How to Record Video in OBS Studio: Beginner’s Guide

Learn how to record video in OBS Studio, choose where recordings are saved, switch scenes, balance audio and set up pause and resume recording.

OBS isn’t only for live streaming. You can record complete presentations straight to your computer using the scenes, camera, media and audio you’ve already built.

By this point in the series, you've created quite a production setup.

You can show your camera.

Add graphics.

Play video.

Use a green screen.

And screen share through OBS while keeping your camera and microphone in the presentation.

Now we can use all of that to create a finished recording.

This is one of the reasons I like OBS so much.

For certain videos, I don't need to record lots of separate clips and then spend ages rebuilding everything in an editor.

I can prepare the scenes, press Record and run through the presentation.

Quick answer: How to Record Video in OBS Studio: Beginner's Guide explains how to record video in OBS Studio, choose where recordings are saved, switch scenes, balance audio and set up pause and resume recording.

Can OBS Record Video Without Going Live?

Yes.

You don't have to stream anywhere.

OBS can record the output you're creating directly to your computer.

That means the viewer can see the same scene changes you would use during a live workshop, but the finished result is saved as a video file instead.

For example, your recording could move through:

Splash Screen → Main Camera → Video → Main Camera → Screen Share → Outro

You control the changes while you're recording.

OBS captures the result.

That's useful for:

course lessons
short tutorials
workshop updates
member content
presentation videos
quick social content
demonstrations

You already did most of the preparation in the earlier tutorials.

Recording is where that work starts paying you back.

Set Your OBS Recording Location First

Before pressing Record, decide where you want the file to go.

This sounds painfully obvious.

It becomes less obvious when you finish a recording and have absolutely no idea where OBS saved it.

In the workshop, I go to:

Settings → Output

and change the recording location to the desktop.

That's simply my preference because I can find it immediately.

You might prefer a dedicated folder such as:

Documents → OBS Recordings

That's fine too.

The important thing is that you know where the recording will appear.

Set that before doing a 40-minute presentation.

Keep Recordings Separate From Your OBS Source Assets

Earlier, we created a permanent folder for the files OBS uses in your scenes.

That's covered in How to Organise OBS Files and Assets.

Recordings are slightly different.

Your logo, background and media clips are long-term source assets that OBS needs to keep finding.

The finished recording is an output.

You may want to edit it, upload it, rename it or archive it somewhere else afterwards.

So don't feel that every finished video has to live permanently beside your OBS source files.

Use a workflow that makes sense to you.

Prepare Your Scenes Before You Press Record

One of the easiest ways to make OBS recording faster is to do the work before the recording begins.

Suppose your video needs:

an opening screen
you talking to camera
a prepared video example
you talking again
a screen demonstration
an ending screen

Build those scenes first.

We've already covered how to do that in OBS Scenes and Sources: A Beginner’s Guide.

Check each one.

Make sure the correct microphone is active.

Check your graphics.

Make sure the video is loaded.

Open the screen you intend to share.

Then record.

This is much better than starting the recording and thinking:

"I'll sort that next bit out when I get to it."

That's how a simple five-minute video turns into half an hour of stopping, starting and editing.

How to Start Recording in OBS

Once everything is ready, move to the scene where you want the recording to begin.

For example:

Splash Screen

Then use:

Start Recording

in the OBS Controls area.

From that point, run through the presentation.

Switch to your camera.

Talk.

Move to your prepared media.

Come back to yourself.

Share your screen.

Finish on an outro if you've created one.

When you're finished, click:

Stop Recording

OBS saves the result to the recording location you selected earlier.

That's the basic process demonstrated in the workshop.

Record the Presentation Rather Than Editing It Afterwards

This is the part I find useful.

If your scenes are already prepared, many of the changes you'd normally create during editing can happen while you're recording.

Instead of editing in:

Intro graphic → talking head → demonstration → talking head

afterwards, you're performing those changes inside OBS.

That doesn't mean you'll never edit again.

If you make a mistake, you might still want to cut it.

If the video needs captions, detailed graphics or other post-production, you'll still have work to do.

