As you all know gaming is one of the popular forms of entertainment in modern culture, it is the second most entertainment activity after Watching TV
Gaming is a popular form of entertainment and a part of modern culture in most parts of the world. It’s the second most popular home entertainment activity after watching TV. When you are into content creation recording gameplay is one of the crucial parts as it allows you to showcase your skills and achievements, engage, preserve memorable moments, etc
Without further ado, let’s jump into how to capture gameplay without any lags or frame drops, keep reading
How To Record Gameplay on PC/ Mac?
We would suggest OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) for recording gameplay and streaming online as it is free and open source, lightweight, customizable, and compatible across various platforms.
How to Record Gameplay with OBS?
Recording gameplay on OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a straightforward process, but setting it up correctly ensures you capture high-quality footage. Follow these steps:
Initial Setup
Launch OBS Studio and in the Auto-configuration Wizard choose “Optimize for Recording, I Will Not Be Streaming” and follow the prompts.
Now Setup Output Settings, Go to Settings > Output.
Set Up Output
In the Output, opt for the following
- Output Mode: Advanced.
- Recording Path: Choose the location to save the video.
- Recording Format: Use “mp4” or “mkv” for compatibility.
- Encoder: Select your GPU encoder (e.g., NVENC for NVIDIA or AMD AMF) for better performance.
- Bitrate: Set it between 10,000-20,000 Kbps for high-quality gameplay recordings.
Set Up Video Settings
In Settings > Video:
- Base (Canvas) Resolution: Match your screen resolution (e.g., 1920×1080).
- Output (Scaled) Resolution: Match or lower for performance (e.g., 1280×720 for smoother recording on lower-end PCs).
- Common FPS Values: Choose 60 FPS for smooth gameplay, or 30 FPS for slower PCs.
Add Your Game Source
In the Sources box, click the + button.
Select Game Capture:
Mode: Choose “Capture Specific Window.”
Select your game from the dropdown menu.
To cover full-screen gameplay, you can alternatively choose Display Capture to record your entire screen.
Adjust Audio Settings
- In the Audio Mixer section, ensure the following:
Desktop Audio: Captures in-game sound.
Mic/Aux: Captures your voice (optional). - Use the gear icon in the mixer to adjust volume levels or apply filters for better sound quality.
Start Recording
- Launch your game.
- Switch to OBS and click Start Recording in the Control panel (bottom-right).
- Play your game as usual.
Stop and Save Your Recording
- After you finish gameplay, return to OBS and click Stop Recording.
- The recording will be saved to the path specified in Settings > Output > Recording Path.
By following these steps, you can easily record gameplay with OBS and create professional-quality videos to share or review.
How to Live stream using OBS?
Make sure you have a stable internet connection to support a sable live stream
Here’s how you can live stream on Mac or Windows using OBS:
- Login into your Streaming Platform i.e., YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and copy the streaming key.
- Open OBS and click on Settings
- Go to the Stream tab choose the service, Server, and paste the stream key.
- Now optimize your Output settings like bitrate and preset based on your internet speed and device specs.
- Now add your source i.e., game capture, video capture, or display capture.
- Now click on StartStraming to start the stream and verify the stream on the chosen platform.
- Click on Stop Streaming to stop the stream.
Tips to avoid issues During Gameplay Record and Live Streaming:
Network Optimization: Use a stable internet connection to minimize latency and frame drops, and ensure an upload speed of at least 5 Mbps for 1080p60 streaming.
Optimize Your System: Close the unwanted background programs, enable game mode, and update the OS for stable performance.
Adjust OBS Settings: Make sure you set the OBS settings, such as hardware encoding, output setting, and video format of your choice.
Conclusion
Whether you’re capturing a memorable gaming moment, creating content for your audience, or preserving highlights from a live stream, having the right tools and knowledge makes all the difference.
We hope this article helped you understand how to record a game on a PC/Mac and live stream using OBS. You can also use OBS plugins and quality hardware for advanced effects and improved audio and Output.