Using Automatic File Splitting in OBS
A simple way to preserve your VHS tapes using OBS on macOS
Preserving old VHS tapes is a rewarding project, and OBS Studio makes it easy to do this with a powerful but underused feature: Automatic File Splitting. If you’re transferring long-form video - like a 2, 4, or 8-hour tape - this feature ensures you don’t end up with one massive, unwieldy file. Instead, OBS breaks it into manageable chunks automatically based on time or size.
Why Use File Splitting?
- Set it and forget it: Start the recording and walk away without worrying about file corruption due to length.
- Manageable files: Each segment is its own video file, making it easier to edit or archive.
- Safe backups: Smaller file sizes reduce the chance of data loss due to write issues or crashes.
How to Enable File Splitting in OBS
Follow these steps to turn on the automatic file splitting feature:
1. Open OBS and go to Settings
2. Select the Output tab
3. Under the Recording section, check the box for Automatically split recordings
4. Choose Time (minutes) and set the value to 90
This will instruct OBS to start a new recording file every 90 minutes. Perfect for archiving old VHS tapes without worrying about interruptions or storage issues.
Storage Planning
OBS is very efficient when recording analog footage from a VHS source. Here's what you can expect:
- 90 minutes: ~1.8 GB
- 8 hours (split into 5 segments): ~9.6 GB
Make sure you have sufficient storage before hitting record - an external SSD or USB drive is a great option.
Bonus Tip from a Mac Veteran
If you're using macOS Ventura or later, consider enabling Quick Look preview support for large video files by installing QLVideo. This makes it easier to skim through split files without opening them fully in QuickTime.
VHS_Tape01_ so the split files are easy to identify in order.