OBS encodes whatever you leave lying around. Closing apps before you open OBS is the cheapest quality and privacy upgrade you can make.
- Save work in every editor.
- Quit (not minimize) browsers, chat, launchers, and utilities.
- Open only game + OBS + required chat.
- Preview every scene — especially display capture.
Full ritual: close all apps before going live. Windows deep dive: kill all programs on Windows.