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Use OBS Studio on the Windows mini PC as the encoder: add a visual for the video canvas, route the station’s audio into OBS, then send the output to YouTube Live with the stream URL and key from Live Control Room. First test the station’s exact feed—an internet radio stream may require a supported format, credentials, or regional access, and not every URL will work in OBS.
Before you start
- A Windows mini PC with OBS Studio installed and internet access. No specific minimum CPU, RAM, or GPU requirement is established for this setup; YouTube Help says, “You do not need expensive equipment, what you have at hand will do.”
- A YouTube channel that is verified and eligible to livestream. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours, and YouTube says channels must not have live-streaming restrictions in the prior 90 days. Check eligibility before your planned broadcast.
- The station’s stream URL or a Windows application that plays the station. The feed’s format, authentication, territorial restrictions, and terms determine which input method will work.
- Permission to rebroadcast the station’s audio and use its logo, artwork, or other visuals on YouTube. Public accessibility of a radio feed does not itself grant rebroadcast rights.
Set up the YouTube livestream
- Open YouTube Live Control Room, create or schedule the livestream, and choose the encoder workflow.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown there into OBS’s streaming settings. Treat the key like a password: do not show it in screenshots or share it in public configuration files. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room.
- Keep Live Control Room open for the preview and stream-health messages while you configure OBS.
Build the OBS scene
Add a visual
Radio supplies audio, but YouTube’s encoder output also needs video. In an OBS scene, add a station logo, cover image, or simple branded graphic, sized to fill the canvas. OBS scenes can combine image, media, and audio sources. Use artwork only if you have the rights to do so.
Add the station audio
Try the input method that matches how the station makes its audio available:
- Station stream URL: In OBS, add a VLC Video source and test the station URL. This source supports playlists and extended media support, but VLC must be installed; if OBS is 64-bit, install 64-bit VLC. A URL that works in a browser or another player is not necessarily compatible with this source.
- Windows player or browser: Play the station in its usual application, then add OBS’s Application Audio Capture source and select the relevant application window. This source is available on Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. Some application audio outputs may not be compatible; a virtual-cable routing workaround may be needed.
OBS’s built-in Media Source documents local audio and video file support, so do not assume that it accepts every online radio URL. If a direct URL fails, compare whether the station provides an accessible supported feed, whether its player can be captured, whether access requires credentials or is region-limited, and whether your chosen method will resume after a restart. Test the actual station rather than assuming one input method is universally better.
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Check audio routing and encoder settings
Prevent missing or duplicate audio
- Start playback and watch the OBS Audio Mixer. Confirm that the station produces meter activity.
- If you use a scene-level Audio Input/Output Capture source, disable that same device in OBS’s global audio settings to avoid capturing it twice.
- If you use Application Audio Capture, disable global Desktop Audio as OBS advises, so the same application audio is not included again.
- Listen to the OBS output or a private test broadcast. Meters moving confirms signal, but listening also helps catch silence, distortion, or duplicated audio.
Match YouTube’s encoder guidance
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video for RTMP/RTMPS, AAC or MP3 audio, and constant bitrate encoding. Its recommended keyframe interval is two seconds and should not exceed four seconds. Advanced settings list 44.1 kHz stereo audio and 128 Kbps stereo audio. Use settings compatible with the selected OBS encoder and the mini PC’s capacity; for a mostly static radio visual, avoid choosing a video load the computer cannot sustain.
YouTube’s network guidance says the stream bitrate must fit the available upload bandwidth and recommends leaving 20% headroom. That is upload capacity reserved beyond the stream bitrate, not a guaranteed minimum speed for every setup. The cited guidance does not specify a minimum mini PC configuration or a station-specific bitrate.
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Test, then start the broadcast
- Run a short test using the same station audio and visual you intend to broadcast.
- Check the OBS mixer and the Live Control Room preview to confirm both picture and sound arrive correctly.
- Review Live Control Room’s stream-health status and messages, and watch for interruptions or audio problems.
- Confirm that available upload bandwidth has headroom above the selected bitrate, then start or schedule the public broadcast when the test is satisfactory.
Do you need a dedicated mini PC?
A mini PC can be a dedicated OBS host, but buying one is optional: an existing Windows PC may be adequate if it can play the station and encode the selected stream reliably. No particular model, price, minimum specification, or long-duration reliability result is established here. Test the actual machine and feed before relying on them for an unattended broadcast.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is a continuous YouTube stream made from uploaded recordings rather than live capture of a radio station feed, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not capture a live radio feed or go live from a camera. YouTube is its only streaming destination.
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- Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
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- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The station plays in a browser but OBS has no audio. | The URL may not be compatible with VLC Video, or the browser’s audio is not being captured. | Test the URL in VLC Video; otherwise use Application Audio Capture on a supported Windows version and select the player. Check OBS mixer activity. |
| The station audio is silent in the YouTube preview. | The wrong application or device may be selected, or audio capture may be disabled or duplicated in the global settings. | Confirm playback, inspect mixer meters, select the correct source, and disable the matching global Desktop Audio or device capture as appropriate. |
| The preview has sound but no useful picture. | The scene may contain no visual source, or the image may not fill the canvas. | Add and position a logo, cover image, or simple graphic; check the Live Control Room preview. |
| YouTube does not accept the encoder connection. | The stream URL or key may be wrong, or the livestream may not be enabled for the channel. | Recheck the current URL and key in Live Control Room, confirm channel eligibility, and replace an exposed key. |
| The broadcast reports health problems or drops. | Upload capacity may be insufficient or unstable for the configured bitrate. | Check stream-health messages and available upload bandwidth; reduce the stream bitrate if needed while retaining YouTube’s recommended two-second keyframe interval. |
| OBS meters move but the audio sounds doubled. | The same source may be captured both by a scene source and by global audio capture. | Disable the duplicate global device or Desktop Audio capture, as applicable, then test again. |
Copyright and channel-policy checks
Before going live, confirm that your permission covers YouTube rebroadcasting of the station’s audio and the intended territory, as well as any station branding or artwork in the scene. YouTube’s general guidance is to avoid infringing other content; it does not determine the rights status of a particular station feed. Keep the stream key private and use Live Control Room’s preview and health information to monitor the broadcast.
Quick Recap
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