if I don’t have CRF or CBR as an option? I only have ABR

[@litledevel15]

Mine too … I still have yet to find a solution.

[@devarni]

Wow, great! This was the solution to get really good quality with OBS on my Mac! With the Apple H264 hardware decoder it was kind of choppy. HEVC is the solution.

[@ginsugray5469]

I'm using OBS 30, but I have a different video encoder list than you do, HVEC is on there, Apple VT HVEC Hardware is not. HVEC changes lower option. Not sure how to proceed.

[@kani8294]

It’s the same for me too, did you find a way to set it up??

[@ginsugray5469]

@@kani8294 Yes and no. Further research showed that my cpu just can’t handle 1080p 60fps without choking on the lag. I found that the automatic tools wizard really DID have the best settings for my system in mind. I just had to listen. So it’s 480 to 720 for me at 30 fps until I upgrade my system to better hardware.

[@obitoreborn1980]

Where’d you get that from ? How can I find the automatic wizard

[@Shan_Poo_]

I was wondering why I don't have Apple VT HEVC hardware encoder even though I have an m3 Pro Macbook Pro. But I deleted OBS and reinstalled the silicone version and it worked. I think I had the Intel version downloaded. @kani8294

[@Shan_Poo_]

@@kani8294 I was wondering why I don't have Apple VT HEVC hardware encoder even though I have an m3 Pro Macbook Pro. But I deleted OBS and reinstalled the silicone version and it worked. I think I had the Intel version downloaded.

[@HEY_Angry]

Hey it worked great, thanks for the simple explanation straight to the point. Remember kids to go to 30 FPS for this to work. The VT H264 encoder works too, I have a 2021 Mac 5k. The base resolution and output were way off too. 1920x1080 rescale ABR 18k bitrate

[@ahnert37]

Bro!! Thank you!!! You help me a lot. I use H264, ABR and 18k bitrate and my recordings are amazing. Thanks bro god bless u

[@faaaaaithh]

tysmm this helped a ton!

[@jordanrazowskymusician8178]

Thanks for the video!

[@surajanshrestha5502]

No BS. Straight to the point. Thanks man.

[@officialDSaro]

Hey Bro thank you this is the only video that worked for me few tweaks to bring down my cpu but im good to go thank you from the UK wherebthe sun never shines 😅

[@itek_studios]

Great video....but dont u think obs screen capturing looks a little blurry, even after all these settings.

[@rustamergashev7278]

Finally, working solution! Thank you bro 🤝

[@ROLTAN_Gameing]

Thank you for this tutorial, these settings are perfect !

[@markhusson4389]

life saver. Thank you!!!

[@DaPakaloloCast]

Aloha at 2:20 I don't have that option on my mac output: Recording settings: Video Encoder: The only option i have are software (x264) or Software(x264, Low CPU usage preset, large file size)... which one should I use? I have a mac book pro m2 btw... Mahalo for the help! EDIT: I had to change my settings output mode at the top, from simple to advanced 😅🙏 My bad! Hope this helps someone else! 🔥

[@2007dodi]

I have MACos version 12.7.6 will OBS be able to record? As most of the options you have, I don't for Audio and Video encoder. When I add the add Capture Display - the display source isn't available and the screen doesn't show. is it because my mac version, if so - how can we fix it

[@Dip00]

Great video man, thanks! You helped me a lot. All the best to you 😁😁😁

[@benchiki6352]

Amazing video mang. Thank you so much 👽

[@Silaguk]

Thank you for the video. The video quality is good enough but it's super laggy.

[@pascalpiscolla]

Thanks for the enlightening video man !! Do you have one where you explain how to resolve the "OBS wont record any sound from my macbook air and that's why i'm about to give up everything because i've tried everything and it still doesn't work" issue ? that would be great.......

[@p4phenomenal]

from my understanding if your macos is Ventura onwards and ur on the OBS is version 30 (the latest, i think), there's an option for Macos audio capture under sources...that will capture ur audio. otherwise you have to use a software like Blackhole, Casters...there's others.....to capture ur mac audio. Aparently, older macs don't have the ability to capture the systems audio or something along those lines. He has a video o it u can check.

