When I first set up my dual monitor configuration for streaming and recording, I was thrilled about the potential. However, it wasn’t long before I ran into a frustrating issue with OBS Studio. I needed to change which screen was being recorded, and I wasn’t sure how to make that adjustment. The problem seemed simple at first: I wanted to capture specific content from one monitor while keeping my main screen free for other tasks. I had done some research, but the settings in OBS Studio were not immediately intuitive.
My initial attempt to solve this involved tinkering with the OBS Studio settings without much success. I tried using different sources and adjusting the display capture options, but the results were inconsistent. Sometimes OBS would record the right screen, and other times it would capture something entirely different or nothing at all. It became clear that I needed a more systematic approach to solving this issue.
The first step in resolving this problem was to familiarize myself with the OBS Studio interface. OBS Studio has a feature called “Scenes,” which allows you to set up different configurations for recording and streaming. Each scene can include multiple sources, such as game captures, display captures, and webcam feeds. To change which screen is being recorded, I needed to adjust the display capture source within the specific scene I was using.
Here’s how I went about it:
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Opening OBS Studio: I started by launching OBS Studio. With my dual monitors set up, I ensured both screens were connected and displaying content correctly. I then opened OBS Studio and went to the main window where I could see my scenes and sources.
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Selecting the Scene: In OBS Studio, scenes are crucial for managing different configurations. I selected the scene I wanted to modify. If I didn’t have a specific scene set up for my dual monitors, I created a new one by clicking the “+” button under the “Scenes” section and naming it accordingly.
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Adding or Adjusting the Display Capture Source: Once I had the correct scene selected, I looked at the sources within that scene. If a display capture source was already present, I right-clicked on it and selected “Properties.” This action brought up a window where I could choose which monitor to capture. There was a dropdown menu labeled “Display” that allowed me to select the monitor I wanted to record.
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Choosing the Right Monitor: In the properties window, I found the dropdown list under “Display.” It showed options corresponding to my dual monitors. I selected the monitor that contained the content I wanted to capture. This step was crucial because selecting the wrong monitor would result in capturing the wrong content.
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Applying and Testing: After selecting the correct monitor, I clicked “OK” to apply the changes. To ensure everything was working as expected, I previewed the scene within OBS Studio by clicking on the “Preview Stream” button. This allowed me to see what the recording would look like before I actually started it. If the preview showed the correct monitor and content, I knew I was on the right track.
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Adjusting Additional Settings: Depending on my needs, I might also adjust additional settings related to resolution and frame rate within the properties window. Ensuring these settings matched my recording goals was important for achieving the best quality.
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Starting the Recording: Once everything was set up to my satisfaction, I started the recording by clicking the “Start Recording” button. I monitored the recording to ensure that it captured the intended screen and content. If something didn’t look right, I would stop the recording and recheck the scene and source settings.
In some cases, I needed to switch between monitors during a recording session. OBS Studio makes it relatively straightforward to do this. I would repeat the steps above to switch the display capture source to the desired monitor. This flexibility allowed me to dynamically adjust my recordings to include different content as needed.
Throughout this process, I learned that patience and careful adjustment are key. OBS Studio is a powerful tool, but its settings can be complex. Understanding how scenes and sources work together made managing my dual monitor setup much easier. By following these steps, I was able to effectively change which screen was being recorded and ensure that my content was captured exactly as I intended.
In conclusion, navigating the dual monitor setup in OBS Studio involved a mix of setting adjustments and understanding the software’s interface. By carefully selecting the appropriate display capture source within each scene, I was able to overcome the issue and achieve a smooth recording experience. Whether for streaming or content creation, mastering these settings in OBS Studio greatly enhanced my ability to produce high-quality recordings.