To keep HDR intact in a 4K/60fps YouTube Live loop, send genuine HDR source footage through a 10-bit HEVC (H.265) Main 10 path with matching color metadata: Rec. 2020 primaries, a Rec. 2020 non-constant-luminance matrix, and the source’s actual PQ or HLG transfer function. In OBS, YouTube’s documented HDR setup calls for OBS 30.1 or later, a supported hardware HEVC encoder, P010 4:2:0, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG. A loop setting repeats the file; it does not by itself preserve HDR. Test the complete setup and verify playback on an HDR-capable device.
What has to stay correct for HDR
Resolution and frame rate do not establish that a stream is HDR. The file must contain genuine HDR imagery, and its signal and metadata must remain consistent through playback and encoding. YouTube warns that adding HDR tags to material that was not graded in HDR can badly distort its appearance. Do not relabel an SDR documentary as HDR.
- Color primaries: Rec. 2020.
- Color matrix: Rec. 2020 non-constant luminance.
- Transfer function: the source’s actual PQ or HLG signal. YouTube supports both and recommends HLG in its OBS instructions.
- Encoding: 10-bit HEVC/H.265, using Main 10 and P010 4:2:0 in YouTube’s documented OBS HDR configuration. YouTube’s general encoder guidance says AV1 is not supported for HDR.
The output transfer function must agree with the signal; PQ and HLG are not interchangeable labels. Check the source file’s properties and metadata before choosing the output configuration. If you cannot establish that the source is HDR, do not force HDR signaling.
Configure OBS for a 4K/60fps HDR loop
The steps below follow YouTube’s current HDR and encoder guidance and OBS’s Media Source loop control. The source file, operating system, GPU, OBS build, and internet connection vary, so confirm that the actual machine supports the required encoder and can sustain the stream.
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- Inspect the recording. Confirm that it is genuinely HDR and that its primaries, matrix, and transfer function are consistent: Rec. 2020, Rec. 2020 non-constant luminance, and PQ or HLG. Do not apply HDR tags to SDR footage.
- Add and loop the file. In OBS, add a Media Source, select the recording in a supported container such as MP4, MOV, or MKV, and enable Loop. OBS describes this control as replaying the file after playback completes. Check the media source and the outgoing color path separately: looping alone says nothing about HDR signaling.
- Check HDR support in OBS and the encoder. YouTube’s documented OBS HDR configuration specifies OBS 30.1 or later and a hardware HEVC encoder. The required encoder settings include Main 10, P010 4:2:0, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG. YouTube recommends HLG, but PQ is also supported. Encoder options depend on the GPU, driver, and operating system; confirm support for the exact settings on your system.
- Choose the ingest protocol appropriate to the encoder. YouTube documents HDR with RTMP(S) or HLS and lists OBS among compatible RTMP software encoders. For the documented OBS software-encoder route, select YouTube RTMPS. YouTube’s general encoder guidance recommends HEVC over RTMP(S) for HDR and says to consider HLS when an encoder cannot provide the required HDR capabilities over RTMP. Separately, YouTube’s HDR page specifies HLS output for hardware encoders. Do not assume that this hardware-encoder requirement applies to the documented OBS RTMPS procedure.
- Apply the protocol-specific requirements. For HLS hardware ingest, YouTube specifies 10-bit HEVC, BT.2020-compatible primaries, matching PQ or HLG transfer characteristics, and a BT.2020 non-constant-luminance matrix. Its HLS ingest developer documentation also specifies M2TS muxing, AAC audio, a closed GOP, and a maximum of 60fps. Follow the requirements for the actual encoder and protocol rather than mixing settings from different paths.
- Set 4K/60fps output and bitrate. In YouTube’s current encoder guidance, 4K/2160p at 60fps using H.265 has a 10 Mbps minimum and 35 Mbps recommended bitrate. Use HEVC because YouTube’s HDR path requires it; the H.264 recommendation of 50 Mbps is not the HDR route. Set a constant bitrate (CBR) and a 2-second keyframe interval; YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds. Reserve stable upstream capacity beyond the video target for audio and network variation.
- Leave manual resolution unchecked. YouTube’s OBS HDR instructions say to keep manual resolution unchecked. Confirm the actual output is 2160p at 60fps and that the selected color settings match the source.
- Run a private or unlisted test with the real loop. Check that playback restarts as intended, the loop boundary does not cause a visible color shift, and the encoder sustains 4K60 without dropped frames. Monitor YouTube stream health. This is a practical verification step, not a guarantee that an unspecified computer or connection can maintain the settings.
Choose between RTMPS and HLS only after checking encoder support
The transport does not create HDR by itself. Codec, bit depth, transfer function, primaries, and matrix must also be right. Where the encoder supports both ingest routes, choose based on its documented HDR capability and the configuration you can maintain.
| Ingest route | What the guidance establishes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| RTMPS | YouTube lists OBS among compatible RTMP software encoders and documents an OBS HDR setup. Its general guidance recommends HEVC over RTMP(S) for HDR. | Use the documented OBS route and confirm the encoder can output the required 10-bit HEVC HDR signal over RTMPS. If it cannot, consider HLS. |
| HLS | YouTube’s HDR guidance specifies HLS output for hardware encoders. The HLS ingest documentation adds protocol-specific requirements. | Confirm the encoder can configure HLS, including M2TS muxing, AAC audio, a closed GOP, and no more than 60fps, as well as the required HDR metadata. |
Verify HDR on the viewer side
The Live Control Room preview does not display HDR colors, so it is not a reliable way to decide whether viewers receive HDR. After the test stream is available, play it on an HDR-capable device and open the playback quality menu. YouTube says HDR streams show an HDR label there on supported devices. Also check the stream on an SDR playback path for acceptable appearance; viewers on unsupported devices receive SDR.
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Troubleshoot common HDR loop problems
- The stream appears to be SDR. Confirm the source is genuine HDR, then check for HEVC Main 10, 10-bit P010, and matching primaries, matrix, and transfer function. Verify on an HDR display and look for the player’s HDR label rather than judging from the Live Control Room preview.
- Colors look washed out, oversaturated, or shifted. Check for a mismatch among the source signal, output color space, and metadata. A likely cause is incorrect HDR signaling or SDR footage tagged as HDR; YouTube warns this can distort the image.
- The stream stutters or drops frames. Check whether the encoder can sustain the selected resolution and frame rate, whether upstream capacity is stable at the target bitrate, and what YouTube stream health reports. Test with the actual loop rather than assuming the computer can hold 4K60 indefinitely.
- Some viewers do not see HDR. Confirm that the playback device and display support HDR and that HDR is enabled. YouTube supplies SDR to unsupported devices; the HDR label appears only where HDR playback is available.
- HDR options are unavailable in OBS. Check the OBS version, operating-system and GPU support, and available encoder options. YouTube’s documented OBS HDR setup specifies version 30.1 or later and a hardware HEVC encoder.
- The loop restarts but the picture changes at the join. Check the source file and its color metadata around the boundary, then test the full loop. The OBS Loop option repeats playback; it does not correct a discontinuity or guarantee consistent HDR output.
Copyright and documentary footage
Before making a documentary loop public, confirm that you have the rights or permissions needed for the footage, music, narration, and other included material. A live stream being pre-recorded or repeated does not remove copyright obligations. Review YouTube’s applicable policies and permissions for your specific material; no blanket conclusion about a particular film’s rights follows from its genre or availability online.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
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