diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Recording.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Recording.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..09307d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Recording.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Windows;
+using Microsoft.Win32;
+using ytLive.Helpers;
+using ytLive.Services;
+
+namespace ytLive.ViewModels;
+
+public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
+{
+    private string? _recordFolder;
+    public string RecordFolderDisplay => _recordFolder ?? DefaultRecordFolder();
+    private string? _activeRecordPath;
+    private DateTime _recordStartTime;
+    private TimeSpan _recordLength;
+
+    private string? StartRecordFile()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            var folder = _recordFolder ?? DefaultRecordFolder();
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(folder);
+            var name = RecordingFile.BuildStartName(DateTime.Now) + ".mp4";
+            var path = Path.Combine(folder, name);
+            _activeRecordPath = path;
+            return path;
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            AppLog.Write(ex, "Recording: failed to prepare output path");
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task FinalizeRecordingAsync()
+    {
+        var startPath = _activeRecordPath;
+        _activeRecordPath = null;
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(startPath)) return;
+        try
+        {
+            while (_framePump.IsRunning) await Task.Delay(50);
+
+            if (!File.Exists(startPath))
+            {
+                AppLog.Write($"Recording: output not found for rename: {startPath}");
+                return;
+            }
+            _recordLength = _liveElapsed;
+            var autoStem = RecordingFile.BuildFinalName(_recordStartTime, _recordLength);
+            var dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(startPath)!;
+
+            // Manual rename modal: give the creator a chance to name the recording;
+            // null = keep the auto name (or the default recorded above).
+            string stem = autoStem;
+            var dialog = new RenameRecordingDialog(autoStem);
+            if (dialog.ShowDialog() == true && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(dialog.ResultFileName))
+                stem = dialog.ResultFileName;
+
+            var finalPath = UniquePath(Path.Combine(dir, stem + ".mp4"));
+            File.Move(startPath, finalPath);
+            AppLog.Write($"Recording saved: {finalPath}");
+            _notifications.Info("Recording saved",
+                Path.GetFileName(finalPath) + " — you can rename it in your videos folder at any time.");
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            AppLog.Write(ex, "Recording: rename-on-stop failed");
+            _notifications.Error("Recording saved",
+                $"The recording was written but couldn't be renamed: {Path.GetFileName(startPath)}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static string UniquePath(string path)
+    {
+        if (!File.Exists(path)) return path;
+        var dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(path)!;
+        var name = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path);
+        var ext = Path.GetExtension(path);
+        for (var i = 2; ; i++)
+        {
+            var candidate = Path.Combine(dir, $"{name}-{i}{ext}");
+            if (!File.Exists(candidate)) return candidate;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ChooseRecordFolder()
+    {
+        var dialog = new Microsoft.Win32.OpenFolderDialog
+        {
+            Title = "Choose a folder for local recordings",
+            InitialDirectory = _recordFolder ?? DefaultRecordFolder(),
+        };
+        if (dialog.ShowDialog() == true)
+        {
+            _recordFolder = dialog.FolderName;
+            _layoutStore.SaveRecordFolder(_recordFolder);
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(RecordFolderDisplay));
+            _notifications.Info("Record folder set", _recordFolder);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ResetRecordFolder()
+    {
+        _recordFolder = null;
+        _layoutStore.SaveRecordFolder(null);
+        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(RecordFolderDisplay));
+        _notifications.Info("Record folder reset", RecordFolderDisplay);
+    }
+
+    internal static string DefaultRecordFolder()
+    {
+        var downloads = Path.Combine(
+            Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.UserProfile), "Downloads");
+        return Directory.Exists(downloads)
+            ? downloads
+            : Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.Operations.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.Operations.cs
index 15811d1..73d07c4 100644
--- a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.Operations.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.Operations.cs
@@ -96,23 +96,6 @@ public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
     /// <summary>Creates the record file (auto-named <c>ty-…-0000.mp4</c> in the record
     /// folder) and returns its path, or null when the folder can't be prepared.</summary>
-    private string? StartRecordFile()
-    {
-        try
-        {
-            var folder = _recordFolder ?? DefaultRecordFolder();
-            Directory.CreateDirectory(folder);
-            var name = RecordingFile.BuildStartName(DateTime.Now) + ".mp4";
-            var path = Path.Combine(folder, name);
-            _activeRecordPath = path;
-            return path;
-        }
-        catch (Exception ex)
-        {
-            AppLog.Write(ex, "Recording: failed to prepare output path");
-            return null;
-        }
-    }
 
     /// <summary>One-click go-live (TASK 5): ensure the reusable stream, create a
     /// broadcast bound to it, then start the frame pump. The pump reads the RTMP
@@ -269,92 +252,11 @@ public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     /// <summary>On stop the auto-named <c>ty-…-0000.mp4</c> file is renamed to carry
     /// the real recording length (<c>ty-…-hh2mm2.mp4</c>), with a numeric suffix on
     /// name collisions. Runs only after the pump has fully closed the file.</summary>
-    private async Task FinalizeRecordingAsync()
-    {
-        var startPath = _activeRecordPath;
-        _activeRecordPath = null;
-        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(startPath)) return;
-        try
-        {
-            while (_framePump.IsRunning) await Task.Delay(50);
 
