!["2024 Approved Broadcast Showdown The Faceoff Between OBS & ShadowToolKit"](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/UgZFn1LjdiPD7yj2MRRWCGpAQWY=/400x300/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/d-link-default-password-list-2619152-d6281a924f45426f879c8707220ce92d.png)
"2024 Approved Broadcast Showdown The Faceoff Between OBS & ShadowToolKit"
![](/images/site-logo.png)
Broadcast Showdown: The Faceoff Between OBS & ShadowToolKit
If you are an avid gamer and you are not recording your gameplay and uploading on online platforms, you are missing out on the trend. Gamers are uploading their gameplay on video streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube and earning followers, fame as well as money. No matter which game you play on your computer, you should record it. Thereafter, you can make it interesting with editing and voiceover and upload on video streaming and social media platforms.
Primarily, you will need a gameplay recording software and there is no dearth of gameplay and screen recording software. The two most popular free gameplay recorders are OBS Studio and ShadowPlay. In order to help you choose OBS or ShadowPlay, we have provided you with a complete comparison of ShadowPlay vs OBS recording software. Go through all the points minutely and understand their differences and pick the perfect one for recording your gameplay.
Part 1. Key Features of OBS and ShadowPlay
OBS and ShadowPlay are both completely free to use for recording your gameplay as well as your capturing desktop screen. OBS is open-source software and it has a cross-platform structure which is why it supports all computer operating systems. It is popular among gamers for live streaming on Twitch and YouTube.
ShadowPlay comes from Nvidia which is the largest manufacturer for GPU. That is why gamers who prefer Nvidia GPU, they have a special preference for ShadowPlay. Here are the key features of OBS and ShadowPlay you should be aware of.
OBS Studio
Screen Capture - You can capture high-quality gameplay when you play games on your computer as well as on a gaming console. You can tweak the parameters on video quality so that you can get the recording just like you want.
Webcam Capture - OBS lets you add webcam as an overlay so that you can record your gameplay as well as show your reaction so that the recording is more interactive and engaging. You can also use green screen setup to make the video more professional and eye-catching.
Better Audio - You can record your game sound as well as your voice from external mic. This is useful for voiceover and live commentary to make the video interesting and showcase your personality traits verbally. There are also audio filters, audio mixers, and audio effects available to apply.
Advanced Editor - The built-in editing software allows performing different post-recording tasks like sharpening, cropping, and color correction. It has advanced filters that enable Chroma keying, image masking, and color correction.
Easy Switching - It comes with a one-click solution for switching between transitions and scenes. The tool can be perfect for going back and forth between games and devices. You can also add multiple screens and audio sources as required.
Most importantly, you can live stream your gameplay on almost any online video streaming platform.
Nvidia ShadowPlay
Gameplay Capture - ShadowPlay lets you record gameplay at 8K with 30FPS. This is unmatched by any free video recording software. You can also record gameplay at 4K HDR with 60FPS. It comes with hardware acceleration to ensure the performance does not get affected while recording in the background.
Instant Replay - ShadowPlay keeps recording in the background and therefore, if something important has happened in the game, you can get the last 30 seconds of instant replay clip and you can share it anywhere you want. This is highly useful to share short clips on social media platforms.
ShadowPlay Highlights - The feature will automatically record the best gaming moments and create a perfect highlight video. This is useful when you want to upload the best parts of the gameplay rather than the entire part.
Screenshots - ShadowPlay lets you capture 8K screenshots of your game that you can use as thumbnails for your videos as well as put them up on social media platforms.
GIF Creator - With ShadowPlay, you don’t have to leave the game to create GIFs. You can create high-quality GIFs of duration 15 seconds. You can also add text to the GIFs and share anything you want.
Just like OBS, ShadowPlay enables you to broadcast gameplay in real-time on YouTube Live, Twitch, and Facebook Live.
Part 2. Comparison ShadowPlay vs OBS
Here are the key points of differences between OBS and ShadowPlay that will help you decide between OBS or ShadowPlay.
