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For a 1080p60 YouTube live stream, the recommended video bitrate depends on the encoder codec: use 17 Mbps for H.264 or 12 Mbps for AV1 or H.265 (HEVC). YouTube lists minimums of 6 Mbps for H.264 and 4 Mbps for AV1 or H.265. For either codec, set a constant bitrate (CBR) and a 2-second keyframe interval.
Recommended 1080p60 live settings
YouTube’s live encoder guidance gives different bitrate recommendations by codec. Use the row matching the video codec your encoder sends to YouTube:
| Video codec | Recommended bitrate | Listed minimum |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 17 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265 (HEVC) | 12 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
These figures apply to 1080p at 60 frames per second and depend on the ingestion codec. The minimum is not the recommended target; configure the recommended bitrate when your connection and encoder can sustain it.
Encoder settings to check
Alongside the codec-specific bitrate, YouTube’s live guidance recommends these settings:
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- Protocol: RTMPS is recommended; YouTube describes it as a secure extension to RTMP.
- Rate control: CBR (constant bitrate).
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds; do not exceed 4 seconds.
- Video format: progressive scan and square pixels.
- Advanced H.264 settings: two B-frames, one reference frame and CABAC.
- SDR color: Rec. 709, 8-bit depth.
- Stereo audio: 44.1 kHz, 128 kbps.
- 5.1 audio: 48 kHz, 384 kbps; over RTMP/RTMPS, 5.1 is supported only for AAC.
YouTube’s live encoder guidance covers RTMP/RTMPS and H.264, H.265 and AV1, with frame rates up to 60 fps. Its HDR notes are a separate case: they recommend H.265 over RTMP(S) and state that AV1 is not supported for HDR. Those HDR details do not change the 1080p60 SDR bitrate recommendations above. The guide says HLS may be considered when an encoder cannot provide the relevant capabilities over RTMP.
Set up and check the stream before going live
- Confirm what your encoder is sending. Select the intended 1080p resolution, 60 fps frame rate and video codec, then use the matching bitrate recommendation. Do not select a bitrate based on resolution alone.
- Configure CBR and keyframes. Set constant bitrate and a 2-second keyframe interval, ensuring the interval does not exceed 4 seconds.
- Check your upload connection. YouTube recommends testing upload speed and choosing a stream quality reliable for your available connection. Its guide does not set a universal upload-speed margin above your configured video bitrate, so treat connection capacity as something to verify rather than relying on a fixed official multiplier.
- Run a representative test. Before the event, test with audio and movement similar to the planned stream. Monitor YouTube’s stream health and messages during the broadcast.
Do not use the upload bitrate for a live stream
YouTube’s separate upload-encoding guidance lists 12 Mbps for 1080p high-frame-rate SDR video uploads. That is a file-upload recommendation, not the live-ingestion target: for a 1080p60 H.264 live stream, YouTube recommends 17 Mbps. The upload guidance describes file encoding such as MP4, H.264 and variable bitrate; the live guide specifies CBR.
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