How to Record Skyrim with OBS Smoothly and Easily (2024)

Skyrim has been one of the most popular video games as it allows users to create a roleplay of becoming a hero defeating a dragon. Known for its exciting storylines and eye-catching scenes, a lot of users are probably wondering about recording their Skyrim videos in high quality so they can have them uploaded on different social media sites. If you have been puzzled about this, learning how to record Skyrim with OBS or via other tools would be helpful. In this article, we’ll be delving in particular to this topic. So, if you are interested and would like to know more, start by jumping into the first section of this post.

Contents: Part 1. Why Won't OBS Record Skyrim?Part 2. How to Record Skyrim with OBS?Part 3. Best Alternative to Record Skyrim When OBS Not WorkingFAQs about Skyrim Gameplay

Part 1. Why Won't OBS Record Skyrim?

When it comes to screen recording, perhaps, you have already read or heard about OBS Studio multiple times. Knowing that it’s one of the most famous recorders out there is a given. But, although our main discussion would be about how to record Skyrim with OBS, it would also be helpful to learn why at times, it just won’t record Skyrim as expected. Here are a few reasons.

  • There could be insufficient permissions granted to OBS.
  • The app needs to be updated to the latest version.
  • Another app is possibly interfering with OBS’ functionality.
  • There could be issues with Skyrim itself.

How to Record Skyrim with OBS Smoothly and Easily (1)

Part 2. How to Record Skyrim with OBS?

So, how to record Skyrim with OBS? Is this an easy task anyone can perform?

Being a free and open-source program, many have been using OBS Studio when recording their screen activities. It can capture audio if needed and even has a built-in editor. By default, all recordings from OBS Studio will be saved as AVI files.

Though good enough, some users are still saying this has a complex interface which makes it not suitable for novices or beginners. But just in case you still want to try, here’s how to use it when recording.

  1. Launch both OBS and Skyrim on your PC. On OBS, search for the “Scenes” and “Sources” menus. Create a new scene by tapping the “+” icon. Press the same icon under “Sources” to be able to add “Game Capture”.
  2. Adjust the recording area as per your preference. If not changed, automatically, OBS will capture a full screen.
  3. The recording will start once the “Start Recording” menu is pressed. To end, just tap the “Stop Recording” option. If you’d like to see the output files right away, click “File” and then hit “Show Recordings” next.

How to Record Skyrim with OBS Smoothly and Easily (2)

Part 3. Best Alternative to Record Skyrim When OBS Not Working

OBS Studio is a good option when screen recording. Thus, we can say it would be helpful for one to know how to record Skyrim with OBS. But what if, unexpectedly, it stops working or issues are encountered while it’s in use? Being aware of the causes of the problem is good but one should also be familiar with the workarounds to fix the dilemma. Given that OBS is free and open-source, some issues could be experienced as well as limitations. In such an instance, one’s assurance would be having enough information about the best alternative to use when OBS isn’t functioning well. We recommend using this tool, the iMyMac Screen Recorder. What makes this one the best?

This professional software can aid in high-definition screen and lag-free webcam recording while giving the user the flexibility to decide on the type of audio to capture. Functions to edit for video enhancement as well as menus for real-time annotation are readily available. Taking screenshots or launching the webcam whenever needed can easily be done as well. In case one would need to pause or restart the recording process, that would also be so simple.

Upon sharing with you how to record Skyrim with OBS from the previous section, we are now about to discuss the step-by-step process of recording through the abovementioned professional recorder.

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  1. Download and install this recorder on your PC. Head to the main interface once launched and look for “Video Recorder”.
  2. Choose whether to capture only the screen or record the camera as well at the same time. If the latter is chosen, the webcam should automatically open. In case not, click “Recheck”. Proceed to choose the recording area to use.
  3. Modify the audio settings and specify whether to record only the microphone, or system sound, or both.
  4. The recording will start once the “Start Recording” menu is pressed. It can be ended when the red “stop” button is clicked.

How to Record Skyrim with OBS Smoothly and Easily (3)

Available menus mentioned initially can be utilized. Once the recording is finished, the output files should be saved on your computer.

FAQs about Skyrim Gameplay

This section will now be sharing some FAQs relative to Skyrim Gameplay. Upon discussing how to record Skyrim with OBS and via the best alternative when OBS isn’t working, it would also be good to answer some of your queries in mind when it comes to Skyrim Gameplay.

  1. Can you use Skyrim for free on PC?

Before, downloading Skyrim from torrent sites was possible. However, now, it’s recommended to buy it on Steam due to viruses when installed from torrent sites.

  1. Is Skyrim free on Xbox One?

You can get Skyrim Special Edition without an added fee. But if you are eyeing getting the Anniversary Edition, you then need to pay.

  1. Can beginners enjoy playing Skyrim?

Skyrim is one of the easiest games to play. This even has an option that lets the user adjust the difficulty settings if desired. With the simple interface it has, beginners and professionals should not have issues while playing this.

  1. Is it illegal to use Skyrim mods?

No! Downloading Skyrim mods can even be done easily. You can also see lots of mods on the Special Edition.

