HDR vs. SDR: Which format should you record in?

Modern games can look incredible in HDR. But when it comes to recording gameplay, HDR isn't always the default choice. SDR is still widely compatible, easy to edit, and simple to share. HDR can preserve more of what you see on screen, but it also requires the right hardware, software, and playback environment.

So which format should you record in: HDR or SDR?

The answer depends on what you are capturing, where you plan to use the footage, and how much control you want over your workflow.

SDR stands for Standard Dynamic Range. It is the traditional video format used for most online videos, older games, monitors, TVs, and editing software.

SDR uses a narrower range of brightness and color, but that limitation also makes it more predictable. SDR footage is easy to view, edit, upload, and share because it can be displayed correctly on nearly every screen and platform.

For many creators, SDR is still the most convenient choice.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. Compared to SDR, HDR can capture a wider range of brightness and color.

That means bright highlights can appear more intense, shadows can hold more detail, and colors can look richer when viewed on an HDR-compatible display.

In games, HDR can make scenes feel more immersive. A glowing spell, or the reflection of light on water, can stand out in a way that SDR cannot always reproduce.

Not always.

HDR can look better when the game supports it well, your console or PC is outputting HDR correctly, and your display can accurately display HDR. When everything is working together, HDR can preserve more of the original image and make gameplay footage look closer to what you saw while playing.

But HDR is also more demanding. If a display, app, editor, or platform does not handle HDR properly, the image may look too dark, too bright, washed out, or inconsistent.

SDR is a strong choice when consistency matters more than maximum visual range. If your priority is making sure your video looks good for the widest audience, SDR is reliable. Meanwhile, HDR is especially useful for visually rich games with dramatic lighting, high contrast, and colorful effects. To decide which one is a better fit for you to record in, reference the following table.

When recording gameplay, it helps to understand the difference between what you see and what gets recorded.

HDR passthrough lets you play in HDR on your display.

HDR recording saves the footage itself in HDR.

Depending on your capture device and software settings, you may be able to play in HDR while recording in SDR, or play in HDR while also recording in HDR.

This flexibility lets you choose the best format for your final video without changing how you play.

HDR contains brightness and color information that SDR screens cannot fully display. When HDR footage is displayed on an SDR screen, it must be converted using a process called tone mapping.

Tone mapping takes the wider HDR range and adapts it to fit within SDR's smaller range. A good tone map preserves as much detail as possible, but the SDR version may still look different from the original HDR version. Check out this article for a more detailed explanation of tone mapping.

This is why HDR gameplay can look amazing on your TV, but appear flatter, dimmer, or washed out in a recording if the capture workflow is not set up correctly.

If you want a simple HDR recording workflow, try Elgato Studio.

With a compatible Elgato capture device, an HDR source, and Windows, you can enable HDR recording directly in Elgato Studio. When HDR recording is turned on, Elgato Studio handles the format change automatically, so you do not have to manually configure every technical setting before you start recording.

This is helpful because HDR recording normally depends on several pieces working together: the console or PC output, the capture device, the recording software, the codec, and the display or editor used for playback.

Elgato Studio helps reduce that setup friction so you can focus on capturing the moment. To learn how to set it up, check out this article.

You can also record HDR gameplay with OBS Studio and an Elgato capture card, but the setup is more manual.

In OBS, HDR recording requires the right video format, color space, and encoder settings. You also need to use an HDR-compatible codec such as HEVC or AV1 instead of H.264. For the full setup process, check out this article.

This gives advanced users more control, but it also makes the workflow easy to misconfigure. If you want the fastest path to recording quality HDR gameplay, Elgato Studio is the more straightforward option.

HDR and SDR are both useful. SDR is simple, consistent, and widely compatible. HDR can preserve more brightness, color, and contrast when your setup supports it.

The best format is not always the most advanced one. It is the one that best fits your content, workflow, and audience.

If you want the easiest way to capture HDR footage, Elgato Studio helps simplify the process. If you want full manual control, OBS Studio gives you more settings to fine-tune. Either way, an Elgato capture device gives you the flexibility to play, record, and create in the format that best works for you.