Question / Help OBS recommend vs mine (best recording help)

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wrice4

Member
I have a question about this link:
https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/how-to-make-high-quality-local-recordings.16/

It says to have the best local recordings, use bitrate 1000, buffer 0.

What is the difference in the this recommend method vs what I use currently? (my bitrate = 15,000 buffer 15,000)
Meaning, how is such a low bitrate a better quality than 15k? Is my settings using more cpu power then, since its 15k?

Also, has anyone done this:
https://obsproject.com/forum/resour...ync-using-obs-render-settings-sony-vegas.137/

Seems like it will use less cpu usage by using 2 graphics cards...basically.
 
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Isegrim

Member
"Explanation:
Setting the buffer size to zero disables the VBV system, allowing x264 to hit any bitrate necessary to achieve the quality (CRF) specified"
 
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wrice4

Member
Wouldn't that decrease the quality since the bitrate is jumping up and down constantly, rather than staying at my dedicated 15k? Or am I confused?

Which one is using more cpu or gpu usage? Mine or recommended settings.
 
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Isegrim

Member
wrice4 said:
Wouldn't that decrease the quality since the bitrate is jumping up and down constantly, rather than staying at my dedicated 15k? Or am I confused?

Which one is using more cpu or gpu usage? Mine or recommended settings.
Click to expand...
Overall bitrate could be lower or higher depending on the CRF specified.
GPU / iGPU only gets used if you use NVENC or Quick Sync. x264 is using your CPU.
I'v an i5 and get around 20 to 30% cpu usage with settings used in the thread linked below. I'm using crf 20, that's enough if you want to record high quality videos.

I'd honestly recommend that you read this again: https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/how-to-make-high-quality-local-recordings.16/

wrice4 said:
I have a question about this link:

Also, has anyone done this:
https://obsproject.com/forum/resour...ync-using-obs-render-settings-sony-vegas.137/

Seems like it will use less cpu usage by using 2 graphics cards...basically.
Click to expand...
Do you want to render you videos with qucik sync? This is going to use you igpu instead of your cpu. The quality & and file size i got with this was not acceptable for me.
Try using frame server in combination with megui.
Edit: if you want to record with Quick Sync, go for it. It's great.
 
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PrinceVinc

PrinceVinc

Member
What games you play that your CPU is only used by 20-30%?
If I record AC: Brotherhood with CRF=20 I have a CPU usage of over 90% in total.

Edit: My CPU is i7-4790k

Edit2: Attetntion with Quick Sync! If you set the bitrate to high there will be freeze frames in your recordings!
 
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wrice4

Member
Isegrim said:
"Explanation:
Setting the buffer size to zero disables the VBV system, allowing x264 to hit any bitrate necessary to achieve the quality (CRF) specified"
Click to expand...

Isegrim said:
Overall bitrate could be lower or higher depending on the CRF specified.
GPU / iGPU only gets used if you use NVENC or Quick Sync. x264 is using your CPU.
I'v an i5 and get around 20 to 30% cpu usage with settings used in the thread linked below. I'm using crf 20, that's enough if you want to record high quality videos.

I'd honestly recommend that you read this again: https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/how-to-make-high-quality-local-recordings.16/


Do you want to render you videos with qucik sync? This is going to use you igpu instead of your cpu. The quality & and file size i got with this was not acceptable for me.
Try using frame server in combination with megui.
Edit: if you want to record with Quick Sync, go for it. It's great.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. I have been recording, (Arma 3 & Dayz Standalone), streaming on twitch, and recording (2 OBS open at once) at the same time. It has been working out fine, but every so often I will get the "warning high cpu usage" warning at the bottom of both of my OBS windows. I understand that this takes a lot of cpu to record, stream, and play at the same time. What I am trying to figure out, without lowering my quality of streaming and recording, is if it would be better to change my recording settings to the link mentioned....(1k bitrate and 0 buffer) or leave it as I have it at the moment, 15k bitrate and 15k buffer.

Today I am going to download pc wizard and monitor my cpu and gpu to see how hot they get during the times I get the "warning high cpu" message. If it doesn't get as hot as I think, they I won't bother changing anything. Trying to decide if I want to try out this quicksync recording or not, or if I should leave it as I have now.

CPU - i5 4690k (overclocked to 3.8ghz) w/ cooler master hyper 212 evo fan
GPU - Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB GDDR5
250GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD
 
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Sapiens

Sapiens

Forum Moderator
wrice4 said:
Wouldn't that decrease the quality since the bitrate is jumping up and down constantly, rather than staying at my dedicated 15k? Or am I confused?
Click to expand...
By using variable bitrate encoding, setting a buffer size of 0, and controlling quality with the crf param, you're allowing x264 to use any bitrate it needs to achieve the quality target/crf you set. Forcing it to use 15000 Kbps at all times will result in situations where the encoder uses more bits than necessary in low motion scenes and not enough in high motion scenes. Having the bitrate fluctuate is worse for live streaming but it's more efficient for local recording, and doesn't negatively affect quality.
 
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wrice4

Member
Sapiens said:
By using variable bitrate encoding, setting a buffer size of 0, and controlling quality with the crf param, you're allowing x264 to use any bitrate it needs to achieve the quality target/crf you set. Forcing it to use 15000 Kbps at all times will result in situations where the encoder uses more bits than necessary in low motion scenes and not enough in high motion scenes. Having the bitrate fluctuate is worse for live streaming but it's more efficient for local recording, and doesn't negatively affect quality.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. I see what you are saying and I will try using 1000 bitrate, and 0 buffer. I play demanding games like Arma 3, and Dayz, so I figured the variable bitrate would use more cpu power as its constantly changing. I will try it though.
 
PrinceVinc

PrinceVinc

Member
Just change the x264 Preset to Ultrafast (huger filesize, minimal CPU usage) and compress it with Handbrake on preset veryfast and a desireable CRF level (18 in my case now).
 
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wrice4

Member
PrinceVinc said:
Just change the x264 Preset to Ultrafast (huger filesize, minimal CPU usage) and compress it with Handbrake on preset veryfast and a desireable CRF level (18 in my case now).
Click to expand...

Without changing my settings any, yet, while playing, streaming, and recording, my heat temps are actually below average, so I don't think I will be changing any settings. I am getting around 45-47 degrees Celsius on my processor cores, and 51 degrees Celsius on my gpu, during high data levels in the game, so I am good.

What is handbrake anyway? Also, doesn't making the x264 preset faster mean less quality? What is the difference between the veryfast and ultrafast? I have never messed with it.
 
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Osiris

Active Member
If you followed the guide that was posted earlier, then setting ultrafast will just increase your filesize. The bitrate will compensate for the lower quality of ultrafast.
 
PrinceVinc

PrinceVinc

Member
My Mistake soemthing is off with OBS on Ultrafast. The Handbrake does what it does good as it seems :(
 
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wrice4

Member
I have decided to not mess with anything, and just keep doing what I am doing. I have not gotten the error recently.
 
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