> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.segra.tv/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Video Presets

> Configure recording quality, resolution, framerate, and encoding settings in Segra

Segra offers quality presets for quick configuration, plus custom settings for advanced users. Choose the right balance of quality, performance, and file size for your needs.

## Quality Presets

Quick configuration options for both recordings and clips.

### Recording Presets

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Low Quality">
    **Resolution**: 720p\
    **Framerate**: 30 fps\
    **Best for**: Older hardware, testing, or minimal file sizes

    Use when you need Segra to have minimal performance impact or when disk space is very limited.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Standard">
    **Resolution**: 1080p\
    **Framerate**: 60 fps\
    **Best for**: Most users, balanced quality and performance

    Recommended default for modern gaming PCs. Provides excellent quality without excessive file sizes.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="High Quality">
    **Resolution**: 1440p or 1080p (based on display)\
    **Framerate**: 60 fps\
    **Best for**: High-end systems, archival recordings

    Automatically uses 1440p if your monitor supports it, otherwise 1080p. Best quality for review and content creation.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Custom">
    **Manual configuration**\
    **Best for**: Advanced users who want complete control

    Exposes all encoding parameters for fine-tuned optimization.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Clip Presets

Separate quality settings for exported clips:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Low Quality">
    **Settings**: Fast encoding, 30 fps\
    **Best for**: Quick sharing, social media stories

    Fast exports with smaller file sizes, suitable for casual sharing.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Standard">
    **Settings**: Balanced encoding, 60 fps\
    **Best for**: Most clip exports, YouTube uploads

    Good quality with reasonable export times and file sizes.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="High Quality">
    **Settings**: Quality-focused encoding, 60 fps\
    **Best for**: Archival clips, professional content

    Best possible quality for clips, longer export times.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Custom">
    **Manual configuration**\
    **Best for**: Specific quality or compatibility requirements

    Full control over codec, preset, quality, and FPS.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Custom Video Settings

When using the Custom preset, configure these parameters:

### Resolution

<ParamField path="resolution" type="enum" default="1440p">
  Output resolution for recordings:

  * `720p`: 1280×720
  * `1080p`: 1920×1080
  * `1440p`: 2560×1440 (requires 1440p+ display)
  * `4K`: 3840×2160 (requires 4K display)

  <Note>
    Higher resolutions are only available if your monitor supports them. Segra automatically limits options based on your display's maximum resolution.
  </Note>
</ParamField>

### Framerate

<ParamField path="frameRate" type="integer" default="60">
  Frames per second to record. The settings UI exposes preset values of `24`, `30`, `60`, `120`, and `144`:

  * `24`: Cinematic look
  * `30`: Standard
  * `60`: Smooth gameplay (recommended)
  * `120`: High refresh rate displays
  * `144`: For 144Hz+ monitors

  <Warning>
    Higher framerates increase file size and CPU/GPU load. Match your game's framerate for best results.
  </Warning>
</ParamField>

### Encoder

<ParamField path="encoder" type="enum" default="gpu">
  Hardware to use for video encoding:

  * `gpu`: Hardware encoding (NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, Intel Quick Sync)
  * `cpu`: Software encoding (x264/x265)

  **GPU Encoding**:

  * Faster, lower CPU usage
  * Minimal performance impact while gaming
  * Recommended for most users

  **CPU Encoding**:

  * Higher quality at same bitrate
  * More CPU intensive
  * Best for systems with powerful CPUs and no GPU encoder
</ParamField>

### Codec

<ParamField path="codec" type="object" default="null">
  Video codec to use for encoding. When `null`, Segra picks a default at startup via `SelectDefaultCodec()` based on the available codecs for the active encoder. Available codecs depend on your hardware:

  **NVIDIA GPUs**:

  * NVIDIA NVENC H.264 (most compatible)
  * NVIDIA NVENC H.265/HEVC (better compression)
  * NVIDIA NVENC AV1 (newest, best compression, RTX 40-series only)

  **AMD GPUs**:

  * AMD AMF H.264
  * AMD AMF H.265/HEVC
  * AMD AMF AV1 (RDNA 3 / Radeon RX 7000-series and newer)

  **Intel GPUs**:

  * Intel Quick Sync H.264
  * Intel Quick Sync H.265/HEVC
  * Intel Quick Sync AV1 (Arc and 11th gen+ iGPUs that support it)

  **CPU**:

  * x264 (H.264 software encoder)
  * x265 (H.265/HEVC software encoder)

  Segra automatically selects the best codec when you change encoders.
</ParamField>

## Rate Control Methods

Control how the encoder manages bitrate and quality. The persisted setting is named `rateControl`; default value is `"VBR"`.

