The Tool Desk
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What bitrate should I use for a YouTube lo-fi live stream?
Use 128 Kbps for stereo audio. Set the sample rate to 44.1 kHz. YouTube’s live-encoder documentation gives these as general recommendations for stereo audio; it does not specify a distinct lo-fi bitrate. The right result still depends on the source mix, encoder, and playback conditions, so treat the values as a sensible starting point and test your stream.
Audio bitrate is separate from video bitrate. YouTube’s recommended video bitrates vary according to the ingestion codec, resolution, and frame rate, while its advanced audio recommendation is stated independently. Changing video resolution or frame rate does not mean you should copy that video bitrate into the audio field.
Set the encoder’s audio options
- Choose stereo audio. In your encoder’s audio output settings, select a two-channel stereo layout for a typical lo-fi music stream.
- Set audio bitrate to 128 Kbps. Confirm you are editing the audio field, not the video bitrate field.
- Set the sample rate to 44.1 kHz. YouTube’s guidance specifies this rate for stereo. Its RTMP/RTMPS guidance specifies 48 kHz for 5.1 surround, not stereo.
- Select a supported audio codec. For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists AAC or MP3. If you are sending 5.1 surround audio over RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists AAC only; it recommends 384 Kbps and 48 kHz for that layout rather than the stereo values.
- Configure video separately. Choose the video codec, resolution, frame rate, and corresponding video bitrate for your stream. YouTube’s encoder page recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds; keyframe frequency is a video setting, not an audio bitrate setting. See YouTube’s encoder settings guidance for its current video recommendations.
Test before going live
Test with representative audio and video before the broadcast, then check the encoder and YouTube stream-health messages once live. A setting that looks correct in the encoder does not guarantee the same audible result for every source mix or listener. YouTube recommends testing before starting a live stream and monitoring stream health.
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- Use a representative section of the planned music, including any quieter passages and louder transitions.
- Check that the encoder reports the intended stereo layout, sample rate, audio bitrate, and codec.
- Watch for stream-health warnings after going live; respond to the reported issue rather than changing audio bitrate automatically.
Allow upload-bandwidth headroom
Your outbound connection needs enough capacity for the total stream bitrate. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend keeping 20% upload-bandwidth headroom; the total bitrate being sent cannot exceed the available upload bandwidth. Account for the full stream, including video and audio, and leave capacity for a backup feed if you use one. Check YouTube’s streaming tips for its bandwidth and monitoring advice.
What the encoder bitrate does—and does not—tell you
The 128 Kbps setting is the audio bitrate sent to YouTube at ingestion. It is not a promise that every viewer will receive audio at that exact bitrate. YouTube transcodes live streams into different output formats for different devices and network conditions. The encoder setting is therefore a starting point for the incoming stream, not a guarantee of a specific playback format or audible quality for every viewer.
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