Question / Help How to minimize "Recording" file size?

[kayanco]

Hi,

What settings should I select for "Recording" (not Steaming) to keep the file size at minimum? I don't care about video quality, just that the video size be as small as possible. If you can be detailed (exact setting names or screenshot) that would be very helpful.

One recommendation I've come across is to use HandBrake software with the OBS video to reduce the size. Do you have the instructions or settings to do that?
I've never used either software before.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[carlmmii]

The question that has to be asked is... why don't you care about video quality?

 

[kayanco]

Well, because I am using the webcam to make some test recordings of myself. Low quality video is okay for my use (don't need it to be HD), but I want to keep the file size as small as possible.

Please help me understand the OBS knobs/options related to file size.

 

[carlmmii]

Just use CBR (constant bitrate) and drop bitrate down to something low like 200kbps.

File size is determined by what method is used. If using CBR, it's 100% dependent on the bitrate that you set. If you're using a quality setting like CRF/CQP, then that will allot however much data is required to get the quality desired (the lower the number here, the higher the quality).

 

[BK-Morpheus]

If you want to be able to recognize, what's in the recording, I would use an efficient encoder setting (x264 faster/fast/medium), low fps (30 or less) and 480p resolution.
For bitrate I would definitely choose a variable setting like CQP / CRF with a high value like 28.

A different attempt to this would be high bitrate+resolution recordings which can be encoded later in batch jobs with handbrake, to reduce file size later.

 

[kayanco]

Just use CBR (constant bitrate) and drop bitrate down to something low like 200kbps.

File size is determined by what method is used. If using CBR, it's 100% dependent on the bitrate that you set. If you're using a quality setting like CRF/CQP, then that will allot however much data is required to get the quality desired (the lower the number here, the higher the quality).

If you want to be able to recognize, what's in the recording, I would use an efficient encoder setting (x264 faster/fast/medium), low fps (30 or less) and 480p resolution.
For bitrate I would definitely choose a variable setting like CQP / CRF with a high value like 28.

A different attempt to this would be high bitrate+resolution recordings which can be encoded later in batch jobs with handbrake, to reduce file size later.

Hi,

Thanks for offering to help.

I tired CBR 1000 with Hardware encoder and I am okay with the resulting quality. For 30s of test webcam capture, the size is around 3.8 MB. See settings:
https://i.imgur.com/LRpCszy.jpg

With CFR and x264 and CPU preset veryfast, I am getting 2 MB for 30s video.

Few questions:
1. Which of my two options would be considered better quality? Or are they equal?
2. Am I correct is assuming that x264 means software encoder and "QuickSyn H.264" = "Hardware (QSV)?
3. What does QSV in "Hardware (QSV)" mean?
4. For my described use, should I prefer hardware or software encoder?

Also,
5. Where can I set the resolution? I tried the options in the "Video" section, but they don't impact file size:
https://i.imgur.com/DG4sW7g.jpg

6. I noticed that CPU preset doesn't impact file size with CBR. The size remains same whereas the CPU% usage varies a lot.

 

[Narcogen]

CPU preset affects quality, not size. Bitrate determines size.

 

[BK-Morpheus]

If neither CPU preset, nor resolution impact your file size, you might have selected CBR which stands for constant bitrate so the filesize stays the same and the quality varies. With quality based, variable bitrate settings, the quality stays the same, but the file size varies.

@Narcogen: If he selects CRF (x264), the CPU preset will not affect quality, but file size.

 

[kayanco]

If neither CPU preset, nor resolution impact your file size, you might have selected CBR which stands for constant bitrate so the filesize stays the same and the quality varies. With quality based, variable bitrate settings, the quality stays the same, but the file size varies.

@Narcogen: If he selects CRF (x264), the CPU preset will not affect quality, but file size.

Thanks. So out of these two which is better quality (or are they same):

CBR 1000 with Hardware encoder (on my system 30s takes around 3.8 MB)
CFR and x264 and CPU preset veryfast (30s takes 2 MB)

 

[kayanco]

Looks like VirtualDUB can also record webcam in AVI. But the filesize is too big.