ShadowPlay vs OBS Recording:
While recording, OBS allows faster processing of the recorded video files. Besides, it can compress the file size during the encoding process so that the recorded video files take relatively less space. This makes it ideal for longer sessions of gameplay recording. However, in the process, OBS can reduce the frame rate significantly, and hence, the video may not be as smooth as you expect it to be. Therefore, OBS is suitable for regular game recording where not much compression is required.
On the contrary, ShadowPlay does not reduce the file size or frame rate, and hence, it is a great choice for high-end games where you need the recorded to be as smooth as possible. However, ShadowPlay requires more space on the hard drive. When you upload on video streaming platforms, there will be some automatic compression. Therefore, the less compression you do during your encoding phase, the better will be the output.
ShadowPlay vs OBS Performance:
OBS uses significant CPU power and resources. This is one of the reasons why it reduces the frame rate while recording to use less CPU resources. In fact, it can affect the game performance if you are playing and recording a high-end game. However, you can customize various configuration parameters to reduce its burden on CPU performance.
ShadowPlay does not affect the CPU performance as it comes with hardware acceleration. It supports higher frame rates for high-end games as well. If at all, it can bring about 5%-10% effect on CPU performance which is almost ignorable in comparison to OBS.
ShadowPlay vs OBS File Format:
OBS consumes less space for recorded videos. It compresses the format which can drastically reduce the output file size. The best thing about OBS is that it comes with the NVENC hardware encoded chip that allows choosing from different supported file formats.
On the contrary, ShadowPlay supports MP4 formats by default which makes it require more space. It uses codec. MP4 file format is the most popular video file format that you can play across all media players and upload on online platforms.
ShadowPlay vs OBS Live Streaming:
You cannot live stream as well as record on ShadowPlay. This is a major drawback that OBS has overcome. That is why most gamers prefer OBS Studio for live streaming as they can record the gaming session for future reference. If you want to just broadcast your gameplay, ShadowPlay is good enough. But if you want to have multiple scenes and overlay adjustments in live streaming, OBS is the best choice.
ShadowPlay vs OBS Editing:
OBS offers better editing options thanks to its built-in editor. Starting customizable transitions to real-time editing before broadcasting, OBS has different editing scopes tailor-made for gamers. On the contrary, ShadowPlay has very limited editing options as the main focus is on recording only. But if we talk about true video editing, both applications are still underdeveloped on this front.
Part 3. Alternative Way To Record Games
If you are looking for a premium gameplay recording software, we recommend Wondershare Filmora. Filmora is a perfect combination of screen recorder and professional video editor. In comparison to OBS or ShadowPlay, Filmora has better features and options in terms of editing. You can record your gameplay as well as webcam in overlay for professional recording. You can add video effects as well as audio effects to make the video more appealing. Here are the steps to record gameplay with Filmora.
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Download and install Wondershare Filmora. Open Filmora and click on PC Screen option to record your gameplay.
Step 2: Select the recording screen size which is likely to be full screen for gaming. You can select the microphone if you want to record your voice for live commentary. Besides, turn on Record the Camera Stream option if you want your face video to be present as an overlay.
Step 3: To start recording, click on Record button. You will get a few buffer seconds to switch to your game after which recording will start automatically.
You can press F9 key to stop recording. You can edit the recorded gameplay and export in any desired file format.
Conclusion
If you want to record high-end games, ShadowPlay is ideal as it does not affect game performance as well as does not reduce frame rate. For not so high-end games, OBS does the job perfectly. OBS is particularly useful when you want to live stream as well as record your gameplay. If you are looking for a premium software and a better alternative, Wondershare Filmora is the perfect choice.
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Download and install Wondershare Filmora. Open Filmora and click on PC Screen option to record your gameplay.
Step 2: Select the recording screen size which is likely to be full screen for gaming. You can select the microphone if you want to record your voice for live commentary. Besides, turn on Record the Camera Stream option if you want your face video to be present as an overlay.
Step 3: To start recording, click on Record button. You will get a few buffer seconds to switch to your game after which recording will start automatically.
You can press F9 key to stop recording. You can edit the recorded gameplay and export in any desired file format.
