Elgato Studio is our brand-new capture app for Windows and macOS, built from the ground up for creators who want less clutter and more control. Preview, device settings, and recording all live in one clean interface. Just open and hit record.
This guide covers the software interface of Elgato Studio.
Table Of Contents
Software Setup
1) Visit the Elgato Downloads page to get the latest version of Elgato Studio. It is available for Windows and macOS.
2) Install the software and launch it. You will then be asked to connect a compatible Elgato capture card.
3) Elgato Studio will then ask for Microphone and Camera permissions. This is to record and monitor audio from your capture device, and to capture and preview video.
4) In Windows, Elgato Studio will open a window where you can turn on App Permissions for the Camera and Microphone.
Note: To control Elgato Studio via Stream Deck, please download the Elgato Studio plugin from Marketplace.
General Interface
Elgato Studio has a simple yet powerful interface. All of the controls you need are either on the top or bottom of the window.
1) The top left hand corner of the window has a drop down menu. It lets you select your device, and open the Device info Preferences.
2) Next, there is a readout of the resolution and frame rate. Click on that for more information.
3) Specifically, Elgato Studio will list your Input source, Capture device, Output, Audio input, and HDMI Out.
4) On the top right corner of the window are two controls. The first lets you Show/hide device settings.
5) The Device settings will appear on the right side of the window.
6) The Device settings has specific controls, including:
Video
- HDMI color range - Auto, Expand, Shrink
- HDR tonemapping - On, Off
- Input EDID mode - Internal, Display, Merged
- Custom EDID - On, Off
Audio
- Audio input - HDMI audio, Analog Audio (for some devices)
Audio and Full Screen
Audio
- To adjust the Volume, move the blue slider at the bottom right corner of the window.
Full Screen
- To move in and out of Full Screen, press the square icon to the right slide of the Volume slider..
Recording
Note: Elgato Studio software does not have the Flashback Recording feature at this time. You will not be able to rewind live video to record it.
1) To Record, press the red circle at bottom of the screen.
2) The circle will expand while recording. The time of the recording will be listed in seconds, and the size of the growing recording appears on the right side.
3) Click on the white square in the red oval to stop recording
Screenshots
1) To take a Screenshot, press the square to the right hand side of the recording button.
2) A thumbnail of the screenshot will appear at the bottom right corner of the window.
3) Click on the bottom left hand side of the window - you will either see a folder icon or screenshot thumbnail there, depending on your last action. This will open the folder where your recordings and screenshots are saved. You can change the location of this folder in the Recording Preferences, discussed below.
Note: Elgato Studio does not have a built in video editor. You can import your .mp4 recordings from this folder, into your editor of choice that supports the resolution and frame rate that you are using.
Preferences
To open the Preferences, use the Gear icon at the top right side of the window.
General (Personalization)
- Color theme - Choose from Same as system, Dark, and Light.
- Language - English, Danish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch
Software Updates
- Version - The version number is listed here for your reference. You can copy and paste this number to share it easily.
- Check for updates -You can Check for updates, and if there is a newer version, it will automatically be downloaded.
- Automatically install updates - Can be turned on or off
- Release channel - Stable is for release versions, and Beta is for test versions.
Devices
- My Devices - The connected device that you are using with Elgato Studio.
- Serial number - The serial number will vary depending on what device is connected. You can copy and paste this number to share it easily.
- Firmware - The firmware version will vary depending on what device is connected.
Recording
- Max Resolution - The max resolution for your device and source is listed. The actual resolution depends on your output settings and capture capabilities.
- Recording Path - Where your recordings and screenshots are stored. This path can be changed.
- Filename prefix - By default, the Filename prefix is "Elgato Studio", but this can be changed.
- Filename formatting - Date and time, or Incrementing number.
- Restore default settings - Will change all Recording settings back to their defaults.
Help
- Ask the community - Connect with other Elgato creators and professionals via Reddit or Discord
- Find an answer - Browse setup and troubleshooting articles at the Elgato Help Center.
- Additional resources - View log files, or View third-party licenses.
Troubleshooting
-
USB 2.0 detected - If Elgato Studio detects a USB 2.0 connection, it will remind you to connect your device to an USB 3.0 port for the best performance. You can dismiss this warning by pressing the X at the right hand side of the yellow bar.
- No Input signal - Your device may be ready, but no signal is coming through. Check that your input source is on and connect via a HDMI cable.
- HDCP On - For a PlayStation, also make sure that HDCP is turned off. If it is on, your screen may flash between a black screen and No input signal.