### CBR (Constant Bitrate)

<ParamField path="rateControl" type="enum" value="CBR">
  Maintains a constant bitrate throughout the recording.

  **When to use**:

  * Streaming or uploading to platforms with bitrate limits
  * Predictable file sizes
  * Consistent quality

  **Settings**:
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="bitrate" type="integer" default="50">
  Target bitrate in Mbps (10-100+)

  **Recommended values**:

  * 720p/30fps: 10-15 Mbps
  * 1080p/60fps: 30-50 Mbps
  * 1440p/60fps: 50-80 Mbps
  * 4K/60fps: 80-130 Mbps
</ParamField>

### VBR (Variable Bitrate)

<ParamField path="rateControl" type="enum" value="VBR">
  Varies bitrate based on scene complexity.

  **When to use**:

  * Best quality-to-size ratio
  * Local storage (not streaming)
  * Most efficient for archival

  **Settings**:
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="minBitrate" type="integer" default="35">
  Minimum bitrate in Mbps (simple scenes use lower bitrate)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="maxBitrate" type="integer" default="70">
  Maximum bitrate in Mbps (complex scenes use higher bitrate)
</ParamField>

### CRF (Constant Rate Factor) - CPU Only

<ParamField path="rateControl" type="enum" value="CRF">
  Quality-based encoding (lower CRF = higher quality).

  **When to use**:

  * Best quality for file size
  * CPU encoding only
  * Archival or content creation

  **Settings**:
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="crfValue" type="integer" default="23">
  Quality level (0-51):

  * `17-18`: Very high quality (large files)
  * `21-23`: High quality (recommended)
  * `24-26`: Good quality (balanced)
  * `27-28`: Lower quality (smaller files)

  <Tip>
    23 is considered visually lossless for most content. Lower values increase quality and file size.
  </Tip>
</ParamField>

### CQP/CQ (Constant Quantization) - GPU Only

<ParamField path="rateControl" type="enum" value="CQP">
  GPU equivalent of CRF (lower = higher quality).

  **When to use**:

  * GPU encoding with quality priority
  * Similar to CRF but for hardware encoders

  **Settings**:
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="cqLevel" type="integer" default="20">
  Quality level (0-51):

  * `0-15`: Very high quality
  * `16-20`: High quality (recommended)
  * `21-25`: Good quality
  * `26-30`: Lower quality
</ParamField>

## Advanced Settings

### 4:3 Aspect Ratio Handling

<ParamField path="stretch4By3" type="boolean" default="true">
  Automatically stretch 4:3 content to 16:9.

  Enable for older games that run in 4:3 to avoid black bars.
</ParamField>

### Encoder Presets

Presets control encoding speed vs. quality tradeoff.

<Note>
  `clipPreset` controls the encoder preset used when **exporting clips**, not live recording. Live recording uses the encoder defaults negotiated by OBS for the selected codec.
</Note>

#### CPU Presets (x264/x265)

<ParamField path="clipPreset" type="enum" default="veryfast">
  Speed/quality tradeoff for CPU clip exports:

  * `ultrafast`: Fastest, lowest quality
  * `superfast`, `veryfast`: Fast, good for real-time
  * `faster`, `fast`: Balanced
  * `medium`: Good quality, slower
  * `slow`, `slower`, `veryslow`: Best quality, very slow

  For live recording, use `veryfast` or faster. For clip exports, `medium` or `slow` work well.
</ParamField>

#### GPU Presets

Presets vary by GPU vendor:

**NVIDIA NVENC (H.264/HEVC)**:

* `slow`: Best quality
* `medium`: Balanced
* `fast`: Better performance
* `hp`: High performance
* `hq`: High quality
* `ll`: Low latency
* `llhq`: Low latency high quality