Conclusion
If you want to record high-end games, ShadowPlay is ideal as it does not affect game performance as well as does not reduce frame rate. For not so high-end games, OBS does the job perfectly. OBS is particularly useful when you want to live stream as well as record your gameplay. If you are looking for a premium software and a better alternative, Wondershare Filmora is the perfect choice.
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Download and install Wondershare Filmora. Open Filmora and click on PC Screen option to record your gameplay.
Step 2: Select the recording screen size which is likely to be full screen for gaming. You can select the microphone if you want to record your voice for live commentary. Besides, turn on Record the Camera Stream option if you want your face video to be present as an overlay.
Step 3: To start recording, click on Record button. You will get a few buffer seconds to switch to your game after which recording will start automatically.
You can press F9 key to stop recording. You can edit the recorded gameplay and export in any desired file format.
Conclusion
If you want to record high-end games, ShadowPlay is ideal as it does not affect game performance as well as does not reduce frame rate. For not so high-end games, OBS does the job perfectly. OBS is particularly useful when you want to live stream as well as record your gameplay. If you are looking for a premium software and a better alternative, Wondershare Filmora is the perfect choice.
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Download and install Wondershare Filmora. Open Filmora and click on PC Screen option to record your gameplay.
Step 2: Select the recording screen size which is likely to be full screen for gaming. You can select the microphone if you want to record your voice for live commentary. Besides, turn on Record the Camera Stream option if you want your face video to be present as an overlay.
Step 3: To start recording, click on Record button. You will get a few buffer seconds to switch to your game after which recording will start automatically.
You can press F9 key to stop recording. You can edit the recorded gameplay and export in any desired file format.
Conclusion
If you want to record high-end games, ShadowPlay is ideal as it does not affect game performance as well as does not reduce frame rate. For not so high-end games, OBS does the job perfectly. OBS is particularly useful when you want to live stream as well as record your gameplay. If you are looking for a premium software and a better alternative, Wondershare Filmora is the perfect choice.
Also read:
- "\"AudioAnalyzer Reaction to Recordings for 2024\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Zoom In on Success Screenshots Made Simple by EZvide Tech\""
- "[New] Effortless Techniques for Lenovo Capture Tasks"
- "[Updated] In 2024, ScreenMasters Unite"
- "[Updated] Master the Art of Live Sound Capture on the Internet for 2024"
- "Unveiling the New Apeaksoft Screenscape Capture"
- "\"In 2024, Streamline Your Gameplay Win10 Screen Record Tech\""
- "\"[New] 2024 Approved Solve Invisible Buffer Problems in Video Games\""
- "\"2024 Approved Exclusive Insights Elevating Your Mobizen Screencast Game\""
- "\"[Updated] Ultimate Kid-Friendly Driving Delights for 2024\""
- "[Updated] Best Solutions to Record Video Without Sound"
- "The Ultimate List of Serene Smartphone Games for 2024"
- "\"Avoiding Pitfalls in Low-Light Portrait Photography\""
- "\"In 2024, Achieving Precision with OBS Implementing Timer Functionality\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Streamlined Steps for iOS Voice Recordings\""
- "[New] Ultimate HD Screensnap Equipment for 2024"
- "\"Fine-Tuning Team Call Aesthetics Pre & Post Customization for 2024\""
- "[New] Peak Procurement of Lecture Captures for 2024"
- "\"Capturing the Essence The Best Windows 11/10 Recorders Ranked\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Innovative VFX Equipment for Eco Warriors\""
- "\"[New] 2024 Approved Design Mastery Building an MC Village Home\""
- "\"[New] Innovating Facial Capture The Future of Video Recording for 2024\""
