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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →You can stream an internet radio station to YouTube with OBS by adding the station’s direct audio stream to an OBS scene, connecting OBS to a YouTube encoder stream, and checking YouTube’s preview before making the broadcast public. First confirm that you have permission to rebroadcast the station’s audio; a radio stream being publicly accessible does not itself grant those rights.
Check music and rebroadcast rights first
Ask the station and relevant rights holders whether their permission covers retransmission on YouTube, the territories where viewers may watch, and any archived copy of the broadcast. YouTube’s livestream terms say that the provider represents it has the necessary rights for use on Google services, including music licensing rights.
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. A stream can be interrupted or terminated if a match is detected. Even if you have a licence, YouTube says the rights owner may need to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist to prevent interruptions; see YouTube’s live-stream copyright guidance. Confirm the station’s specific permissions and any allowlisting requirements before testing publicly.
Prepare the scene and add the station audio in OBS
Build the visual
Create a scene for the broadcast and add a visual source, such as a station logo, schedule graphic, or still image. Check that it fits the canvas and remains visible throughout the stream. OBS sends the scene’s video along with the audio, so a radio-only broadcast still needs an intentional visual presentation.
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Try the station’s direct stream URL with VLC Video
- Install VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source uses VLC libraries; OBS says 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, select the scene, click the + in the Sources panel, and choose VLC Video Source. Add a source, then enter the station’s direct audio stream URL in its playlist.
- Check the source’s audio-track selection and confirm that the OBS audio mixer meters move while the station plays. Listen to the audio OBS is sending, not just the station’s separate web player.
- If needed, adjust the source’s network caching setting to address buffering. OBS documents 400 ms as the default; it is not a universal recommended value or a guarantee that a station feed will work.
OBS documents that VLC Video supports playlists and audio tracks and requires VLC to be installed. Its Media Sources guide does not promise compatibility with every radio endpoint, codec, authentication method, or network protocol. Test the actual URL rather than assuming any link from a station’s website will work.
If the source does not play
- Check that you entered the media endpoint itself, not just the page containing the station’s web player.
- Test the endpoint outside OBS to see whether it plays and whether it requires authentication or a different URL.
- Check the audio-track selection and OBS mixer meters. If meters do not move, OBS may not be receiving audio from that source.
- Try an appropriate audio-capture route if the station plays in a local player but the direct URL does not work in VLC Video. The OBS Sources Guide describes audio sources, media sources, and audio capture options.
- Avoid capturing all desktop audio if that would also send notifications, other applications, or unrelated sounds to YouTube.
OBS’s standard Media Source supports local audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV, but that list does not establish that every live-radio URL will work as a Media Source. Test the exact feed and capture route you intend to broadcast.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select an encoder stream.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key from YouTube into OBS’s stream settings, or select the YouTube integration if one is presented in your OBS setup.
- Treat the stream key as a credential: YouTube describes it as the address and password used to direct the encoder feed. Do not share it publicly.
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for the incoming feed to appear in YouTube’s Live Control Room preview.
- Check that both the station audio and your visual are present. Set the intended privacy and visibility option, then take the broadcast live when ready.
Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions if the current Studio interface differs from these labels. YouTube says enabling livestreaming for the first time may take up to 24 hours, so do not leave initial activation until the broadcast is due.
Set audio and stream quality, then test
For RTMP or RTMPS ingest, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio, a 128 Kbps bitrate for stereo, and a 44.1 kHz sample rate for stereo. For the video encoder, YouTube recommends constant bitrate and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. These are YouTube’s published baseline recommendations, not a test of your station feed, computer, or connection. See YouTube’s encoder settings.
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- Use RTMPS where available. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the connection to its ingest servers. Its RTMPS guidance explains the secure ingest option.
- Choose a video quality your connection can sustain. A still visual does not remove the need to send a stable video encoder feed. Test the chosen resolution and bitrate before going live.
- Leave upload headroom. YouTube recommends 20% room beyond the combined stream bitrate, including primary and backup streams where applicable. See its streaming tips.
- Listen and watch the preview. Verify the audio is neither missing nor distorted, the visual is correct, and the preview in Live Control Room matches what you intend viewers to receive.
Monitor the broadcast and understand long-stream limits
Before the broadcast, test the actual station feed, visual, audio levels, YouTube preview, and intended privacy setting. During the broadcast, monitor YouTube’s stream health and the watch page, as well as OBS, the local machine, and the network. YouTube advises continuous quality monitoring in its streaming tips.
YouTube says encoder streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, according to its encoder setup guidance. That statement does not establish automatic archiving for longer broadcasts. Nor does adding a network audio source make OBS a dependable unattended 24/7 system: long-run uptime and reconnect behavior depend on the specific feed, machine, software, and connection, and need their own validation.
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Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video has no audio | The URL may be a web-player page rather than a direct media endpoint, the endpoint may not be compatible, or the audio track may be misselected. | Test the endpoint outside OBS, verify the URL and track selection, then check whether the OBS mixer meters move. |
| The station plays locally but not in OBS | The direct URL or its protocol, codec, or authentication may not work with the source configuration. | Check the station’s endpoint details and try an appropriate audio-capture route. Avoid capturing unrelated desktop sounds. |
| Audio buffers or cuts out | The station feed or network connection may be unstable; the source’s cache setting may also need adjustment. | Check the feed outside OBS, monitor the connection, and test a different cache setting. OBS’s 400 ms default is not a universal fix. |
| YouTube does not show the incoming stream | OBS may not be sending, or the stream URL or key may be incorrect. | Check OBS’s stream settings and status, confirm the correct YouTube encoder stream is selected, and watch Live Control Room for the incoming preview. |
| Audio is missing or distorted in YouTube’s preview | The wrong source may be active, the mixer level may be unsuitable, or the feed may not be reaching the encoder cleanly. | Listen to OBS’s outgoing audio, check mixer meters and source selection, and test again in YouTube’s preview before going live. |
| The live broadcast is interrupted after a copyright match | YouTube detected third-party content, or a rights owner has not allowlisted the channel despite a licence. | Resolve the rights and allowlisting question with the relevant station and rights holders before restarting. |
| A long broadcast disconnects or fails to recover | OBS, the source feed, the computer, or the connection may have stopped or lost service. | Check each part of the setup and test reconnect behavior under the conditions you expect. The OBS source documentation does not guarantee unattended 24/7 operation. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded recordings without leaving OBS or a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud option. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not broadcast a live microphone or camera feed. StreamNeo streams to YouTube only.
- Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream runs from the cloud.
- Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot with no quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
- Monthly: $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo for details, or start your free first day.
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