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For a standard SDR YouTube Live stream, set OBS color space to Rec. 709. Set the range to Limited only when that matches the signal coming from your source and capture-device chain. YouTube recommends limited-range samples, but the range setting must describe the video you actually send—not compensate for a mismatch elsewhere.
Set OBS for a conventional 4K60 SDR stream
- In OBS, open Settings > Advanced > Video and locate the color-space and range controls. OBS menu labels can vary by version.
- Set Color Space to Rec. 709. YouTube specifies Rec. 709 for SDR and 8-bit video in its live encoder settings.
- Set Color Range to Limited when your source and processing path use video/limited levels. If the source genuinely outputs full-range video, configure the entire chain to preserve and identify full range instead.
- Check the preview and a test stream for crushed dark or bright detail, or a washed-out image. Test representative footage, including motion and audio, before an important broadcast.
Color space and range are separate controls. Rec. 709 identifies the SDR color space; range describes the sample levels. An OBS community guide explains 8-bit limited luma as 16–235 and full range as 0–255 (OBS Project Forums color-range guide, 2016). Those numbers explain the distinction; they do not mean you should force one range without checking the source.
Match every stage of the signal chain
With a capture card, check the console or computer output, the card’s input or processing settings, the OBS source properties, and OBS’s advanced video settings. A card may convert or expand levels. If OBS interprets full-range input as limited, end values can be clipped; if limited-range input is interpreted as full, the picture can look washed out. The Elgato 4K60 Pro range guide describes these mismatch cases, but its menu directions date to 2018, so confirm the available options in your current driver and OBS version.
- Do not choose Full simply because your computer monitor is configured for full range. The setting needs to match the video signal, not the display’s general configuration.
- If the source, card, and OBS do not agree, correct the conversion or interpretation at the relevant stage rather than changing Rec. 709.
- If you cannot verify the signal path, start with the source and card defaults, use a short test stream, and compare the result with the source. Avoid making multiple range changes at once.
Use YouTube’s 4K60 encoding targets as a separate check
Color settings do not determine bitrate. For 2160p at 60 fps, YouTube’s current published ingest guidance recommends the following bitrates, with minimums shown separately. These are YouTube recommendations, not independently measured guarantees of image quality.
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| Codec | Recommended bitrate | Minimum bitrate |
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YouTube also specifies CBR, up to 60 fps, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. See its encoder settings for the full current guidance. A bitrate within the recommendation still needs a stable upload connection. Test with the same kind of movement and audio you expect to stream, and monitor YouTube’s stream health.
If you are streaming HDR, use the HDR path
Do not use the SDR Rec. 709/8-bit setup for an HDR stream. YouTube’s OBS HDR instructions require OBS 30.1 or later and an HDR source. They specify a hardware HEVC encoder, Main 10, HDR enabled, P010, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG; YouTube recommends HLG. The broader HDR requirements include 10-bit video, BT.2020 primaries, and matching transfer and matrix characteristics. Enable full range only if the source produces full-range video, as stated in YouTube’s HDR live-stream guidance.
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4K60 does not automatically mean HDR. Use the HDR settings only when your source and encoding hardware support the complete HDR chain; otherwise configure the stream as SDR.
Troubleshoot common color problems
| What you see | Likely issue | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Image looks washed out | Limited-range samples may be interpreted as full range. | Check source output, capture-card conversion, OBS source properties, and OBS range together. Confirm that each stage describes the signal it receives. |
| Dark or bright detail appears crushed | Full-range input may be interpreted as limited, or another stage may clip levels. | Check whether the source outputs full range and whether the card or OBS converts it. Correct the mismatched stage rather than changing the color space. |
| Picture looks wrong after changing range | One setting was changed without matching the rest of the chain. | Return to the source and card configuration, identify their output range, then align OBS. Change one control at a time and retest. |
| HDR looks like SDR or has incorrect color | The HDR source, encoder, bit depth, color space, or transfer settings may not match. | Verify the HDR-specific OBS and YouTube requirements, including OBS 30.1 or later, hardware HEVC, Main 10, P010, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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