Record when a scene is active

aega

aega

New Member
I'm looking for ideas on how to record either just the audio, or both audio & video, to a file when a particular scene is being output to the livestream, separately from the recording OBS is making.

At the end I'd have one file of the entire recording, and then I'd have separate files of just when chosen scenes were active.

Ideally I'd like this to be automated, so something like adding a filter to a scene that designates it as something to record when it is active would be perfect, or a script where I mark which scenes I'd like to record. The idea being it saves the trouble of having to edit the recorded video after the livestream to take out the desired parts for separate re-broadcasting.

Any thoughts?
 
RichieTee

RichieTee

Member
Here are few ideas,
1. Set up a Dedicated NDI Output Filter on the scene you need to be recorded, then use NDI Studio Monitor (from NDI Tools) to record the scene. This will constantly record the scene even if it is not sent to "PROGRAM" on OBS.

2. Setup a VirtualCam Filter to output to a specific virtual camera, by default OBS comes with a virtual camera but using plugins you can extend this to get 4 additional virtual cams. With this setup, you can run another copy of OBS for recording, simply create a new scene, with only the VIRTUALCam as the Video Capture Device...Now you can record a specific scene, regardless of what is being shown on the Livestream.
Remember to start the VirtualCam filter.
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*so something like adding a filter to a scene that designates it as something to record when it is active would be perfect*

Starting and stopping recording everytime you change a scene might be tasking on the PC.
The suggestions i gave will record the scenes perpetually, however for the 2nd suggesstion I suppose u could bind it to a hotkey so when the scene is not being shown the filter is OFF, when it is shown the Filter is ON. With this method, on your recording you can find out exact points where you weren't showing that scene because when VirtualCam Filter is off, it freezes the frame. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Resources

Virtual Cam Filter

adds a filter to output a source or scene to the build in virtual camera Normally the obs virtual camera can only output the final mix, but with this plugin you can output an other scene or source by adding the Virtual Camera filter to the...
obsproject.com obsproject.com

OBS Virtualcam

As an FYI, this plugin will not be updated to support OBS 28. I recommend using Exeldro's filter plugin that extend the use of the built-in virtual camera instead. https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/virtual-cam-filter.1142/ NOTE: The...
obsproject.com obsproject.com
 
FXHEET

FXHEET

New Member
I was searching for a similar solution for this too. But I didn't want to do anything too complicated.
My solution is less complicated as I only need an intro video to play when I switch to the scene and start recording at the same time. Here is my solution:
  • Set a hotkey to Start Recording
  • Set the same hotkey to switch to that particular screen
For your case, you could add an additional step to set a hotkey to Stop Recording when switching to any other scene with a hotkey. Same as my solution above when switching to other scenes, use the same hotkey to switch to other scenes and Stop Recording at the same time.

I am not sure if OBS was intended to be used like this but so far it is working exactly as intended for me. And a bigger potential concern, I am not sure if this works while you are already live streaming. Maybe other impacts to the live stream by doing this?

As I do market analysis videos that need to be uploaded to YT quickly and I can't afford to wait 20-60 minutes for videos to be edited and processed, while I need to focus on the charts. I prefer to skip video editing and use OBS to play my intro instead, which is really the most significant part of my editing process. It doesn't look near as nice without all the transitions and effects added into my video editing process but it does save me a significant amount of video processing time, which is more important for me.
 
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Lawrence_SoCal

Active Member
@FXHEET - my use case is not so time sensitive, but I am of the 'work smart, not hard' approach
For me, I setup Advanced Scene Switcher (single plugin), way more complex in latest iterations, but still wonderful.
I use that to automate my start scene sequence, with transitions/effects, etc,. Part of this is creating the opening, to be used as a Thumbnail. And then my entire ending sequence, with Good Bye notice, fade to black, etc. In my case, I have copyright notice, and more. I found it way easier to do simple sequence automation with the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin, than trying to so manually (way too many overlooked items). The start Recording, separate from Start Streaming, was a unique feature in the plugin at my request [Facebook scheduled events require streaming in advance of Go Live)
In our case, I use system clock time to auto switch to our starting scene (which then starts Recording, streaming had started 10+ minutes prior), and then sequences thru intro. The plugin can change scenes or take other actions based on time (say wait 10 seconds), or switching scenes when a intro video clip ends, etc. LOTS of flexibility.... To try and get quality consistent results, any common actions I take, I tried to get into the plugin, so the steps would just happen... Ieaving me to focus on the rest of the content and presentation
just a happy user of OBS and the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin
 
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