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To make OBS encode your YouTube livestream at a constant target bitrate, open Settings → Output, find the streaming encoder settings, and set Rate Control to CBR (Constant Bitrate). Choose a target suited to your codec, resolution and frame rate; set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. CBR controls the encoder’s target, but it cannot make an unstable internet connection deliver that rate continuously.
Enable CBR in OBS
- In OBS, open Settings → Output. Find the streaming encoder settings. If the output mode hides those controls, check the streaming section for the selected encoder; exact labels and available options vary by encoder and OBS version.
- Set Rate Control to CBR. YouTube’s official encoder guidance specifies CBR for live streaming over RTMP/RTMPS: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
- Set the video bitrate for your ingestion codec, output resolution and frame rate. The figures below are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that your connection can sustain them.
- Set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. YouTube recommends 2 seconds and says not to exceed 4 seconds. Use RTMPS if it is available in your setup; YouTube recommends it as the encrypted version of RTMP.
- Check the rest of the encoder configuration against YouTube’s guidance. Its advanced recommendations include square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames and one reference frame. HDR and AV1/HDR have additional compatibility qualifications, so consult YouTube’s settings page if you are streaming HDR.
Choose a suitable bitrate
For H.264, YouTube publishes these recommended rates. “Minimum” and “recommended” are YouTube’s figures, not independent measurements or a promise of smooth delivery.
| Output | YouTube H.264 minimum | YouTube H.264 recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
YouTube also provides separate bitrate recommendations for AV1 and H.265/HEVC; use its full codec, resolution and frame-rate table rather than applying the H.264 figures to another codec. Its guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, with streams up to 60 fps.
Why the bitrate can still fluctuate
“Bitrate” may mean the target configured in OBS, the rate OBS reports sending, or the rate YouTube receives. They are related, but they are not interchangeable readings. With CBR selected, the encoder targets a constant rate; network congestion or an unstable connection can still interrupt delivery. YouTube also transcodes live streams into multiple viewer formats, and consistent keyframe timing helps viewers switch between quality options smoothly (YouTube encoder settings; OBS: Transcodes / Transcoding).
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Test and diagnose delivery problems
- Before the real broadcast, run a test using movement and audio similar to the intended stream. Watch stream health and messages in YouTube Live Control Room.
- During the test, check OBS’s connection status and dropped-frame information. If the configured target is not being delivered consistently, distinguish an encoder-setting issue from a connection problem before changing settings.
- If the connection cannot sustain the selected target, lower the video bitrate and test again. OBS identifies unstable connectivity and network software that deprioritizes OBS as possible causes; these are possibilities to investigate, not a diagnosis of any particular stream. See OBS: Stream Connection Troubleshooting.
- If the cause remains unclear, review the OBS log, encoder choice, network conditions and YouTube stream-health messages together. Without those details, a changing delivered rate cannot be attributed to CBR, the network or another specific cause.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps playing uploaded videos around the clock, StreamNeo is a different option from broadcasting through OBS: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not broadcast a live camera feed. Nothing has to stay on at home, it supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly: $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free day.
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