You can relay a cloud radio station to YouTube Live by feeding its public listening stream into OBS, adding a visual, and sending the scene to YouTube with the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio. The radio service supplies the audio; OBS acts as the video encoder and bridge to YouTube. Before going live, rehearse the setup and confirm that the music and other material are cleared for both the livestream and any archive.
Choose how the audio will reach YouTube
There are two common starting points. If you want YouTube to carry the programme already playing on your station, use the station’s public listening URL as the audio source. If you are presenting live from a studio, capture a microphone, mixer, or computer audio instead. In either case, the documented workflow uses an encoder such as OBS to add video and deliver the broadcast to YouTube.
| Approach | Audio source | What the encoder does | Operator considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relay the existing station | The station’s public listening stream URL | Plays that stream as audio, combines it with a visual, and sends the result to YouTube | Monitor the stream and confirm its audio is playing as expected |
| Broadcast a live local input | A microphone, mixer, or system audio | Captures the live source, combines it with a visual, and sends it to YouTube | Monitor levels; system-audio capture may also transmit alerts and browser sounds |
A cloud playout service is not automatically a YouTube encoder. For example, Radio.co’s documentation describes Radio.co Live and Playout.co as tools for sending live audio to a Radio.co station, while its YouTube tutorial uses OBS as the relay to YouTube. Playout.co supports one Radio.co station at a time; its browser-based live-assist features require a Radio.co Standard plan or above and a desktop Chrome or Edge browser. Check the provider’s current documentation before relying on a particular plan or browser requirement.
Set up the station feed and OBS scene
1. Find the station listening URL
For a simulcast, locate the public listening-stream link in your radio service’s dashboard. Use the listener-facing stream URL, not a dashboard login page or a private control-panel address. Radio.co’s documented example adds the listening link to OBS as a VLC media source. The precise source type and compatibility can vary by stream format and encoder version.
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2. Add the audio and a visual
In OBS, add the station stream as an audio/media source. Add an appropriate visual source, such as a station image, artwork, webcam, or capture source, and arrange the scene so it displays correctly in the YouTube player. Check that the audio meter responds and listen to the output rather than relying on the meter alone.
If you capture system audio for a live-originated broadcast, silence desktop notifications and close or mute unrelated browser tabs and applications. Otherwise, computer alerts or incidental sounds can be sent to viewers.
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3. Check levels and playback
- Confirm the intended station programme is playing, rather than silence, a login page, or an outdated stream link.
- Listen for clipping, unexpected pauses, excessive loudness, or mismatched audio and visual content.
- Check that the visual is readable at the size viewers will see in the player.
- Keep the encoder available to monitor the outgoing feed during the broadcast; the cloud radio playout alone does not verify what YouTube is receiving.
Create a YouTube Live stream and connect OBS
1. Create or schedule the event
- Open YouTube Studio and choose Create > Go Live.
- For an immediate broadcast, use the Stream tab. To schedule a future event, use Manage; scheduling can create a watch page that you can share and allows viewers to receive reminders.
- Review the stream’s title, visibility, and other event details before sending viewers to it.
2. Copy the server URL and stream key
In YouTube’s Live Control Room, copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the event. Enter them in the streaming settings in OBS. Treat the key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to send a feed to that stream. Do not publish it, include it in screenshots, or share it in public chat.
3. Prefer RTMPS when the encoder supports it
RTMPS is YouTube’s encrypted streaming option. If OBS or another encoder offers a YouTube RTMPS preset, use it. Otherwise, reveal and copy the RTMPS URL provided in YouTube’s stream settings (YouTube’s instructions identify a lock icon for revealing it) and enter that URL with the event’s key. Use the server address YouTube provides rather than guessing or editing it.
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4. Preview before going public
Start sending the scene from OBS and check YouTube’s preview for the correct picture and sound. A scheduled stream may show a preview before you click Go live in YouTube. Confirm visibility and timing before starting the public event.
Rehearse, broadcast, and finish cleanly
- Run a test before promoting the event. Verify the station feed, audio level, visual slate, stream privacy, and YouTube preview.
- When the preview is correct and the event is ready, start the broadcast in YouTube if required. Continue monitoring both the station feed and the encoder output.
- At the end, stop sending content from the encoder and end the stream in YouTube as appropriate.
- Review the resulting archive and confirm that you have permission to keep it available. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; archived streams can receive Content ID claims after the live broadcast ends.
Clear rights for the livestream and its archive
Do not assume that a licence that covers the station’s normal radio broadcast also covers a YouTube livestream or its recording. YouTube’s Livestream terms and conditions place responsibility on the streamer to have the necessary rights for use on Google services worldwide, including music licensing rights from artists, record labels, publishers, and other royalty participants.
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YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. A match can replace the stream with a placeholder and warning; if the content remains, YouTube may interrupt or terminate the stream. A licence by itself may not prevent an interruption: YouTube says a licensed-content owner may need to add the channel to its Content ID allowlist. Resolve this with the rights owner before relying on a licensed commercial-music feed.
Check archive permissions separately. YouTube says Content ID claims may be made after a stream ends if it is archived, so permission for live transmission does not necessarily establish permission to retain the video on YouTube.
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Troubleshoot common failures
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS connects, but YouTube has no sound | The wrong station URL or source was selected, or the source is not producing audio | Check the listening URL in a player, confirm the correct OBS source is active, and listen to the encoder output |
| YouTube receives sound but no useful picture | The scene has no visible source, or the visual is hidden or incorrectly arranged | Inspect the OBS scene and YouTube preview; add or reposition the image, camera, or other intended visual |
| Alerts or unrelated sounds appear on the stream | System audio capture is transmitting desktop sounds | Mute unrelated applications, silence notifications, and verify the captured audio before going live |
| An SSL error appears with RTMPS | The URL protocol or server address may be wrong, or the encoder may not support the selected connection | Use the exact RTMPS URL shown in YouTube’s settings. YouTube notes that port 443 may help in some cases |
| The connection times out | The encoder may not support RTMPS or may be using the wrong server settings | Confirm RTMPS support in the encoder and verify the URL and key against YouTube’s Live Control Room |
| The live broadcast is interrupted after a music match | YouTube has detected third-party content, or the rights owner has not allowlisted the channel | Contact the rights owner, verify YouTube-specific live permissions and Content ID allowlisting, and do not assume a radio licence prevents enforcement |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded video playing as a 24/7 YouTube stream, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. UPI and cards are available in India; card checkout is available worldwide. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a live camera or radio input, so it is not a replacement for the OBS workflow above when you need to relay a station listening feed. Learn about StreamNeo or start the free day.
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