RECORDING AND STREAMING HDR
With OBS version 28 and later, you can record in HDR, and stream HDR to compatible services. Currently you can capture HDR with HEVC and AV1 for local recordings, and stream in HDR to YouTube with HEVC only.
CAPTURING HDR
HDR - or High Dynamic Range - allows you to increase the range of light of your content. You can record and/or stream with HDR.
Note that:
- HDR content can look washed off in non-HDR displays, so you don’t want to turn this on if your display does not support HDR, or if the platform you are streaming to does not support HDR.
- HDR requires HEVC; it’s not compatible with H.264.
In order to enable HDR, we’ll need to make sure that:
- You have an HDR monitor.
- Your Windows and Game settings have HDR turned on.
- We configure your full pipeline in OBS to enable HDR.
Windows and Game Settings
Start by making sure that you have HDR turned on for your Display in Windows. Right Click on your desktop > Display Settings, and turn on Use HDR.
Next, open the game you want to record or stream, go to the settings and make sure HDR is turned on. In Windows 11 there’s a feature called Auto HDR that enables a virtual HDR mode for any game. This is also a valid option.
OBS Settings
In OBS, start by going to the Advanced tab and changing the Color Format to P010 and the Color Space to Rec. 2100 (PQ).
Next, we need to adjust the Game Capture source. Double click it (or right click it and go to Properties), scroll down find the RGB10A2 Color Space. Make sure this is set to Rec. 2100 (PQ).
Your content should now be ready to be captured and/or streamed in HDR! But remember, in order to record and/or stream in HDR you need to change your encoder from H.264 to HEVC. You can visit the How to Record and/or Stream with HEVC section above to adjust this.
HOW TO STREAM HDR WITH HEVC TO YOUTUBE
If you want to stream with HDR to YouTube (only supported service currently), make sure you are using the HEVC encoder, and adjust your Profile to main10.
Finally, navigate to your YouTube Live settings on YouTube.com, and make sure that your Latency setting is set to Low or Normal (do not use Ultra Low as it is not compatible).