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(2025) What Is the Best Recording Format for OBS and Why

(2025) What Is the Best Recording Format for OBS and Why

OBS Studio, which stands for Open Broadcaster Software, is a free open-source screen recording and live streaming program for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides real-time capture, recording, encoding, and live streaming, allowing users to capture and mix audio and video from sources such as webcams and computer screens, and live stream them to platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and more. So, what are the best recording formats in OBS for users? And what are the reasons? This article will give you the details. Just keep reading to know more.

Best Recording Format For Obs

Part 1. What Is the Best Recording Format for OBS

Obs Supported Recording Formats

There are many formats suitable for OBS recording. Below, we will introduce them in detail and give you the best recommended one.

1. MKV (default): MKV, or Matroska video file. It is the default format and is compatible with all audio and video encoders supported by OBS Studio.

PROS

  • It can maintain high quality during recording.
  • Even if recording is interrupted due to OBS crashing, computer power failure, or any other recording-related issue, MKV files are more likely to be recoverable.

CONS

  • Many video editing software programs do not directly support MKV files, so you may need to convert them to other formats.

2. MP4: MP4, also known as MPEG-4 Part 14, is a widely used digital multimedia format and the de facto standard for Internet video.

PROS

  • It is the facto standards for online video.
  • Wide compatibility, easy sharing and editing of videos.
  • Smaller file sizes for efficient playback on various devices.

CONS

  • If the recording process is interrupted, the file will be damaged and unusable.

3. MOV: MOV is a QuickTime multimedia file format developed by Apple, mainly used on Mac and iOS devices. It is similar to MP4, but the two differ slightly in terms of codec compatibility.

PROS

  • Very suitable for editing on Apple systems.
  • Commonly used MPEG-4 encoding can reduce file size while maintaining good quality.

CONS

  • Less broad compatibility compared to MP4.
  • Like MP4, if the recording process is interrupted, the file may not be recoverable.

4. FLV: FLV is a file format developed by Adobe Systems for storing video and audio streams and metadata. It is similar to MKV in terms of flexibility, but its popularity has declined now.

PROS

  • The file is small and easy to embed.

CONS

  • Supports single audio tracks only.
  • Limited support for codecs and editing software.

In summary, considering their respective pros and cons, MP4 is the best recording format for OBS.

Part 2. How to Make OBS Record from MKV to MP4

From the previous section, we have learned that MP4 is the best recording format for OBS. So, to make an OBS recording from MKV to MP4, you can change the output settings in OBS Studio or remux the OBS recording to MP4 format after recording. In this section, we will show you the specific steps for the first method.

1. Open OBS Studio and go to File in the top menu bar. Then, select Settings.

2. Click Output in the left sidebar of the Settings window.

Select Output In Settings Window

3. Find the Recording Format option under the Recording section and click the drop-down list to change it from MKV to MP4.

Change Mkv To Mp4 Recording Format

4. Click Apply and OK to save the changes. And now, all new recordings will be saved as MP4 files.

Part 3. How to Remux OBS Record to MP4

In this section, we will show you the steps for the second method of converting OBS recordings from MKV to MP4: using the built-in Automatically remux to MP4 option in OBS after recording.

1. Open OBS Studio. Go to File in the top left corner, then select Settings.

2. Click the Advanced tab and scroll down to the Recording section.

Navigate To Advanced And Recording

3. Check the Automatically remux to MP4 box under the Recording section.

Check Automatically Remux To Mp4 Box

4. Click Apply and then OK. Now, when you stop recording, OBS will automatically convert your MKV recording file to MP4.

Part 4. Best Alternative to Record Video in MP4

In addition to the two methods mentioned above, you can also use the best third-party video recording software to record in OBS.

AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is a screen recorder compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7, macOS 10.12 and above. It can capture any activity in video and audio without delay and output in multiple video and audio formats, such as MP4, MOV, WMV, MKV, MP3, M4A, WMA, AAC, etc. It offers 7 different recording modes to record video, audio, gameplay, specific windows, or phone calls to meet various recording needs. Additionally, you can record your computer screen, webcam, or both. Similarly, recording with/without system sounds or using a microphone to record external audio are all supported. The recording area and size can also be freely customized according to your needs. With it, you can record in OBS easily and flexibly.

The steps for using it are as follows:

1. Download and install AnyMP4 Screen Recorder on your Windows/Mac computer. After installation, launch it.

Free Download For Windows

Secure Download

Free Download For macOS

Secure Download

2. Open OBS Studio and display the content you want to record. Then configure some recording settings on the window, including selecting the screen area you want to record, enabling system sound, microphone, or both as audio sources, and setting the output format to MP4.

Video Recorder B

3. After configuring all settings, click the REC button to start recording. It will show you the hotkeys during recording, allowing you to take snapshots, draw, add annotations, text, and more.

Border Line Arrows

4. To stop recording, click the red square stop button in the upper left corner. A preview window will then open, where you can view, trim, or perform other edits on the recorded file.

Finish Recording

5. Finally, the edited video and the original video will be automatically saved in the default folder. You can click the Open Folder button in the lower right corner to view them.

Click Open Folder View- Obs Recording

Conclusion

This article introduces the best recording format for OBS (MP4) and provides three methods to help users save OBS recording files in MP4 format. These methods include setting OBS to record in MP4 format, enabling OBS's built-in advanced automatically remux to MP4 feature, and using the best OBS video recording software, AnyMP4 Screen Recorder. You can choose one of these methods based on your needs and follow the steps provided above. We hope this article is helpful to you. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and interact with us!

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August 05, 2025 05:30

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