Compress Twitch VODs & Stream Recordings

The Streamer Storage Problem

Twitch streamers and content creators who record locally with OBS, Streamlabs, or XSplit accumulate enormous amounts of footage. A single stream session can generate 25-55 GB depending on resolution and framerate.

Most recording software uses high-bitrate H.264 to minimize encoding load during the stream. This prioritizes live performance over file size — which is exactly right for streaming, but terrible for storage:

• A week of daily streaming can use 200+ GB of disk space
• VOD archives grow faster than you can buy hard drives
• Editing and uploading highlights is slower with oversized source files

Optimal Settings for VOD Compression

Stream recordings compress extremely well because they contain repeated game visuals and static UI elements:

• Codec: H.265 (HEVC) — 50-70% smaller than OBS H.264 recordings
• CRF: 22-24 — excellent quality for gameplay and facecam footage
• Frame rate: Keep original (typically 60 fps)
• Audio: Copy original — no re-encoding needed

Storage Savings

Typical savings when re-encoding OBS/Streamlabs recordings from H.264 to H.265:

Actual savings depend on game complexity and recording bitrate. Fast-action games compress slightly less than slower-paced content.

Streamer Workflow

Set up a watch folder and VideoRecompress will automatically compress new recordings after each stream:

1. Point a watch folder at your OBS recording directory
2. After your stream ends, new recordings are automatically compressed
3. Original files can be kept as backup or deleted to free space immediately