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Choose the live bitrate by frame rate and codec
The file being prerecorded does not change the type of connection YouTube receives. If Streamlabs Desktop sends it as a live program, the live ingest recommendations apply. The relevant output settings are the stream’s frame rate and codec; “1080p” alone is not enough to choose a bitrate.
| Live ingest codec | 1080p30 recommended bitrate | 1080p30 minimum | 1080p60 recommended bitrate | 1080p60 minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 17 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 10 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 12 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
The minimums are not recommended targets. Use the recommended value when your upload connection can hold it consistently. The figures are YouTube’s encoder recommendations, not results from a Streamlabs performance test.
Use the outgoing stream’s frame rate
Choose the 30 fps column if the stream output is 30 fps, and the 60 fps column if it is 60 fps. A source file’s frame rate may differ from the outgoing stream’s frame rate, so verify the output configuration rather than relying only on the file’s properties.
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Use the outgoing stream’s codec
Apply the H.264 row for H.264 output, or the AV1/H.265 row for AV1 or H.265/HEVC output. If you are not certain which codec Streamlabs is sending, check its output settings before selecting a row. Do not choose a lower bitrate solely because the source recording is compressed; YouTube’s live recommendation is based on the incoming stream configuration.
Set the other live-encoder parameters
YouTube’s live guidance recommends these accompanying settings for an encoder stream:
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- Protocol: RTMP or RTMPS.
- Rate control: CBR (constant bitrate).
- Keyframes: every two seconds; do not exceed four seconds.
- Frame rate: up to 60 fps.
- Audio codec and rate: AAC or MP3, with 128 Kbps stereo recommended.
- Picture format: square pixels and progressive scan.
- H.264 picture options: two B-frames and one reference frame.
- SDR color: Rec. 709.
These are YouTube’s general live-encoder recommendations. Which of them Streamlabs exposes, and the exact current menu path for configuring a prerecorded source, depends on the installed software version and workflow. YouTube’s recommended encoder settings do not establish a particular Streamlabs Desktop procedure for adding, looping, or scheduling a video.
Make sure your connection can sustain the chosen rate
The upload connection must support the video bitrate reliably throughout the broadcast, with capacity left for audio and normal network variation. A speed-test result is only a snapshot; it does not prove that the connection will remain stable during a stream. A rate that exceeds available sustained upload capacity can lead to dropped frames or an unstable broadcast.
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- Measure the connection where the encoder will run. Use the same wired or wireless connection and location you intend to use for the stream.
- Pick the applicable YouTube target. Match the codec and frame rate to the outgoing stream, then set the recommended bitrate if the connection can sustain it.
- Run a private or unlisted test before the event. Include audio and movement similar to the program you plan to broadcast. A static opening card alone may not reveal problems that appear in motion.
- Watch YouTube’s stream health and encoder messages. If health warnings or dropped frames appear, lower the video bitrate or resolve the connection instability, then test again.
Streamlabs Desktop has a dynamic bitrate feature that can adjust bitrate when frames drop. Its setup guidance also gives example rates explicitly under Twitch recommendations; those examples should not replace YouTube’s platform-specific live table. Streamlabs describes subtracting 20% from measured upload speed converted to Kbps as a rough rule, not a guaranteed requirement. Treat YouTube’s test-and-monitor advice as the deciding check.
Do not use regular-upload rates for a live broadcast
If you upload the finished file to YouTube as an ordinary video, rather than sending it through YouTube Live, a different recommendation applies. For SDR uploads, YouTube recommends 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24, 25, or 30 fps, and 12 Mbps for 1080p at 48, 50, or 60 fps. Those are upload-encoding recommendations, not live ingest targets.
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| What you are doing | Which recommendation applies | 1080p reference |
|---|---|---|
| Sending the program through Streamlabs Desktop to YouTube Live | Live encoder table; choose by output codec and frame rate | H.264: 14 Mbps at 30 fps, 17 Mbps at 60 fps. AV1/H.265: 10 Mbps at 30 fps, 12 Mbps at 60 fps. |
| Uploading an SDR video file as a regular YouTube video | Upload encoding settings; choose by source frame-rate class | 8 Mbps at 24/25/30 fps; 12 Mbps at 48/50/60 fps. |
Troubleshoot bitrate and stream-health problems
Dropped frames or unstable stream health
Likely cause: the configured rate is too high for stable upload capacity, or the connection is fluctuating. Try: reduce the bitrate, use a more stable connection if available, and repeat a test with representative audio and motion. Do not assume a brief speed-test peak is sustainable.
The stream is set to the minimum but still has problems
Likely cause: the minimum is being treated as a quality target, or network instability is occurring independently of the nominal bitrate. Try: test the recommended value only if the connection can sustain it; otherwise select a rate that remains stable and inspect YouTube’s stream-health messages. The minimum figures are thresholds listed by YouTube, not promises of reliable delivery or recommended targets.
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Unsure which bitrate row applies
Likely cause: the source file’s properties are being confused with the encoder’s outgoing settings. Try: confirm the outgoing frame rate and codec in the active Streamlabs output configuration, then use the matching cell in the live table.
A Streamlabs bitrate example conflicts with YouTube’s table
Likely cause: the example is for a different platform. Try: use YouTube’s current live encoder recommendations for a YouTube Live destination; Streamlabs’ examples labeled for Twitch are not a substitute for YouTube’s figures.
Or let it run in the cloud
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