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To make a static-image radio stream on YouTube, create a scene in OBS with an image source and a looping audio source, then send the scene to YouTube from Live Control Room using your stream URL and key. The image stays on screen while the audio plays; your computer and internet connection must remain on for as long as the encoder is streaming.
What you need
- A YouTube channel that is verified and has had no live-stream restrictions in the past 90 days. YouTube requires streamers to be at least 16 years old. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
- OBS Studio or another encoder that can send a stream to YouTube over RTMP or RTMPS.
- An image for the on-screen artwork and an audio file you have permission to broadcast.
- A stable internet connection with enough upload capacity for the video bitrate you choose.
OBS is a straightforward software option: its Sources Guide documents image and media sources, and its Media Sources guide describes supported audio formats and looping. You do not need a camera for this format.
Build the image-and-audio scene in OBS
- Create a scene. In OBS, add a scene in the Scenes panel and select it. This scene will contain both the artwork and the audio source.
- Add the artwork. Under Sources, select + and choose Image. Browse to your image file and confirm. Resize and position it in the preview so it fills the canvas as intended. Check the result at the output resolution: an image with a different aspect ratio may leave bars or need cropping.
- Add the audio. Select + under Sources and choose Media Source. Give it a recognizable name, select the audio file, and enable Loop if you want it to repeat continuously after playback ends. OBS documents MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV support; check the audio meters and listen to the output before going live.
- Check the mix. Make sure the audio source is not muted and its meter is moving. If you use multiple audio sources, confirm that the intended one is audible and that no unwanted desktop audio is being captured.
Set the encoder for YouTube
YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance covers RTMP/RTMPS, supported video codecs (H.264, H.265, or AV1), frame rates up to 60 fps, and AAC or MP3 audio. Match settings to YouTube’s bitrate table for the codec, resolution, and frame rate you select; there is no single bitrate that is right for every stream. Keep upload headroom rather than running your connection continuously at its maximum capacity.
- Rate control: CBR.
- Keyframes: two-second interval recommended; do not exceed four seconds.
- Stereo audio: YouTube recommends 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps.
- Resolution and frame rate: choose settings suited to your artwork and connection. A static image does not need a high frame rate to look still, but your encoder output must remain within YouTube’s current guidance.
YouTube recommends encrypted RTMPS where available. In Live Control Room, reveal the RTMPS URL in stream settings and use it with a compatible encoder. Details are in YouTube’s RTMPS instructions.
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Create the YouTube stream and go live
- Open YouTube Studio, select Create, then Go live to open Live Control Room. Choose to start now or schedule the stream.
- In the stream settings, copy the stream URL (or RTMPS URL) and stream key. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube if a suitable preset is available, or enter the server URL and key in the corresponding fields. Treat the key like a password: never publish it or include it in the stream image, description, or chat.
- In OBS, click Start Streaming. Wait for the incoming stream preview in Live Control Room. Confirm the artwork fills the frame and the audio is audible.
- For a scheduled stream, click Go live in Live Control Room after checking the preview. For a stream started immediately, follow the Live Control Room prompts to start the broadcast.
- To end the broadcast, stop streaming in OBS and end the stream in Live Control Room if prompted. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume that longer streams will be archived.
YouTube advises setting up the encoder ahead of time, testing the workflow, and monitoring stream health and audio/video quality during the event. See Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
Clear rights for both the music and the image
Do not assume that music or artwork is safe to broadcast just because it is available online, credited, or included in a personal collection. Secure the necessary rights for both visual and audio material. YouTube scans live streams for matches to third-party content, including content appearing in another broadcast. If it identifies a match, it may replace the stream with a placeholder image and may interrupt or terminate the stream if the content remains. Even with a license, a rights owner may need to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist. Read YouTube’s live-stream copyright guidance.
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Keep a static-image radio stream running continuously
With OBS, your computer and its network connection have to stay on while the encoder sends the stream. Disable sleep or automatic shutdown, keep OBS running, and ensure the audio file is set to loop. A power cut, internet outage, computer restart, or encoder failure can interrupt the broadcast. YouTube recommends monitoring stream health; for a new setup, a short test stream can reveal framing, audio, and connection problems before a longer broadcast.
If you want a cloud service rather than an encoder running at home, StreamNeo keeps an uploaded video live on YouTube from the cloud. Its workflow is to upload a recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; it loops the uploaded video rather than streaming from a camera. Visit StreamNeo for details.
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Or let it run in the cloud
Upload your recording, add the YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; the uploaded video can stream as made, up to 4K 60fps, for one price per slot. StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly: $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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Troubleshooting
- No preview in Live Control Room: check that OBS is streaming, the server URL and stream key are copied correctly, and the channel is eligible for live streaming. If needed, reveal the current RTMPS URL again in Live Control Room and update the encoder.
- Artwork is cropped or does not fill the frame: resize or reposition the image source in the OBS canvas, then inspect the preview at the selected output resolution before going live.
- No sound or the track stops after one play: make sure the Media Source is not muted, the audio meter responds, and Loop is enabled. Test playback in OBS and confirm the file is in a supported format.
- Stream health warnings or interrupted output: verify your connection can sustain the selected bitrate, leave upload headroom, and check the encoder’s output settings against YouTube’s current codec and bitrate guidance. Monitor stream health during a test.
- Placeholder image or copyright interruption: YouTube may have matched third-party material. Stop using the material unless you have the required rights; if licensed, ask the rights owner whether your channel needs to be allowlisted in Content ID.
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