Save HD disk space - tweak record settings...

[Universal_Love]

I have noticed that recording started taking 4x the size same 30 minute recording used to take 80MB and now 240MB size or so

I am trying to understand why, might be some settings that I played with ...

please take a look at my settings screenshots - maybe someone will see something

what settings should one set to to save maximum space?

I need to record my screen sometimes for reference - audio can be OK quality

picture quality resolution needs to be original or so (I need to be able to read small text)

BUT video can be lowest FPS (like 10) (I did try to set it to "1" in .mp4 but the video would not play)

SCREENSHOT IMAGES - https://imgur.com/a/QgdSdFj

1 https://i.imgur.com/T6RWyjT.png

2 https://i.imgur.com/B4WpJdb.png

3 https://i.imgur.com/LSgIOAG.png

4 https://i.imgur.com/ESEENtw.png

5 https://i.imgur.com/wsQb5ST.png

6 https://i.imgur.com/FF65L86.png

did I get it all covered?


PS I am on Win10


PSS here is what ChatGPT advised

When configuring OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to save maximum space, the primary goal is to minimize the file size of the recordings while maintaining acceptable quality. Here are the recommended settings to achieve this:

1. Video Settings​

• Resolution: Lower the resolution. For example, 720p (1280x720) instead of 1080p (1920x1080) will save a lot of space.
  • Go to Settings > Video
  • Set both the Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution to 1280x720 (or lower if acceptable).
• Frame Rate: Reduce the frame rate. 30 FPS instead of 60 FPS will save space.
  • Set Common FPS Values to 30.

2. Output Settings​

• Recording Format: Choose a format that offers good compression. MP4 is commonly used, but MKV can also be a good choice.
  • Go to Settings > Output
  • Set Recording Format to MP4 or MKV.
• Encoder: Use an efficient encoder. x264 is a software encoder that provides good compression, while hardware encoders (like NVENC for NVIDIA GPUs) can also offer efficient encoding with less CPU usage.
  • Set Encoder to x264 or NVENC.
• Rate Control: Choose a rate control method that offers good compression. Constant Bit Rate (CBR) is good for streaming, but Variable Bit Rate (VBR) can save space for recordings.
  • Set Rate Control to VBR.
• Bitrate: Lower the bitrate. This is the most direct way to reduce file size, but it will also reduce video quality.
  • Set Bitrate to a lower value like 2500-3500 Kbps for 720p. You can adjust this based on your quality needs.
• Keyframe Interval: A higher keyframe interval can reduce file size but might affect seeking in the video.
  • Set Keyframe Interval to 2-4 seconds.

3. Audio Settings​

• Audio Bitrate: Lower the audio bitrate. The default 160 Kbps is often overkill for voice recordings.
  • Go to Settings > Output > Recording
  • Set Audio Bitrate to 96 Kbps or 128 Kbps.

4. Advanced Settings​

• Process Priority: Lower the process priority if you're experiencing performance issues, although this won't directly affect file size.
  • Go to Settings > Advanced
  • Set Process Priority to Normal or Below Normal.
• Profile and Tune: Use profiles and tunes that focus on lower file sizes.
  • Set Profile to Main or Baseline.
  • Set Tune to None or Film for better compression.

5. Additional Tips​

• Avoid Multi-Track Audio: If you're not using multiple audio tracks, disable them to save space.
  • Go to Settings > Output > Recording
  • Ensure only necessary audio tracks are enabled.
• Post-Processing: Use video editing software to further compress the video file if needed.

Example Configuration for Saving Maximum Space​

• Resolution: 1280x720
• Frame Rate: 30 FPS
• Recording Format: MP4
• Encoder: x264
• Rate Control: VBR
• Bitrate: 2500 Kbps (Video), 96 Kbps (Audio)
• Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
• Audio Bitrate: 96 Kbps

These settings should help you minimize the file size of your recordings while maintaining a balance with acceptable video quality.

 

[Harold]

Recording directly to regular mp4 introduces a severe reliability issue in case of a non-graceful interruption of the recording process that causes the ENTIRE recording to be lost. It is strongly recommended to NOT use that. MKV is default because it does not have that problem, and has the least amount of compatibility issues with other programs.

 

[Universal_Love]

Recording directly to regular mp4 introduces a severe reliability issue in case of a non-graceful interruption of the recording process that causes the ENTIRE recording to be lost. It is strongly recommended to NOT use that. MKV is default because it does not have that problem, and has the least amount of compatibility issues with other programs.

got it, thank you

what settings can I make to have the least size of a recording?