Is OBS better option than VirtualDUB for webcam capture?

 

[Narcogen]

CBR is never going to help you get the minimum file size, because it always uses the same amount of diskspace for a given number of frames, no matter how little is going on in those frames. You can use quality settings with either the CPU or the GPU encoders.

 

[kayanco]

If you want to be able to recognize, what's in the recording, I would use an efficient encoder setting (x264 faster/fast/medium), low fps (30 or less) and 480p resolution.
For bitrate I would definitely choose a variable setting like CQP / CRF with a high value like 28.

A different attempt to this would be high bitrate+resolution recordings which can be encoded later in batch jobs with handbrake, to reduce file size later.

Obs Studio is fine and worth the learning curve.

I keep getting this message from Windows 10 notification:

Can someone please help fix this.

I'm already using settings which should be low CPU usage:
CRF 30 and Ultrafast

 

[Narcogen]

Please post a logfile.

Please post a log with your issue! Here's how...

 

[kayanco]

Please post a logfile.

Please post a log with your issue! Here's how...

Log 1
------------------
OBS 23.1.0 (64-bit, windows) log file uploaded at 2019-04-12, 17:35:10

17:13:41.908: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7600U CPU @ 2.80GHz
17:13:41.908: CPU Speed: 2904MHz
17:13:41.908: Physical Cores: 2, Logical Cores: 4
17:13:41.908: Physical Memory: 16268MB Total, 9537MB Free
17:13:41.908: Windows Version: 10.0 Build 17134 (revision: 590; 64-bit)
17:13:41.908: Running as administrator: false
17:13:41.908: Aero is Enabled (Aero is always on for windows 8 and above)
17:13:41.909: Windows 10 Gaming Features:
17:13:41.909: Game DVR: On
17:13:41.913: Sec. Software Status:
17:13:41.916: McAfee VirusScan Enterprise: enabled (AV)
17:13:41.917: Windows Defender Antivirus: disabled (AV)
17:13:41.924: Windows Firewall: enabled (FW)
17:13:41.924: McAfee VirusScan Enterprise Antispyware Module: enabled (ASW)
17:13:41.924: Windows Defender Antivirus: disabled (ASW)
17:13:41.925: Current Date/Time: 2019-04-12, 17:13:41
17:13:41.925: Browser Hardware Acceleration: true
17:13:41.925: Portable mode: false
17:13:42.425: OBS 23.1.0 (64-bit, windows)
17:13:42.425: ---------------------------------
17:13:42.427: ---------------------------------
17:13:42.427: audio settings reset:
17:13:42.427: samples per sec: 44100
17:13:42.427: speakers: 2
17:13:42.430: ---------------------------------
17:13:42.430: Initializing D3D11...
17:13:42.430: Available Video Adapters:
17:13:42.433: Adapter 1: Intel(R) HD Graphics 620
17:13:42.433: Dedicated VRAM: 134217728
17:13:42.433: Shared VRAM: 4234446848
17:13:42.433: output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}, attached=true
17:13:42.437: Loading up D3D11 on adapter Intel(R) HD Graphics 620 (0)
17:13:42.448: D3D11 loaded successfully, feature level used: 45056
17:13:43.176: ---------------------------------
17:13:43.176: video settings reset:
17:13:43.176: base resolution: 1280x720
17:13:43.176: output resolution: 1280x720
17:13:43.176: downscale filter: Bicubic
17:13:43.176: fps: 30/1
17:13:43.176: format: NV12
17:13:43.176: YUV mode: 601/Partial
17:13:43.177: NV12 texture support enabled
17:13:43.178: Audio monitoring device:
17:13:43.178: name: Default
17:13:43.178: id: default
17:13:43.178: ---------------------------------
17:13:43.202: [CoreAudio encoder]: Adding CoreAudio AAC encoder
17:13:43.203: Failed to load 'en-US' text for module: 'decklink-ouput-ui.dll'
17:13:43.310: [AMF] AMF Test failed due to one or more errors.
17:13:43.310: Failed to initialize module 'enc-amf.dll'
17:13:43.356: Module '../../obs-plugins/64bit/libEGL.dll' not loaded
17:13:43.360: [obs-browser]: Version 2.3.1
