Updated By Amy On Jul 19, 2025, 7:14 pm
As is well known, OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is a powerful free and open-source application that is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. It can overlay images, text, or other visual elements on the live broadcast screen to help viewers understand the live content more intuitively. However, the default recording format for OBS is MKV, which is not compatible with most mainstream media players. Therefore, in order to play or share recorded content on different devices or platforms, it is usually necessary to convert MKV files to a more universal MP4 format. This article will provide a detailed introduction on how to convert OBS MKV files to MP4, hoping to be helpful to you.
When choosing the recording format for OBS, it is recommended to prioritize the MKV format for the following reasons:
-Video Quality and Compatibility: MKV is a flexible container format that supports multiple audio and video encodings. Its video quality is very similar to MP4 format, and there is almost no significant difference in viewing experience. The MP4 format requires a series of complex file finalization operations during the recording process, such as adding metadata, timestamps, frame rates, and other information. If OBS crashes unexpectedly during the recording process (such as software failure, system error, or sudden power outage), MP4 files may not be restored properly, resulting in the loss of recorded content.
-File Security: The MKV format does not require complex file finalization operations during the recording process, so even if the OBS crashes due to unexpected reasons such as a blue screen crash or sudden power outage, the recorded file can still be saved in its entirety without losing any frames.
-Professional scenario applicability: MKV format is widely used in professional fields such as film production and video editing due to its flexibility and efficiency. For video content that requires post-processing, MKV format can better meet professional needs. MP4 format requires real-time processing of large amounts of data during recording, which may increase system burden, especially on resource limited devices. In contrast, the MKV format is more suitable for direct recording because it can process data streams more efficiently.
Taking into account the above factors, it is recommended to choose the MKV format for recording in OBS to ensure the safety and integrity of the recorded content.
For users who have already recorded videos in MKV format using OBS, if they need to convert them to MP4 format for sharing or uploading on different platforms (such as YouTube, Tiktok), it can be achieved through OBS's "remix" function. Here are the steps:
Step 1 Double-click the OBS icon on the desktop to start the application.
Step 2 In the OBS menu bar, click the "File" button, and then sel ect the "Remux Recording" option fr om the drop-down menu.
Step 3 In the Remux Recording window that is displayed, click Add to import the MKV file to the ReMUx Recording screen.
Step 4 Click the "Remux" button in the window and OBS will automatically convert the MKV file to MP4 format. After the conversion is complete, the MP4 file will be saved in the specified folder.
With the above steps, you can easily convert MKV files recorded by OBS to MP4 format without the need for additional third-party software.
However, in addition to the remixing features that come with OBS, you can also use professional third-party video conversion tools to quickly convert MKV files to MP4 format. For example, Geekersoft Video Converter is a powerful conversion tool that can efficiently convert MKV to MP4 format. In addition, as a comprehensive conversion tool, Geekersoft Video Converter also supports more than 1000 different file types on Windows and Mac systems, which can meet the different conversion needs of users.
You can convert MKV to MP4 with the help of Geekersoft Video Converter by completing the following steps:
Step 1 Install and start Geekersoft Video Converter on your computer. And click the Convert option and then click the Add button to add the OBS MKV recording file that you want to convert.
Step 2 Tap the Personal Settings button to enter the Settings menu. In the Video TAB, sel ect MP4 as the output format. You can adjust the video quality parameters as needed, such as resolution, bit rate, etc., to ensure that the converted file meets your needs.
Step 3 Click File Location to sel ect a suitable folder as the location to save MP4 files, click Convert button, the program will automatically start the conversion process. After the conversion is complete, the converted MP4 file can be found in the specified folder.
Tips: If you have multiple MKV files that need to be converted, Geekersoft Video Converter supports batch conversion. Simply add all the files that need to be converted to the program at once and follow the steps above to quickly complete the batch conversion.
Q1 How do I save an OBS recording in MP4 format?
In the OBS interface, click "File" > "Personal Settings" > "Advanced" to enable the "Auto Remix to MP4" function. In this way, OBS automatically converts the MKV file to MP4 format after the recording is complete.
Q2 Why does OBS record in FLV format by default?
Flash Video (FLV) is the default recording format for OBS, mainly because of its relatively simple file structure. Even if the OBS or computer fails, FLV files can still be saved normally without loss of recorded content. In contrast, the MP4 format requires complex file finalization operations during recording, and files can be damaged or lost in the event of a crash.
Through the above content, you can fully understand how to convert OBS MKV files to MP4 format, and master the relevant Settings and tips to meet your recording and sharing needs. If you are facing the need to convert OBS MKV files to MP4 format, then try the recommended method in this article.