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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor a 1080p pre-recorded stream through Restream, use a 1920×1080 video with H.264 video, AAC audio, and a two-second keyframe interval. Keep the file’s native 30 or 60 fps where practical. If you re-encode it, use CBR and set the video bitrate to YouTube’s H.264 live-ingest recommendation for that frame rate: 5 Mbps at 1080p30 or 6 Mbps at 1080p60. Those bitrate figures are YouTube live-ingest recommendations—not a Restream upload limit or a guarantee of how Restream will process a file.
Restream accepts MP4, MOV, M4V, and MKV containers. Add 15–20 seconds of lead-in and tail, then schedule the video as a pre-recorded event and confirm the YouTube channel and event details before it airs.
Recommended settings at a glance
| Setting | Use | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920×1080 (1080p) | Restream recommends Full HD for pre-recorded video. |
| Frame rate | 30 or 60 fps; preserve the source rate where practical | Use the YouTube bitrate recommendation for the file’s actual frame rate. |
| Video codec | H.264 | Required by Restream for pre-recorded uploads. |
| Rate control | CBR when preparing or re-encoding the file | Restream lists CBR as optional guidance. Pre-recorded files are often VBR and may need re-encoding. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds (keyframe value 2) | Required by Restream’s pre-recorded requirements; YouTube recommends two seconds for live ingest and says not to exceed four seconds. |
| Audio codec | AAC | Required by Restream for pre-recorded uploads. |
| YouTube H.264 live-ingest bitrate | 5 Mbps at 1080p30; 6 Mbps at 1080p60 | These are YouTube recommendations for live ingest, not Restream file-upload specifications. |
| Beginning and ending buffer | 15–20 seconds at each end | Restream recommends the buffer to give destination services processing time and reduce the chance that important content is cut off. |
Restream’s accepted containers and required codecs are documented in its pre-recorded video requirements. Its guidance describes bitrate as destination-dependent rather than setting one universal bitrate for the uploaded file.
Choose the right bitrate for YouTube
For H.264 1080p30
YouTube’s live-encoder table lists 4 Mbps as the minimum and 5 Mbps as the recommended bitrate for H.264 at 1080p30. If re-encoding for a YouTube destination, use the recommended 5 Mbps as the reference.
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For H.264 1080p60
YouTube lists 6 Mbps as both the minimum and recommended bitrate for H.264 at 1080p60. Use this row only when the stream is actually 60 fps; do not choose it merely because the source is 1080p.
Other codecs and multi-platform destinations
YouTube’s current live-encoder table also lists AV1 or H.265/HEVC at 1080p30 with a 4 Mbps minimum and 10 Mbps recommended, and at 1080p60 with a 4 Mbps minimum and 12 Mbps recommended. However, Restream’s pre-recorded upload requirements specify H.264 video and AAC audio, so those alternative YouTube codec rows do not override Restream’s file requirements for this workflow.
YouTube’s live-encoder recommendations call for CBR, a two-second keyframe interval (not exceeding four seconds), and RTMPS where available. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video, with AAC or MP3 audio over RTMP/RTMPS; its stereo-audio recommendation is 128 Kbps at 44.1 kHz. These encoder-ingest details are distinct from the source-file requirements Restream applies to pre-recorded uploads. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance.
Rank #2
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Do not use YouTube’s VOD upload bitrate table
A finished video uploaded to YouTube as a regular VOD and a file sent out as a scheduled live stream follow different recommendations. For 1080p SDR VOD uploads, YouTube lists 8 Mbps for standard frame rates (24, 25, or 30 fps) and 12 Mbps for high frame rates (48, 50, or 60 fps). Those are upload-encoding recommendations for a video file, not the live-ingest bitrate recommendations for a Restream pre-recorded event. For this event workflow, start with Restream’s file requirements and use YouTube’s live-destination recommendation as the bitrate reference. The separate VOD figures appear in YouTube’s recommended upload encoding settings.