17:13:43.360: [obs-browser]: Blacklisted device detected, disabling browser source hardware acceleration.
17:13:43.413: Couldn't find VLC installation, VLC video source disabled
17:13:43.424: No blackmagic support
17:13:43.435: ---------------------------------
17:13:43.435: Loaded Modules:
17:13:43.435: win-wasapi.dll
17:13:43.435: win-mf.dll
17:13:43.435: win-dshow.dll
17:13:43.435: win-decklink.dll
17:13:43.435: win-capture.dll
17:13:43.435: vlc-video.dll
17:13:43.435: text-freetype2.dll
17:13:43.435: rtmp-services.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-x264.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-vst.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-transitions.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-text.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-qsv11.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-outputs.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-filters.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-ffmpeg.dll
17:13:43.435: obs-browser.dll
17:13:43.435: image-source.dll
17:13:43.435: frontend-tools.dll
17:13:43.435: enc-amf.dll
17:13:43.435: decklink-ouput-ui.dll
17:13:43.435: coreaudio-encoder.dll
17:13:43.435: ---------------------------------
17:13:43.435: ==== Startup complete ===============================================
17:13:43.448: Service '' not found
17:13:43.454: All scene data cleared
17:13:43.454: ------------------------------------------------
17:13:44.204: WASAPI: Device 'Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)' initialized
17:13:44.249: WASAPI: Device 'Microphone (High Definition Audio Device)' initialized
17:13:44.250: Switched to scene 'Scene'
17:13:44.250: ------------------------------------------------
17:13:44.250: Loaded scenes:
17:13:44.250: - scene 'Scene':
17:13:44.250: - source: 'Video' (dshow_input)
17:13:44.250: ------------------------------------------------
17:13:44.301: adding 46 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 46 milliseconds (source: Mic/Aux)
17:13:44.301:
17:13:44.429: ---------------------------------
17:13:44.429: [DShow Device: 'Video'] settings updated:
17:13:44.429: video device: Integrated Webcam
17:13:44.429: video path: \\?\usb#vid_0bda&pid_568c&mi_00#6&5e1df6&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global
17:13:44.429: resolution: 1280x720
17:13:44.429: fps: 30.00 (interval: 333333)
17:13:44.429: format: MJPEG
17:13:44.430: DShow: HDevice::ConnectPins: failed to connect pins (0x80040207): The owner SID on a per-user subscription doesn't exist
17:13:44.430:
17:13:46.319: ---------------------------------
17:13:46.319: [x264 encoder: 'recording_h264'] preset: ultrafast
17:13:46.319: [x264 encoder: 'recording_h264'] settings:
17:13:46.319: rate_control: CRF
17:13:46.319: bitrate: 0
17:13:46.319: buffer size: 0
17:13:46.319: crf: 31
17:13:46.319: fps_num: 30
17:13:46.319: fps_den: 1
17:13:46.319: width: 1280
17:13:46.319: height: 720
17:13:46.319: keyint: 250
17:13:46.319:
17:13:46.333: [CoreAudio AAC: 'Track1']: settings:
17:13:46.333: mode: HE-AAC
17:13:46.333: bitrate: 64
17:13:46.333: sample rate: 44100
17:13:46.333: cbr: on
17:13:46.333: output buffer: 1536
17:13:46.372: ==== Recording Start ===============================================
17:13:46.372: [ffmpeg muxer: 'adv_file_output'] Writing file 'C:/Users/…/2019-04-12_17-13.flv'...
17:35:03.896: [ffmpeg muxer: 'adv_file_output'] Output of file 'C:/Users/…/2019-04-12_17-13.flv' stopped
17:35:03.896: Output 'adv_file_output': stopping
17:35:03.896: Output 'adv_file_output': Total frames output: 38302
17:35:03.896: Output 'adv_file_output': Total drawn frames: 38326
17:35:03.897: ==== Recording Stop ================================================
17:35:03.897: Video stopped, number of skipped frames due to encoding lag: 44/38322 (0.1%)
------------------

 

[kayanco]

Please post a logfile.

