Record Your Screen the Easy Way. Using OBS!

Whether you’re a content creator, gamer, or part of a church community looking to enhance your live streaming capabilities, OBS Studio offers a versatile range of features to meet your needs.

OBS Studio the powerful, free, and open-source program that is the go-to for live streaming.

In this article, we’ll explore how to use OBS for full-screen recording and capturing a specific window.

Getting Started with OBS Studio

Before diving into the recording and streaming modes, ensure you have OBS Studio installed on your computer. You can download it from the official website (obsproject.com).

Once installed, launch the application and familiarize yourself with the interface.

Recording Your Full Screen

1. Create a Scene: Launch the application and ensure your scene is set up. If you’re new to OBS, create a new scene by clicking the “+” button under the “Scenes” panel. You can name this scene anything you’d like.
2. Add a Display Capture Source: Click the “+” button under the “Sources” panel and select “Display Capture.” Name your source (e.g., “Full Screen”) and click “OK.”
3. Configure Display Capture: In the properties window, select the display you want to record from the “Display” dropdown menu. Choose “Entire screen” to capture the full screen. Click “OK” to confirm.
4. Crop the display (optional): You can crop the display if you’d like in the crop drop down.
5. Set Recording Destination:
   • Go to “Settings” in the main menu.
   • Navigate to the “Output” on the left hand side.
   • Under the “Recording” section, choose your preferred destination. You can select a custom path by clicking “Browse” and choosing a folder on your computer.
   • Click “OK” to save the settings.
6. Start Recording: Click the “Start Recording” button in the main control panel. OBS will begin capturing your entire screen, including all windows and desktop icons, and save the file to your specified destination. Just click “Stop Recording” when done.

Recording a Specific Window

1. Open the Target Window: Ensure the window you want to record is open and visible on your screen.
2. Add a Window Capture Source: In OBS, click the “+” button under the “Sources” panel and select “Window Capture.” Name your source (e.g., “PowerPoint”) and click “OK.”
3. Configure Window Capture: In the properties window, select the window you want to capture from the “Window” dropdown menu. You can choose specific applications like “Google Chrome,” “Notepad,” “PowerPoint,” or any other open window. Click “OK” to confirm.
4. Set Recording Destination: Follow the same steps as mentioned in the full-screen recording section to set your recording destination.
5. Start Recording: Click the “Start Recording” button. OBS will now capture only the selected window, ignoring other desktop elements, and save the file to your specified destination. Click “Stop Recording” when you are finished.

Tips for Optimal Recording and Streaming

• Adjust Audio Settings: Ensure your audio settings are configured correctly to capture system audio, microphone input, or both, depending on your needs.
• Use Hotkeys: Set up hotkeys for starting/stopping recordings and switching scenes with the push of a button.
• Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on your CPU and GPU usage to avoid performance drops during recording, especially when capturing high-resolution content.
• Experiment with Settings: OBS offers a range of advanced settings for video and audio encoding. Experiment with these to find the best balance between quality and performance for your system.

Wrapping Up

OBS Studio provides a robust and flexible platform for recording your screen, capturing specific windows, and streaming live content.

By mastering these techniques, you can create professional-looking videos and live streams tailored to whatever you may need.

For more detailed guides and tutorials, be sure to check out my YouTube channel, where I provide step-by-step instructions and tips to help you get the most out of OBS Studio.

Happy recording and streaming!

Watch the Tutorial on YouTube

For a visual guide on setting up OBS Studio for full-screen recording, window capture, and setting your recording destination, watch my tutorial video below:

This video will provide your audience with step-by-step instructions, making it easier for them to follow along and implement the techniques discussed in the article.