Question / Help Clarification on preset from Local Recording Guide

[Boom123]

Hello,
I require some clarification regarding the Local Recording Guide by R1CH.

In the local recordings guide by R1CH, he states to use Advanced x264 settings preset: Ultrafast (https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/obs-classic-how-to-make-high-quality-local-recordings.16/)

In the thread R1CH opened about the Local Recording Guide, he states: 'I wouldn't recommend going to ultrafast' (https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/obs-classic-how-to-make-high-quality-local-recordings.12600/)

Can someone please explain which is the correct one, as this is a contradiction and I am not sure which is the best to use. My problem is my footage slightly stutters compared to the actual game. The game runs fine.

Here's a log using x264 on veryfast:
https://gist.github.com/f1cf932bd29c14bf0ea40018e1156a0b

 

[Jack0r]

Ultrafast is useful if you want the least impact on your cpu usage while recording. Using crf it will work just fine but it will result in a bigger file (higher bitrate) to reach the same quality as for example superfast. Superfast will increase the cpu usage slightly so in the end its as R1CH said: "Best is to just experiment and find out what works for you."

 

[Boom123]

Hello Jack0r, thank you for your prompt reply. My problem isn't the impact on my CPU (I am only hitting 60% usage on veryfast while gaming and recording at the same time). My problem is that the video/footage is slightly more stuttery than the game.

Doesn't ultrafast turn off some h264 options though (note quote below from this thread: https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/cpu-preset-and-crf-settings.53144/) , so even with higher bitrate, you still won't get the same quality? Apart from also skipping CPU cycles?

For local recording, as I said before, assuming you aren't concerned about hard drive space (and you probably aren't), then the only two presets you should be considering are Super Fast or Ultra Fast. UltraFast turns off a few h.264 features that can almost but not quite be made up for by more bitrate, so if you are obsessive about quality, use SuperFast preset. If you're CPU constrained, use UltraFast preset. Once you've done that, increase or decrease quality by changing CRF values.

That's all there is to it.

 

[Boildown]

My problem is that the video/footage is slightly more stuttery than the game.

So in my experience, when this happens its due to lost frames of some type.

17:48:00.726: Output 'simple_file_output': Total frames output: 95588
17:48:00.726: Output 'simple_file_output': Total drawn frames: 95458 (95623 attempted)
17:48:00.726: Output 'simple_file_output': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 165 (0.2%)

In your case it must be lagged frames due to rendering lag, because nothing else is listed. This means its a GPU overload, not a CPU overload, as CPU overload is "encoding lag", not rendering lag. So changing your preset to use less CPU probably won't fix it. That said, 0.2% is hardly anything, 1 frame in 500. You notice that?

Try using Game Capture instead of Windows capture. What are you capturing, anyways? Also make sure your GeForce drivers are up to date. I don't normally expect to see this "problem" on a GTX 980 Ti (if 0.2% is a problem).

 

[Boom123]

Hello Boildown,
thank you for your reply. My GPU is only hitting 33% load while I'm playing and recording, so the GPU is not getting overloaded in anyway :/ I know 0.2% looks like a low number, but believe me it is very noticeable in the videos.

I'm trying to capture the Touhou games, they're a series of 2D shmups (they're not graphically intensive at all). Game Capture does not work for the first 5 games since they need to be run through an emulator (all I get is a black screen with Game Capture, that's why I'm using Window Capture), but yes for the later games which are actual Windows games (not played through an emulator), Game Capture works perfectly, smooth as silk, without any stuttering in the videos. So this makes me think it's something with Window Capture that is causing my issue.

I will try updating my GeForce drivers again, but I highly doubt that will solve the issue as I have had up to date drivers before and still encountered the same problem. (besides, Game Capture works fine with the current drivers I have...)

Edit: Updated my GeForce drivers, didn't make a difference.

 

[Boildown]

17:21:24.407: Windows Version: 6.1 Build 7601 (revision: 18015; 64-bit)
17:21:24.407: Running as administrator: false
17:21:24.407: Aero is Enabled

So this is Windows 7 SP1, which I believe means only Game Capture actually works decently in OBS Studio. Try setting the framerate to 30 instead of 60 (for your game it shouldn't matter and it'll reduce the load), and if that doesn't work, try using OBS Classic. All else fails, update to Windows 10. Also run as Admin just in case its that.

 

[Suslik V]

Make sure that your game has constant fps at render.

 

[Boom123]

Thank you both for your replies.
@Boildown Yes this is Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit with SP1. Game Capture on the later games (which do not require an emulator) works perfectly. Very nice smooth image. Frame rate 60 to 30 made it worse, the games (being shmups) run on fixed 60 fps. I'll try out Classic. Windows 10 isn't a good option, there are some incompatibilities with Windows 10 and some of these earlier games. I'll also try running as Admin, but I highly doubt that's the case since Game Capture works perfectly for the other games.

@Suslik V Sorry I didn't understand 'game has constant fps at render'. Is this something I have to do in OBS or the game? How would I do that?

Thank you both once again for your support.

 

[Suslik V]

v-sync or limit fps in game (if possible).

 

[Boom123]

Thank you, still didn't make a difference :/ I guess it's something with Window Capture since Game Capture works perfectly on the other games. I'll give OBS Classic a shot. Thanks again for your time and support.