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Prepare to record a window with OBS Studio #
Install OBS from the official project. This guide uses Windows controls and the current 32.2 source-dialog behavior. Mac and Linux capture sources differ, so use the platform notes below if you're following along elsewhere.
For the original example, open a local text editor and type:
Weekly site check 1. Review the home page 2. Check the contact link 3. Record the next action
The goal is a short video showing only that document while you read its three actions. It doesn't need a webcam, streaming account, or overlay. Use a clean practice window so the first recording can't expose a real account or internal document.
1. Configure OBS for recording #
Open Tools → Auto-Configuration Wizard. Choose the recording-focused option and follow the wizard for your computer. The official quick-start guide documents the wizard and the basic source and audio setup.
Start with the existing blank scene if this is a new OBS setup. If you already use OBS, create a separate practice scene instead of changing a scene used for live work. Keep the first layout to one window so you can see exactly which source is responsible for the preview.
2. Add Window Capture #
In Sources, click + and select Window Capture. OBS 32.2 replaced the old add-source dropdown with a dialog, as described in the release notes. Give the source a recognizable name if prompted.
In the source's Properties, choose your sample editor under Window. Start with Capture Method set to Automatic. The Window Capture documentation confirms those property names.
The preview should show the document window. Confirm the heading and all three actions appear. If the source shows a different app, correct the Window selection before recording anything.
3. Frame the source without losing the text #
Adjust the visible source in the preview so the document is easy to read and fits inside the canvas. Leave room around the three lines instead of enlarging until part of the window falls outside the frame.
If the window is resized after this step, inspect the preview again. A source that was framed correctly can become clipped when its dimensions change. Keep the sample window open and stable during the short practice take.
4. Check the microphone and other audio #
Speak a sentence and watch Audio Mixer. The intended microphone meter should respond. If it doesn't, use Settings → Audio to select the device manually, following OBS's quick-start instructions.
Decide whether the recording needs computer sound. This example only needs your narration. Mute unwanted audio sources in the mixer so unrelated notifications or playback don't become part of the lesson.
A moving meter is a starting check; playback of the saved file is the confirmation. Avoid adding the same microphone through several capture routes, since that can produce doubled narration.
5. Choose the recording path and format #
Open Settings → Output and check Recording Path. Choose a folder with space for the output and remember where it is. In Recording Format, choose MKV for this example.
OBS's recording-output guide recommends MKV because an ungraceful interruption doesn't corrupt the entire file in the same way as an unfinished ordinary MP4. If your destination needs MP4, make that copy after recording through the remux operation below.
You don't need advanced encoder tuning to follow the first example. Use the wizard's starting arrangement and change a setting only when the output check identifies a reason.
6. Record a short practice take #
Click Start Recording. Read the three actions aloud and move the pointer slowly enough that the viewer can follow it. Click Stop Recording when finished.
Open the output folder you selected and play the saved file. You should see the sample document and hear the intended microphone. Inspect the beginning, middle, and end before repeating the process with the real material.
If narration is missing, return to audio selection and mute settings before making a longer take. If the image is blank, address the capture source before changing unrelated output-quality settings.
7. Make an MP4 copy when needed #
Open File → Remux Recordings. Select the MKV through the … file control, then click Remux. OBS's output guide documents this route for producing an MP4 from the recorded file.
Play the MP4 too, then send or upload that copy if the destination expects it. Remuxing changes the container; it isn't an editing pass that removes pauses or corrects narration. Keep the recording source until the shared output is confirmed.
Known problems and fixes #
Window Capture is blank with one capture method
In a January 2026 Windows report, the Windows capture method showed nothing while BitBlt worked for the selected window. Try another Capture Method and inspect the preview. The author also reported that BitBlt didn't capture Chrome, so choose the method for the actual app instead of assuming one setting fixes every window.
NVENC disappears after an OBS update
A July 2026 forum thread included an outdated_driver error and advice to update the NVIDIA driver. OBS's current 32.2 release notes confirm a minimum supported driver version of 570 for NVENC. If your log shows that error, update through the approved driver source or use another supported encoder until the driver issue is resolved.
Troubleshooting table #
| Problem | What to check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Preview is black | Selected window and Capture Method | Re-select the app and try a compatible method |
| Source becomes blank when the title changes | Window Match Priority | Review matching behavior and choose the current window |
| Narration is missing | Selected microphone and mute state | Check Settings → Audio, then replay a short saved take |
| Voice sounds doubled | Microphone captured more than once | Keep one intended microphone route |
| NVENC isn't available | Log reports outdated_driver | Use a supported driver or another supported encoder |
| Video cuts off the document | Source framing or later window resize | Reframe and inspect the preview |
| Destination won't accept MKV | Required file container | Use File → Remux Recordings for an MP4 copy |
Variations #
Record a Mac window
Current Mac setups use macOS Screen Capture where appropriate, instead of copying the Windows source instructions. OBS's source documentation points to the matching Mac route. Grant the operating system's requested capture permissions and inspect the chosen window before starting.
Show several applications
Use Display Capture when the lesson needs the whole selected display. That also includes more background material, so prepare the desktop and inspect the preview first. For a single document, Window Capture keeps the task easier to frame.
Send a short review link instead
Loom is another choice when the goal is a brief video conversation. OBS Studio vs Loom compares that hosted workflow with local recording. A short motion-only clip can also fit ShareX on Windows.
Completion checklist #
- The source selects the intended sample window.
- The heading and three actions fit inside the recorded frame.
- The microphone is the intended device and unwanted audio is muted.
- The recording folder and output format are known.
- A short saved take has been played with both image and sound checked.
- Any remuxed MP4 has also been opened before sharing.
Next steps #
Use the OBS Studio listing for official downloads, compare the eight free screen recorders, or explore OBS alternatives for a simpler capture task.
