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frame rate

How to Transcode a Video to Match OBS Resolution and Frame Rate

Match a video to OBS by checking its output resolution and FPS, then preserving the intended dimensions and choosing VFR or CFR for the destination.

By DocumentaryTube Team 5 min read

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To match a video to OBS, first choose the output resolution and frame rate in OBS Studio > Settings > Video. Then set the transcode to preserve those dimensions and use the frame-rate mode the destination needs: variable frame rate (VFR) to retain source timing, or constant frame rate (CFR) when a workflow requires fixed timing. Check the encoder preset, since it may resize or limit frame rate, and test a short sample before converting a long documentary.

1. Identify the OBS output you need to match

Open OBS Studio > Settings > Video and note these three controls:

  • Base (Canvas) Resolution: the size of the composition canvas used to arrange sources.
  • Output (Scaled) Resolution: the resolution OBS sends to the output. Match this when the file must match the stream or scaled output, rather than assuming the canvas size is also the output size.
  • Common FPS Value: the target output frame rate.

For a video intended to fill an OBS scene without scaling, the canvas size may also matter. But for matching the encoded or streamed output, use the Output (Scaled) Resolution and Common FPS Value as the primary targets. OBS explains these controls in its overview guide.

2. Check the source video before transcoding

Find the file’s actual pixel dimensions and determine whether its frame timing is variable or constant. A file reported as, for example, 30 fps may not contain frames at a perfectly constant rate throughout. HandBrake notes that modern recordings can change frame rate over time; its frame-rate guidance is marked as a draft, so treat the mode labels as practical guidance and verify the resulting file in your own playback or editing workflow.

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Decide whether the goal is to preserve the original timing or to meet a destination requirement for constant timing. If the source is 1920 × 1080 and OBS output is 1920 × 1080, keep those dimensions. If the OBS output is smaller, use that output size only when you actually want a smaller file; transcoding down does not improve source detail.

3. Set HandBrake dimensions and frame-rate behavior

  1. Open the source and select a suitable preset. Check the preset’s dimensions and frame-rate limit before encoding. Presets can alter both: HandBrake’s 720p30 preset, for example, can turn a 1080p60 source into 720p with a 30-fps peak. See HandBrake’s frame-rate guidance and official presets documentation.
  2. Set the dimensions deliberately. Avoid a preset that scales the image away from your intended OBS target. Confirm the output width and height in HandBrake before encoding; cropping or aspect-ratio handling can also affect the final dimensions.
  3. Choose the frame-rate mode. Select Same as Source with Variable Frame Rate (VFR) to retain variable timing, or use Constant Frame Rate (CFR) when the destination requires a constant rate. With CFR, choose the source rate to make timing constant at the source’s detected rate, or choose the OBS target rate when the file must conform to that output.
  4. Check for a peak-rate cap. A peak frame-rate limit is not the same as a guaranteed constant output rate. If constant timing is required, choose CFR rather than relying on a peak cap.
  5. Encode a short section first. Check motion, duration, audio synchronization, and import or playback in the intended OBS scene or workflow. Converting between frame rates can duplicate or omit temporal samples, so inspect motion as well as the displayed rate.

HandBrake’s frame-rate documentation describes CFR as a special-case choice, including for non-linear editing imports and older devices. The best mode depends on the source and destination; neither VFR nor CFR is universally preferable.

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4. Verify the result in OBS

Add the test file in the workflow where it will be used. For a clip playing within a scene, use an OBS Media Source or VLC Video Source as appropriate; transcoding is not automatically necessary just to add a media file. Confirm that the picture fits the canvas as intended and that playback remains synchronized. OBS’s encoding performance troubleshooting guide covers media-source and performance issues.

If OBS will stream or record at a higher frame rate, test that setting on the actual system. Higher frame rates can demand more resources, and a matching file does not by itself guarantee that encoding or playback will run smoothly.

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5. If you are recording in OBS, distinguish remuxing from transcoding

For new OBS recordings, OBS recommends MKV because it is more resilient if recording stops ungracefully. If a workflow needs MP4, use OBS’s built-in remux function to change the container. Remuxing is not a video re-encode: it does not change the video resolution or frame rate. See OBS’s standard recording output guide.

Encoder choices involve trade-offs among quality, file size, compatibility, encoding time, and system load. OBS’s recording encoder presets guide, dated September 14, 2023, gives an approximate example of around 7 GB per minute for Lossless recording. That is an example, not a universal file-size guarantee; settings and content affect the result.

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Common problems and fixes

  • The output is smaller than the OBS target: the selected HandBrake preset may have downscaled it. Choose a preset that preserves the intended dimensions, then verify the output width and height.
  • The output reports the right maximum rate but motion still looks inconsistent: a peak-rate cap does not ensure constant timing. Use CFR at the destination rate if the workflow requires fixed timing.
  • The converted clip stutters or OBS struggles: test a lower output frame rate or resolution if it meets the actual need, and check system load. OBS warns that higher frame rates can require more resources.
  • The file’s duration or synchronization changes after frame-rate conversion: compare the short test with the source. CFR conversion may duplicate or omit temporal samples; choose a more suitable target rate or retain source timing with VFR where compatible.
  • You only need MP4 from an OBS MKV recording: remux it in OBS instead of re-encoding if you do not need to change the video itself.

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