[@JugoGamingShorts]

nice video man helped a lot have any tips for ps5 recording?

[@AcysLounge]

Moin man (that's a german way to say hi!) ! Thanks very much for this video, and specially for explaining all those settings. I always struggled a bit about the settings, cause I just did not know what they are doing. So your video is very helpful for me, well done mate! :-)

[@oOFROSTYOo]

I did everything in this video , in the past this has helped . I updated my Mac mini (m2 pro) and obs software today and my recordings are laggy and the color is now dull. ive spent hours trying to find help and solutions but nothing is working. I triple checked everything you did in this video , please help!

[@FourWheelsAuto]

Bro thank you so much. Spent days trying to figure this out. I subscribe and like the video.

Thanks bro You helped me a lot, subscribe and like

[@artemsky788]

how to record all spaces (standby desktops) when you switch between on mac? OBS records only screen where it was run

[@yinyeungmatthew]

OMG THIS IS SUPER HELPFUL !! THANK YOUUUUUU U MAKE MY DAY (thank you so muchhhhhhhhh

[@AlexNunziato]

This was so helpful! Thank you for remaking this video because I was literally just watching your last video on this topic from like a year ago and was so confused. My recordings look so much better now, before there was just something off about them I have a quick question though: do you still need blackhole to record in-game audio because I have mine all set up, but in recent updates I have noticed some settings that have been changed that make me wonder if I need it at all.

[@LASCurry]

Glad it helped! So I don't use black hole. Mac now has macOs audio capture built right in

[@CapnFlags]

Should I be using a separate video encoder for streaming? I’m on a m3 MacBook Pro

[@mikepruett1745]

FOR some wierd reason im recording and the file is larger than a month ago what can i check ?

[@-S-G-]

Hey! Thanks for the video, but i have a question. There is a new OBS update and some things looking different on the new update. E.g. when i change it from CBR to CRF, then it is not showing me the quality thing what you setted to 80. I can just set the CRF to maximum 51. So do you know whats best for the new update? Thanks!

[@LASCurry]

This video shows version 30.0.2 of obs on Mac; however, if you can only get to 51, consider starting with 16 or 21 to test.

[@-S-G-]

THANKS MAN!@@LASCurry

[@LASCurry]

@@-S-G- Happy to help!

[@bazcurtis178]

I am running a M1 MacBook Air 2020 with 16GB of ram. I found that if I had the FPS at 60 I would get an Encoding Overload error. I had to drop it down to 30 FPS. Also, the recording is slightly darker than I would ideally like. Any thoughts? I am using an Elgato 4K X capture box. Capturing from an XBox Series X

[@stinky-ae]

Hi! Everything is good yet I can't change the rate control its just stuck on ABR and i can't change ABR to CBR or CRF. Anyone know how to fix?

[@LASCurry]

Make sure your on the latest version of OBS

[@stinky-ae]

@@LASCurry Hi and I tried to update it and I just reinstalled it with the new updated download its still not working

[@V8SAMURAi420]

Hello can someone help me? why can't I see Aom av1 or apple vt HEVC? although I have the obs 30.02 version

[@Shan_Poo_]

I was wondering why I don't have Apple VT HEVC hardware encoder even though I have an m3 Pro Macbook Pro. But I deleted OBS and reinstalled the silicone version and it worked. I think I had the Intel version downloaded.

[@a.a396]

I’m using my Elgato 4K X for ps5 and connected to Mac and after following all ur steps my end result is very laggy what can I do about that?

[@LegendSummingMusic]

How does one adjust the settings on a camera if the properties tab only lets us set the resolution not the fps or color correction unless it’s located on filters not on properties

[@bankableprofits]

What is your suggestion if the only Video Encoders I have are VT H264, VT ProRes (sofware / hardware), HEVC, X264, AOM V1?

[@keileeza]

What Mac would you say is the minimum requirement to be able to stream / record on OBS? Would it be an M1 chip with 16GB Ram?

[@LASCurry]

You got it!

