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multiple monitors

How to Record Multiple Monitors for YouTube Videos

Record multiple displays in OBS, preview the layout and audio, save a resilient file, and upload the finished video through YouTube Studio.

By DocumentaryTube Team 5 min read
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To record multiple monitors for a YouTube video, capture each display in OBS Studio, arrange the captures in a scene or switch between focused scenes, check audio and output settings, and make a short test recording before the full take. OBS saves a video file on your computer; upload that file separately in YouTube Studio. YouTube says it does not have a feature for recording videos on your computer with a webcam.

Choose how viewers should see your monitors

Before adding sources, decide whether the video should show all displays together or move between them. A combined view can show a workflow that spans screens, but interface text may become too small to read. Separate scenes let you focus on one display at a time. Preview the actual output at the size viewers will watch it; there is no single best layout or resolution for every monitor setup.

Set up OBS and capture each display

  1. Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard. In OBS, open the wizard and select the option for recording. It takes your intended use and computer resources into account. Then create or select a scene for the recording.
  2. Add a capture source for each monitor. In the Sources dock, click the plus button and choose the suitable capture source. On Windows, add Display Capture, open its properties, and select the display. OBS allows only one Display Capture source per display, so add a separate source for every monitor you want to show. A scene can contain multiple sources.
  3. Arrange the composition. Resize and position the display sources for a combined view, or create separate scenes for focused views. Check that text, menus, and any important cursor movement remain visible in the recording frame.
  4. Check audio. OBS’s quick-start configuration captures desktop audio and a microphone by default. Watch the Audio Mixer meters while playing sound or speaking. If a meter does not move, or the wrong device is active, open Settings → Audio and select the intended devices. Record only audio you mean to include.
  5. Check output and make a test recording. Confirm the selected displays, cursor visibility, framing, and audio. OBS recommends checking Output settings and making a short test recording before a full session. Play the test back to verify that the saved file looks and sounds right.
  6. Record to a resilient format. OBS recommends MKV because an unexpected interruption will not corrupt the entire recording. If your editor or upload workflow needs MP4, use File → Remux Recordings in OBS, or enable automatic remuxing in settings.

Choose recording quality without overwhelming the computer

Open Settings → Output to review recording options. In Simple output mode, choices other than “Same as stream” use additional computer resources. Advanced mode exposes encoder options and output rescaling while maintaining the canvas aspect ratio. The right encoder depends on your hardware, so test the actual recording setup before an important session.

OBS quality option Trade-off
High Quality High-quality video with a medium file size.
Indistinguishable Higher quality, with larger files and possible performance impact on older or weaker hardware.
Lossless Very large files. OBS Project’s 2023 documentation estimates around 7 GB of data per minute for this preset, which uses the CPU encoder.

For most recordings, choose a quality setting your computer can sustain and that leaves manageable files. A short test helps reveal dropped frames, slowdowns, unreadable text, or unexpectedly large output before you record a long session.

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Adjust the capture method for your operating system

Windows

Use Display Capture and select the monitor in the source properties. On a laptop with multiple GPUs, OBS documents an alternate display-capture method for OBS 27 and later on Windows 10 version 1903 or later; OBS recommends leaving OBS on the high-power GPU. The Windows capture method may show a yellow border locally, but OBS says that border does not appear in recordings or streams.

macOS

OBS’s macOS Screen Capture source can capture a whole display, a single window, or all visible windows for an application. Audio capture is documented for macOS 13 and later. On macOS 12.3–12.6, the source is available without audio. OBS marks older versions of the Display Capture source as deprecated for macOS 13 and later. Verify the available source and audio behavior in a short test on your installed version.

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Linux

OBS lists Screen Capture (XSHM) and PipeWire as Linux capture sources. PipeWire requires Wayland. Availability depends on the installed OBS build and desktop session, so test the chosen source before recording the full video.

Upload the recording to YouTube

  1. Open YouTube Studio and choose Create → Upload videos.
  2. Select the saved recording file and complete the upload details.
  3. Check the video’s visibility setting before publishing. Uploading and publishing are separate actions.
  4. Allow time for processing. YouTube converts uploaded video to the highest resolution available for playback, and higher-quality formats can take longer to process.

Only upload material you have the rights to use. Capturing multiple displays does not change YouTube’s copyright rules; check what appears on-screen and in the audio, including licensed media, private information, and other people’s content.

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Troubleshoot common recording problems

  • A monitor is missing: Confirm that a Display Capture source is present for that display and that its properties select the correct monitor. OBS permits only one Display Capture source per display.
  • The image is cramped or text is unreadable: Rework the scene layout or use separate focused scenes instead of shrinking every screen into one frame. Review the test recording at normal playback size.
  • Audio is absent or wrong: Watch the Audio Mixer meters during a test. If the intended source does not register, choose the correct devices under Settings → Audio.
  • OBS cannot capture the screen: On Windows laptops with multiple GPUs, check the documented alternate method and GPU setting for your OBS and Windows versions. On macOS, check the Screen Capture source and version-specific audio support. On Linux, verify whether your session supports the selected XSHM or PipeWire source.
  • The recording is unusable after an unexpected stop: OBS recommends MKV to reduce the risk that an interruption corrupts the whole file. Remux a completed MKV to MP4 with File → Remux Recordings when needed.
  • The computer slows down or files grow too large: Try a less demanding recording-quality choice, check the encoder and output settings, and make another short test. OBS warns that Indistinguishable can affect older or weaker hardware; Lossless files are exceptionally large.
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