How to Record Skyrim with OBS Smoothly and Easily (2024)

FAQs

How to make OBS recording more smooth? ›

Go to your Settings menu and then click Video. Then, drop your resolution settings until things smooth out. Your video quality will be lower, but at least you'll lower the chance of lag and create a fluid viewing experience. 24 or 30 FPS: The best OBS settings for low-end PCs are usually 30 or 24 FPS.

How to record Skyrim in OBS? ›

Tip 2. How to Record Skyrim with OBS
  1. Step 1: Have Skyrim and OBS run on the desktop. ...
  2. Step 2: Hold the "Ctrl" button on the keyboard and drag the mouse to adjust the recording area. ...
  3. Step 3: Begin the recording process by clicking the "Start Recording" button. ...
  4. Also Read:
Feb 14, 2022

How do I make OBS less laggy when recording? ›

Description
  1. Check your hardware. Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements.
  2. Lower the video's bitrate. Adjust video quality settings to improve performance.
  3. Check security and firewall software. ...
  4. Switch to a stable network. ...
  5. Use wired connection. ...
  6. Change OBS settings. ...
  7. Close unnecessary processes. ...
  8. Flush DNS cache.
Mar 30, 2024

How to get high quality recording from OBS? ›

Advanced Settings:
  1. Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds is standard for most streaming platforms.
  2. CPU Priority: Set to above normal to ensure OBS gets adequate resources.
  3. Process Priority: High can be beneficial, but adjust if you experience system slowdowns.
  4. Profile: Set to "high" for improved video quality.
Feb 22, 2024

Why is OBS recording so choppy? ›

OBS is a resource-hungry software. So you must lower the OBS settings to avoid lagging when recording. You can change the bitrate settings, reduce the resolution and frame rate, allocate more resources, and use hardware acceleration to get a smoother recording experience.

How do I optimize OBS for game recording? ›

Open OBS Studio and click on Menu > Settings. From the settings window, select the Video tab. Change the Output (Scaled) Resolution to either 1920x1080 or 1280x720. Change the Common FPS Values to either 30 (if streaming at 1080p) or 60 (if streaming at 720p).

Why is OBS not recording Skyrim? ›

The most common reasons for OBS not capturing a game are: OBS doesn't have sufficient permissions to capture your screen. The version of OBS on your computer needs to be updated.

How do I record gameplay with OBS? ›

Here's a guide on how to set up OBS for recording gameplay:
  1. Step 1: Open OBS Studio. Start the OBS application on your computer. ...
  2. Step 2: Add Game Capture Source. Click the "+" button in the "Sources" window. ...
  3. Step 3: Configure Audio Sources. ...
  4. Step 4: Adjust Audio and Video Settings. ...
  5. Step 5: Start/Stop Recording.
Jan 29, 2024

Which recording format is best for OBS? ›

Best OBS Output Setting for Recording:

Video Format: MP4 or preferred compatible format. Video Encoder: x264 or Hardware Encoder (e.g., NVENC or VCE) Rate Control: CBR. Bitrate: 10,000kpbs.

How do I get better performance on OBS? ›

Follow these steps to learn how to make OBS use less CPU.
  1. Scale down your resolution output. ...
  2. Reduce your frame rate. ...
  3. Close excess programs and lower OBS processing priority. ...
  4. Run your audio sources at the same frequency. ...
  5. Change the x264 preset. ...
  6. Double check all sources. ...
  7. Time to upgrade your hardware.
Jul 6, 2023

How to record gameplay smoothly? ›

Here are some useful tips.
  1. Use the Task Manager to close all the unnecessary programs. ...
  2. Lower the quality of your videos. ...
  3. Try a special type of game recorder that comes with your GPU - Nvidia screen recorder, AMD recorder, etc.
  4. Change the settings in your recorder. ...
  5. Upgrade your CPU or Internet connection.

What bitrate should I use for OBS? ›

Bitrate for recording and streaming should be set from 4000 Kbps to 6000 Kbps depending on your bandwidth, frame rate, and video resolution. Plus, note that Keyframe Interval should be set at 2, meaning that the video frame will be rendered every 2 seconds.

What is the best setting for OBS streaming? ›

What are the best streaming quality settings for OBS? If you're streaming the videos in 1080p@60FPS, you should set the bitrate between 6,000 and 9,000 kbps for the finest video quality. Then, you can set the audio bitrate from 64 kbps to 320 kbps according to your sound preference.

What is the best bitrate for 1080p 60FPS? ›

For 1080p video at 60 frames per second (fps), a good bitrate falls within the 6000 to 10000 Kbps range. The higher frame rate requires more data to accurately capture smoother motion and fast-paced action.

How do I smooth 60fps in OBS? ›

Try changing your refresh rate back to 165, and limiting the in game FPS to 120. This way, you will still get smooth gameplay, and it stays in sync to 60 fps.

How do I stream smoothly with OBS? ›

What are the best streaming quality settings for OBS? If you're streaming the videos in 1080p@60FPS, you should set the bitrate between 6,000 and 9,000 kbps for the finest video quality. Then, you can set the audio bitrate from 64 kbps to 320 kbps according to your sound preference.

Why is my recording quality so bad on OBS? ›

Why is OBS Recording Quality So Bad? The OBS recording quality majorly depends on the hardware of your PC and the capture settings that your instance of the application is configured to use. For example, if your GPU is old and you try to record your screen at 1080p and 60fps, you may get a blurry output.

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