x264 settings for 60 FPS video capture

[gelo333]

I capture video in OBS. The main content is captured from third-party video. Could you please tell me which settings should I improve for 60 FPS in the x264 codec with CRF? I think the main settings are keyint, min-keyint, AQ, b=adapt, and maybe a few others.

[rgr]

1. OBS is not suitable for capturing; it's the worst possible choice. Use VirtualDub.
2. There are tons of tutorials online -- personally, I'd use the default settings with preset=slower and CRF=17 (visually lossless). But if you want to capture directly to h264, it's a very poor choice.

[gelo333]

Thanks for the answer!

I'm having trouble finding direct answers to my questions. For example, what changes if I use 60 FPS instead of the standard 30 FPS? What codec settings should I change? Especially keyint and min-keyint.

If not x264, what codec should I use for capturing?

Should I use VirtualDub's built-in features or install screen recording plugins?

[lordsmurf]

The source is not 60fps. Therefore, you do not capture at 60fps.

OBS was not made for analog video capture. It is a digital screen capture utility. Analog video is "captured" from within preview layers, essentially OBS still acts as screen capturing. This isn't capturing.

You're not getting direct answers because the questions are wrong. Most people don't answer wrong (or dumb) questions, simply because the asker insists.

[gelo333]

The source is 60 FPS. I'm recording Windows. Is this analog video?
I have no problem recording at 60 FPS. I was asking about codec optimization.

[Clockwork]

Is this analog video?

How should anyone know this?

[gelo333]

I think my question is much simpler than it might seem. There are codec settings for video, which is typically 30 FPS or less. What settings need to be adjusted to record at 60 FPS? What codec options does this affect? ​​To optimize and improve the recording.

[rgr]

You don't set the fps in the codec*. The codec* records the stream you send to it. If you send 30 fps, it encodes at 30 fps; if you send 60 fps, it encodes at 60 fps.

I'm not sure what you want to do. Do you want to mix the screen content with some video from another source and encode it all at 60fps?

* encoder

[gelo333]

I'm asking what codec settings can be improved for 60 fps video. I have no problem recording video at 60 fps. This is an optimization issue.

[rgr]

I'm asking what codec settings can be improved for 60 fps video. I have no problem recording video at 60 fps. This is an optimization issue.

Speed? Quality? Most of it depends on the source type, and the purpose, meaning what you don't like about your current settings.

[gelo333]

I wrote about this in the first message. CRF 18-22 (but not consistently). Source: Windows 10 desktop.
Does the codec detect any differences between 30 fps and 60 fps videos? If so, what settings will work best for 60 fps videos? Which settings are important in this case?

[videoAI]

@gelo333

To capture [1080p/60, local recording] in OBS with x264 + CRF, prioritize consistent 60 FPS,
avoid dropped frames, and keep visual quality without huge files.

OBS encoder config:

preset=veryfast
tune=film
profile=high
crf=18
fps=60
keyint=120
min-keyint=30
aq-mode=2
aq-strength=1.0
b-adapt=2
rc-lookahead=40
threads=0
x264opts=bitrate=0

Make these minimal changes in OBS -> Output (Recording) -> Encoder -> x264 -> Custom x264 options.

## Recommended settings (apply these exact values)
- FPS: 60 (Output and Video -> Common FPS Value = 60)
- Preset: veryfast (move it slower only if CPU headroom allows)
- Profile: high
- Tune: film
- Rate control: CRF
- CRF: 18 (adjust 16–20 if you want smaller/larger files)
- Keyint: 120 (2 × FPS for sensible GOP length)
- Min-keyint: 30
- b-adapt: 2
- AQ mode: 2
- AQ strength: 1.0
- rc-lookahead: 40
- threads: 0 (auto)
- vbv-bufsize & vbv-maxrate: leave unset for CRF/local recording
- B-frames: 2 (default)
- Psychovisual tweaks: enable tune=film; leave ref frames default (3)
- CPU usage safety: if you see dropped frames or high CPU, move preset to superfast or ultrafast.

## Why these matter
- keyint/min-keyint: stabilize GOP for frame pacing at 60 FPS.
- AQ & aq-strength: improve subjective quality in complex scenes.
- b-adapt & rc-lookahead: improve motion handling and rate allocation.
- CRF: controls overall quality/file size tradeoff.

## Incremental change path (apply one at a time)
1. Set FPS to 60.
2. Set CRF to 18 and preset=veryfast.
3. Set keyint=120, min-keyint=30.
4. Set aq-mode=2 and aq-strength=1.0.
5. Set b-adapt=2 and rc-lookahead=40.
6. Test recording; if CPU high, increase preset (veryfast → superfast).

If you see dropped frames or high CPU, check OBS Stats for CPU usage
and reduce preset one step or lower rc-lookahead to 20.