Please post a log with your issue! Here's how...

Log2
-----------------------
OBS 23.1.0 (64-bit, windows) log file uploaded at 2019-04-12, 17:35:35

13:36:25.608: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7600U CPU @ 2.80GHz
13:36:25.608: CPU Speed: 2904MHz
13:36:25.608: Physical Cores: 2, Logical Cores: 4
13:36:25.609: Physical Memory: 16268MB Total, 9355MB Free
13:36:25.609: Windows Version: 10.0 Build 17134 (revision: 590; 64-bit)
13:36:25.609: Running as administrator: false
13:36:25.609: Aero is Enabled (Aero is always on for windows 8 and above)
13:36:25.610: Windows 10 Gaming Features:
13:36:25.610: Game DVR: On
13:36:25.617: Sec. Software Status:
13:36:25.622: McAfee VirusScan Enterprise: enabled (AV)
13:36:25.623: Windows Defender Antivirus: disabled (AV)
13:36:25.624: Windows Firewall: enabled (FW)
13:36:25.624: McAfee VirusScan Enterprise Antispyware Module: enabled (ASW)
13:36:25.624: Windows Defender Antivirus: disabled (ASW)
13:36:25.625: Current Date/Time: 2019-04-12, 13:36:25
13:36:25.625: Browser Hardware Acceleration: true
13:36:25.625: Portable mode: false
13:36:26.978: OBS 23.1.0 (64-bit, windows)
13:36:26.979: ---------------------------------
13:36:26.988: ---------------------------------
13:36:26.988: audio settings reset:
13:36:26.988: samples per sec: 44100
13:36:26.988: speakers: 2
13:36:26.997: ---------------------------------
13:36:26.997: Initializing D3D11...
13:36:26.997: Available Video Adapters:
13:36:27.013: Adapter 1: Intel(R) HD Graphics 620
13:36:27.013: Dedicated VRAM: 134217728
13:36:27.013: Shared VRAM: 4234446848
13:36:27.013: output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}, attached=true
13:36:27.031: Loading up D3D11 on adapter Intel(R) HD Graphics 620 (0)
13:36:27.126: D3D11 loaded successfully, feature level used: 45056
13:36:30.030: ---------------------------------
13:36:30.030: video settings reset:
13:36:30.030: base resolution: 1280x720
13:36:30.030: output resolution: 1280x720
13:36:30.030: downscale filter: Bicubic
13:36:30.030: fps: 30/1
13:36:30.030: format: NV12
13:36:30.030: YUV mode: 601/Partial
13:36:30.031: NV12 texture support enabled
13:36:30.033: Audio monitoring device:
13:36:30.033: name: Default
13:36:30.033: id: default
13:36:30.034: ---------------------------------
13:36:30.088: [CoreAudio encoder]: Adding CoreAudio AAC encoder
13:36:30.119: Failed to load 'en-US' text for module: 'decklink-ouput-ui.dll'
13:36:30.313: [AMF] AMF Test failed due to one or more errors.
13:36:30.313: Failed to initialize module 'enc-amf.dll'
13:36:30.391: Module '../../obs-plugins/64bit/libEGL.dll' not loaded
13:36:30.396: [obs-browser]: Version 2.3.1
13:36:30.397: [obs-browser]: Blacklisted device detected, disabling browser source hardware acceleration.
13:36:30.460: Couldn't find VLC installation, VLC video source disabled
13:36:30.479: No blackmagic support
13:36:30.491: ---------------------------------
13:36:30.491: Loaded Modules:
13:36:30.491: win-wasapi.dll
13:36:30.491: win-mf.dll
13:36:30.491: win-dshow.dll
13:36:30.491: win-decklink.dll
13:36:30.491: win-capture.dll
13:36:30.491: vlc-video.dll
13:36:30.491: text-freetype2.dll
13:36:30.491: rtmp-services.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-x264.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-vst.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-transitions.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-text.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-qsv11.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-outputs.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-filters.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-ffmpeg.dll
13:36:30.491: obs-browser.dll
13:36:30.491: image-source.dll
