You can run a lofi radio stream from a spare PC by creating a scene in OBS, connecting it to YouTube with an encoder stream key, and sending audio and a static or looping visual over a stable internet connection. Before launch, verify that YouTube live streaming is enabled for your channel and that you have permission to livestream every track. A spare PC can keep the broadcast running, but OBS settings alone do not guarantee recovery from power, network, or software failures.
Before you set up the stream
Confirm YouTube live-stream eligibility
Your channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the preceding 90 days. First-time live-stream enablement may take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your planned launch. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
Prepare music and a visual
Use music you created, public-domain music, or tracks whose license explicitly covers the livestream use you intend. YouTube’s terms place responsibility for obtaining the necessary rights—including music rights—on the creator. A track described as “free” or accompanied by an attribution request is not, by itself, proof that livestream use is permitted. Review YouTube’s livestream terms and guidance on finding safe music.
Prepare a still image or looping visual for your OBS scene. Make sure you have permission to use the visual as well as the music. Keep the audio files accessible to the spare PC and decide how they will play continuously; OBS sends the scene you configure, but playback and audio routing depend on your operating system and music player.
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Create an encoder stream in YouTube Studio
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Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Choose the encoder option to create or manage a stream, following YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
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Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the stream. In YouTube’s terms, the stream key functions like a password and address; do not share it or publish it. If it is exposed, reset it in the Live Control Room before broadcasting.
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Review the stream settings in the Live Control Room, including whether the stream should start and stop automatically. These options control YouTube’s handling of the stream; they do not ensure the PC or OBS will recover from a crash or connection failure.
Connect OBS and build the lofi scene
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Install and open OBS Studio on the spare PC. In the OBS scene collection, create a scene for the broadcast.
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Add the visual as an image source, media source, or other appropriate source for a still or looping visual. Add the music playback source you intend to use. The exact way to capture application or system audio varies by operating system and playback app; use the relevant OBS audio source and confirm the signal in the Audio Mixer.
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In OBS, open Settings and select Stream. Choose YouTube/RTMPS if it is available, then enter the stream key. If using a custom service configuration, enter the YouTube server URL and key. OBS describes these service, server, and key fields in its overview guide.
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Check that the audio meter responds while the music plays, and that the preview shows the intended image or motion. If the meter is silent, fix the audio source or routing before going live.
Choose stable video and audio settings
Use YouTube’s published encoder guidance as a starting point, then test the actual stream over the spare PC’s connection. YouTube recommends RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds). Its RTMP/RTMPS guidance supports H.264, HEVC, and AV1 video, and AAC or MP3 audio. For stereo audio, its advanced guidance specifies 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps. Consult YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrate, and resolution table for the relevant resolution and frame-rate combination.
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Resolution and frame rate: choose a profile that the PC can encode reliably and that suits the visual. A static image does not need a high frame rate simply because the setting is available.
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Video bitrate: YouTube lists 2 Mbps as a minimum, 6 Mbps as recommended, and 8 Mbps as the maximum for 720p at 30 fps. These are YouTube’s published figures for that profile, not a guarantee that a particular internet connection can sustain it.
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Upload headroom: do not set bitrate to match the highest result of a speed test. Leave capacity for normal network variation and other household or PC traffic; a stable stream matters more than maximizing the setting.
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Audio: select an audio format and bitrate supported by YouTube’s guidance and confirm that the music is audible without clipping or unintended silence.
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Protocol: use RTMPS for this standard lofi setup. YouTube also describes HLS ingestion for particular workflows, including HDR or codec requirements; HLS sends segments and has higher latency, so it is not needed for the ordinary setup described here.
Test, go live, and monitor
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Run a private or otherwise appropriate test before the public launch. OBS recommends testing before a first live stream; YouTube advises making the test resemble the real broadcast, including audio and movement.
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Start the stream from OBS and check the Live Control Room for incoming video, sound, and stream-health messages before directing viewers to it.
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During the broadcast, keep an eye on YouTube’s stream-health status and OBS’s output and audio indicators. Investigate dropped frames, missing audio, or warnings rather than assuming a still preview means the live feed is healthy.
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For a 24/7 schedule, plan for failures separately: OBS running on a spare PC does not establish automatic recovery after a PC shutdown, power loss, network outage, or software failure. Test the specific machine and recovery procedure you intend to rely on.
Copyright interruptions are a separate risk
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. If it identifies such content, it may replace the live broadcast with a placeholder and warn the creator; continued use can lead to temporary interruption or termination. YouTube also cautions: “If your channel isn’t added to their allowlist, your live stream can be interrupted even if you’ve licensed the third-party content.” If you have a license for third-party music, ask the rights holder whether your channel must be added to its allowlist. A license and successful Content ID handling are related but distinct matters.
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YouTube does not accept the stream: confirm live streaming is enabled, use the current stream URL and key from the Live Control Room, and check that OBS is configured for YouTube/RTMPS or the correct custom server.
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The stream appears, but there is no music: check that playback is active, the intended source is selected, and the OBS Audio Mixer meter moves. Correct the OS or application audio routing and test again before going live.
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YouTube reports unstable health or OBS drops frames: reduce the video bitrate or output profile, check for competing network traffic, and repeat a test at the settings you plan to use. Use the YouTube table for the selected resolution and frame rate rather than raising bitrate blindly.
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The live stream is interrupted over music rights: stop or replace the affected track, verify the license covers livestreaming, and contact the rights holder about allowlisting if the track is licensed. Attribution or a “free music” label does not establish permission.
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The stream stops after a PC or connection failure: YouTube’s auto-start and auto-stop controls do not, by themselves, restore a failed OBS process, computer, or internet connection. Diagnose the relevant power, network, or software issue and test any recovery method on your particular setup.
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The stream key may have been exposed: reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the replacement before the next broadcast.
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