Yes. OBS can play a local prerecorded video and send it to YouTube Live as an encoded 1440p stream. You are streaming the video through OBS—not uploading a finished file directly into a live event. Set OBS’s output resolution, encoder settings and YouTube stream key, then test the broadcast in YouTube Live Control Room before relying on it.
What “1440p live” means
The video file is a source in an OBS scene. OBS encodes the scene into a live feed, which YouTube receives through an encoder connection. A 1440p source file does not, by itself, make the live output 1440p: the outgoing resolution is controlled separately in OBS. YouTube’s current encoder guidance includes 1440p at 30 and 60 fps as supported incoming resolutions. YouTube explains the encoder and stream-key workflow; OBS distinguishes canvas size from output resolution.
Set up a prerecorded video as a YouTube Live stream
- Create a scene and add the file. In OBS, select or create a scene, select Sources → + → Media Source, give the source a name, and choose the local video file. OBS documents support for formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM. In the Media Source properties, enable Loop if the video should repeat. Restart playback when source becomes active controls whether playback starts from the beginning when the source becomes active. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Set the outgoing resolution and frame rate. Open Settings → Video. Set Output (Scaled) Resolution to 2560×1440 for 1440p, then choose the frame rate you intend to stream. Base (Canvas) Resolution is the workspace where OBS arranges sources; it is not the same setting as the stream’s output resolution. Changing the canvas can require resizing or repositioning sources. Confirm the output setting before going live. Details are in the OBS Studio Overview Guide.
- Connect OBS to YouTube. In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select a live stream and copy its stream key. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service, and enter or connect the stream key using the available connection method. The key directs the encoder feed to your YouTube stream; treat it as private. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions describe this workflow.
- Configure encoder output. YouTube recommends RTMPS, CBR bitrate encoding and a keyframe interval of two seconds (not exceeding four). Choose a supported codec—H.264, H.265/HEVC or AV1—and use the bitrate guidance below for that codec and frame rate. Encoder options available to you depend on your OBS installation and hardware; do not combine bitrate recommendations from different codec columns.
- Run a test before the intended broadcast. Start the OBS stream and check the YouTube Live Control Room preview and stream health. Confirm that the image is 1440p, audio is present if needed, motion is smooth, and the video starts and repeats or ends as you intend. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring the feed.
YouTube’s published 1440p encoder settings
The following are YouTube’s current published recommendations, accessed in 2026. Recommended bitrates and listed minimums are guidance for the incoming encoder feed, not a guarantee that a given computer or connection can sustain it. Use the figures for the codec you have selected.
| Incoming format | H.264 recommended | AV1 or H.265 recommended | Listed minimum: H.264 | Listed minimum: AV1/H.265 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1440p at 30 fps | 21 Mbps | 15 Mbps | 7 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 34 Mbps | 24 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
YouTube lists frame rates up to 60 fps and recommends a two-second keyframe frequency, not exceeding four seconds. Its live encoder settings guidance is the reference for supported resolutions, codecs, protocols and bitrates. YouTube also transcodes incoming live video into different formats for viewers on different devices and connections, so an incoming 1440p feed does not mean every viewer will receive 1440p playback.
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Choose 1440p30 or 1440p60
| Output | When it may suit the video | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p30 | Documentary footage or other material whose motion does not need 60 fps. | Lower frame rate generally places less demand on encoding than 60 fps; use the matching YouTube bitrate for your codec. |
| 1440p60 | Material where smoother motion at 60 fps is important. | OBS cautions that 60-fps streaming can be taxing compared with 30 fps. Test the computer under load and use the higher bitrate guidance for the selected codec. |
OBS does not publish a minimum computer specification for this exact prerecorded-file-at-1440p setup. Whether a particular system can produce a stable stream depends on its rendering and encoding capacity as well as the connection. If OBS reports encoding or rendering trouble, use its encoding performance troubleshooting guide; reducing output resolution or frame rate can reduce load.
Playback details that can affect a long broadcast
- Looping: Media Source’s Loop option is off by default. Turn it on if the file should repeat; otherwise playback ends when the file finishes.
- Restart behavior: Use Restart playback when source becomes active if you want playback to begin at the start whenever the source becomes active.
- Playlist playback: OBS’s VLC Video source can play a playlist and offers a Loop Playlist setting. It requires VLC to be installed. The OBS guide covers these source options.
- Check the actual feed: Source resolution, canvas resolution and output resolution are distinct. Inspect the YouTube preview and stream health rather than assuming the file’s properties determine what viewers receive.
Copyright and YouTube channel rules
Using a prerecorded file does not grant permission to broadcast its contents. Before streaming, make sure you have the rights or permissions needed for the video, music, images and other material, and review YouTube’s current policies for live streams and monetization. A stream that is technically accepted at 1440p may still be subject to copyright claims or channel-policy decisions; resolution and encoder settings do not establish a right to use the content.
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Troubleshooting common problems
- YouTube receives a lower resolution than expected: Check Settings → Video → Output (Scaled) Resolution in OBS. The source file’s resolution and Base (Canvas) Resolution do not set the outgoing resolution on their own.
- The video does not repeat: Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. If you are using a VLC Video source, check Loop Playlist instead.
- The stream is choppy or OBS reports overload: Check OBS’s rendering or encoding status and test system capacity. Reduce output resolution or frame rate if needed; OBS notes that 60 fps can be more demanding than 30 fps.
- The stream will not connect to the intended event: Confirm that OBS is using the correct YouTube stream key and that the selected live event is the one you intend to broadcast. Keep the key private.
- The preview is missing audio or starts at the wrong point: Check the scene’s audio sources and the Media Source’s playback settings. Test the full start, playback and loop/end behavior before the scheduled broadcast.
Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
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