- "\"[Updated] The Epic Journey Through Memory Lane Advanced Methods for Capturing Your Sims' Digital Adventures for 2024\""
- "\"[New] NoWorryCapture - Quick and Easy Win11 Recordings\""
- "[New] A Comprehensive Guide to Online Podcast Recording for 2024"
- "[New] In 2024, Revolutionary Tips to Upgrade Your Webinar Recordings"
- "[New] In 2024, Webinar Playback Recordings"
- "[Updated] The Pathway to Captivating Audio on MacOS via Audacity for 2024"
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Google Meet for Everyone A Comprehensive, No-Cost Strategy Booklet\""
- "\"Top Time-Lapse Techniques & Tools #5\""
- "[New] In 2024, A Comparison of Best Linux Screenshare Utilities"
- "[Updated] The Expert's Guide to Recording Live Streaming on Diverse Tech Gadgets for 2024"
- "\"In 2024, Transforming Team Conversation Windows Pre & Post-Calls\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Memorize Mastery Galaxy Phone Gameplay Archive\""
- "\"[New] In 2024, Mastering ScreenCapture Essential Techniques\""
- Will iSpoofer update On Samsung Galaxy M34 | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Fixing Foneazy MockGo Not Working On Xiaomi Redmi 13C | Dr.fone
- A Perfect Guide To Remove or Disable Google Smart Lock On Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Updated In 2024, Chromebook Hacks Installing Linux for Enhanced Productivity
- Updated In 2024, Top 10 Hindi Video Translators with Step-by-Step Guidance
- Remove Samsung Lock Screen without Password(Samsung Galaxy M14 4G)
- Overview of the Best Lava Agni 2 5G Screen Mirroring App | Dr.fone
- In 2024, How To Reset the Security Questions of Your Apple ID On Your iPhone 7
- What You Need To Know To Improve Your Oppo A56s 5G Hard Reset | Dr.fone
- 2024 Approved Premier Android and iPhone Applications for Accurate Speech Conversion to Text
- In 2024, 3 Effective Methods to Fake GPS location on Android For your Vivo X Flip | Dr.fone
- In 2024, 8 Best Apps for Screen Mirroring Itel S23 PC | Dr.fone
- In 2024, iPogo will be the new iSpoofer On Tecno Camon 20 Premier 5G? | Dr.fone
- Updated The Ultimate List Top Free Online Video Merging Software for 2024
- New Exploring PCs Best Sound Capture Software A Selection of Top 10 for 2024
- Turn Off Screen Lock - Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (2023)
- In 2024, How to Transfer Data from Honor 90 to Samsung Phone | Dr.fone
- Updated Ultimate Guide to Movie Trailer Makers for Mac and Windows Users
- How to Change Netflix Location to Get More Country Version On Gionee F3 Pro | Dr.fone
- 3 Ways to Track HTC U23 without Them Knowing | Dr.fone
- New 2024 Approved Getting Into The Details A Review of Kodak LUTs
- New 2024 Approved Selecting the Premier Windows Application for Auditory Emptying in Videos
- iPhone Is Disabled? Here Is The Way To Unlock Disabled iPhone 7 | Dr.fone
- Updated Unlock the Power of Voice Best Free Mac Speech Recognition Software for 2024
- New The Leading Audio Tinkering Tools IOS and Android Edition, Revised for 2024
- Updated Discover 8 Top-Rated Video and Photo Merger Tools for Desktop, Mobile, and Online Use. Elevate Your Media Game and Create Stunning Visuals with Ease
- In 2024, 15 Best Strongest Pokémon To Use in Pokémon GO PvP Leagues For Honor Magic5 Ultimate | Dr.fone
- Updated 2024 Approved IDub
- In 2024, Complete Fixes To Solve Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Randomly Asking for Apple ID Password
- In 2024, Ways To Find Unlocking Codes For Oppo A18 Phones
- New 2024 Approved No More Blur 5 Free Android Apps to Stabilize Your Videos
- 4 solution to get rid of pokemon fail to detect location On Vivo V30 Pro | Dr.fone
- Video Editing on a Mac? Here Are 10 Fantastic Vegas Pro Alternatives for 2024
- In 2024, 2 Ways to Monitor Realme C67 4G Activity | Dr.fone
- Updated 2024 Approved Top 10 Best Free Manga Sites to Read Online
- Title: "2024 Approved Broadcast Showdown The Faceoff Between OBS & ShadowToolKit"
- Author: Mary Shelley
- Created at : 2024-05-19 21:05:57
- Updated at : 2024-05-20 21:05:57
- Link: https://screen-sharing-recording.techidaily.com/2024-approved-broadcast-showdown-the-faceoff-between-obs-and-shadowtoolkit/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.