**NVIDIA AV1**:

* `p1`: Fastest
* `p4`: Balanced (recommended)
* `p7`: Slowest, best quality

**AMD AMF**:

* `quality`: Best quality
* `transcoding`: Balanced
* `lowlatency`: Faster
* `ultralowlatency`: Fastest

**Intel Quick Sync**:

* `slow`: Best quality
* `medium`: Balanced
* `fast`: Better performance

## Clip Export Settings

Separate settings for exporting clips:

<ParamField path="clipEncoder" type="enum" default="cpu">
  Encoder for clip exports (can differ from recording encoder)

  * `cpu`: Better quality, slower exports
  * `gpu`: Faster exports, uses GPU
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="clipCodec" type="enum" default="h264">
  Codec for exported clips:

  * `h264`: Maximum compatibility
  * `h265`: Better compression (larger compatibility)
  * `av1`: Best compression (limited compatibility)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="clipFps" type="integer" default="60">
  Framerate for clips:

  * `0`: Use original framerate
  * `30`, `60`: Fixed framerate
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="clipAudioQuality" type="enum" default="128k">
  Audio bitrate for clips:

  * `96k`: Lower quality, smaller files
  * `128k`: Standard quality (recommended)
  * `192k`, `256k`, `320k`: Higher quality
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="clipQualityCpu" type="integer" default="23">
  CRF value for CPU-encoded clips (17-28, lower = better)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="clipQualityGpu" type="integer" default="23">
  CQ value for GPU-encoded clips (0-51, lower = better)
</ParamField>

## Settings JSON Examples

### High Quality GPU Recording

```json theme={null}
{
  "videoQualityPreset": "custom",
  "resolution": "1440p",
  "frameRate": 60,
  "encoder": "gpu",
  "codec": {
    "friendlyName": "NVIDIA NVENC H.264",
    "internalEncoderId": "jim_nvenc",
    "isHardwareEncoder": true
  },
  "rateControl": "VBR",
  "minBitrate": 60,
  "maxBitrate": 90
}
```

### CPU Quality Recording

```json theme={null}
{
  "videoQualityPreset": "custom",
  "resolution": "1080p",
  "frameRate": 60,
  "encoder": "cpu",
  "rateControl": "CRF",
  "crfValue": 20
}
```

### Fast Clip Export

```json theme={null}
{
  "clipQualityPreset": "custom",
  "clipEncoder": "gpu",
  "clipCodec": "h264",
  "clipFps": 60,
  "clipQualityGpu": 20,
  "clipPreset": "fast",
  "clipAudioQuality": "128k"
}
```

## Performance vs Quality Guide

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Maximum Performance">
    Minimal impact on gaming performance:

    * Encoder: GPU
    * Resolution: 720p or 1080p
    * Framerate: 30 or 60 fps
    * Rate Control: VBR or CQP
    * Preset: Fast/HP (GPU)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Balanced">
    Good quality with reasonable performance:

    * Encoder: GPU
    * Resolution: 1080p
    * Framerate: 60 fps
    * Rate Control: VBR
    * Bitrate: 40-60 Mbps
    * Preset: Medium/HQ (GPU)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Maximum Quality">
    Best quality for archival/content creation:

    * Encoder: CPU (if powerful) or GPU
    * Resolution: 1440p or 4K
    * Framerate: 60+ fps
    * Rate Control: CRF (18-20) or VBR (high bitrate)
    * Preset: Slow/Slower (CPU) or HQ (GPU)
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Encoder not available">
    If a codec/encoder isn't listed:

    * **GPU encoders**: Update graphics drivers
    * **NVENC**: Requires NVIDIA GTX 600-series or newer
    * **AMD AMF**: Requires AMD Radeon HD 7000-series or newer
    * **Quick Sync**: Requires Intel CPU with integrated graphics
    * Restart Segra after driver updates
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Performance issues while recording">
    * Switch to GPU encoder
    * Lower resolution (1080p → 720p)
    * Reduce framerate (60 → 30 fps)
    * Use faster preset (Medium → Fast)
    * Close other applications
    * Check GPU/CPU usage in Task Manager
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Large file sizes">
    * Use VBR instead of CBR
    * Lower bitrate (try 30-50 Mbps for 1080p)
    * Use H.265/HEVC codec (better compression)
    * Reduce resolution or framerate
    * Enable compression in Storage settings
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>