Best Way Recommended: How to Record Gameplay on PC for YouTube?

Being the largest streaming platform in the world, YouTube caters to people’s diverse hobbies by setting many columns, including music, gaming, film & entertainment, sports, news, etc. Thereinto, YouTube Gaming is consistently among the top five most-subscribed channels. Whether people want to create game-related content or upload and share the best game moments on YouTube, a game recorder is a must-have tool to complete these tasks. In the following parts, the article will give a detailed introduction on all you need to know about how to record gameplay on PC for YouTube. Read carefully and learn how to record gaming videos for YouTube on PC with ease.

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5 Metrics to Consider When Choosing a Game Recorder

Before walking through how to record gameplay on PC for YouTube, let’s discuss some worth-noting aspects when choosing a screen recorder. Game recorders must have five essential metrics below to record high-quality gameplay clips. 

How to record gameplay for YouTube PC: Five Metrics

Metric 1: Video Format

How many output choices does your screen recorder have? Can you save gameplay clips in a format that YouTube supports? The two questions are imperative, so make sure to ask yourself before making decisions. 

Metric 2: FPS Range

FPS is the abbreviation for Frames per Second. It represents the frequency of consecutive images captured or displayed. In other words, the higher the frame rate is, the smoother the videos are. Getting less than 30 FPS can cause lagging when recording fast-paced games. Therefore, it is a determining factor of a qualified screen recorder. The ideal FPS range requirement should be between 45-60 FPS at least. 

Metric 3: Video Resolution Range

Video resolution is measured by the number of pixels on a screen. It dictates how clear your game recording is. Standard Definition (480p), High Definition (720p), Full HD (1080p), and Ultra HD (4K or 2160p) are the primary five resolution types. People can achieve the best game recording quality by using a 4K screen recorder. 

Metric 4: CPU Occupancy Rate

Gameplay recording usually takes up a high CPU load and slows down the normal function of your PC. So, a light screen recorder can help consume less CPU power and provide a lag-free recording experience. 

Metric 5: Recording Time Limit

Some PC games require hours for recording. Hence, it is better to choose a free screen recorder without setting a time limit in case to capture long video games.

Recommended Specifications for Video/Audio Uploaded on YouTube 

Besides choosing a suitable screen recorder, knowing how to record gameplay and audio on PC with the best upload specifications can help display your game recordings on YouTube at the highest quality possible. You can refer to the guideline for video and audio formatting below. 

Recommendations for video files:

• File format: MPEG-2/ MPEG-4
• Minimum audio-visual duration: 33 seconds
• Frame rate: 24, 25, or 30 frames per second
• Standard aspect ratio: 16:9
• Video resolution: 

Videos for rental or sale: 1920x1080 with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Ordinary videos: 1280x720 with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

• Video bitrate:

Recommendations for audio files:

• File formats: MP3/PCM/AAC/FLAC
• Minimum audio bitrate for lossy formats: 

Mono: 128 kbps

Stereo: 384 kbps

5.1: 512 kbps

• Minimum audible duration: 33 seconds
• Maximum duration: None

Also Read: How to Record Screen and Audio at the Same Time on Windows >>

How to Record Gameplay on PC for YouTube with iTop Screen Recorder

After comparing and analyzing the different products in the market, we highly recommend iTop Screen Recorder to all of you. The excellent gameplay recording tool has completely met all the metrics mentioned above and it is the best way to record pc gameplay for YouTube. More importantly, it is 100% free to use whether you record Overwatch or Valorant gameplay. People can enjoy premium service at zero cost. In addition, iTop Screen Recorder supports instant sharing to YouTube after recording, bringing great convenience for game lovers. 

iTop Screen Recorder-Record HD Gameplay With No FPS Drops

• Record high-performance PC game with no lags
• Record HD game clips up to 200 FPS
• Record real-time gaming with audio & webcam
• Upload game video to YouTube, Instagram, Facebook

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Some highlights of iTop Screen Recorder

Feature 1: Game Mode

The game mode is a distinctive feature that sets iTop Screen Recorder apart from others. Using game mode to capture the gameplay can make your recording experience more smoothly and hassle-free. 

Feature 2: 120fps 4K Recording

This is a screen recorder that supports recording in high quality smoothly. It can record games at 4K quality with 120fps maximally. And the built-in denoiser can also help reduce noise and improve audio quality. 

Feature 3: Record Screen & Facecam

Beyond recording the screen, iTop Screen Recorder allows people to add facecam overlay to make game recording more vivid.

Feature 4: No Time Limit

Unlimited recording time is another must-mention strength of iTop Screen Recorder. People can continuously record the screen as long as there is sufficient space no time limit.

Feature 5: No Lag Recording

Thanks to the hardware acceleration technology, iTop has a low CPU occupancy rate, so people can record games without lagging. 

Feature 6: Editing 

Recorded game clips are available for simple editing like trimming, cutting, and splitting. People can also add filters and BGMs to make the videos more creative. 

Feature 7: Super Easy to Use

iTop Screen Recorder has an intuitive interface that is friendly for beginners. Most people can master it quickly after a few game recordings.  

Also Read: How to Record Zoom Meeting Without Permission >> 

Comprehensive Guide - How to Record Gameplay on PC for YouTube with iTop Screen Recorder

So how to record gaming videos for YouTube on PC with iTop Screen Recorder? Here is a detailed step tutorial. 

Step 1. Download the iTop Game Recorder and follow the setup wizard to install it on your PC. Or you can try its online video recorder with webcam recording.

Step 2. Run the software and navigate to Options > Settings to tweak configurations for webcam, format, hotkeys, storage locations, mouse effects, etc. 

Step 3. Go back to the main interface and select the Game Mode for game recording. You can also enable HUD, speaker, microphone, or webcam as needed. Next, run the game you want to record and press hotkey F9 to start capturing the game highlights. 

Step 4. Once finished, press F9 again to stop recording. The game video clip is available under My Creations for preview, edit, and rename. You can also upload it on YouTube directly for instant sharing.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, the article has listed five criteria of a good game recorder, the best YouTube video/audio upload format requirements, and a detailed guideline on how to record gameplay on PC for YouTube with a screen recorder. After reading the post, we believe you must have mastered how to record gameplay for YouTube PC now. The iTop Screen Recorder, as your excellent recording assistant, provides best-in-class service and powerful features. We strongly recommend you download the software for a great game recording experience.