How to Record HDR Content Using OBS Studio

The future of display technology is all in on HDR. Unlike the ill-fated 3D-TV tech, HDR is growing strong and fast, and it shows with the fact that OBS StudioOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More, one of the most popular broadcasting solutions out there, now supports recording HDR Content.

As it is not very easy to configure OBS StudioOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More to handle HDR content yet, I felt it was important that I teach you how to record HDR Content for YouTube using this powerful software. HDR is fairly picky, which is why it isn’t just a simple toggle switch.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of setting up OBS Studio to use HDR, I want to give you a small background on HDR, as it is really confusing. I hope this small explanation will leave you a little bit better informed.

What is HDR?

HDR stands for High DynamicA dynamic microphone is a type of microphone that converts sound into an electrical signal using an electromagnetically suspended diaphragm. There are two types of dynamic microphones - moving coil and ribbon microphones. Moving coil dynamic microphones have a permanent magnet surrounding the magnetically suspended coil that acts as the microphone diaphragm. Ribbon dynamic microphones are characterized by their very fragile, micron-thin sheet of metal that is suspended in a strong magnetic field. That is to say, they are thinner than human hair. They are very good at capturing lower frequencies but struggle at higher frequencies. More Range. This refers to the range of colors that can be represented by a display panel, and HDR aims to get the display technology closer to the maximum capabilities of the human eye. There are a few HDR standards available, some proprietary, some open sourceA source is a media element that is part of a scene. In OBS Studio, there are many different source types that capture many different things.
• Application Audio Capture (Beta)
• Audio Input Capture
• Audio Output Capture
• Browser
• Color Source
• Display Capture
• Game Capture
• Image
• Image Slide Show
• Media Source
• Scene
• Text (GDI+)
• VLC Video Source
• Video Capture Device
• Window Capture
More:

• HDR10
• Dolby Vision
• HDR10+
• HLG
• PQ10 (PQ format) – OBSOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More Uses this type
• HDR Vivid
• Technicolor Advanced HDR
• SL-HDR1
• SL-HDR2
• SL-HDR3

Not All HDR is Created Equal

Most HDR TVs utilize the HDR10+ standard, but unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion around the technology due to the varying levels of HDR performance that a display is capable of between models. VESA, the company behind the universal mounting mechanism implemented by many TVs and computer monitors, has developed a list of certifications to try and alleviate this issue.

• DisplayHDR 400
• DisplayHDR 500
• DisplayHDR 600
• DisplayHDR 1000
• DisplayHDR 1400
• DisplayHDR 400 True Black
• DisplayHDR 500 True Black
• DisplayHDR 600 True Black

Essentially, the bigger the number, the brighter the display. Then you have the True Black certification that indicates a display’s ability to get close to true black, expanding the contrast ratio significantly.

It is honestly more complicated than that, but the technical aspects of HDR are beyond the scope of this article. If you’d like to learn more about HDR, then you should check out this video by Engadget on YouTube.

Finally, OBSOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More doesn’t use REC 2020, as that is the recommendations by the ITU based on UHD Content. Instead, it uses REC 2100, which is the recommendations by the ITU based on HDR Content.

OBS Studio Setup – Record HDR

Here are the settings in OBS StudioOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More you need to modify to be able to record HDR content:

1. Left-Click on the Settings button in the Controls Dock

2. Open the Advanced Tab

3. Under the Video Section, Select P010 (10 bitsBits are a virtual good that viewers and streamers can buy on Twitch. They can be redeemed for money at a rate of 1 bit = 1 cent. They cost more than 1 cent to buy, as that is one way that Twitch makes money. More 4:2:0, 2 planes)

4. Set Color Space to REC 2100 (PQ)

5. Set Color Range to Full

6. Left-Click Apply
7. Go to the Output Tab
8. Select the Recording Button
   • For AMD Card Users – Set your EncoderAn encoder is a tool that processes a computer screen, webcam, or camera and, in the case of broadcasting, transmits it to an ingest server. Alternatively, it will convert the processed image and audio data into a filetype for recording. More to AMD HW H.265 (HEVC)
   • For NVIDIA Card Users – Set your EncoderAn encoder is a tool that processes a computer screen, webcam, or camera and, in the case of broadcasting, transmits it to an ingest server. Alternatively, it will convert the processed image and audio data into a filetype for recording. More to NVIDIA NVENC HEVC

