If your OBS recording file is too large, the fix is to re-encode it after recording: open it in a video compressor, choose H.265 and a lower-quality setting, and keep the original. The settings below match each destination.
| What you are sending | The limit you hit | The Smol setting |
|---|---|---|
| A clip for Discord | 20 MB without Nitro, 50 MB with Nitro Basic | MP4, H.265, Web quality, resolution lowered, then check the size |
| A highlight for friends or a forum | Whatever the site accepts; check its page | MP4, H.265 or H.264, High quality |
| A Twitch clip you want to keep | API custom clips run 5 to 60 seconds | Compress the downloaded file; keep the original |
| A full stream VOD for storage | Disk space, not an upload cap | MP4 or MKV, H.265, High quality, audio kept |
| A clip for editing later | Re-encoding loses quality each pass | Keep the OBS original, compress only the copy you post |
Why is my OBS recording file too large?
File size is bitrate multiplied by time, so a high-bitrate recording gets large fast. A game changes on every frame, and a recording set for quality rather than size is meant to be edited, not posted.
OBS itself says little about this. Its recording output guide lists bitrate, quality presets and keyframe interval as the options of a separate recording encoder and warns that choosing one other than “Same as stream” “will take extra resources from your computer” (read 11 October 2026). It gives no recommended bitrate, so the number that suits you depends on your machine and your game. Shrinking the file after recording lets you decide the size once you know where it is going.
Fast action, particle effects and foliage all cost bits, while a static menu screen costs far fewer. Trimming dead time and dropping the resolution are the two cheapest levers. For a wider tour of the options, our guide to reducing video file size on a Mac measures each lever on one test clip.
Should I record in MKV or MP4, and how do I remux?
Record in MKV and remux to MP4 afterward. OBS states that “MKV is recommended in case of unforeseen issues arising”, because an MKV is not corrupted wholesale when a recording ends without a clean stop, such as a crash or power cut (read 11 October 2026).
Remuxing is a container change with no re-encode. In OBS choose File, then Remux Recordings, or switch on “Automatically remux to mp4” in the Advanced settings. Both are on the same OBS guide. Remuxing does not make the file smaller, because the video inside is untouched. Its only job is compatibility. Smol reads MKV and writes MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV, so you can go from the safe recording container to a shareable file in one compress pass; see converting MKV to MP4 on a Mac for what changes and what does not.
What is the Discord file size limit for video clips?
Discord’s help center says accounts without Nitro can upload files up to 20 MB, and Nitro Basic raises that to 50 MB. Discord also warns that it is currently experimenting with upload limits, so some users may see more.
| Where | The limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Discord, no Nitro | 20 MB per file | File Attachments FAQ |
| Discord, Nitro Basic | 50 MB per file | Nitro and Nitro Basic |
| Discord, accepted video | MP4 encoded with H.264, H.265 or AV1; MOV also listed | File Attachments FAQ |
| Twitch, custom clip length | 5 to 60 seconds; default publishes up to the last 30 seconds | Twitch API docs |
| OBS, safest recording format | MKV, then remux to MP4 | OBS recording guide |
All rows read 11 October 2026. Check Discord’s page before you build a routine around any number. Because H.265 is on the accepted list, you can spend the 20 MB on the more efficient codec. The arithmetic for hitting an exact size is in compressing a video for Discord, which used a two-pass encode outside Smol.
What is the Twitch clip export size, and can I make it smaller?
Twitch documents clip length rather than a byte size. Its API cuts custom clips from 5 to 60 seconds, from a 90 second capture window, and by default publishes up to the last 30 seconds. Clip length caps the size, and Twitch states no byte size there.
A clip you download is an ordinary video file, so it compresses like any other: drag it into Smol and pick MP4 with H.265. If you want the clip on YouTube instead, see compressing video for YouTube uploads. Because Twitch already encoded it once, a second pass at a lower setting loses a little more quality, so compress for the one place it is going and keep the downloaded file. For anything that must stay editable, return to your OBS original rather than re-encoding the clip again.
What are the best settings to compress gameplay clips?
Start with H.265, the Web quality label, and a lower resolution, then check the size. Smol sets quality and pixel size, not output bytes, so for a hard cap you try once, read the result and adjust.
| Destination | Format and codec | Quality | Resolution and audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discord, 20 MB, short clip | MP4, H.265 | Web (CRF 28), or an exact CRF of 30 as a guess to start at | Lower the resolution; keep audio unless it is silent |
| Discord, 50 MB with Nitro Basic | MP4, H.265 | High (CRF 24) or Web (CRF 28) | Keep resolution; lower it if the result is over the cap |
| Friends, forums, social | MP4, H.264 if the audience is unknown | High (CRF 24) | Keep resolution |
| Archive of a full stream | MP4 or MKV, H.265 | High (CRF 24) | Keep resolution and audio |
| Silent highlight loop | MP4, H.265 | Web (CRF 28) | Remove audio |
Smol’s defaults are H.265 and High, which is CRF 24, with Web at CRF 28 and an exact CRF from 0 to 63 if you want it. On one 10-second 1080p test clip, moving from CRF 23 to 28 in H.265 took the file from 7,156,484 to 3,193,370 bytes, 55.4% smaller; that figure comes from a single animated clip, not a game capture, so treat it as direction, not a promise; see the conditions in that post and the codec trade in H.265 vs H.264.