13:36:30.491: frontend-tools.dll
13:36:30.491: enc-amf.dll
13:36:30.491: decklink-ouput-ui.dll
13:36:30.491: coreaudio-encoder.dll
13:36:30.492: ---------------------------------
13:36:30.492: ==== Startup complete ===============================================
13:36:30.509: Service '' not found
13:36:30.514: All scene data cleared
13:36:30.514: ------------------------------------------------
13:36:30.754: WASAPI: Device 'Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)' initialized
13:36:30.828: WASAPI: Device 'Microphone (High Definition Audio Device)' initialized
13:36:30.829: Switched to scene 'Scene'
13:36:30.829: ------------------------------------------------
13:36:30.829: Loaded scenes:
13:36:30.829: - scene 'Scene':
13:36:30.829: - source: 'Video' (dshow_input)
13:36:30.829: ------------------------------------------------
13:36:30.877: adding 46 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 46 milliseconds (source: Mic/Aux)
13:36:30.877:
13:36:31.042: ---------------------------------
13:36:31.042: [DShow Device: 'Video'] settings updated:
13:36:31.042: video device: Integrated Webcam
13:36:31.042: video path: \\?\usb#vid_0bda&pid_568c&mi_00#6&5e1df6&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global
13:36:31.042: resolution: 1280x720
13:36:31.042: fps: 30.00 (interval: 333333)
13:36:31.042: format: MJPEG
13:36:31.043: DShow: HDevice::ConnectPins: failed to connect pins (0x80040207): The owner SID on a per-user subscription doesn't exist
13:36:31.043:
13:36:33.119: ---------------------------------
13:36:33.119: [x264 encoder: 'recording_h264'] preset: ultrafast
13:36:33.119: [x264 encoder: 'recording_h264'] settings:
13:36:33.119: rate_control: CRF
13:36:33.119: bitrate: 0
13:36:33.119: buffer size: 0
13:36:33.119: crf: 31
13:36:33.119: fps_num: 30
13:36:33.119: fps_den: 1
13:36:33.119: width: 1280
13:36:33.119: height: 720
13:36:33.119: keyint: 250
13:36:33.119:
13:36:33.127: [CoreAudio AAC: 'Track1']: settings:
13:36:33.127: mode: HE-AAC
13:36:33.127: bitrate: 64
13:36:33.127: sample rate: 44100
13:36:33.127: cbr: on
13:36:33.127: output buffer: 1536
13:36:33.160: ==== Recording Start ===============================================
13:36:33.160: [ffmpeg muxer: 'adv_file_output'] Writing file 'C:/Users/../2019-04-12_13-36.flv'...
13:36:33.543: WhatsNewInfoThread::run: Failed to fetch whatsnew file: Failed to connect to obsproject.com port 443: Bad access
13:36:33.979: [rtmp-services plugin] Remote update of URL "https://obsproject.com/obs2_update/rtmp-services/package.json" failed: Failed to connect to obsproject.com port 443: Bad access
16:43:49.677: [ffmpeg muxer: 'adv_file_output'] Output of file 'C:/Users/../2019-04-12_13-36.flv' stopped
16:43:49.677: Output 'adv_file_output': stopping
16:43:49.677: Output 'adv_file_output': Total frames output: 337071
16:43:49.677: Output 'adv_file_output': Total drawn frames: 337093 (337104 attempted)
16:43:49.677: Output 'adv_file_output': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 11 (0.0%)
16:43:49.678: ==== Recording Stop ================================================
16:43:49.678: Video stopped, number of skipped frames due to encoding lag: 159/337100 (0.0%)
16:46:43.113: ==== Shutting down ==================================================
16:46:43.135: Switched to scene '(null)'
16:46:43.419: WASAPI: Device 'Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)' Terminated
16:46:43.427: WASAPI: Device 'Microphone (High Definition Audio Device)' Terminated
16:46:43.433: All scene data cleared
16:46:43.433: ------------------------------------------------
16:46:43.566: Freeing OBS context data
16:46:43.578: [Scripting] Total detached callbacks: 0
16:46:43.615: == Profiler Results =============================