-            if (!File.Exists(startPath))
-            {
-                AppLog.Write($"Recording: output not found for rename: {startPath}");
-                return;
-            }
-            _recordLength = _liveElapsed;
-            var autoStem = RecordingFile.BuildFinalName(_recordStartTime, _recordLength);
-            var dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(startPath)!;
 
-            // Manual rename modal: give the creator a chance to name the recording;
-            // null = keep the auto name (or the default recorded above).
-            string stem = autoStem;
-            var dialog = new RenameRecordingDialog(autoStem);
-            if (dialog.ShowDialog() == true && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(dialog.ResultFileName))
-                stem = dialog.ResultFileName;
-
-            var finalPath = UniquePath(Path.Combine(dir, stem + ".mp4"));
-            File.Move(startPath, finalPath);
-            AppLog.Write($"Recording saved: {finalPath}");
-            _notifications.Info("Recording saved",
-                Path.GetFileName(finalPath) + " — you can rename it in your videos folder at any time.");
-        }
-        catch (Exception ex)
-        {
-            AppLog.Write(ex, "Recording: rename-on-stop failed");
-            _notifications.Error("Recording saved",
-                $"The recording was written but couldn't be renamed: {Path.GetFileName(startPath)}");
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static string UniquePath(string path)
-    {
-        if (!File.Exists(path)) return path;
-        var dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(path)!;
-        var name = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path);
-        var ext = Path.GetExtension(path);
-        for (var i = 2; ; i++)
-        {
-            var candidate = Path.Combine(dir, $"{name}-{i}{ext}");
-            if (!File.Exists(candidate)) return candidate;
-        }
-    }
-
-    private void ChooseRecordFolder()
-    {
-        var dialog = new Microsoft.Win32.OpenFolderDialog
-        {
-            Title = "Choose a folder for local recordings",
-            InitialDirectory = _recordFolder ?? DefaultRecordFolder(),
-        };
-        if (dialog.ShowDialog() == true)
-        {
-            _recordFolder = dialog.FolderName;
-            _layoutStore.SaveRecordFolder(_recordFolder);
-            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(RecordFolderDisplay));
-            _notifications.Info("Record folder set", _recordFolder);
-        }
-    }
-
-    private void ResetRecordFolder()
-    {
-        _recordFolder = null;
-        _layoutStore.SaveRecordFolder(null);
-        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(RecordFolderDisplay));
-        _notifications.Info("Record folder reset", RecordFolderDisplay);
-    }
 
     /// <summary>Falls back to the user's Downloads folder when no preference is set;
     /// returns MyVideos if Downloads doesn't exist.</summary>
-    internal static string DefaultRecordFolder()
-    {
-        var downloads = Path.Combine(
-            Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.UserProfile), "Downloads");
-        return Directory.Exists(downloads)
-            ? downloads
-            : Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos);
-    }
 
     // Full encoder options for the current tier, or null when no RTMP URL is
     // available — the pump then skips the encoder entirely (TASK 5 fills the seam).
diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.cs
index a024f07..1f19e8d 100644
--- a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.Streaming.cs
@@ -38,14 +38,9 @@ public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private bool _recordPillOn;
     private bool _onAirPillOn;
     private bool _isRecording;
-    private string? _recordFolder;
 
     /// <summary>Resolved record folder — the configured choice, or Downloads (0th case).</summary>
-    public string RecordFolderDisplay => _recordFolder ?? DefaultRecordFolder();
 
-    private string? _activeRecordPath;
-    private DateTime _recordStartTime;
-    private TimeSpan _recordLength;
 
     private readonly FramePump _framePump;
 
