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The Daily Insight

What is a good CBR for OBS?

Author

Rachel Newton

Updated on February 25, 2026

Normally between 16-22, with lower being better quality but larger file sizes. The only reason CBR/VBR (and so set bitrates) are used for streaming is because the streaming service back-end needs it for replication and delivery to the CDNs.

Herein, should I use CBR or VBR in OBS?

Use VBR or CQP for recording. With CBR, the bit rate is going to be constant regardless of content. VBR allows for fewer/more bits to be used when necessary and CQP allows for constant quality (something like that). CBR is good for streaming but that's about it.

Furthermore, what is the best FPS for OBS? 60 fps

Consequently, what rate control should I use for OBS?

CBR

Should I use CBR or CRF?

For recording, CBR is BAD. You shouldn't control using CBR, you should use CRF or CQP and let the encoder handle things. The quality per bitrate ratio will be better with x264, so you'll have smaller files.

Related Question Answers

Is x264 better than Nvenc?

But there is a slight trade-off in quality, and the reality is that x264 looks better than both NVENC and AMF when given enough power to do its job. When selecting a x264 you can then adjust the CPU Usage Preset from ultrafast all the way down to slow and placebo.

Is CBR faster than VBR?

The average is nearly identical, while the peak rate for the CBR file is 2623 kbps compared to 2539 kbps for the 110% constrained VBR file (but see note 5 below).

What bitrate is 1080p 60fps?

6000 kbps

Does Bitrate affect CPU?

Bitrate does have an influence on cpu, since you basically convert more data per second. But it's pretty minor even on lower end cpu's unless you go for extremes (in the 100000's). Preset, resolution and fps are of a much bigger influence on your processor.

What is better VBR CBR or ABR?

At a given bitrate, VBR is usually higher quality than ABR, which is higher quality than CBR (constant bitrate). ABR encoding is desirable for users who want the general benefits of VBR encoding (an optimum bitrate from frame to frame) but with a relatively predictable file size.

Is VBR better for streaming?

Constrained VBR is preferred for VOD video because it delivers better overall quality than CBR and avoids transient quality issues sometimes experienced with CBR.

What does CPU usage preset do OBS?

The name of the preset is intended to indicate how "fast" the encoder should run. Faster presets will use less CPU at the cost of quality computations. Slower presets will use use more computations for quality, but will use much more CPU.

What is the best downscale filter for OBS?

Normally bicubic

Is quick sync better than x264?

x264 veryfast will give close or a bit better to H264 Haswell Quicksync quality. But that depend on what version of Quicksync are you using too. Sandy Bridge and Ivy bridge has lower quality H264 Quicksync while Haswell+ has better quality. But there is no knowledge how much is that quality difference.

What is rate control for streaming?

CQP specifies a quality level, regardless of how much (or how little) data needs to be captured to achieve that quality level. Streaming sites want non-variable bitrates, but when you're recording it doesn't matter as much.

What does Cqp mean OBS?

CQP is an image-quality based encoding target. It uses as much or as little bitrate as needed to maintain a consistent image.

Should I use software or hardware encoding OBS?

If you have a particularly powerful GPU or a dedicated streaming PC, consider using a hardware encoder. In most cases, the software encoder (x264) will be able to handle the encoding process, as long as your CPU isn't being overly taxed in other areas.

What profile should I use in OBS?

Most people should use High, which will allow you to use full hardware acceleration for better encoding. If you notice your stream is lagging or dropping frames, kick it down to Main, which is less taxing on your PC but won't give you an image as sharp as High. This is where to find your 'Profile' options in OBS.

Is 30 fps streaming bad?

Streaming at 30 FPS is not bad in any way. Simply put your viewers do not want to watch a laggy stream. But it is always better to have more FPS footage because it increases the quality of the video as well as the viewer retention as higher FPS delivers higher quality videos.

Is 30 fps OK for streaming?

At a minimum, you should try to stream video content at least at 30fps. As with video resolution, frame rates affect bandwidth requirements. Video content with a higher frame rate has more data to transmit compared to a video with a lower frame rate.

Is 30 frames per second good?

30 fps means the camera captured 30 frames in a single second of video; the higher the frames, the smoother the video will be. Lower frame rates can result in choppy or broken movement, but is less intensive for the camera and your network, ideal for locations without fast moving objects.

Can OBS record 120 fps?

OBS (Open Broadcast Software) can go to 120 FPS and as of now, has the new nvidia H.. 264 encoder which uses GPU and is way more optimized. I run an I7–7700k and a 1070ti with 16gb of ram and record 1080p native, no frame drops.

Is lanczos better than bicubic?

With lanczos the edges become too sharp and adds strange anomalies around the edges. With bicubic everything is crisp, clear and edges are smoothed properly which makes it much easier to watch for the eyes. I've used lanczos for a long time as I've read pretty much everywhere that it was superior.

Should I stream at 60 or 30fps?

More isn't always better when it comes to frame rate and streaming because it takes more bandwidth to support a high-quality 60 fps stream than a high-quality 30 fps stream. Unless your content really needs 50/60 fps, you should go with 25/30 fps.

How do I get the best performance on OBS?

Here are some ways you can reduce resource utilization and, hopefully, make both OBS and your programs run faster while encoding:
  1. Downscale your output resolution.
  2. Lower your frame rate.
  3. Change your x264 preset.
  4. Try Quicksync, AMF, or NVENC.
  5. Check your sources.
  6. Upgrade your hardware.

How do I make OBS less laggy?

How to Stop Dropped Frames in OBS
  1. Reduce the resolution of your streams. In general, the higher the stream resolution, the higher the CPU usage.
  2. Reduce the bitrate of your streams.
  3. If live streaming over WiFi try using an ethernet cable.
  4. Check your firewall settings.
  5. Broadcast to a server that is closest to you.

What is a good CRF value?

Lower CRF values like 21-22 will deliver higher bitrates and higher quality, while higher values like 24-25 will do the opposite.

What CRF should I use?

You should use CRF encoding primarly for offline file storage, in order to achieve the most optimal encodes. For other applications, other rate control modes are recommended. In video streaming, for example, CRF can be used in a constrained/capped mode to prevent bitrate spikes.

What is CBR rate control?

CBR stands for constant bitrate and is an encoding method that keeps the bitrate the same. VBR, by contrast, is a variable bitrate. In general, the higher the bitrate, the better the quality of the audio. The advantage of using the CBR method is that audio data typically processes faster compared to the alternatives.

Does Bitrate affect recording?

Why Should You Care? Controlling the bit rate not only determines the quality of the video you're recording but also how long you'll be able to record before running out of memory. However, there is a trade-off: high-quality/high-bitrate video means a shorter recording time.

Can OBS record lossless?

To get both audio and video lossless, set simple output mode, then Settings->Output->Recording->Recording quality->Lossless Quality, tremendously large file size.

What CQ level should I use?

CQ Level. Large values mean that there will be higher quantization, more compression, and lower quality. Lower values mean the opposite. We recommend starting at 17 and adjusting from there depending on the performance of your computer.