But for a straightforward tutorial?

You can get very close to a finished piece straight from OBS.

Watch the Recording Back

Don't record something and immediately assume it's perfect.

Open the finished file.

Watch it.

More importantly:

Listen to it.

In the workshop test, the scene changes worked, but one of the media clips was much louder than my voice.

That's exactly why we test.

The recording revealed a problem that wasn't obvious enough while presenting.

The good news is that OBS already gives us the controls to fix it.

Balance Your Media Audio Against Your Voice

Imagine you're talking at a comfortable level.

Then you switch to a video.

The video audio comes crashing in far louder than you.

That's not pleasant for the viewer.

And if you're talking over the clip, your voice may disappear underneath it.

Go to the OBS Audio Mixer.

Find the media source.

Reduce its level.

Then record another short test.

You may want the media loud enough to hear clearly.

Or you may want it sitting quietly underneath you while you're talking.

In the workshop example, one media track is simply too overpowering, so I bring it down. Another piece of sound isn't particularly useful, so turning it off is also an option.

You have control.

Use it.

Don't Assume Every Audio Source Needs to Be On

This is worth saying.

If a video contains audio, that doesn't mean the audio has to be used.

Ask whether it helps.

A demonstration may have useful spoken instructions.

Keep them.

An animation may contain a loud soundtrack that adds absolutely nothing to your teaching.

Turn it down.

Or turn it off.

Your viewer doesn't care that the video file happened to arrive with music attached.

They care whether the finished presentation is easy to follow.

Do a Short Test Recording First

This is the recording version of the rule we've been using throughout the whole workshop:

Test, test, test.

Don't record your complete lesson immediately.

Record 20 or 30 seconds.

Talk to camera.

Switch to the media.

Say something over it.

Switch to your screen share.

Stop.

Watch it.

Check:

your microphone level
video audio
scene changes
screen-sharing readability
camera position
graphics
backgrounds

If something is wrong, fix it.

Then do the actual recording.

This is much faster than discovering the problem after recording the whole thing.

Can You Pause an OBS Recording?

This is one area where I want to stick closely to what happens in the workshop rather than pretending every computer will show exactly the same options.

During the recording lesson, I wanted the ability to pause rather than only stop the recording.

Why?

Because sometimes you want to stop for a moment.

Maybe you need to open another page.

Maybe you've forgotten to prepare something.

Maybe you want to collect yourself without creating a completely separate recording file.

I initially try changing recording formats, including the format options being shown in my version of OBS.

That doesn't immediately give me the pause control I'm looking for.

I then find the setup that works on my machine by moving into the Advanced output settings and selecting an appropriate recording encoder. After doing that, the pause option appears.

Your Pause Recording Options May Be Different

This is important.

The workshop itself points out that OBS had changed and that the exact options can differ depending on the computer and graphics hardware being used.

So I don't want to tell you:

"Select this exact encoder and it will definitely work on every computer."

That's not what the source supports.

The practical process demonstrated is:

Settings → Output → Output Mode: Advanced → Recording

Then choose a recording setup supported by your system and test whether the pause control becomes available.

On the workshop computer, a hardware encoder available through the NVIDIA setup is used.

Your computer may show different choices.

Test it on your system.

That's the sensible approach.

Why I Like Pause Instead of Constant Stop and Start

Without pause, making a mistake can mean stopping one recording and starting another.

Then you've got multiple files.

That isn't necessarily a disaster.

You can edit them together.

But if I'm creating something quickly, I often prefer one continuous recording with the ability to pause.

I can stop for a moment.

Sort something out.

Resume.

Carry on.

That's simply a faster workflow for the kind of content I'm creating.

If you're happy using separate clips, there's nothing wrong with that either.

Recording Settings Can Depend on Your Computer

We've already seen this elsewhere in OBS.

A high-spec desktop with one graphics card may show or handle options differently from another computer.

That's particularly relevant once you start dealing with recording encoders.

Don't blindly copy somebody else's advanced setting because you saw it in a screenshot.

The workshop specifically advises testing changes on your own system.

