OBS recording in DaVinci

xxDoogieXX

New Member
Hi All, quick question. OBS works perfectly fine for recording, no issues here. I have recently tried ShadowPlay and noticed a big difference in editing software. I currently use DaVinci for some gaming clips or longer recordings and all OBS recordings lag horribly when I try to edit. I have to create proxies (DaVinci's option to downgrade quality in order to achieve smooth workflow) but I have absolutely no issues with ShadowPlay recordings. I matched as much as possible in terms of quality (both 60fps and 80k bitrate and same resolution). Any ideas why? In OBS I use NVENC. The playback is perfect, just editing is a bit annoying. Thank you.
 

Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
I have to create proxies (DaVinci's option to downgrade quality in order to achieve smooth workflow)
Proxies create lower resolution clips to smooth out the real-time work flow. Rendering/edits still done to original, with no change to original quality.

just guessing here... you have your OBS Studio settings to a higher bitrate (vs ShadowPlay recordings), and your computer can't handle that bitrate/color depth/whatever in Resolve. Are you even using the same H.264 encoding?

reading again... you trolling? 60fps and 80K bitrate? Have you checked the bitrate of the ShadowPlay video and compared to one from OBS Studio? I'm betting they are not even close (assuming you used default OBS Studio Recording settings. but if you followed some numnut YouTuber's advice on Recording settings (or just played around, without knowing exactly what the implications are of each thing you changed), you may have done the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot
 

xxDoogieXX

New Member
Thank you for your answer. With all due respect, I know what I'm doing. I have been using OBS for years. The reason why I mentioned fps and bitrate is because I purposely set them to the similar level. I fully understand that this will never be like for like, but it's fairly close when I look at the info of my clips. The only reason why I brought this subject up is because it's a bit annoying having to create all these proxies while a clip that looks the same is smooth. I don't think there is a solution to this but wanted to ask.
 

OmLedu

New Member
I'm having this exact same issue. I don't understand. My recordings from Shadowplay edit just fine in Davinci, but recordings from OBS are un-editable. The obs recordings throttle my cpu to 100%. I even turned down the kbps on OBS to be 1/3rd of that of shadowplay recordings. Both are mp4, both are h.264 highl4.2 codex. The bitrate on the OBS clip is only ~20,000 where as the shadowplays are ~67,000. Even the audio is a lower quality on the OBS recordings. I just don't understand...
Would love some help <3
 

OmLedu

New Member
This should help.
I have heard this, but shadowplay also uses H.264 codex and I've never had any issue with it. I've edited 2 hour 72,000 bitrate, H.264 clips from shadowplay, with absolutely no problem. But I can't edit a 20,000 br, 15 min, h.264 clip from obs without blowing up my cpu. What are the other file differences between obs and shadowplay?
 

rockbottom

Active Member
I have no problems editing my OBS recordings, can scrub the timeline as fast as I want. I don't use ShadowPlay or even have GFE installed so can't answer your Q.
 

rockbottom

Active Member
"The obs recordings throttle my cpu to 100%."

I'm looking at the Resolve info & it appears hardware acceleration is supported but in the Studio version, not the free version. If you have studio, make sure it's enabled.
 

OmLedu

New Member
"The obs recordings throttle my cpu to 100%."

I'm looking at the Resolve info & it appears hardware acceleration is supported but in the Studio version, not the free version. If you have studio, make sure it's enabled.
Yeaaaah I just have the free version because I'm poor haha
I guess a better question would be; what is the optimal encoding/ settings for OBS to be edited in the free version of Resolve?
 

rockbottom

Active Member
It depends on several factors, hardware, resolution, ect. Post a log, & I'll take a look. In the meantime try these.
1708318507496.png
 

rockbottom

Active Member
A couple of the links at the bottom of the article are worth the read


So a quick look at ShadowPlay. It encodes VFR, up to 30 FPS. While OBS encodes CFR & you're more than likely encoding @ 60FPS. Comparing the recordings is like comparing apples & oranges.
 

OmLedu

New Member
A couple of the links at the bottom of the article are worth the read


So a quick look at ShadowPlay. It encodes VFR, up to 30 FPS. While OBS encodes CFR & you're more than likely encoding @ 60FPS. Comparing the recordings is like comparing apples & oranges.
Firstly thanks so much!!! I will def try those settings <3
& tyty about the VFR & CFR. I will read up on those as well.
ShadowPlay does record in 60fps though.. Is actually why I started using it as opposed to the xboxgamebar. But really, I don't particularly care about quality as long as it is "good enough."
Been trying to keep bitrate in the 30k to cut down on file size for the 60 fps recordings. Mostly because I really don't notice the difference from recording at 30k as opposed to 80k, but did notice going from 30fps to 60fps.
Also just recording at 1080 for YouTube tutorials, not making fancy 4k movies or anything.
As for pc specs, it's old lol
AMD FX 8350 8Core
GTX 970
16 DDR3 RAM

I was also very confused because I made 2 15 min recordings to test things, 1 with OBS & the other with Shadow play. Both files say 60fps, h.264 highl4.2 codex, mp4, & same color depth. But the OBS bitrate was 27k & ~2Gigs & the shadowplay was 62k & ~5Gigs. The audio bitrate was also lower on the OBS. I can edit the shadowplay footage just fine, but Resolve hates the OBS footage. Makes me want to know what other factors are at play.
 
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rockbottom

Active Member
I did see that after I posted earlier, had to read more of that article. But, 30 or 60 it's still variable frame rate, not constant. Anyway, the real problem is the 12YO CPU & not being able to use hardware acceleration. If you could enable the GPU in Resolve, playback would be smoother. Try the settings above see if it improves. I would also try lowering the Preset to P1 & see if that helps.
 

OmLedu

New Member
I did see that after I posted earlier, had to read more of that article. But, 30 or 60 it's still variable frame rate, not constant. Anyway, the real problem is the 12YO CPU & not being able to use hardware acceleration. If you could enable the GPU in Resolve, playback would be smoother. Try the settings above see if it improves. I would also try lowering the Preset to P1 & see if that helps.
Again tysm for your help!!! You are a super awesome person taking the time to try & help me!! I am trying to get a new pc, mine is very very old lol. Am hoping to get the i7 13700 kf.
I will def try all of your suggestions today, so hopefully I can find some settings that allow it to work.
I just find it strange that I've never had any problems at all editing 14 hours of quicktime recordings, or 2+ hours of 60fps (or sometimes 59.xxxx FPS) 67000kbps shadowplay recordings. But a 15 min obs clip at 27000kbps just wont edit without catching my cpu on fire lolol
Really makes me want to learn more about the encoder settings so that I can understand what is happening. Since the codex, color depth, & all other file details that I can see are all identical....

I also can't use the GPU throttling because I don't have the studio version :< I'm poor atm haha
I've been thinking that would solve the issue. Moving some load onto my GPU rather than the whole load being on my CPU..
 

rockbottom

Active Member
YW!

When you upgrade, spend the extra $25.00 & get a k processor. You'll get another hardware encoder (UHD 770) for next to nothing.
 
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