For a prerecorded event replay, start with 1080p at 30 fps, CBR, a 2-second keyframe interval, RTMPS, and normal latency. Choose the bitrate for your selected codec only if your upload connection can sustain it reliably. Test the complete loop before going public and monitor YouTube’s stream health. Most importantly, a single broadcast lasting longer than 12 hours may not be archived by YouTube, so use shorter segments and a local recording if preserving the full replay matters.
Recommended OBS settings for a 24/7 replay
Use these as a starting point, not a guarantee of picture quality or uninterrupted delivery. The best setting is the highest quality your source and stable upload can sustain throughout the broadcast.
| Setting | Starting choice | When to adjust |
|---|---|---|
| Output resolution | 1920×1080 | Use this if the source has that detail and the connection can sustain its bitrate. If the source is lower resolution, do not upscale expecting more real detail. |
| Frame rate | 30 fps | Use 60 fps when the source has motion that benefits from it and your upload can sustain the higher bitrate. |
| Rate control | CBR | Use constant bitrate for the live encoder configuration. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds | YouTube recommends 2 seconds and says not to exceed 4 seconds. |
| Protocol | RTMPS | Use it where available; YouTube recommends it because stream data is encrypted into and through Google’s servers. |
| Video codec | H.264 | H.265/HEVC and AV1 are also documented by YouTube, but availability depends on your encoder and hardware. For HDR, YouTube recommends H.265 over RTMP(S); AV1 is not supported for HDR. |
| Audio | AAC or MP3; stereo at 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps | Confirm audio is continuous and audible, and listen for clicks or silence where the replay loops. |
| YouTube latency | Normal | Choose lower latency only when interaction needs it. Ultra-low latency excludes resolutions above 1080p and closed captions, and lower latency can increase buffering. |
Set the video canvas and output
In OBS, the base (canvas) resolution is the workspace where you arrange sources; the output (scaled) resolution is what you send to YouTube. Keep the source’s aspect ratio intact, then check the preview and test broadcast for unwanted cropping or black bars. OBS documents its video settings in its OBS Studio overview.
Choose a bitrate your connection can hold
YouTube’s encoder guidance provides the following recommended ingestion bitrates. They are platform recommendations, not a promise of a particular visual result. Treat the recommended value as a target only if a test confirms your connection can sustain it.
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| Output | AV1 / H.265 recommended | H.264 recommended | Minimum shown by YouTube: AV1 / H.265 | Minimum shown by YouTube: H.264 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p30 | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps | not stated | not stated |
| 720p60 | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps | not stated | not stated |
The minimum entries above are the figures given in YouTube’s table for 1080p; the cited guidance here does not establish minimum values for 720p. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions before a scheduled event, since platform guidance can change.
Test sustained upload speed rather than relying on a short peak result. OBS’s troubleshooting guidance offers 75% of total upload as a rough starting point, not a universal guarantee: other network traffic, connection fluctuations, and service limits can affect the result. OBS explains that dropped frames mean the connection to the remote server is unstable or cannot keep up with the set bitrate. See YouTube’s recommended upload speeds and OBS’s stream connection troubleshooting.
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Configure the YouTube broadcast for a replay
Use normal latency unless interaction calls for less
A replay with no real-time interaction usually benefits more from steady playback than the shortest possible delay, so normal latency is a sensible default. YouTube says ultra-low latency does not support resolutions above 1080p or closed captions. Lower-latency settings can also increase buffering or affect smoothness. Review the available live stream settings for your broadcast.
Set DVR according to how viewers will watch
Enable DVR if viewers should be able to pause or rewind while the broadcast is live. This does not promise unlimited rewind or a permanent archive. For streams longer than 12 hours, YouTube warns that DVR may be limited or unavailable.
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Decide how the broadcast starts and stops
Auto-start can begin the broadcast when the encoder connects; auto-stop can end it after the source stops. For a continuous loop, a brief interruption could trigger a stop, so test the reconnection behavior and decide whether a person should review the event before it resumes. The exact controls available in YouTube Studio can vary by channel and interface. YouTube documents broadcast controls in its LiveBroadcasts API reference; the OBS Project’s YouTube live stream guide describes a scheduled-broadcast workflow.
Test privately and set the event details accurately
Make an unlisted test before the public broadcast. Set visibility and the audience declaration to match the actual content, and confirm the current options in YouTube Studio before each event. Account and interface options may vary.
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Protect the full replay archive
A single 24-hour live event is not a dependable way to create a complete YouTube archive. YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, but warns that a stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. Separately, DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable beyond 12 hours. If viewers need the whole event afterwards, divide the broadcast into segments shorter than 12 hours and make a local recording backup. Check current YouTube behavior before relying on an archive.
Recording from the start or configuring archive-related broadcast settings does not cancel YouTube’s warning about streams longer than 12 hours. Keep the local file until you have checked that the parts of the replay you need are usable.
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Preflight and troubleshoot before going public
- Run an unlisted test with representative footage. Include the most demanding motion and the full audio mix, and let the loop reach a transition.
- Watch from another device and network. Check framing, playback quality, buffering, audio continuity, and loop joins rather than judging only the OBS preview.
- Check YouTube Live Control Room stream health. Review its diagnostics during the test, not just after the broadcast starts.
- Test the unattended failure cases. Confirm what happens when the source loops, the connection briefly drops, and the system is interrupted and restarted.
- Keep a local recording when the archive matters. This is especially important for a broadcast planned to exceed 12 hours.
If OBS reports dropped frames
First suspect connection stability or a bitrate the upload cannot sustain. Reduce the bitrate, test again, and consider whether a different ingest server or network path is more stable. OBS’s explanation and troubleshooting steps are in its connection troubleshooting guide.
If the picture buffers or playback looks unreliable
Retest at a lower resolution, frame rate, or bitrate that the connection can sustain consistently. Do not assume that the highest encoder setting is best; a stable 1080p30 stream is more useful than a higher setting that repeatedly falls behind.
If the replay has clicks, silence, or a bad loop join
Inspect the source edit and listen to the transition in the unlisted test. Continuous encoder output cannot repair a gap, abrupt cut, or audio discontinuity already present in the file.
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Before looping an event recording, confirm you have the rights or permissions needed for every included element, including music, archival footage, and images. A live-stream setup does not make copyrighted material permissible. Also make sure the event’s audience declaration and visibility are accurate, and review YouTube’s current rules and account-specific notices before launch. No OBS bitrate, codec, or latency choice overrides platform policy.
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