OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is a popular open-source software for video recording and live streaming. With its powerful features, OBS can help enhance the video and audio quality of your Zoom recordings.
Table of Contents
Why Use OBS with Zoom
Here are some key reasons to use OBS with Zoom:
- Higher video resolution: OBS allows recording Zoom meetings in HD or even 4K resolution for crisper video quality. Zoom’s default recording is limited to 720p.
- Better audio: OBS gives you more control over audio by letting you use VST plugins, add multiple audio sources, and adjust volumes individually.
- More creativity: You can showcase custom overlays, backgrounds, transitions and other effects when broadcasting Zoom through OBS.
- Multi-channel recording: Record the Zoom meeting on one track while recording your OBS commentary/reaction on a separate track.
- Streaming: Use OBS to live stream your Zoom meetings to YouTube, Facebook and more.
Step 1: Install OBS and Set Up Scenes
First, download and install the latest version of OBS Studio. It’s available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
After installing OBS, set up your scenes and sources:
- Scenes are different layouts in OBS. Create one scene for your Zoom recording.
- Sources refer to all the visual and audio elements. Add your webcam, Zoom display capture, etc.
Step 2: Connect OBS and Zoom
To connect OBS and Zoom, you need to set up OBS as a virtual webcam in Zoom. Follow these steps:
Enable OBS Virtual Camera
- In OBS, click on Tools > Start Virtual Camera.
- A “OBS Virtual Camera” option will now appear in your Zoom video settings.
Select OBS as Zoom Camera
- Open the Zoom desktop app and join/start a meeting.
- Click on the ^ arrow next to Start Video to access video settings.
- Change the Camera option to “OBS Virtual Camera”.
Once the virtual camera is enabled, OBS will provide the video feed to Zoom instead of your webcam.
Step 3: Capture Zoom in OBS
With the virtual camera set up, you now need to capture Zoom in OBS as a source:
- In OBS, click on the + button to add a source.
- Select Window Capture or Display Capture based on your setup.
- Select the Zoom window or display that has Zoom open.
The Zoom meeting window will now be available as a source in OBS.
Step 4: Record Your Zoom Meetings
Everything is set up now to record your Zoom meetings using OBS’ superior recording capabilities:
- Start Recording in OBS to capture Zoom.
- Make sure to select an appropriate recording path and format.
- For separate audio tracks, enable multi-channel recording in Settings > Audio.
- Use hotkeys to Start/Stop recordings.
- Edit videos in your preferred video editor before sharing.
OBS Tips for Zoom
Here are some tips to further enhance your Zoom recording experience in OBS:
- Add borders, custom backgrounds or virtual green screens with Chroma Key.
- Use plugins like Move Transition to zoom and pan within Zoom.
- Enable Noise Suppression and Noise Gate filters for better audio quality.
- Add images/videos and switch between multiple scenes.
- Use hotkeys to mute audio, stop video, switch scenes while recording.
- Enable Replay Buffer to save last xx seconds in case you forget to record.
Best OBS Settings for Zoom
To get the best quality Zoom recordings in OBS, here are some recommended settings:
Video Settings
- Output Resolution: 1920×1080
- FPS: 30
- Bitrate: 5000 Kbps
Audio Settings
- Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
- Bitrate: 320 kbps
Adjust settings as needed based on your system hardware and internet bandwidth. Recording in a lossless format like MKV then remuxing to MP4 also helps minimize quality loss.
Conclusion
Using OBS to record Zoom meetings gives you much more control over the recording quality and customization options compared to Zoom’s default recording feature.
With its ability to capture multiple HD video and audio sources simultaneously, OBS is a versatile pick for everything from webinars, podcasts, lectures to conference live streams.
So download OBS Studio and explore its powerful recording and live production capabilities for your next Zoom session!
