OBS CLI Recording: Automate Your Streaming Workflow

Why Use obs-cli?

• Scheduled recordings — Record at specific times without manual intervention
• Automated scene switching — Switch scenes based on triggers or time
• Replay buffer management — Automatically capture highlights
• Remote control — Control OBS from scripts and servers

Prerequisites

1. Install OBS Studio — Download from obsproject.com
2. Set up a scene collection — Create scenes for your different content types
3. Install obs-cli — Available on GitHub for macOS, Windows, and Linux
4. Configure OBS settings — Enable the HTTP server in Tools > obs-websocket server

Essential obs-cli Commands

Start Recording

obs-cli recording start
# or with custom output path:
obs-cli recording start --output "~/recordings/stream_$(date +%Y%m%d).mp4"

Switch Scenes

obs-cli scene switch "Main Camera"
obs-cli scene switch "Screen Share"

Stop Recording & Check Status

obs-cli recording status
# Output: "recording" or "not-recording"

obs-cli recording stop

Scheduled Recording (Bash)

#!/bin/bash
# Record for 30 minutes, then stop
obs-cli scene switch "Camera"
obs-cli recording start --output "auto_record.mp4"
sleep 1800
obs-cli recording stop --output "auto_record_complete.mp4"
echo "Recording complete at $(date)"

Recommended OBS Settings for Automated Recording

• Set the right bitrate for your stream: OBS Settings Calculator
• Pick your output format: Format Conversion Guide
• Optimize quality with CRF values: CRF Calculator