Change one thing.

Test it.

If it doesn't work, go back.

The goal is a reliable recording.

Not the satisfaction of having every setting pushed to its most complicated option.

You Don't Need 4K Just Because Your Camera Is 4K

We touched on this in the OBS interface guide.

My camera can provide a higher-resolution image.

That doesn't mean every OBS recording needs to be output at 4K.

If your whole production is built around a 1920 × 1080 canvas, suddenly increasing output settings isn't automatically an improvement.

It creates more processing work too.

Start with the format you've actually built the project for.

Get a clean recording.

If you later have a genuine reason to use another resolution, create the appropriate setup.

We'll look at exactly that when we get to OBS profiles for social video.

Use OBS for Quick Creator Videos

This is one of the practical ways I use OBS.

I want to make a short update.

Maybe it's something for a community.

Maybe I need to explain a feature.

Maybe there's a quick tutorial I want to send out.

I don't necessarily want to create a whole editing project.

My scenes already exist.

So I can put up a splash screen.

Move to camera.

Explain the thing.

Show another scene if I need it.

Stop recording.

Done.

The workshop describes this as a very fast way of creating the sorts of short videos I regularly make.

The speed isn't coming from talking faster.

It's coming from having the system prepared.

A Simple OBS Recording Workflow for Course Creators

Imagine you've got a new feature in your course and want to explain it to your students.

Your recording could run like this:

Opening Screen

"Quick update — here's what has changed."

Main Camera

Explain why it matters.

Screen Share

Show students exactly where to find it.

Main Camera

Summarise what they need to do.

Outro

Stop recording.

You may need no complicated editing at all.

Upload the recording where it needs to go and move on.

That's particularly useful when the information matters more than producing a cinematic masterpiece.

OBS Can Reduce Editing, but It Doesn't Eliminate Mistakes

There's a distinction here.

OBS can let you perform a lot of your production live.

But if you say the wrong thing, cough for 30 seconds or forget what you're talking about, OBS doesn't magically fix that.

You may still edit.

That's fine.

The aim isn't:

Never edit another video.

The aim is:

Don't create unnecessary editing work.

If you can switch cleanly between prepared scenes while recording, you've already removed a chunk of post-production.

Use a Script or Teleprompter When It Helps

For short videos, having the words prepared can make this workflow even quicker.

You don't necessarily need a giant script.

A short outline may be enough.

If you're recording 15- or 20-second pieces later for social media, being able to deliver the message cleanly can mean the OBS output is almost ready to use immediately.

That becomes particularly relevant in the final tutorial on using OBS profiles for vertical social videos.

Again, the system is what creates the speed.

Your Existing Scenes Become Recording Templates

One of the best things about the workflow we've built is that you don't lose all the work when the recording ends.

Your scenes remain.

Your camera setup remains.

Your logo is still in position.

Your microphone is configured.

Your screen-sharing scene exists.

Your green screen settings are ready.

Next time, you don't start with an empty canvas.

You start with a production setup.

That means the second recording is usually quicker than the first.

And the tenth is quicker again.

Common OBS Recording Problems

I can't find my OBS recording

Check the recording path under your Output settings. Set it somewhere obvious before recording.

My media is much louder than my voice

Reduce that Media Source in the OBS Audio Mixer and do another short test recording.

My video has no media audio

Check the audio setup you've already created and make sure the necessary media source is active and configured as intended.

If you need to revisit that workflow, see How to Connect OBS Audio to Zoom With a Virtual Cable and How to Add Video to OBS.

I don't have a pause button

The workshop found that the available controls depended on the recording/output configuration and system. It moved to Advanced Output settings and a compatible encoder before the pause control appeared.

Your exact choices may differ, so test on your own machine.

OBS struggles when I increase recording quality

Don't automatically push the resolution and recording settings higher. Use settings appropriate to your canvas and the system you're running.

I recorded the wrong scene

Build and test your scene order before recording. Clear names and a sensible run order make mistakes less likely.

My screen share is unreadable in the recording

Check the Screen Share scene before you start. Make sure the captured display fits the canvas and that the content itself is large enough for the viewer.

