Fix OBS Encoding Overloaded with These 10 Ways Today!
You are about to go live, but then boom! A frustrating "Encoding Overloaded!" popped up in OBS. This notification will bring your stream to choppy video and audio, a poor viewer experience. So, how do you fix OBS encoding overloaded? The good news is that it is a common issue that is solvable with a few tweaks. This guide will share the 10 solutions to fight against OBS encoding overloaded. Say goodbye now to stuttering streams!
Guide List
Try Lightweight OBS Alternative – AnyRec Screen Recorder Reduce Frame Rate to Fix OBS Encoding Overloaded Lower Output Resolution Change Encoder on OBS Studio Check the Recording Sources Adjust CPU Preset (x264 Only) Enable Hardware Acceleration Close or Force Quit Background Programs Use Performance Mode (Turn off Game Mode) Add More RAM and Upgrade GPU/CPUTry Lightweight OBS Alternative – AnyRec Screen Recorder
Beyond fixing the OBS encoding overloaded issue, trying out an alternative can save lots of resources and time for screen recording without any complex steps. This great lightweight alternative is the AnyRec Screen Recorder, made for everyone who wants to capture gameplay, calls, or any desktop activity with no lag. Unlike OBS, it is optimized to work so smoothly on systems with lower specs, ensuring smooth performance even in long sessions. It also includes built-in editing tools, letting you refine your recordings before exporting without any third-party apps.
Customizable capture area, e.g., full-screen, window, or region.
Offer high-quality output, up to 4K resolution, with low CPU usage.
Preview the recording to make some enhancements before exporting.
Custom hotkeys are offered for easy controls (start, stop, pause, etc.)
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Step 1.Run AnyRec Screen Recorder on your computer. Once it is up, stay on "Video Recorde" mode for screen capture. Select either "Full" for the entire screen or "Custom" for recording a window or specific part of your screen.
To ensure your video looks exactly as you want, click the "Settings" button, then the "Output" tab, and tweak settings like resolution, frame rate, and more.
Step 2.Next, switch the "System Sound" option to include computer audio. If you’d like to add your voice, enable the "Microphone" option too. Set the right volume levels for both sources.
Step 3.Once you've got everything set, click the "REC" button. You can use the on-screen toolbar to draw and annotate on your screen as well as take quick screenshots using the "Snapshot" button.
Step 4.When you’re done, click the "Stop" button. You will be taken to the preview window to watch the recording first. Use the editing tools to clean it up before clicking the "Save" button.
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Reduce Frame Rate to Fix OBS Encoding Overloaded
Lowering your frame rate is among the simplest ways to enhance recording performance and lessen system strain, as well as fixing OBS encoding overloaded issues. Since FPS dictates how many frames per second your captures, a higher FPS means smoother but also more CPU/GPU usage.
- 1. Move your cursor to the bottom right, then click on "Settings".
- 2. There, click the "Video" tab; from "Common FPS Values", choose "30" or "24".
- 3. At last, click the "Apply" button, then "OK".
Lower Output Resolution
Next up is reducing the lower resolution. While 1080p is standard, some scenarios work well with 720p or even 480p, primarily for tutorials and webcam recordings. This adjustment is especially useful for lower systems, getting you out of content encoding error.
- 1. Start the OBS Studio program, then go to its "Settings".
- 2. Navigate to the "Video" section, and under "Output (Scaled) Resolution", switch it to the "1280x720" option or lower.
- 3. While the "Base (Canvas) Resolution" will stay as it is.
Change Encoder on OBS Studio
Various encoders handle compression differently and affect performance depending on your hardware. Having the right encoder can reduce CPU load, especially in game recording sessions, resolving the OBS encoding overloaded problem.
Check the Recording Sources
If you're getting the OBS encoding overloaded warning, your system may not keep up with the settings you have chosen for encoding video. Thus, checking the recording source is among the solutions you have to try.
- 1. From the OBS main screen, go to the "Sources" box, and then you can remove anything you're not using.
- 2. If you're using a webcam, right-click on it, then select "properties" to adjust some settings, such as resolution, fps, etc.
Adjust CPU Preset (x264 Only)
The CPU preset controls how much CPU is utilized to compress video. Faster presets use less CPU, which is equal to larger files, while slower ones use more CPU but result in smaller files. For low-end systems, switching to a faster option can prevent lag, fixing OBS encoding overloaded issues. It will also make OBS recording take less space.
- 1. Go to "Settings" then "Output". From the "Recording" tab, make sure "x264" is chosen as the encoder.
- 2. Then, navigate to "CPU Usage Preset"and select the "superfast" or "ultrafast" option.
- 3. Apply all changes and exit settings.
Enable Hardware Acceleration
As for hardware acceleration, it lets your software offload processing to your GPU. This OBS feature can be a game changer on systems with decent GPUs, and enabling it can reduce input lag and boost frame rates. Here’s how to do it to solve the encoding overload error:
- 1. Go to "Settings" in the OBS program, then look for "Output".
- 2. From the "Encoder", select "Hardware (NVENC) " or "AMD VCE".
- 3. Ensure that "Look-ahead" and "Psycho Visual Tuning" too are also enabled (optional).
- 4. Then, you can go to the "Advanced" section as well and set Renderer to "Direct3D 11". Apply all changes and restart OBS.
Close or Force Quit Background Programs
With so many apps running in the background, they consume memory and CPU cycles, causing the OBS encoding overloaded issue. Thus, close any extra apps to ensure more resources are available for screen recording.
- 1. Press the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keys for the Task Manager window.
- 2. From there, identify all high-usage apps or running programs in the background, right-click them, and select "End Task".
Use Performance Mode (Turn off Game Mode)
Some OS features include Game Mode, which interferes with recording by focusing on game performance over background tasks like screen recording. Enabling Performance Mode will provide a more stable experience, especially on older systems, getting you out of OBS encoding overloaded problems.
- 1. Inside OBS, right-click the preview window and choose "Performance Mode" to turn off live preview.
- 2. After that, open the "Windows Settings", then head to "Gaming" and "Game Mode"; turn the switch off.
- 3. Restart OBS now.
Add More RAM and Upgrade GPU/CPU
If all OBS optimization fails, the best way to fix OBS encoding overloaded issues is by upgrading the hardware. A better GPU handles real-time encoding, and having a faster CPU improves frame handling.
- 1. Check your system specs in the "Task Manager" first, then determine bottlenecks such as GPU load, CPU spikes, and RAM usage.
- 2. Now, purchase any compatible hardware, then install upgrades.
Conclusion
Whether it is dropping frames or stuttering video, these solutions can give you real ways to fight back to fix OBS encoding overloaded issues. Sometimes, all it needs is lowering your resolution or switching to a hardware encoder. But what if you have tried all the tweaks and OBS still gives you a hard time? AnyRec Screen Recorder offers a smooth and simple alternative to capture everything on your screen without going through tons of settings. Record with confidence and clarity now, no overload required.
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