Which lever to pull first
- Switch to H.265 if the destination plays it; Discord lists it.
- Raise the CRF one notch at a time and watch fast scenes, where artifacts show first.
- Lower the resolution next. Smol can keep or reduce it; 1080p to 720p is a typical first step for a clip watched in a chat window.
- Remove audio on silent loops, or trim the clip elsewhere before compressing.
How do I compress gameplay clips after recording?
Do the whole folder at once. Drop the clips in, set the format once, and read the per-file sizes when it finishes.
Keep the OBS original and work on a copy
Smol writes a copy beside each original with a
_compressedsuffix and does not overwrite by default.Drag in the clips or the whole folder
MKV recordings are fine as input, and you can mix clips with screenshots in one batch.
Choose MP4, H.265 and a quality label
Web for a tight cap, High for a clip you care about. Lower the resolution if the cap is 20 MB.
Run it and read each output size
Smol shows before and after for every file. If one is over the cap, run that one again at a higher CRF or lower resolution.
Watch the busiest second before you post
Scrub to the fight with the most motion. If it looks smeared, drop back one CRF step.
What do players use today to reduce OBS file size after recording?
Several free options work, and some are already on your Mac. This is a fair comparison for a clip headed to Discord.
| Option | Cost | Good at | Where it falls short |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS settings for the next recording | Free | Fixing the cause at the source | Does nothing for the files you already have; the OBS guide gives no recommended bitrate |
| QuickTime Player export | Built in | A quick resolution step down on Mac | Few quality controls |
| HandBrake | Free | Fine control over every encoder setting | Many settings to learn for a one-off clip |
| An online compressor | Varies | No install | You upload unreleased footage, and caps vary by site |
| Smol | $29 once | Folder batches, H.265 presets, local, no upload | No target-size control for video; you check the output and rerun |
If you already know HandBrake, it is a strong choice, and our HandBrake comparison says where it wins. Smol is for the person who wants a folder of clips smaller with two choices instead of twenty. For a general method, see how to compress a video on a Mac, and for batches, batch compressing videos.
When is Smol the wrong tool?
Smol is not the right choice for every clip. Pick something else in these cases.
- You are not on a Mac. Smol runs on macOS only, so a Windows gaming PC needs another tool.
- You need an exact byte target for a video. Smol has no size target for video; you set quality and resolution, read the result, and try again.
- You want lossless clips for editing. Compressing re-encodes and loses detail, so edit from the OBS original.
- You want to encode while recording. Smol works on finished files; the encoder choice during recording is an OBS setting.
- You compress a handful of clips a year. QuickTime Player or HandBrake costs nothing and may be enough.
- Your clips are short vertical edits for social apps. Our page for TikTok, Reels and Shorts creators covers those limits.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my OBS recording file too large?
File size is bitrate multiplied by recording time, and a recording set for editing uses a high bitrate. Fast games spend even more. OBS does not publish a recommended bitrate, so the fix after recording is to re-encode the file to H.265 at a lower quality or resolution and keep the original.
How do I reduce OBS file size after recording?
Re-encode the finished file. Open it in a compressor, choose MP4 with H.265, pick a lower-quality label such as Web, and lower the resolution if you can. Remuxing MKV to MP4 in OBS changes the container only and will not shrink the file. Compare the output size, then rerun if it is still over your cap.
What is the Discord file size limit for videos?
Discord’s help center says accounts without Nitro can upload files up to 20 MB, and Nitro Basic allows 50 MB. It also says it is experimenting with limits, so check its page before relying on a number. Discord lists MP4 with H.264, H.265 or AV1 as accepted video.
How do I compress gameplay clips for Discord on a Mac?
Drag the clip into a compressor such as Smol, choose MP4, H.265 and the Web quality label, and lower the resolution. Smol sets quality and size in pixels, not output bytes, so read the result. If it is still over 20 MB, rerun at a lower resolution or higher CRF.
What is the Twitch clip export size?
Twitch’s API documentation states clip length, not file size: custom clips run from 5 to 60 seconds, and the default publishes up to the last 30 seconds. We found no published byte size. A downloaded clip is a normal video file you can compress like any other.
Should I record OBS in MKV or MP4?
OBS recommends MKV, because it does not lose the whole file if a recording ends unexpectedly. Then use File, Remux Recordings to get an MP4, or switch on automatic remuxing. Remuxing keeps the same video, so the file does not get smaller until you re-encode it.
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