<p>Try lossless encoding with <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/download.html" rel="nofollow">ffmpeg</a></p>

<p>First, with YUV444P</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 60 -i desktop -crf 0 -pix_fmt yuv444p -preset ultrafast yuv-cap.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>If not clear enough,</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 60 -i desktop -c:v libx264rgb -crf 0 -pix_fmt bgra -preset ultrafast rgb-cap.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>These will likely not be compatible with most video editors, but if the result is satisfactory, then you can transcode at leisure to a compatible codec like PNG in MOV..etc</p>

<p>You can add <code>-draw_mouse 0</code> before <code>-i desktop</code> to skip recording the cursor.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-18T14:45:43.617Z
How would I get this up to 60fps?
muncherelli
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-18T14:47:38.780Z
Command edited.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-18T15:00:49.943Z
Thank you.  Is there a way to only capture one monitor? (i have two 1080p side-by side)
muncherelli
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-18T15:10:56.493Z
Yeah, two ways. Switch off one of them :) --or-- add `-offset_x 1920 -offset_y 0 -video_size 1920x1080` before `-i desktop` if you want to capture the 2nd monitor which is the right half of your desktop.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-25T22:10:47.277Z
I've had a little time to test this out finally.  gdigrab seems to be fairly horrible at capturing high framerate desktop recording.
muncherelli
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-25T22:11:03.430Z
What I've been using: ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 60 -offset_x 0 -offset_y 0 -video_size 1920x1080 -i desktop -c:v qtrle d:\output-test2.mov
muncherelli
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-26T05:01:34.927Z
Depends on your system's horsepower. I've multiple comps and the one I'm typing on, it struggles to do 30 smoothly, but it has a (now) low-end GPU. On another one, it does 30 smoothly, but I haven't tried higher rates. Skip the encoding i.e. use `-c:v rawvideo` and see if that helps.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-18T13:53:09.913Z
2016-02-18T14:47:28.250Z
2016-02-18T14:47:28.250Z
Gyan
<p>I am looking to record my desktop in high quality (not nearly as lossy as H.264).  I have tried OBS @ 200mbps and nVidia Shadowplay @ 50mbps and the text on my desktop is still noticibly blurry when i view the video I just recorded at the native resolution it was recorded at.  OBS is a little bit better than nVidia.</p>

<codec><screen-casting><h.264>
Record desktop at 1080p60 in high quality
muncherelli
# Record desktop at 1080p60 in high quality

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-18)

I am looking to record my desktop in high quality (not nearly as lossy as H.264). I have tried OBS @ 200mbps and nVidia Shadowplay @ 50mbps and the text on my desktop is still noticibly blurry when i view the video I just recorded at the native resolution it was recorded at. OBS is a little bit better than nVidia.

**Tags:** codec, screen-casting, h.264


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-02-18. Score: 3

Try lossless encoding with ffmpeg
First, with YUV444P
ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 60 -i desktop -crf 0 -pix_fmt yuv444p -preset ultrafast yuv-cap.mp4

If not clear enough,
ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 60 -i desktop -c:v libx264rgb -crf 0 -pix_fmt bgra -preset ultrafast rgb-cap.mp4

These will likely not be compatible with most video editors, but if the result is satisfactory, then you can transcode at leisure to a compatible codec like PNG in MOV..etc
You can add -draw_mouse 0 before -i desktop to skip recording the cursor.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: How would I get this up to 60fps?  
> **username_1**: Command edited.  
> **username_0**: Thank you.  Is there a way to only capture one monitor? (i have two 1080p side-by side)  
> **username_1**: Yeah, two ways. Switch off one of them :) --or-- add `-offset_x 1920 -offset_y 0 -video_size 1920x1080` before `-i desktop` if you want to capture the 2nd monitor which is the right half of your desktop.  
> **username_0**: I've had a little time to test this out finally.  gdigrab seems to be fairly horrible at capturing high framerate desktop recording.  
> **username_0**: What I've been using: ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 60 -offset_x 0 -offset_y 0 -video_size 1920x1080 -i desktop -c:v qtrle d:\output-test2.mov  
> **username_1**: Depends on your system's horsepower. I've multiple comps and the one I'm typing on, it struggles to do 30 smoothly, but it has a (now) low-end GPU. On another one, it does 30 smoothly, but I haven't tried higher rates. Skip the encoding i.e. use `-c:v rawvideo` and see if that helps.  

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