For a YouTube Live stream built around a prerecorded video, set OBS’s output frame rate to the video’s actual frame rate when practical. In OBS, go to Settings > Video > Common FPS Value. Matching is a sensible way to preserve the source’s cadence—not a special YouTube Live requirement. YouTube’s live encoder guidance allows up to 60 fps; if 60 fps makes your computer struggle, OBS recommends trying 30 fps.
What FPS should OBS use for a prerecorded video?
Start with the file’s actual frame rate, not an assumption based on its resolution. For example, a 1080p file might be 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps. YouTube’s upload guidance says video should be encoded and uploaded at the rate it was recorded, and lists 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 fps as common rates. That guidance is for uploads; applying it to a live OBS media source is a practical source-preservation choice, not an explicit live-stream rule. YouTube recommended upload encoding settings.
OBS describes Common FPS Value as the output frame-rate setting and says it should match your desired output FPS. OBS Studio overview.
How to set and test the frame rate in OBS
- Check the source file. Read its media information or check the editing/export settings used to create it. Do not infer FPS from resolution alone.
- Set OBS’s output FPS. Open Settings > Video. Under Common FPS Value, choose the source’s actual rate if the exact value is available and you want to preserve its cadence.
- Choose resolution separately. In the same Video settings, Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution concern image dimensions, not frame rate. Set output resolution to suit the video and intended broadcast; changing resolution does not set FPS.
- Test a representative section. Use the same clip, audio, transitions, and motion planned for the broadcast. Make a private or unlisted test where appropriate, then look for judder, dropped frames, audio-sync problems, and YouTube stream-health warnings. YouTube recommends testing with similar movement and audio and monitoring stream health during the event. YouTube live encoder settings.
- Adjust only if the test gives you a reason. If 60 fps is unstable on your computer, try 30 fps. If the source is 24, 25, or 30 fps, do not raise the output to 60 merely because YouTube permits it; a higher output rate does not create source detail that is not there.
Should OBS be set to 30 or 60 fps?
Choose based on source cadence, motion, system stability, and available upload bandwidth—not on a belief that one rate is always better.
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| Choice | When it fits | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Match the source, such as 24, 25, or 30 fps | The prerecorded program was made at that rate and preserving its natural cadence is the priority. | Motion remains at the source cadence; changing the OBS rate can otherwise mean frames are repeated or omitted. |
| 60 fps | The source is 60 fps and the computer and connection can sustain the stream. | OBS may have more rendering and encoding work to do, and YouTube’s recommended bitrate varies with FPS, resolution, and codec. |
| 30 fps instead of 60 | 60 fps causes instability or excessive system load. | A 60 fps source is no longer being output at its original cadence. Test the material for acceptable motion. |
OBS notes that frame rate affects rendering and encoding performance and recommends trying 30 fps if 60 fps does not work. OBS encoding performance troubleshooting. For a playlist containing mixed frame rates, use the rate that best serves its dominant or most important material, then test transitions between files; there is no single universally correct setting established for every mixed-rate playlist.
Live settings that matter alongside FPS
Frame rate is only one part of a stable YouTube Live setup. YouTube’s live encoder guidance says the stream can use up to 60 fps, calls for CBR bitrate encoding for RTMP/RTMPS, and recommends a 2-second keyframe frequency (no more than 4 seconds). Its guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 among supported video codecs. YouTube says it detects encoder settings and transcodes the stream for viewers. Check the current YouTube live encoder settings before going live, since bitrate recommendations depend on resolution, frame rate, and codec.
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Example YouTube ingest bitrate recommendations
The following are values on YouTube’s official Help page accessed October 3, 2026. They are recommendations, not guarantees of picture quality; available upload capacity and stream health still matter.
| Output | Codec | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p30 | H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | H.264 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | AV1 or H.265 | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | AV1 or H.265 | 4 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
Matching FPS does not determine whether your connection can upload reliably at the bitrate for the selected resolution and codec. YouTube recommends a speed test and a stream test; watch the live control room’s health messages while broadcasting.
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Common frame-rate problems and fixes
- The image looks juddery: Confirm the source’s actual FPS and compare it with OBS’s Common FPS Value. Test with representative motion; mismatched cadence can make motion appear uneven.
- OBS or the stream is unstable at 60 fps: Try 30 fps as OBS recommends, then repeat the test. Also check that the chosen resolution, encoder, and upload capacity are sustainable.
- YouTube reports stream-health or bitrate problems: Compare the encoder’s bitrate with YouTube’s current recommendation for the selected resolution, FPS, and codec. Run a speed test and check the stream health before the event.
- Audio and picture drift apart: Re-test with the same audio and clip used for the planned stream, check OBS and YouTube warnings, and verify synchronization before the public broadcast.
- Different clips look inconsistent in a playlist: Identify the rates of the clips, choose a setting that serves the most important material, and test transitions. A single output FPS may not preserve every mixed-rate clip identically.
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