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Choose resolution, frame rate, and bitrate together
Set the encoder to the resolution and frame rate you actually intend to send, then use the bitrate recommendation for that combination and the ingest codec. The figures below are YouTube’s recommended bitrates for an incoming live stream, not guarantees of visual quality. They are not the separate bitrate recommendations for uploaded video files.
| Incoming resolution and frame rate | AV1 / H.265 recommended | H.264 recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 360p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 480p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 15 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 24 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) at 30 fps | 30 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) at 60 fps | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
YouTube’s listed minimums are lower than its recommended targets. For H.264, the minimums are 3 Mbps for 720p30, 3 Mbps for 720p60, 5 Mbps for 1080p30, and 6 Mbps for 1080p60. For AV1 or H.265, the corresponding minimums are 2, 2, 4, and 4 Mbps. Treat those as minimums, not as the recommended settings in the table.
Practical starting points
- 1080p30, H.264, 14 Mbps: a reasonable starting point when 30 fps is sufficient for the material.
- 1080p60, H.264, 17 Mbps: use when smoother motion matters and both server and network can sustain the extra load.
- 720p30, H.264, 8 Mbps: a lower-bandwidth choice when 720p is acceptable.
These are applications of YouTube’s recommendations, not a promise that one setting is best for every documentary, camera source, or channel. Resolution affects image detail and encoding/network load; frame rate affects motion smoothness and also changes the recommended bitrate. YouTube’s figures do not predict the visual result for a particular scene or channel.
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Set the encoder and transport correctly
YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists RTMP or RTMPS transport and H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 video encoding, at frame rates up to 60 fps. Match the bitrate table to the codec your server actually sends; do not select one codec’s recommendation while transmitting another.
- Rate control: set CBR (constant bitrate).
- Keyframes: set the keyframe interval to two seconds. Do not exceed four seconds.
- Video format: for SDR, use square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames, one reference frame, CABAC entropy coding, Rec. 709 color, and 8-bit depth, as specified in YouTube’s advanced encoder guidance.
- Audio: use AAC or MP3. YouTube’s stereo recommendation is 128 Kbps at 44.1 kHz.
- Transport: prefer RTMPS if the server encoder supports it. RTMPS is RTMP over TLS/SSL, which encrypts the connection.
Retrieve the RTMPS server URL and stream key from YouTube Live Control Room and enter them in the server encoder’s stream destination settings. Treat the key like a password: do not expose it in public scripts, logs, screenshots, or configuration files that others can read.
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Calculate the server’s outbound bandwidth
Plan against sustained outbound bandwidth from the server’s actual network path. A server’s download speed does not tell you how much it can upload reliably. YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload headroom and counting both primary and backup streams in the total.
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|---|---|
| One 14 Mbps stream | At least 17.5 Mbps |
| One 17 Mbps stream | About 21.25 Mbps |
These capacity figures are arithmetic applications of YouTube’s 20% headroom recommendation, not separate published YouTube targets. If you send a backup stream, add its bitrate to the stream total before allowing for headroom. Then test upload performance from the server itself; a general speed test from another device or network does not establish the server’s sustained capacity.
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Configure and test the server stream
- Pick the target format. Decide the resolution, frame rate, and codec based on the material, then take the matching bitrate from the table. If you are unsure which manual format the server can sustain, begin with a lower target and test before relying on it.
- Set encoder parameters. Configure CBR, the two-second keyframe interval, the selected codec and frame rate, and the applicable video and audio settings above.
- Connect to YouTube. Copy the server URL and stream key from Live Control Room into the server encoder. Use RTMPS where supported and protect the key from disclosure.
- Test from the deployed server. Start a test broadcast using the actual server, network path, and intended settings. Check Live Control Room preview and stream health rather than assuming that a bitrate within the recommended range proves the setup is stable.
- Verify failure recovery and recording. YouTube recommends testing failover by stopping the primary encoder or disconnecting its network, checking that local archive files are growing, and monitoring stream audio and video. Confirm the behavior of your own server setup before depending on it continuously.
The bitrate guidance does not specify server CPU or GPU requirements. Encoding capacity depends on the server and encoder implementation, so test the chosen codec and frame rate on the actual hardware. YouTube’s setup guidance does not establish a guarantee or definitive limit for an uninterrupted 24/7 event or one stream key.
Plan for the 12-hour archive limitation
YouTube says a stream under 12 hours can be automatically archived, but a stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. It recommends keeping a local archive backup. For a 24/7 feed, use local recording if you need to preserve the complete broadcast; do not assume the YouTube replay will contain it. YouTube also says DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours, so viewers may not have unrestricted rewind during an extended broadcast.
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This archive warning is not proof that a stream key or live event can run continuously without interruption. Treat the stream’s continuity and archive behavior as separate operational questions, and test the server configuration you plan to use.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does a server’s advertised download speed prove it can stream at the selected bitrate?
No. The relevant measure is sustained outbound capacity from the server’s actual network path.
Does YouTube guarantee that one live event will stay uninterrupted for 24 hours?
The cited YouTube guidance does not establish a guarantee or definitive limit for uninterrupted operation of one event or stream key.
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