Set up VR recording in Streamlabs OBS

Using Virtual Reality (VR) opens up new dimensions in gaming and streaming. In this tutorial, you will learn how to effectively set up a VR recording in Streamlabs OBS. The steps are simple and easy to follow, allowing you to quickly and seamlessly record your VR experiences.

Key takeaways

• How to set up a new scene in Streamlabs OBS.
• Adding an OpenVR capture to your scene.
• Properly configuring audio settings for game sound and microphone.

Step-by-step guide

To start with the OpenVR recording, follow these clear steps:

First, you need to create a new scene in Streamlabs OBS. To do this, click on the plus sign in the Scenes area. After clicking on the plus sign, a dialog box will appear where you can enter the name of your new scene, for example, "VR Recording". This will help you better manage the scenes during your streams. Click "Done" to create the scene.

Now that you have your scene, it's time to add the OpenVR recording. Click on the plus sign again, but this time select "Open VR Capture" on the left side. Your Streamlabs OBS may indicate that you have already added an OpenVR recording. If that's the case, you can assign a name to the source and click "Add Source".

Within this window, you now have various settings available for the OpenVR recording. The first point is the "Capture Right Eye" option, which determines whether the right or left eye is being recorded. If you are right-handed, you should leave the checkmark in this option. However, if you are left-handed and want to capture the left eye, uncheck it here. Personally, I keep the checkmark set as I am right-handed.

After configuring the eye options, you have the opportunity to crop the image. Initially, you might see a black image, which is likely because you haven't connected your VR headset yet. Not a problem, I will show you how to adjust the image to remove the black borders.

Now drag the transformation handles of the capture to remove the black areas. You can move the capture and adjust its size until you are satisfied with the result. Get an overview of how much image content you can extract from the capture. In my case, I was able to significantly reduce the black area already.

After visually optimizing the VR capture, we now need to address audio integration. To do this, navigate to the settings (gear symbol) at the bottom left and select "Audio". Here you can choose the desktop audio device, which in this case should be your VR headset. This is important so that you can hear the game sound from your VR application.

If you want to use the microphone of your VR headset, ensure that you select the corresponding option in the audio settings. You can choose the microphone from "Mic aux Device 2 or 3" to ensure that your microphone is activated. Otherwise, you can leave your preferred external microphone in the settings and click "Done".

It is important to make some audio adjustments. Ideally, the game sound should be quieter than your microphone. If you hear yourself too much in the background of your recording, adjust the slider for the game sound down. This will make the game sound quieter, which is important so that viewers can hear you clearly. Make sure that the sound from your microphone stays within a healthy range.

Also, check the microphone volume. Ensure that it hits the middle yellow range so that you are audible. Adjust the sliders if necessary to optimize the volume. The goal is for your microphone to be louder than the in-game sound when you speak, so that your viewers can hear you clearly.

Summary

Setting up an OpenVR recording in Streamlabs OBS is a simple process that only requires a few steps. Starting from creating a new scene to setting up the OpenVR recording source and making audio adjustments, you now have all the necessary information to successfully record your VR experiences. Make sure the audio levels are optimally adjusted so that your viewers have the best experience.