How to Change Video Quality on OBS: A Comprehensive Guide
In the world of streaming and content creation, video quality plays a crucial role in ensuring that your audience receives the best viewing experience. If you’re using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to stream or record your content, you might want to adjust the video quality settings to optimize performance and bandwidth usage. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to change video quality on OBS, ensuring that your content looks and feels professional.
Step 1: Access the Settings Menu
To begin changing the video quality on OBS, you first need to access the settings menu. You can do this by clicking on the gear icon located in the bottom-left corner of the OBS interface. This will open the settings window, where you can configure various aspects of your OBS setup.
Step 2: Navigate to the Video Tab
Once the settings window is open, you’ll see several tabs at the top. Click on the “Video” tab to access the video-related settings. This tab contains options that directly affect the quality of your video output.
Step 3: Adjust the Base (Canvas) Resolution
The first setting you’ll notice in the video tab is the “Base (Canvas) Resolution.” This setting determines the resolution of the video before it’s scaled or cropped. To change the base resolution, click on the dropdown menu and select the desired resolution. Common options include 1920×1080 (Full HD), 1280×720 (HD), and 1280×720 (SD).
Step 4: Set the Output (Scaled) Resolution
Next, you’ll need to set the “Output (Scaled) Resolution.” This setting determines the resolution of the video after it’s scaled or cropped. To change the output resolution, click on the dropdown menu and select the desired resolution. It’s essential to match the output resolution with the resolution of your streaming platform or recording device to ensure compatibility.
Step 5: Configure the FPS and Base (Canvas) FPS
In the video tab, you’ll also find settings for “Base (Canvas) FPS” and “Output (Scaled) FPS.” The “Base (Canvas) FPS” determines the frame rate of the video before it’s scaled or cropped, while the “Output (Scaled) FPS” determines the frame rate of the video after it’s scaled or cropped. To change these settings, click on the dropdown menus and select the desired frame rate. Common options include 30 FPS and 60 FPS.
Step 6: Adjust the Bitrate
The bitrate setting is crucial for determining the quality of your video. A higher bitrate results in better quality but requires more bandwidth. To adjust the bitrate, click on the dropdown menu and select the desired bitrate. Common options include 1,000 kbps, 2,000 kbps, and 4,000 kbps. Keep in mind that higher bitrates may cause increased CPU usage and potentially affect your system’s performance.
Step 7: Save and Apply Changes
After making the necessary adjustments to the video settings, click the “OK” button to save the changes. OBS will prompt you to restart the application to apply the new settings. Once OBS has restarted, your video quality should be updated according to the new settings.
In conclusion, changing the video quality on OBS is a straightforward process that involves navigating to the video settings and adjusting various parameters such as resolution, frame rate, and bitrate. By following this guide, you can ensure that your content looks and feels professional while optimizing performance and bandwidth usage.