16:46:43.615: run_program_init: 5917.27 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣OBSApp::AppInit: 88.698 ms
16:46:43.615: ┃ ┗OBSApp::InitLocale: 5.414 ms
16:46:43.615: ┗OBSApp::OBSInit: 5414.73 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣obs_startup: 16.969 ms
16:46:43.615: ┗OBSBasic::OBSInit: 4043.7 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣OBSBasic::InitBasicConfig: 8.904 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣OBSBasic::ResetAudio: 0.802 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣OBSBasic::ResetVideo: 3043.96 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣OBSBasic::InitOBSCallbacks: 0.012 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣OBSBasic::InitHotkeys: 0.082 ms
16:46:43.615: ┣obs_load_all_modules: 457.071 ms
16:46:43.615: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(coreaudio-encoder.dll): 43.464 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(decklink-ouput-ui.dll): 0.564 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(enc-amf.dll): 188.816 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(frontend-tools.dll): 11.07 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(image-source.dll): 0.005 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-browser.dll): 0.42 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-ffmpeg.dll): 0.401 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┃ ┗nvenc_check: 0.376 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-filters.dll): 0.02 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-outputs.dll): 0.013 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-qsv11.dll): 17.366 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-text.dll): 0.507 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-transitions.dll): 0.01 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-vst.dll): 0.003 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-x264.dll): 0.003 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(rtmp-services.dll): 1.853 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(text-freetype2.dll): 0.214 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(vlc-video.dll): 0.094 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-capture.dll): 0.58 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-decklink.dll): 7.515 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-dshow.dll): 4.771 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-mf.dll): 0 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-wasapi.dll): 0.008 ms
16:46:43.616: ┃ ┗reset_win32_symbol_paths: 0.11 ms
16:46:43.616: ┣OBSBasic::ResetOutputs: 17.072 ms
16:46:43.616: ┣OBSBasic::CreateHotkeys: 0.256 ms
16:46:43.616: ┣OBSBasic::InitService: 2.996 ms
16:46:43.616: ┣OBSBasic::InitPrimitives: 0.386 ms
16:46:43.616: ┗OBSBasic::Load: 319.005 ms
16:46:43.616: obs_hotkey_thread(25 ms): min=0.003 ms, median=0.013 ms, max=31.99 ms, 99th percentile=0.177 ms, 99.9996% below 25 ms
16:46:43.616: audio_thread(Audio): min=0 ms, median=0.607 ms, max=194.644 ms, 99th percentile=4.583 ms
16:46:43.616: ┗receive_audio: min=0 ms, median=0.533 ms, max=15.634 ms, 99th percentile=4.257 ms
16:46:43.616: ┣buffer_audio: min=0 ms, median=0.001 ms, max=0.826 ms, 99th percentile=0.006 ms
16:46:43.616: ┗do_encode: min=0.509 ms, median=1.59 ms, max=15.629 ms, 99th percentile=4.639 ms, 0.499996 calls per parent call
16:46:43.616: ┗encode(Track1): min=0.502 ms, median=1.532 ms, max=14.383 ms, 99th percentile=4.53 ms
16:46:43.616: obs_graphics_thread(33.3333 ms): min=0.102 ms, median=1.513 ms, max=232.338 ms, 99th percentile=4.466 ms, 99.9965% below 33.333 ms
16:46:43.616: ┣tick_sources: min=0.003 ms, median=0.015 ms, max=4.596 ms, 99th percentile=0.054 ms
