Your first recording
Last updated
Start with a trial or active subscription, activate the desktop app, then paste a stream URL. Obskura checks the channel and records when it is live.
1. Start a trial or subscription
Sign in with Google or Discord, then choose your billing frequency on the Pricing page. Complete checkout to start your trial or subscription. A payment card is required for the trial; its length and renewal price are shown before you start.
Checkout returns you to Manage Subscription. Use the same account when you return to the website to get your key or download the app.
2. Download Obskura
Open Downloads and choose the version for your computer. Obskura supports Windows 10+ and macOS 12+ on Apple Silicon. Follow the installer prompts and open the desktop app.
Downloads requires an active trial or subscription. If the download option is missing, check that you are signed in with the account you used at checkout.
3. Activate the desktop app
On Manage Subscription, find Activation Key and select Copy.
The desktop app asks for your subscription key. Paste the key you copied and select Activate. Once validation succeeds, the app opens its main interface. Keep your key private.
4. Check where recordings will be saved
In the desktop app, open Settings, then the Recording section. Output Directory shows the folder that will hold your recordings. Use Browse to choose a different folder if needed.
Choose a location with enough free disk space. On Windows, if you see Choose a recording folder, select a folder before you start. That message means Obskura could not find your Videos folder and is using a temporary fallback.
5. Add a stream URL
Open the Recording tab. Copy the channel or livestream URL from your browser, paste it into Paste stream URL to start recording…, and select Add Stream. You can also press Enter.
For example, you can paste a Twitch channel URL such as https://www.twitch.tv/channel-name, replacing channel-name with the creator you want to record.
Obskura adds the channel to Recording Studio and checks its live status. If the channel is offline, leave the app running so it can detect a later broadcast. If a YouTube channel has several live streams, select the one you want from the list shown.
Keep your computer awake, connected to the internet, and Obskura running. Starting means recording is being prepared; Rec means a recording is in progress. Saving means Obskura is finishing the file.
6. Watch your recording
Open Library in the desktop app, browse to the creator’s folder, and select a saved video to play it. The original files are stored in your Output Directory, so you can also find them on your drive.
If a recording is still saving or being finalized, give it time to finish before opening the completed file.
If something does not work
- Activation fails: check that you copied the whole key from the right account and that your trial or subscription is active. Follow any error or retry message shown in the app.
- No recording starts: confirm the creator is currently live, check the channel’s status and logs, and make sure recording is not paused.
- You cannot find the file: check Settings → Recording → Output Directory, then look in Library after the recording has finished saving.
- TikTok reports no live stream at higher recording volumes: see TikTok rate limits and proxies.
For account or recording problems, contact Support.