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You can simulcast an online radio station on YouTube by routing its audio through a streaming encoder such as OBS Studio, adding a still image or other visual, and sending the feed to YouTube with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. First confirm your channel can go live and that your music rights cover YouTube; then test the actual station feed before broadcasting.
Before you start: check channel access and music rights
Enable live streaming in advance
Your YouTube channel must be verified and have had no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. YouTube says first-time activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable the feature before the broadcast date. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements.
Confirm the rights cover YouTube
Having permission to play music on your radio station does not automatically establish that you can retransmit it on YouTube. Check that your licenses cover the YouTube live broadcast and any recording YouTube creates afterward, including applicable rights from artists, labels, publishers and other royalty participants. YouTube’s Livestream terms and conditions make the content provider responsible for the necessary rights, including music licensing rights. Requirements can vary by territory and by the agreements governing your station’s music.
Choose how to encode the station
An encoder combines the station audio with a visual scene, encodes the result and sends it to YouTube. For a basic radio simulcast, OBS Studio is a software option: a scene can combine supported audio or media sources with an image or text. YouTube also describes standalone hardware encoders, but dedicated hardware is not a requirement for getting started.
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| Option | Useful when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Software encoder such as OBS Studio | You already have a computer that can run the encoder and want to use a simple image or build a more involved scene. | The computer and internet connection must remain available while you broadcast. You need to test whether your station feed can be used directly or captured reliably. |
| Dedicated hardware encoder | You want a separate device for a more involved production or a dedicated encoding setup. | It is optional and adds equipment and cost. YouTube does not require a hardware encoder for this workflow. |
OBS documents media sources for supported media and a VLC source for playlists when VLC is installed. That does not guarantee that every station URL or streaming protocol will work when pasted into OBS. Test your station’s actual feed and format. If direct use fails, capture the station audio as it plays on the computer, using the appropriate audio device for your operating system.
Set up the YouTube stream and OBS scene
- Create or schedule the broadcast. In YouTube Studio, open Go Live to enter the Live Control Room, then create or schedule a stream using an encoder. YouTube provides a server URL and a stream key for the encoder. Keep the key private: it allows the encoder to send a feed to your stream.
- Create a scene in OBS. Add an image source for your station logo, cover art or other visual. For a minimal radio broadcast, a static image is enough; check that it is suitable for display and that you have permission to use it.
- Add the station audio. If your station feed works as a supported source, add it to the scene and test playback. Otherwise, play the station on the computer and select the relevant audio capture device in OBS. The correct route depends on the station’s URL or protocol and your operating system.
- Avoid capturing the same sound twice. If the station audio is already included through an OBS scene source, do not also capture the same output globally. Duplicate capture can cause echo. OBS explains the distinction in its audio sources guidance.
- Enter YouTube’s connection details. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube if available, and enter the stream key. If you use a custom server configuration, use the server URL and key shown in YouTube Studio. Do not share or publish the key.
- Configure stereo audio. YouTube lists AAC or MP3 as audio codecs in its general encoder guidance. Its recommended advanced settings for stereo include a 44.1 kHz sample rate and 128 Kbps bitrate. Use a YouTube-compatible encoder preset when available, and confirm the encoder is actually sending audio.
- Start the encoder and inspect the preview. Start streaming from OBS, then wait for the feed to appear in the Live Control Room. Check that the intended image is visible, the station audio is playing, and the audio meter is moving. Test and monitor the stream before taking it live; YouTube’s encoder setup guidance and stream monitoring guidance cover these checks.
- Go live and monitor. Once the preview is correct, start the broadcast in YouTube’s Live Control Room if the stream is scheduled for manual start. Keep an eye on the preview and audio during the broadcast.
- End the broadcast cleanly. End the stream in the Live Control Room and stop sending from OBS. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, so make sure the rights you confirmed also cover the resulting on-demand recording.
Test the station feed before relying on it
Run a private or unlisted test if appropriate for your channel and broadcast plan. Confirm that the station plays continuously in OBS, the YouTube preview receives it, and the image remains visible. Listen for silence, dropouts, distortion or echo. A station URL can behave differently from a local audio file, so a successful test is more useful than assuming compatibility from the URL alone.
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- If direct source playback fails, try capturing the station’s playback device instead.
- If device capture creates echo, remove the duplicate source and test again.
- If OBS receives audio but YouTube does not, check the selected encoder audio device and that the audio meter moves in OBS before reconnecting.
- If YouTube does not show a preview, recheck the stream key and server configuration in both YouTube Studio and OBS.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Live streaming is unavailable | The channel is not verified, has a live-stream restriction, or initial activation is still processing. | Review YouTube’s eligibility requirements and enable live streaming early; first-time activation can take up to 24 hours. |
| The station URL will not play in OBS | The URL or streaming protocol may not be supported by the chosen source. | Test the actual feed; try capturing the station’s playback through the computer’s audio device instead. |
| There is no audio in the YouTube preview | The wrong audio source may be selected, or OBS may not be sending the expected track. | Check that the correct source is active and its meter moves in OBS, then verify the preview in the Live Control Room. |
| The audio has an echo | The same playback device may be captured both as a scene source and globally. | Remove one of the duplicate capture paths and monitor the result. |
| The preview is missing or YouTube does not accept the encoder | The stream key or server details may be incorrect, or the encoder may not be connected. | Compare OBS’s stream settings with the current server URL and key in YouTube Studio. Keep the key private. |
| The stream works but the archive creates a rights concern | The music permission may not include YouTube or on-demand playback. | Confirm rights for both the live stream and the archive before broadcasting; do not assume the station’s existing distribution license covers them. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a continuous YouTube stream built from uploaded recordings rather than a live relay of your station’s internet audio, StreamNeo is a different workflow: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Every slot streams what you upload at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, and StreamNeo is for YouTube only. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start a free day at StreamNeo registration.
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