Learn how to record FS2004 gameplay video with Fraps or OBS, capture sound, fix black screens and reduce stutter in clear steps.
To record gameplay video in FS2004, use a screen-capture program such as Fraps or OBS Studio, target the simulator window, select a save folder, frame rate and audio source, then press the recording hotkey. FS2004's built-in Flight Video recorder saves a replay for the simulator; it does not create a normal shareable video file.
What is the quickest way to record FS2004 gameplay?
Fraps is the simpler choice for capturing the simulator's older DirectX graphics, while OBS Studio offers better compression, audio control and scene management.
| Method | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Fraps | Quick setup with older DirectX games | Produces very large AVI files |
| OBS Studio | Compressed video, multiple audio sources and overlays | Game Capture can show a black screen with FS2004 |
| FS2004 Flight Video | Replaying a flight inside FS2004 | Does not export a standard video |
Recording with Fraps
- Install and open Fraps. Our archived Fraps 3.0.3 package is suited to legacy simulators, although compatibility can vary on newer Windows installations.
- Open the Movies settings. Choose a save folder, assign a capture hotkey and start with 30 fps. Select full-size capture if the computer can maintain a steady frame rate; use half-size if recording causes severe stutter.
- Launch FS2004. A frame-rate counter should appear when Fraps has detected
FS9.exe. - Start the flight and press the capture hotkey. The counter changes colour while recording. Press the same key again to stop.
- Check the AVI file immediately. Confirm that it contains motion and sound before recording a long flight.
Choose a hotkey that FS2004 does not already use for an aircraft, view or simulator command. A conflict can operate a cockpit control at the same moment recording starts.
Recording with OBS Studio
- Run FS2004 first, then add a Game Capture source in OBS and select the
FS9.exewindow. - Set the canvas and output resolution. Matching the simulator's resolution avoids unnecessary scaling and a soft-looking picture.
- Check the audio mixer. FS2004's engines, ATC and environmental sounds should register on the desktop-audio meter. Add a separate microphone source only if narration is required.
- Make a short test recording. Watch it outside the simulator and check image smoothness, volume balance and microphone delay.
- Record the full session only after the test passes.
Why does FS2004 appear as a black screen?
A black recording usually means the capture program has failed to hook FS2004's older full-screen DirectX mode.
- Press Alt+Enter to run FS2004 in a window, then use Window Capture.
- If Window Capture still fails, use Display Capture and crop the desktop from the finished recording.
- Run FS2004 and the recorder at the same privilege level. If
FS9.exeis set to run as administrator, the recorder may also need administrator rights. - Remove duplicate capture sources that may be hiding the correct source beneath a blank one.
- Keep FS2004 visible during a test. Minimising some older full-screen applications can stop or freeze their captured image.
How do I record FS2004 without stuttering?
Stable frame delivery matters more than a high recording rate; a consistent 30 fps usually looks better than footage fluctuating towards 60 fps.
- Reduce cloud detail, AI traffic, autogen or anti-aliasing if FS2004 slows down as soon as capture begins.
- Record at 30 fps rather than 60 fps unless the simulator can sustain the higher rate throughout the flight.
- Save to a fast drive with ample free space. Fraps files grow quickly, and slow storage can cause pauses or dropped frames.
- Close browsers, update tools and other programs that create processor or disk activity in the background.
- Record short segments rather than an entire multi-hour flight. This makes failed takes, storage limits and editing much easier to manage.
Can FS2004 replay the flight while I record it?
Yes. A practical workflow is to save an FS2004 Flight Video first, then replay it from different views while Fraps or OBS creates the final video file.
The built-in feature and screen capture serve different purposes: our explanation of recording a replayable FS2004 flight covers the simulator side. Replays may not reproduce every complex add-on system, animation or traffic event perfectly, so inspect the replay before planning camera cuts around it.
For more deliberate external shots, the CameraPositionX timed-camera documentation explains how scheduled viewpoints can be prepared and played alongside the simulator. Capture those replay passes separately, then combine the best views in a video editor.