To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live at 4K and 60 fps, add it as a repeating media source in OBS, set OBS to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, choose an NVIDIA NVENC encoder supported by your GPU and OBS version, and send the stream to YouTube using its recommended ingest settings. You need an NVENC-capable NVIDIA system, a stable upload connection, and a YouTube stream key; no capture card or paid encoder software is required.
Before you start
This setup is for a prerecorded video streamed from a local computer using OBS. Make sure the source video is 4K if you want genuine 4K detail; setting a lower-resolution video on a 4K canvas does not add detail. Sustaining 4K60 also depends on the GPU, OBS build, video complexity, and available upload bandwidth.
- Install OBS and confirm its version. OBS is listed by YouTube as free, open-source encoder software.
- Use an NVIDIA GPU and an OBS build that expose an NVENC encoder option. The available codecs and controls vary by GPU generation and software version.
- Have the prerecorded video available locally, with enough free storage and a reliable internet connection.
- Allow time to activate YouTube live streaming if this is the channel’s first broadcast. YouTube says initial activation may take up to 24 hours.
YouTube’s current live encoder settings page, accessed in 2026, specifies RTMP or RTMPS, H.264, H.265 or AV1, up to 60 fps, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended two-second keyframe interval. Use RTMPS when available.
Create the YouTube live event and get its credentials
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or schedule a stream. If live streaming is not enabled for the channel, enable it and wait for activation.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that event. In OBS, enter the URL as the server and the key in the stream-key field.
- Keep the key private: YouTube describes it as a credential that tells YouTube which encoder feed to accept. Do not include it in screenshots, recordings, or a published walkthrough. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio.
Use the event’s own URL and key rather than sharing them. YouTube’s stream setup guidance is at Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder; stream-key details are in Manage live stream settings.
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Build a scene that repeats the video
- In OBS, create or select a scene for the broadcast.
- Add the prerecorded clip as a media source. Enable the source’s loop or repeat behavior in its properties; exact labels and placement can vary with the installed OBS version.
- Resize the source to fit the canvas while preserving its aspect ratio. Avoid stretching a 16:9 clip into a different shape. If the source is not 16:9, decide whether to use letterboxing, cropping, or a designed background rather than distorting the picture.
- Play the scene locally and check the end-to-start transition. Listen for abrupt audio cuts and watch for black frames or unintended gaps. If your OBS version exposes a restart-playback option on activation, use it only if you want the clip to restart whenever the source becomes active.
The precise media-source checkbox sequence is version-dependent, so verify the wording in your installed OBS release rather than relying on a label from a different version.
Set OBS video output to 4K60
In OBS Settings, use the Video section to set both the base (canvas) resolution and output (scaled) resolution to 3840×2160, then set the common frame rate to 60 fps. The setting labels can shift between OBS releases. If the source is lower resolution or the system cannot sustain 4K60, consider matching the output to the source or reducing resolution or frame rate instead of allowing persistent dropped frames.
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For ordinary SDR content, use square pixels, progressive scan, Rec. 709 color, and 8-bit output. YouTube’s 4K setting does not provide low-latency delivery: its live settings page says 2160p streams use normal latency.
Choose NVENC, codec, bitrate, and keyframes
In OBS’s streaming output settings, choose an available NVIDIA NVENC encoder. The precise names and options depend on the installed OBS build and GPU; do not assume every NVIDIA card exposes every codec or NVENC mode. YouTube’s current live recommendations for 2160p at 60 fps are:
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| Codec | YouTube recommended video bitrate | YouTube minimum video bitrate | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps | Broad compatibility choice; requires an upload connection that can sustain the video bitrate plus audio and network overhead. |
| H.265 / HEVC | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Use only if the NVENC option and your complete YouTube workflow support it. |
| AV1 | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Use only if the installed GPU and OBS expose AV1 encoding and the destination workflow accepts it. |
These are YouTube encoder recommendations, not guaranteed viewer bitrates or a guarantee that a particular connection will be stable. For 4K60, configure CBR and a two-second keyframe interval. YouTube recommends two seconds and specifies no more than four seconds. Choose an encoder preset that your GPU can maintain; there is no one preset that is correct across GPU generations, OBS versions, and content.
