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Q&A What are the differences between OBS' 4 encoders?

I never used OBS before. I'm computer illiterate. I need OBS because I want to record Skype videos with my grandparents before they die. I Googled this, but all the results were too complicated. I...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by TextKit‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by dsr‭

Question obs obs-studio
#3: Post edited by user avatar Mithrandir24601‭ · 2021-05-23T09:23:07Z (over 3 years ago)
fixed grammar
  • I never used OBS before. I'm computer illiterate. I need OBS because I want to record [Skype videos with my grandparents before they die](https://redd.it/44spju).
  • I Googled this, but all the results were too complicated. I couldn't begin to unravel [Comparison of x264](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [NVENC](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [Quicksync](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [VCE](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [x264 vs QSV or NVENC](https://redd.it/c1kmpc).
  • I'm so flummoxed that the Encoder raises too many questions to list out here:
  • - How does "Software" and "Hardware" differ here?
  • - How do the two "Software" options differ?
  • - What "x264" mean or "low CPU usage preset, increases file size."
  • ![OBS Studio recording settings](https://i.stack.imgur.com/25nhU.jpg)
  • I never used OBS before. I'm computer illiterate. I need OBS because I want to record [Skype videos with my grandparents before they die](https://redd.it/44spju).
  • I Googled this, but all the results were too complicated. I couldn't begin to unravel [Comparison of x264](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [NVENC](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [Quicksync](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [VCE](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [x264 vs QSV or NVENC](https://redd.it/c1kmpc).
  • I'm so flummoxed that the Encoder raises too many questions to list out here:
  • - How does "Software" and "Hardware" differ here?
  • - How do the two "Software" options differ?
  • - What does "x264" or "low CPU usage preset, increases file size." mean?
  • ![OBS Studio recording settings](https://i.stack.imgur.com/25nhU.jpg)
#2: Post edited by user avatar Alexei‭ · 2021-05-23T09:22:23Z (over 3 years ago)
minor improvements + added a clearer tag (I think obs should be scrapped)
What are the differences between OBS' 4 encoders?
  • I never used OBS before. I'm computer illiterate. I need OBS because I want to record [Skype videos with my grandparents before they die](https://redd.it/44spju).
  • I Googled this, but all the results were too complicated. I couldn't begin to unravel [Comparison of x264](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [NVENC](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [Quicksync](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [VCE](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [x264 vs QSV or NVENC](https://redd.it/c1kmpc).
  • I'm so flummoxed that the Encoder raises too many questions to list out here. How does "Software" and "Hardware" differ here? How do the two "Software" options differ? I have no idea what "x264" mean or "low CPU usage preset, increases file size."
  • ![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/25nhU.jpg)
  • I never used OBS before. I'm computer illiterate. I need OBS because I want to record [Skype videos with my grandparents before they die](https://redd.it/44spju).
  • I Googled this, but all the results were too complicated. I couldn't begin to unravel [Comparison of x264](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [NVENC](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [Quicksync](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [VCE](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [x264 vs QSV or NVENC](https://redd.it/c1kmpc).
  • I'm so flummoxed that the Encoder raises too many questions to list out here:
  • - How does "Software" and "Hardware" differ here?
  • - How do the two "Software" options differ?
  • - What "x264" mean or "low CPU usage preset, increases file size."
  • ![OBS Studio recording settings](https://i.stack.imgur.com/25nhU.jpg)
#1: Initial revision by user avatar TextKit‭ · 2021-05-13T20:15:34Z (over 3 years ago)
What are the differences between OBS' 4 encoders?
I never used OBS before. I'm computer illiterate. I need OBS because I want to record [Skype videos with my grandparents before they die](https://redd.it/44spju).

I Googled this, but all the results were too complicated. I couldn't begin to unravel [Comparison of x264](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [NVENC](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [Quicksync](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [VCE](https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-x264-nvenc-quicksync-vce.57358/), [x264 vs QSV or NVENC](https://redd.it/c1kmpc).

I'm so flummoxed that the Encoder raises too many questions to list out here. How does "Software" and "Hardware" differ here? How do the two "Software" options differ? I have no idea what "x264" mean or "low CPU usage preset, increases file size."

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/25nhU.jpg)
obs