In OBS, add the video as a Media Source, connect OBS to a YouTube Live event with its stream key, and test at 720p30 before going live. That is a cautious starting point for a modest PC—not a guarantee: the right settings depend on your computer, file and stable upload speed.
Before you start: check YouTube access and prepare the video
Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. Create or schedule the event in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, where you can get the server URL and stream key for an encoder. YouTube describes the key as functioning like a password: keep it private, and do not show it in screenshots or on stream. YouTube’s live-streaming setup guidance explains eligibility and event setup.
Check that the video is stored locally and plays correctly, including its audio. OBS supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM, but support for a container does not guarantee that every file’s particular codec will behave well on your PC. Test the actual file in OBS before scheduling a public event. OBS Media Sources documentation lists supported formats and source options.
Add the recording to OBS
- Create a scene: In OBS, use the Scenes panel to create or select a scene for the broadcast.
- Add the file: In Sources, select + and choose Media Source. Create a new source, then browse to and select the video file.
- Set playback behavior: Enable Loop if the recording should restart automatically at its end. Leave it off if it should play once. Options such as restarting playback when the source becomes active are available if needed.
- Check the preview and audio: Confirm the picture fits the canvas as intended and that the audio meters move during playback. Play the file through to check for unexpected gaps or a black screen.
For a playlist of several files, OBS’s VLC Video source can play multiple media files and loop the playlist, but VLC must be installed. For one video, Media Source is the simpler option. Hardware decoding is also available in Media Source on supported systems; it depends on the GPU and the file’s media format, so do not assume a budget PC can use it.
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Choose conservative video and audio settings
For a first test on an unspecified budget PC, start with 720p at 30 frames per second (720p30), H.264 video, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval. YouTube’s live encoder settings page, accessed 2026-10-03, lists these H.264 video bitrates:
| Output | YouTube-listed minimum | YouTube-listed recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These figures describe YouTube’s live ingest settings, not a promise that your PC can encode a particular stream smoothly. Begin within the 720p30 range, choosing a bitrate below the stable upload capacity you measure. YouTube recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. It lists H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 as live ingest video codecs, but H.264 is a straightforward compatibility choice for a first OBS test. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates and resolutions.
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In OBS, open Settings → Output. If necessary, set Output Mode to Advanced to choose an encoder and configure its bitrate and keyframe interval. Choose an available H.264 encoder; select CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval. If a hardware encoder is available, it may reduce CPU encoding work, but its availability and performance depend on the PC. Under Settings → Video, set the output resolution and frame rate for the test; keep the setup at 720p30 unless a realistic test supports moving higher. For ordinary SDR video, use Rec. 709 color and square pixels with progressive scan. YouTube recommends AAC audio at 128 kbps stereo. The exact OBS labels can vary with version and available encoders.
If you try 1080p30, account for both the higher bitrate requirement and the extra work of scaling or encoding. Move up only after a test shows smooth video and stable upload; a “budget PC” label alone does not establish a safe resolution. YouTube does not give a single CPU, RAM or GPU minimum for this prerecorded-file workflow.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open the event: In YouTube Studio, go to the Live Control Room and open the event you created or scheduled.
- Set OBS’s streaming service: In OBS, open Settings → Stream. Select YouTube if available and follow the prompt to connect, or choose the stream-key option.
- Enter the stream details: If using a stream key, copy the server URL and key from YouTube’s encoder setup into OBS. Treat the key as a password. Never paste it into a public chat, video, screenshot or article.
- Start a test stream: Start streaming in OBS and return to YouTube’s Live Control Room. Wait for its preview and stream-health information, then check that the event is receiving the intended picture and sound.
Before the actual broadcast, test with the same file and settings, preferably using an unlisted event. Verify the stream from the channel or watch page as well as in the control room. Start early enough to resolve problems before the intended viewing time. YouTube’s encoder guidance and streaming tips recommend monitoring stream health, audio and video.
Check upload capacity at the streaming location
The number that matters is stable upload capacity, not the download speed advertised in an internet plan. YouTube notes that upload can be lower than download and that other people or devices sharing the connection can reduce what is available to OBS. Its streaming tips recommend retaining 20% upload bandwidth headroom. Test at the home and time the stream will run, with the network in realistic use, and leave room for fluctuations rather than setting OBS to the connection’s full measured upload. These are general YouTube recommendations, not measurements for a particular Indian ISP or region.
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YouTube recommends a wired connection where practical. Ethernet can avoid some Wi-Fi variability, but cannot make an inadequate internet upload connection sufficient. YouTube’s streaming tips explain bandwidth and connection considerations.
Test, monitor and end the event cleanly
- In OBS, check that the intended scene and Media Source are active, the file is playing, and the audio meters respond.
- In YouTube’s Live Control Room, check the preview, stream health and audio. Confirm the stream is accessible from the intended channel or watch page.
- Watch OBS’s stats during the test. Rendering or encoding lag points to a PC workload problem; reduce output resolution or frame rate, or try an available hardware encoder. If YouTube reports connection or bitrate problems, lower the bitrate to a level the upload can sustain.
- Let the test run long enough to catch interruptions, playback ending unexpectedly or loop behavior that differs from what you intended.
- At the end, end the live event in YouTube and stop streaming in OBS.
Copyright and monetization are separate from the technical setup
Being able to play a file through OBS does not give you permission to rebroadcast it. Use recordings and included music, footage, images and other material that you own or have the necessary rights to stream.
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Live-streaming a prerecorded video does not by itself make it original or eligible for monetization. YouTube’s reused-content policy concerns channels that republish material from YouTube or another online source without significant original commentary, substantive modification or educational or entertainment value. YouTube reviews reused content at the channel level, and that policy is separate from copyright rules. Read YouTube’s channel monetization policies; do not assume that a technically successful stream establishes rights or monetization eligibility.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the aim is to keep a prerecorded YouTube stream running without leaving the budget PC on, StreamNeo is a cloud option: it loops uploaded videos to YouTube, not camera feeds or other platforms.
- Upload the recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the video from the cloud.
Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. Every slot supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, without re-encoding or quality tiers, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. UPI and cards are accepted in India; card checkout is available worldwide. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free day.
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