9. Left-Click Apply
10. Close the settings window
11. Open your video sourceA source is a media element that is part of a scene. In OBS Studio, there are many different source types that capture many different things.
    • Application Audio Capture (Beta)
    • Audio Input Capture
    • Audio Output Capture
    • Browser
    • Color Source
    • Display Capture
    • Game Capture
    • Image
    • Image Slide Show
    • Media Source
    • Scene
    • Text (GDI+)
    • VLC Video Source
    • Video Capture Device
    • Window Capture
    More properties within a sceneA scene is a collection of sources in OBS Studio. It is what viewers will see when you are broadcasting. More by Right-Clicking on a sourceA source is a media element that is part of a scene. In OBS Studio, there are many different source types that capture many different things.
    • Application Audio Capture (Beta)
    • Audio Input Capture
    • Audio Output Capture
    • Browser
    • Color Source
    • Display Capture
    • Game Capture
    • Image
    • Image Slide Show
    • Media Source
    • Scene
    • Text (GDI+)
    • VLC Video Source
    • Video Capture Device
    • Window Capture
    More (Must be the Game Capture SourceA source is a media element that is part of a scene. In OBS Studio, there are many different source types that capture many different things.
    • Application Audio Capture (Beta)
    • Audio Input Capture
    • Audio Output Capture
    • Browser
    • Color Source
    • Display Capture
    • Game Capture
    • Image
    • Image Slide Show
    • Media Source
    • Scene
    • Text (GDI+)
    • VLC Video Source
    • Video Capture Device
    • Window Capture
    More or Video Capture SourceA source is a media element that is part of a scene. In OBS Studio, there are many different source types that capture many different things.
    • Application Audio Capture (Beta)
    • Audio Input Capture
    • Audio Output Capture
    • Browser
    • Color Source
    • Display Capture
    • Game Capture
    • Image
    • Image Slide Show
    • Media Source
    • Scene
    • Text (GDI+)
    • VLC Video Source
    • Video Capture Device
    • Window Capture
    More. Window Capture and Display Capture will not work.)

12. Select REC 2100 (PQ) as the sourceA source is a media element that is part of a scene. In OBS Studio, there are many different source types that capture many different things.
    • Application Audio Capture (Beta)
    • Audio Input Capture
    • Audio Output Capture
    • Browser
    • Color Source
    • Display Capture
    • Game Capture
    • Image
    • Image Slide Show
    • Media Source
    • Scene
    • Text (GDI+)
    • VLC Video Source
    • Video Capture Device
    • Window Capture
    More color space for each and every sourceA source is a media element that is part of a scene. In OBS Studio, there are many different source types that capture many different things.
    • Application Audio Capture (Beta)
    • Audio Input Capture
    • Audio Output Capture
    • Browser
    • Color Source
    • Display Capture
    • Game Capture
    • Image
    • Image Slide Show
    • Media Source
    • Scene
    • Text (GDI+)
    • VLC Video Source
    • Video Capture Device
    • Window Capture
    More and click OK
    • Webcams may not work in REC 2100 mode; my C920 does not.
    • You may have issues with the NVIDIA Broadcast camera as well – Again, mine doesn’t work, so I can’t verify its functionality.

Is HDR Backwards Compatible With SDR?

The answer is complicated, but for the most part, yes. This is especially true if there is metadata for the display to use.

A List of Capture Cards That Support HDR Capture

Here is a short list of capture cards that support HDR Capture and Recording:

Note: See the OBS Certified Devices Page to understand what OBSOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More Certified means.

• ASUS CU4k30 (OBSOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More Certified)
• EVGA XR1 Pro (OBSOBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software. It is a powerful free broadcasting software with many features that make broadcasting very easy. More Certified)
• AVerMedia Live Gamer 4k (GC573)
• AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA (GC553)
• Elgato 4k60 Pro MK.2
• Elgato 4k60 S+
• Elgato HD60 S+
• Elgato HD60 X

There may be other capture card models out there that support HDR Capture by the time you get around to reading this article, so if you’d like an up-to-date list, I recommend checking out this page on the OBS Knowledge Base FAQ to have the most up-to-date list. Some of these devices listed here have even appeared in my article roundup for the Best Capture Cards for Streamers.

Conclusion – The HDR World is Here

I love HDR.

For a long time, I’ve exclusively used IPS Display monitors due to their superior color index. See, I was a bit of a color snob due to my gaming hobby, and I loved how everything popped on the IPS VS my old VA Panel, despite the loss in Pixel response time. You can thank my tech-loving friend who bought a fancy IPS display and raved to me like a lunatic for that. I caved and bought one, which turned into 3 monitors over time.

More recently, that same friend hopped on the early-adopter train for an HDR display and, once again, blew the winds of persuasion to try it myself my way. I was blown away at the difference (depending on the content’s implementation of it anyway) of even the jump from VA to IPS.

From there, it is history, and I have a single HDR Display ’cause they are still really expensive. I got one of the cheaper models back then, though, and it only has a NIT Peak Brightness of 350, which still looked better than SDR, in my opinion.

If I had to choose a monitor today, I’d go for the Gigabyte Aorus FV43U, which has one of the best HDR implementations available today for a reasonable price, along with G-SYNC, 144hz refresh rate, and 4k Support.