diff --git a/ViewModels/index.md b/ViewModels/index.md
index 0ca2f2c..3ded473 100644
--- a/ViewModels/index.md
+++ b/ViewModels/index.md
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ commit, tag `refactor-commit-N`, no per-commit push).
 - [x] **Commit B · `refactor-commit-B`** — **Streaming** → `MainViewModel.Streaming.cs` 789 → **330** + new **`MainViewModel.Streaming.Operations.cs`** (459 lines). Moved the go-live/record/health operation bodies (`StartSession`, `BeginRecordOnly`, `BeginGoLive`, `StartRecordFile`, `PrepareAndStartLiveAsync`, `PollHealthAsync`/`OnHealthPollTick`/`ApplyHealthIssue`, `StopStream`, `FinalizeRecordingAsync`, `UniquePath`, `ChooseRecordFolder`, `ResetRecordFolder`, `DefaultRecordFolder`, `OnFramePumpFailed`, `OnFramePumpHealthUpdated`, `ApplyHealth`, `ResetHealth`, `BuildEncoderOptions`) into the Operations partial; Streaming.cs keeps state + quality/resolution tiers + session timer + command declarations. Pruned dead usings both files. Pending: Background, SocialsDialogViewModel, LayoutStore.
 - [x] **Commit C · `refactor-commit-C`** — **Background** → `MainViewModel.Background.cs` 567 → **418** + new **`MainViewModel.Background.Model.cs`** (163 lines). Moved the static scene-model helpers (`LoadBackgroundImage`, `CreatePlaceholderSnapshot`, `EnsureBackground`, `CreateBackground`, `NormalizeBackgrounds`, `AllBackgrounds`, `ResolveAutoCaptureKey`, `MonitorKeyPrefix`) into the Model partial; Background.cs keeps capture/live state + operations (`UpdateActiveBackground`, `UpdateBackgroundImage`, `RefreshSnapshotsAsync`, `ReacquireScreenCaptures`, `OnScreenPreviewBitmapChanged`, `OnFullscreenMonitorChanged`, `RefreshBackgroundAutoCapture`, `BrowseBackground`, `ClearBackgroundCaptureAsync`, `RedesignateBackgroundAsync`, `ChangeBackgroundCaptureAsync`, `SetBackgroundCapture`, `DefaultBackgroundAsset`, `HealBackgrounds`, `StampDefaultBackgroundAsset`). Pending: SocialsDialogViewModel, LayoutStore.
 - [x] **Commit D · `refactor-commit-D`** — **SocialsDialog** → `SocialsDialogViewModel.cs` 515 → **334** + new **`SocialSlotViewModel.cs`** (183 lines). Moved the `DialogEntry` record + the row-level `SocialSlotViewModel` (six-fixed-slot row VM: service/logo/lock/edit/validate state + computed `Show*` flags) into its own file; `SocialsDialogViewModel.cs` keeps the dialog VM (sign-in gate, validation orchestration, commit). `DialogEntry` stays `public` in the same namespace so both files see it. Pending: LayoutStore.
-- [x] **Commit E · `refactor-commit-E`** — **LayoutStore** → `LayoutStore.cs` 1402 split into 6 concern-based partials: **`LayoutStore.cs`** (47: shell — `Instance`, fields, ctor + `EnsureSchema`, `GetUserVersion`, `Dispose`), **`LayoutStore.Migrations.cs`** (495: all `Migrate*` + `EnsureSchema`), **`LayoutStore.Load.cs`** (221: `Load`), **`LayoutStore.Save.cs`** (339: `Save`), **`LayoutStore.Settings.cs`** (292: mic/record-folder/reusable-stream + license/transition/broadcast/hotkey/window `GetSetting`/`UpsertSetting`), **`LayoutStore.Assets.cs`** (41: `GetAssetBytes`/`UpsertAsset`). **PHASE 3 COMPLETE — no production `.cs` over 500.** Pending: session wrap-up (HANDOFF.md) + push on approval.
+- [x] **Commit E · `refactor-commit-E`** — **LayoutStore** → `LayoutStore.cs` 1402 split into 6 concern-based partials: **`LayoutStore.cs`** (47: shell — `Instance`, fields, ctor + `EnsureSchema`, `GetUserVersion`, `Dispose`), **`LayoutStore.Migrations.cs`** (495: all `Migrate*` + `EnsureSchema`), **`LayoutStore.Load.cs`** (221: `Load`), **`LayoutStore.Save.cs`** (339: `Save`), **`LayoutStore.Settings.cs`** (292: mic/record-folder/reusable-stream + license/transition/broadcast/hotkey/window `GetSetting`/`UpsertSetting`), **`LayoutStore.Assets.cs`** (41: `GetAssetBytes`/`UpsertAsset`). **PHASE 3 COMPLETE — no production `.cs` over 500.**
+- [x] **Commit F · `refactor-commit-F`** — **Recording (context/concern)** → new **`MainViewModel.Recording.cs`** (121 lines). The encoder (`Services/Encoder/FfmpegEncoder.cs`) and frame pump (`Services/Encoder/FramePump.cs`) were ALREADY extracted services — the planned "extract FFmpegEncoder/StreamHealthMonitor/FramePump" was a no-op premise. The honest functional seam was the local recording-output concern: `StartRecordFile`, `FinalizeRecordingAsync`, `UniquePath`, `ChooseRecordFolder`, `ResetRecordFolder`, `DefaultRecordFolder` + fields `_recordFolder`/`RecordFolderDisplay`/`_activeRecordPath`/`_recordStartTime`/`_recordLength` moved out of the live-stream orchestration. `MainViewModel.Streaming.Operations.cs` 475 → **377**; `MainViewModel.Streaming.cs` 328 → **323**. Same partial class, MVVM glue untouched.
 The partial `.cs` files land next to `MainViewModel.cs` in this folder as the split
 proceeds; each partial carries its own `using`s and re-declares nothing from core.
\ No newline at end of file