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For a typical SDR YouTube stream, start with H.264, CBR, a 2-second keyframe interval, AAC stereo at 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps, and Rec. 709 at 8-bit. Set video bitrate to YouTube’s recommendation for your chosen resolution and frame rate: 17 Mbps for 1080p60, 14 Mbps for 1080p30, or 8 Mbps for 720p60 or 720p30. Then choose the highest combination your upload connection and computer can sustain reliably; 1080p60 is not automatically the best choice.
Recommended OBS settings for YouTube Live
This baseline is for ordinary SDR streaming and broad compatibility. YouTube’s official encoder guidance specifies the streaming requirements and bitrate recommendations; OBS controls and encoder names can vary by operating system, GPU, drivers, and version.
| OBS setting | Starting value | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Video encoder | H.264 | Choose a hardware or software encoder supported by your system. OBS is one of the verified software encoder options listed by YouTube. |
| Rate control | CBR | YouTube specifies constant bitrate. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds | YouTube recommends 2 seconds and says not to exceed 4 seconds. |
| Video bitrate | Use the H.264 row matching resolution and frame rate below | These are video bitrates, not total upload rates, and do not guarantee a particular visual result. |
| Audio | AAC stereo, 44.1 kHz, 128 kbps | A useful baseline for ordinary stereo streams. |
| Protocol | RTMPS, when available | YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP. |
| SDR color | Rec. 709, 8-bit | Use this for a standard SDR workflow. |
In OBS, open Settings → Output to choose the encoder, rate control, bitrate, and keyframe interval, and Settings → Video to choose output resolution and frame rate. Audio options are under Settings → Audio; exact labels and available options depend on your OBS build and encoder.
Choose the right bitrate for your resolution
The following are YouTube’s H.264 recommended ingest video bitrates and minimums. Use the recommended value as a target only if your connection can sustain it. The official YouTube page did not display a publication year; these figures were checked on October 3, 2026.
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| Ingest resolution and frame rate | H.264 minimum | H.264 recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K) at 60 fps | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) at 30 fps | 11 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 7 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 480p at 30 fps | 0.4 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 360p at 30 fps | 0.4 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
Source: YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. Do not treat the listed bitrate as a visual-quality guarantee or as the entire upload requirement.
How to choose resolution, frame rate, and codec
Match the stream to the content and system
Higher resolution carries more image detail; higher frame rate can make motion look smoother. Both require more bitrate and encoding capacity. Select the highest combination your computer and upload link sustain without interruptions, not the largest numbers available in OBS. For a documentary with mostly static shots or narration, stable delivery may matter more than 60 fps; footage with fast movement can benefit more from a higher frame rate if the system and connection handle it.
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Keep codec recommendations separate
YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for live encoding, up to 60 fps. H.264 is a straightforward baseline for a typical SDR setup. Use HEVC or AV1 only if OBS, the encoder hardware, and your workflow support that codec. Bitrate figures are codec-specific: for example, YouTube’s recommended AV1/H.265 bitrates include 12 Mbps at 1080p60, 10 Mbps at 1080p30, and 6 Mbps at 720p60 or 720p30, with respective minimums of 4 Mbps, 4 Mbps, 2 Mbps, and 2 Mbps. Do not apply those figures to H.264.
Know the latency trade-off at 4K
YouTube says 4K/2160p streams cannot use its low-latency optimization and are set to normal latency. If low latency is important, do not assume a 4K stream can use the low-latency option.
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For advanced H.264 encoder details, YouTube recommends square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames, one reference frame, and CABAC entropy coding. Some OBS encoders expose these controls and others may not; do not assume a particular setting exists in every encoder.
Set audio and color for your workflow
Stereo audio
For a normal stereo stream, use AAC at 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps. YouTube also lists MP3 as an option for stereo audio. If you send 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube requires AAC and recommends 48 kHz at 384 kbps; use this only when your complete audio chain supports surround sound.
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SDR and HDR
For SDR, use Rec. 709 color and 8-bit depth. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance recommends HEVC and 10-bit depth for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. HDR requires an end-to-end workflow and hardware that support it; selecting a color option alone does not make an SDR source HDR.
Make sure your upload connection can carry the stream
YouTube advises keeping the total stream bitrate below available upload bandwidth and leaving 20% headroom. The video bitrate is only part of the stream’s total rate, and other people or devices sharing the connection can reduce what is available to OBS.
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- Run an upload speed test near the time and location you will stream from.
- Choose a bitrate that leaves YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom and accounts for audio and other upload traffic.
- Use a reliable network; if Wi-Fi instability is suspected, a wired Ethernet connection is one possible troubleshooting step, not a guaranteed fix.
- If the connection cannot sustain your chosen setting, lower the bitrate or reduce resolution or frame rate rather than persisting with an unstable maximum-quality setup.
See YouTube Help: Streaming tips for its network guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Preflight your OBS stream before an event
- Schedule and configure the YouTube stream. In YouTube Studio, create or schedule the live stream, then use its stream key in OBS. Treat the key as a password: do not publish it or share it with anyone who should not be able to stream to your channel.
- Set OBS output and video. Under Settings → Output, choose a supported encoder, CBR, the matching bitrate, and a 2-second keyframe interval. Under Settings → Video, choose the resolution and frame rate you intend to send.
- Set audio and transport. Configure the audio baseline under Settings → Audio, and choose RTMPS in the streaming configuration when available.
- Test representative material. YouTube says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Test with audio and movement similar to the actual program, rather than an idle scene.
- Start early and inspect the preview. YouTube’s preparation guidance says to start the encoder at least 15 minutes before a scheduled event. Check the Live Control Room preview, stream health, and messages; confirm that audio and video are behaving as intended.
- Verify the audience-facing stream. Confirm the watch page is available and check any local archive files you need before the event begins.
See YouTube Help: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder for the encoder workflow and preparation advice.
Troubleshoot dropped frames, disconnects, and overload
| Symptom | Likely area to check | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Dropped frames or unstable stream health | Upload bandwidth, network reliability, or competing traffic | Recheck upload speed and shared network use. Reduce bitrate or choose a lower resolution/frame rate, then test again. |
| Encoder overload or choppy output | Computer or encoder capacity | Reduce output resolution or frame rate and retest with representative content. Choose another supported encoder if available. |
| Stream disconnects | Connection stability or ingest session | Check network reliability and YouTube’s status messages; retest before returning live. |
| Wrong or absent preview | OBS output, stream key, or selected YouTube event | Verify the stream key belongs to the intended event, confirm OBS is sending, and inspect the Live Control Room preview and messages. |
| Audio absent or distorted | OBS audio source, track, or format | Check that the intended audio source is active and routed to the streaming track; test levels and playback before the event. |
Network and encoder problems are different failure modes: changing bitrate can help an upload bottleneck, while reducing resolution or frame rate may ease both upload and encoding load. Retest after each meaningful change so you can identify which constraint was responsible.
Copyright and reused-content checks for documentary streams
Encoding settings do not grant rights to footage, music, narration, or other material in a stream. Before broadcasting a documentary or a loop of recorded material, confirm you have permission or another valid basis to use every included element, and review YouTube’s current copyright and monetization rules. A technically healthy stream can still be interrupted or restricted for content reasons. YouTube’s cited encoder and network guides cover technical setup, not a determination that any particular documentary content is legally cleared.
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