Question / Help Fraps vs. OBS Recording - Color quality loss or added brightness with OBS?

TrazLander

TrazLander

New Member
Hello, I've been trying to see if OBS is decent enough to replace Fraps as a video recording platform, and so far it seems like getting there! But I'm getting an issue with either some color loss, or the gamma being up a bit high on the recordings. This is the difference between fraps and OBS: http://imgur.com/a/Iwqqd

The first image the colors are a bit more solid, while the second ends up a bit brighter. When you select for a game capture I know you can turn the gamma down, but that option doesn't seem to be available for Monitor capture and I wonder why that is? I would like to do a lot of things with monitor capture.

Also, wonder there's any bonus advice anyone has for using OBS as a recording platform. Is it a good idea to try? Or no.

Thanks!
 
R

R1CH

Forum Admin
Developer
This is a problem with your video player, not OBS. Make sure your video player or video driver outputs PC levels, not TV levels.
 
R

R1CH

Forum Admin
Developer
The screenshot definitely shows an output level problem, I don't think a subsampling issue would be that noticeable.
 
TrazLander

TrazLander

New Member
R1CH said:
This is a problem with your video player, not OBS. Make sure your video player or video driver outputs PC levels, not TV levels.
Click to expand...

But wouldn't fraps then suffer the same issue? and I'm not sure how to change something like that?
 
TrazLander

TrazLander

New Member
Boildown said:
FRAPS can capture lossless, OBS cannot. There also may be some chroma subsampling or color range issues. This thread discusses some of that: https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/awful-sharpness-and-dull-colors.13502 .

I record with OBS all the time. I've started to record everything I do in case of hackuzations, bugs, harassment, etc. Most I eventually delete, but the 0.1% I use is nice to have.
Click to expand...

Ya that thread looks exactly like what the issue is. It mostly seems like a loss of quality more than just a gamma issue, to me anyway. Too bad there really isn't anyway to fix that talked about there. Think it might be better when the new OBS for windows is out? I wonder..
 
R

R1CH

Forum Admin
Developer
FRAPS records to AVI which uses a different codec than your MP4 / FLV file from OBS. The problem is your output levels, you need to set them to PC in whatever you're using to view the video.
 
TrazLander

TrazLander

New Member
Whelp followup. Firstly, setting this dumb NVIDIA default driver setting from Limited to Full helps slightly: http://i.imgur.com/BVcEhYQ.png

Toggling "Use hardware YUV->RGB conversions" in VLC actually affects ONLY Frap's avi video format, and doesn't change anything with OBS's mp4 format. Which is interesting. Feel like that's kinda happening backwards or something, still don't understand it all too well. But unchecking it does make the two formats mostly equal in coloring (though ligher in the avi format).

And the 3rd thing you can potentially change is this "Digital color format" back in NVIDIA settings (or probably other video cards settings) http://i.imgur.com/7inslGB.png from RGB to YCbCr444, which is optional. It makes colors more contrasty if you like it like that. Personally I love it and will be sticking with YCbCr444, but it's totally personal preference.

Thanks! That was a fun 6 hours of smashing my head against Google search!
 
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