To stream AV1 from OBS to YouTube Live, select an AV1 encoder your system exposes, use RTMPS, set rate control to CBR and keyframes to 2 seconds, then choose the video bitrate for your resolution and frame rate from YouTube’s AV1/H.265 table. Test a representative scene before going live: encoder availability and performance depend on your hardware, drivers, OBS build and operating system.
Set up OBS for YouTube Live AV1
- Confirm AV1 is available. In OBS, open Settings > Output and inspect the streaming encoder options. Choose an AV1 option only if it appears in your installed setup. OBS lists hardware AV1 choices for QSV, AMD and NVENC, but that does not mean every computer exposes all three. Availability depends on compatible hardware and drivers. OBS hardware encoding guidance explains these dependencies.
- Choose the stream destination and protocol. Configure YouTube Live as the service and use RTMPS for encrypted transmission. YouTube lists RTMP/RTMPS for live ingest and recommends RTMPS. Set up the broadcast in YouTube Studio and use its stream key in OBS; treat the key as a password and do not share or publish it.
- Set the video encoder controls. Use constant bitrate (CBR) and a 2-second keyframe interval. YouTube’s guidance permits a maximum interval of 4 seconds. OBS labels and available controls vary by encoder; use the equivalent control where your AV1 encoder exposes it. Do not assume settings documented for NVENC also apply to QSV or AMD.
- Choose resolution and frame rate. In Settings > Video, select the output resolution and frame rate you intend to send. YouTube’s cited guidance covers frame rates up to 60 fps. Make sure the bitrate you choose matches this output, rather than a different canvas or source resolution.
- Set the video bitrate. Use the YouTube-published AV1/H.265 recommendation for your target resolution and frame rate, shown below. These are YouTube’s ingest recommendations, not a guarantee of a particular visual result. Do not use the H.264 column as an AV1 target.
For implementation-specific details, OBS’s NVENC options documentation covers NVENC controls, including changes introduced with OBS 31.0; its menu labels and recommendations are specific to NVENC.
YouTube’s AV1/H.265 video bitrate table
The figures below are YouTube-published minimum and recommended video bitrates in Mbps for AV1/H.265 ingest, as listed in YouTube Help accessed 2026-10-03.
| Output resolution and frame rate | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p60 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| 2160p30 | 8 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 6 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 5 Mbps | 15 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 4 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 480p30 | 0.3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| 360p30 | 0.3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
Choose a bitrate your actual upload connection can sustain reliably. A speed-test result alone does not establish that the connection will remain stable during a broadcast. YouTube recommends checking upload speed and selecting a quality that is reliable for the available connection. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrate and resolution guidance.
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Audio, SDR color and HDR
Audio settings
YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS. Its guidance recommends 44.1 kHz for stereo and 48 kHz for 5.1 audio; the listed bitrates are 128 Kbps for stereo and 384 Kbps for 5.1. YouTube notes that 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS is supported only with AAC.
SDR color
For SDR, YouTube lists Rec. 709 and 8-bit. Match the color settings in OBS to your intended output and avoid treating an AV1 encoder selection as an HDR setting.
Rank #2
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HDR streams
YouTube’s cited encoder guidance says AV1 is not supported for HDR and lists H.265/HEVC as the HDR video codec. If HDR is required, follow YouTube’s separate HDR setup instructions rather than using an SDR AV1 recipe.
Test and monitor the broadcast
- Start a private or otherwise suitable test broadcast before the event.
- Use gameplay movement and audio similar to the planned stream. Static desktop scenes are not a useful substitute for fast game motion when checking stability and image quality.
- Check OBS for encoding or connection warnings and monitor YouTube’s stream-health messages while the test is running.
- If the stream is unstable, reduce the output bitrate or choose a lower resolution or frame rate, then test again. The target must be sustainable on the real connection, not merely possible in a brief speed test.
YouTube Help puts it plainly: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Its encoder guidance also advises monitoring stream health and messages during the broadcast.
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Common AV1 setup problems
- No AV1 encoder appears in OBS: Your installed hardware, driver, operating system or OBS build may not expose a supported AV1 encoder. Check OBS’s hardware encoding guidance and the relevant manufacturer compatibility information; do not select a codec that is absent from the encoder menu.
- YouTube reports an unstable stream: The chosen bitrate may exceed what the connection can sustain consistently, or the connection may fluctuate under load. Lower the bitrate or output quality and repeat a representative test.
- Image quality is poor despite using AV1: Confirm the output resolution and frame rate, then compare your bitrate with YouTube’s AV1/H.265 recommendation for that exact combination. Codec choice does not remove the need for adequate bitrate or a stable connection.
- Keyframe warnings appear: Check that the encoder is using a 2-second keyframe interval and does not exceed YouTube’s 4-second maximum.
- HDR does not work with AV1: The cited YouTube encoder guidance does not support AV1 for HDR. Use YouTube’s separate HDR instructions and its listed H.265/HEVC HDR codec instead.
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