For SDR, YouTube lists two B-frames and one reference frame among its recommended advanced frame settings. OBS’s NVENC controls vary; use those values when the relevant controls are available and compatible with your encoder mode. OBS documents additional NVENC controls introduced in version 31.0, including target-quality rate control, Ultra High Quality tuning, and Adaptive Quantization; availability is feature- and GPU-dependent. See OBS Advanced NVENC Options (31.0).
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For HDR, YouTube recommends H.265/HEVC and 10-bit output, and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. HDR requires a deliberate end-to-end color workflow; do not enable HDR settings for ordinary SDR footage.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Configure audio and connect OBS to YouTube
YouTube accepts AAC or MP3 audio. Its live settings page lists 128 Kbps for stereo audio, with 44.1 kHz for stereo and 48 kHz for 5.1. Match the OBS audio settings to the actual source and intended channel layout; a stereo recording does not become 5.1 by changing the sample rate.
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- In OBS Settings, open the stream settings and choose the YouTube service if available, then enter the event’s stream URL and key. If using a custom server option, enter the URL and key in their respective fields.
- In the output settings, confirm NVENC is selected for streaming and check codec, CBR bitrate, and keyframe interval against YouTube’s settings for the chosen resolution and codec.
- Check that the scene’s audio meters move and that the intended source is audible. Prevent duplicate desktop or source audio if it causes echo.
- Start streaming in OBS, then use Live Control Room to confirm that YouTube receives the feed and reports the expected resolution and frame rate.
Test before making the loop public
Run a private or unlisted test with representative movement and audio before a public broadcast. YouTube specifically recommends testing representative content and monitoring stream health and messages during the event.
- Confirm the video reaches YouTube as 2160p60 rather than assuming OBS’s output settings prove the ingest format.
- Watch a full loop boundary: confirm the next repetition starts cleanly and the audio neither cuts out nor drifts.
- Check OBS for rendering or encoding lag and YouTube Live Control Room for stream-health warnings.
- Leave the test running long enough to observe realistic network and system behavior. A short successful test cannot establish uninterrupted 24/7 operation.
YouTube also documents DVR, which lets viewers pause and resume a live stream. If your event is intended to remain live for a long period, decide whether that viewer behavior suits the content.
Troubleshoot common 4K60 loop problems
YouTube does not receive the stream
- Check the event credentials: confirm the stream URL and key belong to the current Live Control Room event and were pasted into the correct OBS fields.
- Check protocol and connection: use RTMPS where available, verify internet access, and look for firewall or network restrictions that block the encoder connection.
- Protect and rotate a disclosed key: if a key has appeared publicly, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
The stream is unstable or YouTube reports poor health
- Check upload headroom: YouTube’s recommended 4K60 bitrate is an ingest target, not an estimate of your connection’s capacity. If the connection cannot sustain it consistently, lower the bitrate or use a lower output resolution or frame rate.
- Check dropped frames and load: OBS rendering or encoding lag can point to system load; network-dropped frames point toward the connection. Reduce demanding output settings or close competing workloads, then test again.
- Check CBR and keyframes: confirm constant bitrate and a two-second keyframe interval; YouTube allows up to four seconds.
The output is not 4K60
- Verify both OBS output resolution and frame rate, then check Live Control Room’s received signal. A lower-resolution source can be upscaled to a 4K output but will not gain source detail.
- Confirm the selected NVENC mode and codec are actually available in the installed GPU and OBS build. If encoding cannot keep up, reduce the output workload rather than trusting the configured number alone.
The video does not loop cleanly or audio is wrong
- Recheck the media source’s loop setting and preview the full end-to-start transition.
- Check the source file’s audio and OBS meters, remove unintended duplicate audio paths, and confirm the chosen stereo or surround format matches the content.
- If the scene or source is deactivated and reactivated, check whether its playback behavior restarts or resumes in the way you intend.
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