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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For a prerecorded 4K/60 YouTube Live loop, add the video to OBS as a Media Source, enable Loop, and set the encoder to 3840Ă—2160 at 60 fps, constant bitrate (CBR), and a fixed 2-second keyframe interval. At 60 fps, that interval is 120 frames. Choose a bitrate by codec: YouTube recommends 35 Mbps for AV1 or H.265/HEVC, and 50 Mbps for H.264. Test the actual upload connection and verify YouTube receives the intended stream settings before relying on the loop.
Set up the video loop in OBS
- In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene and select the prerecorded video file.
- In the Media Source properties, enable Loop. OBS then replays the file after playback completes.
- For a sequence of clips, use OBS’s VLC Video source with a looping playlist.
- Preview the end-to-start transition and listen for audio gaps or clicks. Looping makes playback repeat; it does not guarantee that the last frame and sound join seamlessly to the first.
Use source files and scene settings that can produce 3840×2160 output. A looped source alone does not guarantee a 4K broadcast: confirm the output resolution and frame rate in OBS’s video and output settings before starting.
Configure 4K at 60 fps and a fixed keyframe interval
In OBS, open Settings → Video and set the output resolution to 3840×2160 and the frame rate to 60. In the streaming encoder settings, use a fixed keyframe interval of 2 seconds. At 60 frames per second, this equals 120 frames. YouTube recommends a 2-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed 4 seconds.
Choose constant bitrate (CBR) and a codec supported by your encoder. YouTube recommends RTMPS, the encrypted version of RTMP. The encoder’s labels can vary by version and platform, so check the setting’s meaning rather than assuming a particular label or menu location.
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4K/60 bitrate by codec
| Codec | YouTube minimum | YouTube recommended |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.265/HEVC | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s recommended encoder-ingestion figures for 2160p at 60 fps, not a guarantee of the quality a viewer will receive. Select the highest recommended rate your encoder and sustained upload connection can support reliably; do not treat the lower minimum as the recommended target. YouTube’s guidance supports up to 60 fps.
SDR and HDR settings
For an SDR documentary, use Rec. 709 color and 8-bit depth, which YouTube lists among its recommended advanced SDR settings. Do not apply HDR settings to an SDR source. YouTube’s guidance describes H.265/HEVC for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. Codec choice should reflect encoder support and whether the production is SDR or HDR, not bitrate alone.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room and create or select the broadcast.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the broadcast into OBS’s streaming configuration. The key authorizes the encoder to send video to your YouTube channel; keep it private.
- If you want to reuse settings, YouTube allows a custom stream key. If a key is exposed or compromised, reset it in Live Control Room.
- Start the encoder and check Live Control Room for the incoming feed and stream-health messages before making the broadcast public or relying on it.
YouTube detects the encoder settings and transcodes a live stream into other output formats for viewers. For 4K, YouTube does not offer the low-latency option; plan for normal latency rather than expecting 4K low-latency behavior.
Test the stream before relying on it
- Test movement and audio: use material representative of the planned documentary loop, including its busiest motion and loudest audio. YouTube specifically advises testing audio and movement similar to what will be in the stream.
- Check sustained upload capacity: test on the actual connection and leave room for normal variation. A connection that briefly reaches the selected bitrate may still falter during a long broadcast.
- Inspect the loop point: watch and listen through the file’s end and restart. Fix a visible jump, silence, or audio pop in the source if needed.
- Monitor stream health: while live, watch YouTube’s diagnostics and messages. A configured keyframe interval is not proof that the received stream has that interval.
- Check GOP diagnostics: YouTube’s Live Streaming API can report GOP/keyframe information. An interval over four seconds is flagged; an unusually short GOP can reduce image quality.
If this is the first time the channel is enabled for live streaming, YouTube says setup may take up to 24 hours. Allow time for activation rather than troubleshooting the encoder as the only possible cause of a delay.
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Troubleshooting common problems
The stream is not actually 4K or 60 fps
Confirm OBS’s output resolution and frame rate, then check the incoming stream details in Live Control Room. Also verify the source file and encoder can handle the selected output. YouTube transcodes for viewers, so a viewer’s available playback resolution is not a direct confirmation of the encoder’s incoming settings.
YouTube reports a keyframe or GOP warning
Recheck the encoder’s keyframe interval and set it to 2 seconds (120 frames at 60 fps). Confirm the received GOP in YouTube diagnostics instead of assuming the encoder setting carried through unchanged. Do not exceed four seconds; an unusually short GOP may hurt image quality.
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The broadcast drops frames or loses connection
Compare the selected bitrate with what the actual upload connection can sustain. If it cannot hold the recommended rate reliably, reduce the rate or use a more stable connection and test again. A bitrate recommendation cannot compensate for insufficient upload capacity.
The loop stops or the transition is distracting
Check that Loop remains enabled on the Media Source, or that the VLC playlist is set to repeat. Then inspect the file’s final and opening frames and audio. OBS can replay the file, but the source itself must be edited for a seamless join.
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YouTube does not accept the stream key
Confirm that the selected broadcast and key belong together and that the stream URL and key were copied correctly. Keep the key private; reset it in Live Control Room if it may have been exposed.
Copyright and documentary footage
Only stream footage, music, narration, and other material you have the rights or permissions to use. A loop setting and a successful encoder connection do not establish permission to broadcast the underlying work. YouTube may act on copyrighted material, so review the rights for every segment and soundtrack before scheduling a continuous stream.
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