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To give an EC2 encoder a persistent public IPv4 address, allocate an Elastic IP (EIP) in the instance’s AWS Region and associate it with the instance or its network interface. Then configure your encoder with YouTube Live’s current ingest URL and stream key—preferably using RTMPS. A static IP is not part of YouTube’s stated ingest requirements; it is useful when you independently need a stable address, such as for an IP allowlist or remote access.
What the static IP does—and does not do
An ordinary EC2 public IPv4 address is not a durable identity: AWS releases it when an instance is stopped, hibernated, or terminated and assigns a new one when it starts again. An Elastic IP is a static public IPv4 address allocated to your account. It is regional, can be associated with an instance or network interface, and can be moved between resources in the same Region. See AWS’s Elastic IP documentation.
The encoder’s connection to YouTube is outbound. YouTube’s published live-stream guidance specifies an ingest URL, stream key, protocol, and encoder settings; the reviewed guidance does not establish that YouTube requires your source to have a static IP. Keep an EIP if a separate operational need calls for it, not simply because you are streaming to YouTube.
How to stream from EC2 using an Elastic IP
- Choose a Region and instance. Select an AWS Region, operating system, and EC2 instance appropriate to your encoder and source workload. There is no established universal instance size for this job: encoding performance depends on the workload, settings, and instance, and no instance was benchmarked for this guide.
- Launch into a network that supports your administration method. Use a VPC subnet with the required network route and configure a security group for the actual way you will administer the host. Do not expose SSH or remote desktop broadly to the internet; use access limited to the addresses and methods you need.
- Allocate and associate the EIP. In the EC2 console, open Network & Security → Elastic IPs, allocate an address in the instance’s Region, select it, and choose Actions → Associate Elastic IP address. Associate it with the target instance or its network interface, then confirm the association in the console. AWS documents the process in Elastic IP addresses. If the only requirement is outbound publishing to YouTube, consider whether an EIP adds value at all.
- Install and configure an encoder. Install OBS or another encoder compatible with your operating system and source. In YouTube Live Control Room, obtain the current stream ingest URL and stream key; YouTube’s API documentation describes the ingestion address as the primary destination for supported protocols: YouTube LiveStreams resource. Treat the stream key like a password: do not expose it in screenshots, scripts, or public logs.
- Match output to YouTube and your available capacity. Choose RTMPS where supported, then set codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval. YouTube supports RTMP/RTMPS and lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval. Its settings vary by codec, resolution, and frame rate; for 1080p at 30 fps using H.264, YouTube lists a 5 Mbps minimum and recommends 14 Mbps. Consult the current YouTube encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the row matching your format. The EC2 host’s upload capacity must sustain the selected output.
- Test before going public. Start a private or unlisted test with representative audio and motion, then check YouTube’s stream health. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring stream health; a short test can also reveal whether your chosen settings are sustainable before an event.
- Review actual charges. Measure costs after a test and compare them with an estimate for your selected Region and configuration. If you do not need continuous availability, stopping the instance between streams can reduce runtime charges, but check whether the associated EIP incurs an idle-address charge in your case.
Encoder settings that affect quality and cost
There is no single bitrate to use for every EC2 stream. Select a YouTube recommendation for the exact codec, resolution, and frame rate, and ensure the host can encode and upload reliably at that setting. For the specific 1080p30 H.264 row, YouTube’s minimum is 5 Mbps and recommendation is 14 Mbps; do not apply those numbers to a different codec or format.
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- Protocol: RTMPS is YouTube’s recommended secure extension to RTMP. YouTube says it encrypts the stream payload in transit to Google’s servers.
- Rate control: Use CBR as YouTube recommends.
- Keyframes: Set a two-second interval.
- Stream key: Use the key from YouTube Live Control Room and keep it secret. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube rather than continuing to use a compromised credential.
- Upload headroom: The outbound connection must carry the stream continuously. If YouTube reports poor stream health, check the configured bitrate and the host’s actual upload capacity before lowering resolution or frame rate.
How much does it cost to run OBS on EC2?
There is no defensible universal monthly total without the Region, instance type, operating system and licensing, hours streamed, EBS configuration, outbound volume, and current billing assumptions. Build an estimate in the AWS Pricing Calculator using the configuration you intend to run, then verify current billing treatment for your Region.
| Cost component | What to include |
|---|---|
| EC2 runtime | Instance price multiplied by expected runtime, using the applicable purchasing model and operating system. |
| Storage | EBS capacity, any provisioned performance, and snapshots. |
| Public IPv4 / Elastic IP | Public IPv4 addresses are chargeable under AWS pricing. AWS’s calculator guidance describes one EIP on a running instance as included at no charge in its estimate, while additional addresses or idle/stopped-resource associations may incur charges. Check the current calculator and your bill for the exact case; do not assume an EIP is always free. See AWS public IPv4 addressing guidance and AWS’s pricing calculator guide. |
| Outbound data transfer | Estimate the bytes sent to YouTube from stream bitrate and duration, plus any other egress. AWS treats data transfer as a distinct cost input; see EC2 data transfer pricing. |
| Optional services | Include a NAT Gateway, load balancer, or other infrastructure only if your actual design uses it; each can add separate charges. |
For scale, a continuous 5 Mbps stream carries about 2.25 GB of video payload per hour before protocol overhead: 5 megabits per second × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000. This is arithmetic based on the bitrate, not a bill estimate. Billable transfer depends on AWS metering and the applicable allowances and tiers. AWS documentation also includes a $0.005 per public IPv4 address-hour figure in a particular NAT Gateway versus existing public IPv4 cost-comparison formula; that scoped figure is not a complete EC2 streaming quote.
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Common problems and what to check
- The IP changed after a restart: You may be using an auto-assigned public IPv4 address rather than an EIP. Allocate and associate an EIP if a persistent address is genuinely needed.
- The encoder cannot connect: Confirm that it has the current YouTube ingest URL and stream key, is using a supported protocol, and has outbound network access through the instance’s route and security configuration.
- YouTube reports poor stream health: Check the codec-specific bitrate recommendation, CBR configuration, two-second keyframes, and the host’s upload capacity. Test with representative content before a public stream.
- The stream drops when the instance stops: Stopping the encoder host interrupts its stream. An EIP preserves the address, not the encoder process or stream session.
- The estimate differs from the bill: Recheck Region, runtime, storage, outbound volume, IPv4 treatment, and any optional services. The calculator estimate depends on the inputs and pricing rules applicable to the configuration.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a prerecorded YouTube channel that stays live around the clock, StreamNeo is a simpler alternative to operating an EC2 encoder: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from its cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Every quality up to 4K 60fps streams as uploaded at one flat price per slot; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube and uploaded videos, not camera-based live production. See StreamNeo, then start your free day.
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