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Custom RTMP lets you connect a streaming encoder to a destination by entering that destination’s ingest server URL and stream key yourself. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, choose the custom streaming server option, then enter the URL and key supplied by the platform or event host. Custom RTMP is a manual setup method, not a separate streaming protocol.
What “custom RTMP” means
RTMP is a protocol used to send a live video feed from an encoder to a receiving service. When a service does not appear as a named preset in your encoder—or when you are connecting to a private server or event host—you can usually select a custom server option and enter the connection details manually.
- Server URL or ingest URL: the address the encoder sends video to.
- Stream key: a destination-issued credential or identifier that authorizes the encoder to send the stream. Treat it like a password. Twitch’s streaming guide explains that an encoder needs the user’s unique key to go live.
The receiving platform supplies both details. A URL or key from another platform, account, or event may not work.
Find the correct URL and stream key
- Open the destination platform’s live control room or event setup.
- Create or select the broadcast you intend to use.
- Copy the current ingest/server URL and the key shown for that broadcast. Some services use an event-specific key, so do not assume an older key or endpoint applies.
- Keep the key private. Do not include it in public screenshots, recordings, or support posts. If it is exposed, regenerate it using the destination’s account controls; the exact reset path varies by service.
For example, Vimeo’s OBS instructions map the destination’s server URL and key to OBS’s separate fields. Use the values your own destination provides, not an example URL from a guide.
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Set up custom RTMP in OBS
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream.
- Choose the custom streaming server option in the service selector.
- Paste the destination’s server URL into the server field and its stream key into the key field.
- Check the destination’s current instructions for protocol, encoder, output, and network requirements. Do not copy video or bitrate settings from an unrelated platform or an old guide.
- Apply the settings, then make a short private, unlisted, or otherwise low-risk test if the destination supports one.
- Start streaming from OBS and confirm at the destination that both audio and video arrive before relying on the setup for a public event.
OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing in advance. Other encoders may use different labels, but the underlying mapping is the same: the destination URL goes in the server field, and the destination key goes in the stream-key field.
RTMP, RTMPS, HLS, and SRT are not interchangeable
Use the protocol the receiving service specifies. RTMPS is RTMP carried over TLS/SSL, which encrypts the connection in transit. YouTube recommends RTMPS, and Vimeo describes its security difference from RTMP. Choose it when the destination and encoder both support it. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and Vimeo’s protocol guidance.
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HLS and SRT are different protocols, not alternate names for RTMP. YouTube documents HLS ingestion for supported cases, including some codecs RTMP may not accept. Vimeo supports RTMP, RTMPS, and SRT, while noting that SRT has different compatibility and feature constraints. Consult the destination’s current ingestion documentation before changing protocols; a setting that works for one platform may not work for another.
Test before the real broadcast
- Confirm the destination event is created, active, and ready to receive an encoder feed.
- Verify that the URL and key belong to the correct account and event.
- Check the destination’s protocol and any endpoint, port, or SSL requirements.
- Watch the destination preview or status page for incoming picture and sound.
- Check that the source you expect is selected in OBS. A camera, webcam, capture card, or other working video source is a production choice; none is inherently required just to configure custom RTMP.
Why OBS may not connect
| Symptom | Likely checks and fixes |
|---|---|
| Connection rejected or no ingest detected | Re-copy the current URL and key from the destination. Confirm the event is ready to receive, and check that OBS is using the specified RTMP or RTMPS variant. For YouTube RTMPS, an incorrect server name, port, or SSL setup can cause connection errors; consult YouTube’s RTMPS troubleshooting guidance. |
| Video arrives, but audio does not | Check OBS’s selected audio source and output settings, then check the destination preview or status to see whether it receives audio. Vimeo’s custom-destination instructions advise confirming incoming audio and video. |
| Key appeared in a screenshot or recording | Assume it is exposed. Regenerate it in the destination’s account controls, then replace the old key in OBS. Do not post the replacement publicly. |
| Connection is unstable on a poor network | Vimeo notes that RTMP can struggle under poor network conditions. A supported alternative such as SRT may fit some workflows, but confirm compatibility across the destination, encoder, and required features first. There is no universal latency or bitrate result that applies to every setup. |
If those checks do not resolve the problem, inspect the encoder log and destination status together. Avoid sharing unredacted logs or screenshots if they reveal the key.
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Check platform and event limits
A working encoder configuration does not guarantee that an account or event is eligible to receive a live stream. Vimeo’s Vimeo OTT OBS guide says live-event streaming is available to Growth and Enterprise sellers, and its custom simulcast guidance specifies eligible plans. Check your destination’s current plan terms and event settings before scheduling a production.
For YouTube streams, use YouTube’s current live and copyright rules for the material you broadcast. Having a valid URL and key does not grant rights to music, footage, or other content, and a technically successful stream is not assurance that content complies with platform policies.
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Or let it run in the cloud
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