I made a mistake halfway through

Pause if your setup supports it, stop and create another recording, or edit the mistake afterwards. Which approach makes sense depends on the type of video you're making.

OBS Recording Checklist

Before recording an important video:

Set a recording location you can find
Prepare your scenes
Check your camera
Check your microphone
Check the media audio level
Check your screen-sharing scene
Put the scenes into a sensible order
Make a short test recording
Watch and listen to the test
Fix any audio balance problems
Check whether you need pause/resume
Test advanced recording changes on your own system
Start the actual recording
Watch the finished file before publishing it

It takes a little longer before you press Record.

It can save you a lot longer afterwards.

Learn OBS With Me in the Free Workshop

Recording becomes much easier once you've already built the camera, media, audio and screen-sharing scenes.

That's why the free Learn OBS Workshop builds OBS in this order.

You're not learning isolated buttons.

You're creating one system and then using it for presenting, streaming and recording.

Learn OBS Workshop | Present, Stream & Record Better

You can also return to the complete Learn OBS beginner’s guide to see the full series.

FAQ About Recording Video in OBS

How do I record a video in OBS Studio?

Prepare the scene you want to start with, choose your recording location under Output settings and click Start Recording. Move through your OBS scenes as needed, then click Stop Recording when you've finished.

Where does OBS save recordings?

OBS saves recordings to the path configured in your Output settings. In the workshop, the recording path is changed to the desktop so the finished file is easy to find.

Can OBS record a full presentation?

Yes. You can switch between your Splash Screen, Main Camera, media scenes and Screen Share while recording. OBS captures the output as you move through those prepared scenes.

Can I record my screen and camera together in OBS?

Yes. Build a Screen Share scene containing your captured display and camera. The OBS screen-sharing guide shows how to create that layout.

Can I play pre-recorded videos inside an OBS recording?

Yes. Add the clips as Media Sources or dedicated scenes. You can then switch to them while recording the finished presentation.

Why is my media louder than my microphone in OBS?

The sources have their own audio levels. Reduce the media source in the Audio Mixer and make a short test recording until the balance sounds right.

Can I pause a recording in OBS?

The workshop demonstrates enabling pause after changing the recording/output configuration in Advanced mode. The exact options can vary depending on your system and available encoder, so test the setup on your own computer.

Should I use Advanced Output mode in OBS?

You don't need Advanced mode simply to make a basic recording. In the workshop, it becomes relevant when trying to get the preferred pause/resume workflow working on that particular system.

Do I need to edit OBS recordings afterwards?

Not always. If you've prepared your scenes and deliver the presentation cleanly, OBS can perform many of the visual changes during the recording. You may still want editing when mistakes or additional post-production need to be handled.

Can I use OBS to record course videos?

Yes. The setup works particularly well for teaching content where you want to move between your camera, prepared video and screen demonstrations.

What To Do Next

You can now use the same OBS setup for two completely different jobs.

You can present live.

And you can record finished videos.

But there is one thing that can still ruin a very good-looking recording quickly.

Bad sound.

The next tutorial goes much deeper into the microphone controls we've only touched on so far.

Continue with How to Use OBS Audio Filters for Better Microphone Sound.

We'll look at gain, compression, noise suppression and the noise gate, and how OBS gives you more control over the microphone before your audience hears it.

Join the free Learn OBS Workshop and build the complete system with me.

FAQ

Who is How to Record Video in OBS Studio: Beginner’s Guide for?

How to Record Video in OBS Studio: Beginner’s Guide is for course creators, coaches and educators who want a clearer OBS setup for recording lessons, streaming sessions or creating better video content for their online business.

How does this OBS workflow connect with New Zenler?

Creators can use OBS to improve video and live-session production, then use New Zenler to host courses, deliver memberships, run live sessions, build funnels and manage learners in one platform.

What should creators check before recording or streaming with OBS?

Check the scene layout, microphone input, audio filters, camera framing, recording settings, internet connection and where the finished lesson or live replay will be delivered in New Zenler.

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