OBS Studio

[last updated: 2023-06-24]
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• OBS is a streaming capture program. So far I've only used it to pull audio mp3's off YouTube.
  It's free and open-source, available from:
  (link to:) OBS

• Installation procedure from OBS:
  • NOTE: OpenGL 3.3 or later is required to use OBS Studio on Linux. You can check what version of OpenGL is supported by your system by typing glxinfo | grep "OpenGL" on Terminal.
    • Command printout somewhat cryptic. Among other lines...
      OpenGL core profile version string: 3.3 (Core Profile) Mesa 20.0.8
      OpenGL version string: 3.1 Mesa 20.0.8
      But I'm proceeding as if that's OK...
  • xserver-xorg version 1.18.4 or newer is recommended
  • FFmpeg is required. You can get it with:
    $ sudo apt install ffmpeg

  • Make sure you enabled the multiverse repo in Ubuntu's software center
    (NOTE: On newer versions of Ubuntu, adding a repository automatically apt updates.)
    from itsFoss:
    $ sudo add-apt-repository universe
    $ sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
    $ sudo apt update
  • Then you can install OBS with:
    $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
    $ sudo apt update
    $ sudo apt install obs-studio

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• 2021-01-29: Installation on Dell-4600:
  • $ sudo apt-get update
    $ sudo apt-get upgrade
  • $ sudo apt install ffmpeg
    [This worked without having done the multiverse thing above...]
  • $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
    $ sudo apt update
    $ sudo apt install obs-studio
    [Everything worked without error...]
• 2021-05-07: Reloaded linux and re-installed OBS-Studio on Dell-4600, same procedure, successful.
• 2022-02-26: Reloaded Linux onto tower. Installed OBS from Software Manager.
• 2023-06-23: Reloaded Linux onto tower. Reloaded OBS 29.1.3 from Software Manager.
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• Open/Setup:
  linuxMintMenu > Sound & Video > OBS Studio
  Nominal responses to setup/calibration wizard prompts...
  -----------------------------------------------

• Operation:
  • Open OBS: linuxMintMenu > Sound & Video > OBS Studio
  • Define Output Location for Saved files:
    • File > Settings > Output > Recording > Recording Path
      Browse to select a different location
  • Set Output quality:
    • File > Settings > Output > Recording > Recording Quality
    • Note higher quality greatly increases file sizes.

    -----------------------------------------

  • Define Input/Source:
    • File > Settings > Audio > Global Audio Devices
      Desktop Audio > default
      Everything else disabled
      Click Apply if it's highlighted, then click OK
    • ...
    • To record from mic plugged into the PC,
      select mic/aux audio - built-in audio analog stereo - Apply - OK
  • Record audio:
    • Click Start Recording (far right "Controls" menu block)
      Answer Yes proceed anyway when prompted that you don't have a video source selected
    • When done, click Stop Recording (same button as Start with changed function)
      File (.mkv) will be saved to selected location
      File naming format: yyyy-mm-dd_HH-mm-ss.mkv
    • Convert mkv to mp4:
      File > Remux Recording
      If anything is listed in left-hand (OBS Recording) column, click "Clear All Items" at bottom.
      Click white square menu button at right end of OBS recording field
      Click the .mkv file you want to convert; click Open
            -or- if you want to do several at once,
            hold shift and click each file desired, then click Open.
      Edit Target File fields if desired to change destination file name and/or location.
      Click Remux at bottom
      When "Remuxing finished," click OK, then Close

      
      Unless you edited the Target File name, the mp4 file will be placed in the same directory ("selected location" - see above)
      or else $ cd ... to desired directory, then:

    • Convert mp4 to mp3:
      $ ls ... to be sure you're in the directory with your .mp4 files,
      else $ cd ... to desired directory,
      else edit command to include complete pathname:

      $ ffmpeg -i filename.mp4 filename.mp3

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  • Record video:
    • Set up video:
      In OBS, find the box labeled "Sources"
      • If you want to record from PC screen:
        If "Window capture (Xcomposite)" is listed, double click it to open the Properties box.
        else,
        Click on the "+" at the bottom, and select "Window capture (Xcomposite)"
        "Create new" dialogue opens. Click OK

        Properties window opens.

        The top part of the window will show the default desktop view that will be recorded
        If that's not what you want, Go to the bottom part of the window, and find the field labeled Window.
        Click the drop-down at the far right of the field, and select the particular window you want to record.
        The dialogue window seems to have a limited number of lines of screen sources that it can display.
        If the window you want is not listed, close some windows on your computer and try again.

        Click OK

      • If you want to record from a USB camera:
        • In Sources, click "+"
        • Select "video capture device V4L2"
          Select create new, click OK

      • Set up audio:
        • If you will be recording audio from the same desktop source where you're getting your video, then use the same setup as you used above to record just audio.
        • But if you want to record a voice-over with your laptop microphone, then:
          File > Settings > Audio
          Under Global Audio Devices, disable everything,
          but select mic/aux audio as default
          Click OK

      • Start recording
        Click Start Recording button in right side Controls menu block
      • Select the window you're recording from your bottom task bar,
        then Action
      • When done, go back to OBS and Stop Recording.

      • The recording will be saved to the location you defined above.

    --------------------------------------------

  • Capture images:
    • With my current version: 26.1.1
    • First specify where you want images saved:
      File -> Settings -> Output - Recording - Recording Path
    • Right-click (anywhere?)
      click Screenshot (preview)
    • This will instantly save a .png screenshot to the location specified.

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