Need startup instructions

[jameslsnell]

I just used OBS Studio for the first time. I managed to do a video capture, but the process was awkward and the result was not ideal. Please send me instructions how to do this: (1) Set the area to capture, on the image itself, moving the boundaries with the mouse, like a screenshot. (The UI for doing this inside the app window is very cumbersome.) (2) Set the file format for the capture (didn't see where to do this, and mkv seems an odd default). (3) Start and stop the capture (easy if the app is visible, but seemingly impossible for a full-screen image). (4) Play back the capture (had to navigate to the file and play it with another app, which should not be necessary). I looked through several of the startup instructions, but none of them mentioned these basic steps. Thank you! jameslsnell

 

[Suslik V]

(1) Set the area to capture, on the image itself, moving the boundaries with the mouse, like a screenshot

Media itself has no window until it captured with the specific application. Usually, you are using only instruments that are build-in into the software (OBS in your case) to manage the scale/crop/rotation/mirroring of the source. If you are talking about old OBS (Classic) methods where window capture had different mechanics aka "sub-region selection" or similar techniques. Then there is https://ideas.obsproject.com/ for suggestions. Give it a try (there are some posts for different sources and platforms). Today OBS can do Transform (right-click menu) and Alt + Left Mouse cropping.

(2) Set the file format for the capture (didn't see where to do this, and mkv seems an odd default)

Main menu File > Settings > Output > Recording group > Recording Format

(3) Start and stop the capture (easy if the app is visible, but seemingly impossible for a full-screen image)

Main menu File > Settings > Hotkeys , assign Start Recording / Stop Recording hotkeys

(4) Play back the capture (had to navigate to the file and play it with another app, which should not be necessary)

OBS is not a media player. Fast access to the recordings folder: main menu File > Show Recordings

 

[Suslik V]

More guides:

Guides (OBS Studio)

Guides for OBS Studio

obsproject.com

 

[LYNNCANZIAN]

GREETINGS. PLEASE I WANTED TO KNOW HOW I COULD INSTALL OBS ON MY MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP, IT KEEPS TELLING ME SOME PROGRAMS ARE NOT FOUND FOR ME

 

[Suslik V]

@LYNNCANZIAN you need libs installed (named "VC++ 2022 Redistributable x64"). Search for it online.