[@keileeza]

@@LASCurry thanks for the info, I been struggling to get it working on my current 2019 MacBook Pro with the i7 so looking to stay with Apple cause I would rather not get a PC haha!

[@Darkmass28]

@@LASCurry i only have abr what do i do

[@bhushan9066]

Mac Air M2 8/256 15.3 inch 2880x1864. For recording minecraft in full screen mode, What should I set base canvas reolution? I have tried to set base canvas res. to screen resolution and it lagged the game, then switched it to 1920x1080 and there are black bars in video output. Thick bars on bottom and top, while thin bars on left and right sides of the file in mp4 h.264 codec by apple hardware.

[@FlairCraf1]

iv followed all the steps yet my recordings r still extremely laggy like they r missing chunks out of the video

[@AydenAndGo]

same

[@sidharthdawa6681]

Thx for sharing. This clears up things. I have a question: if I have a FHD monitor connected to my macbook air m1 laptop (with higher res screen). Is it okay to set resolution to 2k? Would that show okay on my FHD connected monitor or do I nee to use my laptop screen for that.

[@jonathanagid8074]

my encoder only has two options. hardware or software 264..

[@N3rdPod]

This was super helpful to help us get set up! Thanks man!!!!

[@JoshuaSkaja]

Y'all! If your output settings page looks different than his (starting at 0:56), make sure that first drop-down is set to ADVANCED instead of SIMPLE.

[@josephdi-lenardo6637]

is there a way to save each setting so i can save time by having a recording video setting and a streaming video setting ? so I don't have to change them all over again each time I record or stream ?? really cool video mate i subscribed thanks

[@josephdi-lenardo6637]

in my recording settings it only lets me choose ABR too whats the best ABR setting you think ? its still a bit laggy I'm using a Logitech C920 webcam I'm using Mac Montery 12.7.4 Graphics : Intel HD Graphics 6000 1536 MB Processor : 1.6 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 If that helps please let me know mate thanks

[@pearlosibu]

@@josephdi-lenardo6637 isn’t that where creating sources comes in?

[@Time_and_time_again]

Thank you! One question… for the resolution settings you talked about your monitor but I thought those setting related to the quality output (ie if I want 4k video I thought I had to set that resolution to higher than 1920?

[@chaosbills7095]

Do you have a video about the m2 MacBook? My video is still a bit laggy on stream😕

[@mindbodypeakperformance]

I don't have that video encoder (or encoder settings) as options. Only just "HEVC". I'd assume it's the same, but the only Rate Control option is ABR. Perhaps because I'm on a mac with the M1 chip?

[@KennisonKrew]

I also only have the ABR option and am on a Mac from 2018, with intel core i5 processor the Mchips came out the next year I think lol... but so far the ABR setting has been okay for me.

[@Shan_Poo_]

I was wondering why I don't have Apple VT HEVC hardware encoder even though I have an m3 Pro Macbook Pro. But I deleted OBS and reinstalled the silicone version and it worked. I think I had the Intel version downloaded.

[@V.A.T.O]

My Base (canvas) resolution does not show what my current resolution is for my mac.

[@chiefak1]

My Mac says ABR what does that mean and how to change. It’s the only option

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

Perfect video. 👏

[@AynKiu]

Please help me whenever I am recording by selecting window capture it records the selected window in slightly tilted form

[@KenDeavers-c9x]

I do not have CRF I only have ABR?

[@p1nkswee]

soo what do i do if i cant find the "apple VT HEVC hardware encoder".. help

[@Shan_Poo_]

I was wondering why I don't have Apple VT HEVC hardware encoder even though I have an m3 Pro Macbook Pro. But I deleted OBS and reinstalled the silicone version and it worked. I think I had the Intel version downloaded.

[@JG26626]

Hi for me it won’t let me choose a video encoder. Will this be an issue later? I’m on the hd60x on a Mac Pro on ps5

[@Masupialmi85]

thank you!

[@CrazyBoy-fj5lf]

Hi I have MacBook Air 2020 and when I try to use my Canon T6I camera and when I do reaction on you tube when I open the video it’s lagging can you please help me I will really Appreciate 🙏🏼

[@adamd3llo138]

thank you bro!