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Prepare and schedule the video in Restream
- Check the source file. Confirm it is MP4, MOV, M4V, or MKV and contains H.264 video and AAC audio. Restream says its mandatory parameters are necessary for uploading a pre-recorded video.
- Confirm resolution and frame rate. Aim for 1920×1080 and preserve the source’s 30 or 60 fps rate where practical. Avoid changing frame rate without a reason; the chosen rate determines which YouTube bitrate row applies.
- Re-encode only if needed. If the source does not meet Restream’s requirements, encode it as H.264/AAC. Use CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, with the matching YouTube H.264 live bitrate as a destination reference. Restream notes that pre-recorded files are often VBR and may need re-encoding.
- Add the buffer. Place 15–20 seconds of lead-in before the material that must be seen and 15–20 seconds of tail after it.
- Create the event. In Restream, select New Stream, choose Pre-recorded livestream, then select an existing upload or upload the file. Enter the event details and schedule it.
- Enable the intended YouTube channel. Check the destination selection, event title, date, time, and source video, then create the event. Restream says the event starts automatically at its scheduled time. Some destinations, including TikTok or Instagram, may require a manual start at the destination; check the destination-specific workflow if you add one.
Restream documents the sequence in Schedule your video as a pre-recorded event. The event is a file being sent out as a live stream; it is not the same encoding path as uploading a finished VOD directly to YouTube.
Preflight checks before the scheduled start
- Verify the container, H.264 video, and AAC audio.
- Check that resolution is 1920×1080 and confirm whether the source is 30 or 60 fps.
- If re-encoded, confirm CBR and a two-second keyframe interval; use the correct frame-rate-specific YouTube bitrate reference.
- Play the beginning and end to confirm the 15–20-second buffers are present and the intended content is not clipped.
- Confirm the correct YouTube channel is enabled and the event title, date, time, and selected file are correct.
- Check that you have the rights and permissions needed for the video and audio, and review YouTube’s applicable live-stream and monetization policies. Correct technical settings do not establish that content is authorized or eligible for monetization.
YouTube advises creators to test before starting an encoder-based live stream, including audio and movement similar to the planned stream, and to monitor stream health and messages during the event. Its guidance is at Manage live stream settings. The cited YouTube pages do not provide a numeric internet-upload-speed target for Restream’s pre-recorded upload workflow.
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Restream limits to verify in your account
Restream’s documentation says pre-recorded streaming is available to all users, while video-size and storage limits depend on the account’s add-on tier. Its listed examples are Premier at 1080p for up to two hours, Marathon at 1080p for up to four hours, and Media at 4K for up to twelve hours. These names and limits can change; verify the current limits shown in your account before relying on them. Restream says a scheduled pre-recorded event can be looped up to 10 times in its documentation, so check the current event controls if you need repeated playback. See What is Upload & Stream?
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common problems
Restream will not accept the file
Check the container first: it must be MP4, MOV, M4V, or MKV. Then check the actual video and audio codecs, not just the filename extension. Re-encode to H.264 video and AAC audio if necessary. Restream’s mandatory requirements are described at Requirements for pre-recorded videos.
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Check the source file’s actual resolution, frame rate, audio track, and beginning and ending. If you re-encoded it, verify the chosen frame-rate-specific bitrate, CBR, and two-second keyframe interval. A 60 fps source should use the 60 fps destination reference, not the 30 fps row.
Rank #4
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The beginning or ending content is missing
Destination processing can affect the edges of a pre-recorded event. Add Restream’s suggested 15–20 seconds at both ends, and ensure the key material is not placed exactly at the first or last frame.
The event airs to the wrong channel or at the wrong time
Before creating the event, confirm the enabled YouTube destination and recheck its title, date, time, and selected source video. Restream schedules the event to start automatically, so correcting a destination selection after the start may be too late.
Stream health reports a problem
Review YouTube’s stream-health messages and the destination settings. For encoder-based checks, YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and video and monitoring health during the stream. The cited guidance does not set a specific upload-speed threshold for Restream’s scheduled-file workflow.
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