Contents
- 1Introduction
- 2Basic Concepts
- 3Your choices and my recommendations
- 3.1A - 3 video codecs
- 3.1.1 Option 1 – H264:
- 3.1.2Option 2 – H265:
- 3.1.3Option 3 – VP9:
- 3.2B - MKV vs MP4 vs WebM
- 3.3C – Handbrake and AviDemux
- 3.4D - Constant Quality vs Constant Bitrate vs Variable Bitrate
- 3.5E – Considerations for the future
- 4Encoding comparisons to help you choose
- 4.5.1HandBrake x264:
- 4.5.2Handbrake x265:
- 4.5.3FFMPEG VP9:
- 4.5.4Premiere H264:
- 4.5.5HandBrake x264:
- 4.5.6Handbrake x265:
- 4.5.7FFMPEG VP9:
- 4.5.8Handbrake x264:
- 4.5.9Handbrake x265:
- 4.5.10FFMPEG VP9:
- 4.5.11NOTES:
- 5Encoding the Video portion with Handbrake
- 5.5.1Picture Tab:
- 5.5.2Filters Tab:
- 5.5.3Video Tab:
- 5.5.4Advanced Tab:
- 5.5.5FFMPEG for VP9:
- 6Encoding the Audio portion with Handbrake
- 6.1A – Separating the myths from the facts
- 6.2B – Definitions, formats and my choices
- 6.3C – Examples of the Handbrake Audio Tab
- 7Streaming basics and a comparison – CPU vs NVENC vs Quick Sync
- 7.3.1Audio, push-to-talk and hotkeys Settings:
- 7.3.2Stream Settings:
- 7.3.3Video Settings:
- 7.3.4Output Settings:
- 8Streaming examples for CPU, NVENC & Quick Sync
- 8.3.1CPU (x264)
- 8.3.2Quick Sync (QSV)
- 8.3.3NVENC
- 9Recording examples for CPU, NVENC & Quick Sync and recording while streaming
- 9.3.1CPU (x264)
- 9.3.2Quick Sync (QSV)
- 9.3.3NVENC
- 10Buffer recording and AVIDemux
- 10.3.1Replay Buffer
- 10.3.2AVIDemux
Introduction
Over the next few posts I’ll take you through the main technical points of recording, encoding and streaming video, in particular game footage. Most people can set up scenes and webcams with just a little patience, trial and error. But so many people out there don’t understand some of the basic, yet crucial concepts that go on under the hood.
There’s a more recent post with data on specific codec performance you might want to check out.
If you’re reading this, you’ve undoubtedly heard of NVENC, Fraps, x264, DxTory, Shadowplay and a bunch of other technologies. In this guide, I’ll be focusing on what I think are the best, yet still pretty easy to use.
Since OBS can do pretty much anything in regards to streaming and recording, we’ll be using that with a couple of side comments for FRAPS users and other encoding possibilities. OBS Studio is the current version, classic is being discontinued. Download it here in either classic or studio flavour: https://obsproject.com/download
Update! OBS Studio now has buffer recording. The guide has been updated. There is now no reason to use OBS classic any more.
The guide will contain the following posts:
1 – This introduction.
2 – Basic concepts.
3 – Your choices and my recommendations.
A – 3 video codecs.
B – MKV vs MP4 vs WebM.
C – Handbrake and AviDemux.
D – Constant Quality vs Constant Bitrate vs Variable Bitrate.
E – Considerations for the future.
4 – Encoding comparisons to help you choose.
5 – Encoding the Video portion with Handbrake.
6 – Encoding the Audio portion with Handbrake.
A – Separating the myths from the facts.
B – Definitions, formats and my choices.
C – Examples of the Handbrake Audio Tab.
7 – Streaming basics and a comparison – CPU vs NVENC vs Quick Sync.
8 – Streaming examples for CPU, NVENC & Quick Sync.
9 – Recording examples for CPU, NVENC & Quick Sync and recording while streaming.
10 – Buffer recording and AVIDemux.
Agamemnus has a passion for gaming and an eye for tech. You can see him streaming occasionally on twitch.tv/unrealaussies and catch him on the Unreal Aussies Discord. Evidence > Opinion.