[@BenjaminBackwoods-mq2sg]

Please tell me how to properly split audio tracks in OBS. I'm a producer who wants to make beat tutorial videos, iv'e set up OBS properly from this video, but I cannot for the life of me get the split audio track functions to work. Is it the video editors I'm using? (iMovie, or Movavi Video Editor) ? I want to be able to edit FL studio's audio and my microphone audio separately in post production. This is so frustrating bro.

[@daquanwright4652]

I’m using an elgato capture card on my MacBook Pro but I can’t seem to get game sound going at all… what should I do?

[@itsludacris7770]

Buy el gato chat pro cable and a splitter if you have a separate mic and headset. Make sure it’s 3.5

[@KennisonKrew]

did you get this problem fixed? I have an older Mac and have to use Caster audio plug in to get my mic and game audio recorded.

[@spinelsgem]

for some reason i can only have cdf and when i used all the other settings it told me that the encoding was too strong and to dial down some settings :(

[@oppaheng4]

Can you elaborate more on speedtest part? I have 90.64 mbps for downloading, and 66.40 mbps for uploading, what number should i put in bitrate?

[@itsludacris7770]

Half of your upload speed is best up to 30k for you.

[@Blueres]

when i try and record, i cant hear in game audio, or my mic (mic i think i know the reason) but manly the game audio isnt picking up

[@vicstalr]

Godsend. Thanks bro

[@PlaNetRiLLic]

Thank you

[@therealdankelly8070]

Hello, I'm having a really difficult time setting up 2 mics, One will always have bouncing audio like they are connected when they're separate. I have a Scarlett 18I8 Audio, and im attempting to get more than 1 microphone to wokr but anytime i plug in more, there's always that bounce. I have no clue how to fix it.

[@KennisonKrew]

you might need a plug in like Black hole or Caster... im on an older Mac that doesn't have the audio capture built into it so in order to get any other audio inputs (more then one) I have to have a plug in.... im not a professional but I use both of them so If you have questions I might be able to help or direct you to someone who can.

[@Believer610]

Love the video and your explanation. Not a fan of the music. I feel like it ruined the video. But good job on everything else!

[@Zuesdom]

Im having an issue with OBS. All of my files that im recording from three cameras that are hooked up ot an ATEM Mini are duplicated frames and my audio tracks mics sound like they're overlapping. Does. anyone know why in getting duplicate frames on my recorded videos with OBS?

[@napkinbob4689]

Thank you.

[@supertonyxd]

thank you so much!!

[@FIyingCat]

Thankssss

[@2trillgaming101]

why is it when I record it gives me a copy. so that I have 2 recordings instead of 1?

[@SkylerXraft]

does this work on an iMac?

[@joellyons9341]

I only have abr for my encoder

[@-oat-3679]

Why isn’t my game audio coming through idk what’s wrong I’m also on Mac can anyone help out?

[@wasabi_969]

i can’t seem to get CRF. my only option is ABR

[@KennisonKrew]

I also only have the ABR option and am on a Mac from 2018, with intel core i5 processor the Mchips came out the next year I think lol... but so far the ABR setting has been okay for me. I think that it is only the Mchiped Macs have the other options.

[@litledevel15]

I don’t have CBR option … it’s only ABR. Anyone?

[@leesamarie1872]

I only have ABR for encoder settings.

[@ok-xc3ps]

SAMEE

[@KennisonKrew]

I also only have the ABR option and am on a Mac from 2018, with intel core i5 processor the Mchips came out the next year I think lol... but so far the ABR setting has been okay for me. I think that it is only the Mchiped Macs have the other options.

[@Zwrld00]

W Vid

[@EJRoblox1]

hi

[@joellyons2333]

mine is abr fml

[@adhvaitchauhan8449]

Just when i figured out recording, the audio stopped. How to record audio from the gameplay? Right now it just records video, not audio. HELP!

[@benchiki6352]

Amazing video mang. Thank you so much 👽