16:46:43.617: ┣output_frame: min=0.065 ms, median=1.482 ms, max=232.294 ms, 99th percentile=4.342 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┣gs_context(video->graphics): min=0.065 ms, median=1.139 ms, max=231.719 ms, 99th percentile=3.215 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┃ ┣render_video: min=0.014 ms, median=1.061 ms, max=231.6 ms, 99th percentile=2.975 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┃ ┃ ┣render_main_texture: min=0.009 ms, median=0.99 ms, max=204.356 ms, 99th percentile=2.725 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┃ ┃ ┣render_output_texture: min=0.001 ms, median=0.043 ms, max=11.399 ms, 99th percentile=0.176 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┃ ┃ ┣render_convert_texture_nv12: min=0 ms, median=0.043 ms, max=231.359 ms, 99th percentile=0.252 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┃ ┃ ┗stage_output_texture: min=0 ms, median=0.024 ms, max=26.394 ms, 99th percentile=0.069 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┃ ┣gs_flush: min=0.027 ms, median=0.097 ms, max=19.522 ms, 99th percentile=0.472 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┃ ┗download_frame: min=0 ms, median=0.013 ms, max=64.335 ms, 99th percentile=0.036 ms
16:46:43.617: ┃ ┗output_video_data: min=0 ms, median=0.312 ms, max=18.605 ms, 99th percentile=2.119 ms
16:46:43.617: ┗render_displays: min=0 ms, median=0.001 ms, max=20.022 ms, 99th percentile=0.385 ms
16:46:43.617: video_thread(video): min=0.518 ms, median=1.537 ms, max=1770.03 ms, 99th percentile=2.431 ms
16:46:43.617: ┗receive_video: min=0.513 ms, median=1.529 ms, max=1770.02 ms, 99th percentile=2.425 ms
16:46:43.617: ┗do_encode: min=0.513 ms, median=1.527 ms, max=1770.02 ms, 99th percentile=2.422 ms
16:46:43.617: ┗encode(recording_h264): min=0.475 ms, median=1.431 ms, max=1770 ms, 99th percentile=2.298 ms
16:46:43.617: =================================================
16:46:43.617: == Profiler Time Between Calls ==================
16:46:43.617: obs_hotkey_thread(25 ms): min=24.08 ms, median=25.436 ms, max=101.68 ms, 54.0254% within ±2% of 25 ms (0.0759778% lower, 45.8987% higher)
16:46:43.617: obs_graphics_thread(33.3333 ms): min=1.332 ms, median=33.333 ms, max=232.569 ms, 99.2839% within ±2% of 33.333 ms (0.367696% lower, 0.348421% higher)
16:46:43.617: =================================================
16:46:43.957: Number of memory leaks: 0
------------------------

 

[Narcogen]

You're getting a little encoder lag there, but not a whole lot.

https://obsproject.com/wiki/General-Performance-And-Encoding-Issues

Is something else running on your PC while you do this? It seems like your CPU should be able to handle 720p on the ultrafast preset without having encoder lag.

 

[kayanco]

You're getting a little encoder lag there, but not a whole lot.

https://obsproject.com/wiki/General-Performance-And-Encoding-Issues

Is something else running on your PC while you do this? It seems like your CPU should be able to handle 720p on the ultrafast preset without having encoder lag.

Very cool. I'm impressed how you figured it out. Yes, I believe another program like Dropbox starts syncing sometimes when OBS is running, and I noticed it using some CPU also.

What should I do?

Also, any settings I can modify on OBS to lower the CPU load? I don't need HD quality.

Here are my current settings:

 

[carlmmii]

A couple of things you can do. If you don't need HD resolution, then in your Video tab, you can change the Output (scaled) resolution to a smaller resolution like 848x480.

Also, instead of using the x264 encoder, use QuickSync. This should show the biggest improvement in cpu usage, as this encoder uses the iGPU to do the encoding.