RadioDJ schedules and plays your station audio, OBS captures that audio, adds a visual scene and encodes the broadcast, and YouTube Live receives and publishes it. To get RadioDJ audio into OBS, choose an OBS audio input that actually receives RadioDJ’s output on your Windows setup; there is no single routing path that works for every computer. Before going public, enable YouTube Live, configure the broadcast, verify music rights and test the complete signal chain.
What RadioDJ, OBS and YouTube each do
- RadioDJ: organizes and plays music, jingles and scheduled programming.
- OBS Studio: captures RadioDJ’s audio, combines it with a scene such as a station graphic, and sends the encoded stream.
- YouTube Live: receives the stream, applies the broadcast’s publication settings and may archive it.
RadioDJ is the playout and automation system, not the YouTube encoder. The arrangement described here is a do-it-yourself broadcast from a Windows computer, so that computer, its audio path and OBS must remain operating while the stream is running.
1. Install and prepare RadioDJ
RadioDJ’s feature page lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 as supported; other Windows versions may work but are unsupported. The publisher lists a minimum 1 GHz CPU and 8 GB RAM, Windows-supported sound-card compatibility, MariaDB or MySQL support, and .NET Framework 4.8 for RadioDJ v2+. MariaDB is highly recommended. These are publisher-stated requirements and recommendations, not performance guarantees; check the current release requirements before installing. RadioDJ features list (updated 7 February 2025).
Organize your library and build the station’s rotations and scheduled events before connecting the broadcast. RadioDJ documents Auto DJ rotations, custom jingles, scheduling, manual or automatic playlist advance, and support for up to six sound cards. It lists MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC and AC3 among supported formats. Decide how songs, imaging and any live-host segments should fit together, then test the schedule inside RadioDJ so you know what OBS should receive.
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2. Route RadioDJ audio into OBS
RadioDJ’s output must arrive at an audio source that OBS can capture. Which source to select depends on the computer’s Windows audio devices and configuration; RadioDJ’s feature page and YouTube’s general encoder instructions do not prescribe one universal RadioDJ-to-OBS routing recipe.
- Start RadioDJ and play a known track or test tone.
- In OBS, add or select an audio input that receives the RadioDJ signal. The device name and exact menu path vary by system.
- Watch the OBS audio meters while RadioDJ plays. Listen through OBS’s monitoring or output path to confirm the signal is clear and at a useful level.
- Check for duplicate capture. If the same output is being captured through two OBS sources, mute or remove the redundant one to avoid doubled audio or echo.
- If the computer’s built-in audio arrangement does not expose the signal cleanly, consider an optional audio interface or other routing hardware. First check the audio devices already available on the PC; not every setup needs extra hardware.
This routing guidance follows the signal chain; it is not a vendor-mandated device configuration. RadioDJ’s feature page and YouTube’s encoder setup guide do not identify a particular interface or routing product.
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3. Build and test the OBS scene
Create a simple scene for the radio broadcast. A station logo or program graphic can serve as the visual; add a camera or presenter only if the format calls for one. Confirm that the scene uses the intended RadioDJ feed and that no second source is capturing the same audio.
YouTube identifies OBS as a no-charge, open-source software encoder. Its general encoder setup instructions do not establish one bitrate or resolution as best for every radio stream, so do not treat a universal preset as a rule. Choose settings appropriate to your output and connection, then check OBS’s preview and audio before publishing. YouTube: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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4. Enable YouTube Live and configure the broadcast
- Enable live streaming for the channel and allow for first-time activation: YouTube says it may take up to 24 hours.
- In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create or schedule a broadcast. Set its title and visibility as intended, and review the broadcast details before starting.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown by YouTube into OBS, unless you use OBS’s YouTube account integration to link the account and manage broadcasts there. Treat the stream key as a secret credential; do not publish or share it.
- Start the encoder in OBS and check the incoming preview and audio in Live Control Room.
- Use the broadcast controls shown for that stream to make it live. Depending on the settings, a separate Go Live action may be required; starting OBS does not always publish a scheduled broadcast by itself.
For RTMPS, Google documents RTMP carried over SSL/TLS, with an rtmps protocol URL, a valid YouTube ingestion endpoint and application path, port 443, and correct hostname/SNI handling. Most operators should copy the URL supplied by YouTube or use OBS’s YouTube integration rather than constructing an endpoint manually. A mismatched RTMP/RTMPS endpoint or wrong port can prevent connection. Google for Developers: Delivering Live YouTube Content via RTMPS. For OBS account integration and scheduled-stream controls, see the OBS Project guide to streaming to YouTube.
5. Clear music rights before testing publicly
You are responsible for the rights needed for the music and other material in the broadcast. YouTube’s livestream terms say: “You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights for the exploitation of the Live Content on the Google Services throughout the world, including, without limitation, music licensing rights from artists, record labels, publishers (including public performance licenses) and any other royalty participants.” YouTube Livestream terms and conditions.
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YouTube scans live streams for third-party content matches. Its copyright guidance says a stream may be replaced by a placeholder and the operator warned; if the material remains, YouTube may interrupt or terminate the stream. For licensed third-party material, YouTube advises asking the rights owner to add the channel to its Content ID allowlist. A license does not by itself prevent an interruption if the channel is not allowlisted. YouTube: Copyright issues with live streams.
Which permissions a station needs depends on the repertoire, territories and uses, including live transmission and archived playback. Do not assume that owning a recording, having a consumer music subscription, crediting artists or holding one generic license covers every right. Confirm coverage for the specific works and uses with the relevant rights holders or qualified local advice, and ask about platform allowlisting where applicable.
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6. Run, monitor and end the stream
During the broadcast, keep an eye on RadioDJ playback, OBS’s audio meters and YouTube’s incoming preview. If the signal disappears, identify whether playback stopped in RadioDJ, the audio source stopped reaching OBS, or YouTube lost the encoder connection before restarting anything. After the show, end the broadcast using the controls for that stream and confirm the archive in YouTube Studio.
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not plan one uninterrupted broadcast beyond that documented limit without checking YouTube’s latest guidance and choosing a suitable restart and archive plan. YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
Can a 24/7 automated radio stream be monetized?
Continuous operation does not guarantee monetization. YouTube says live streams may be monetized for channels in the YouTube Partner Program, and its channel monetization policy applies to live streams. The policy identifies repetitive or mass-produced content as potentially ineligible. An automated playlist should therefore not be treated as a guaranteed monetization strategy: eligibility and ad serving depend on YouTube’s current rules and decisions, and the programming needs to offer viewer value. YouTube channel monetization policies (policy update notice dated 15 July 2025).
Troubleshooting common setup problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS meters do not move when RadioDJ plays | The selected OBS input is not receiving RadioDJ’s output. | Confirm RadioDJ is playing, then test the available Windows audio devices and select the source that carries the signal. Consider additional routing hardware only if existing devices cannot expose it. |
| Audio is doubled or echoes | OBS may be capturing the same signal through more than one source or monitoring it back into the capture path. | Mute sources one at a time and check OBS monitoring/output routing until only the intended feed remains. |
| YouTube does not receive the encoder | The stream URL, key, protocol or endpoint settings may not match the broadcast. | Copy the current URL and key from YouTube Studio again, verify the key belongs to the selected broadcast, and use YouTube’s supplied RTMPS endpoint rather than manually guessing one. |
| OBS is streaming, but the broadcast is not public | The scheduled broadcast may need a separate Go Live action or may have a different visibility setting. | Check the specific stream’s status and controls in Live Control Room. |
| The stream is interrupted after a music match | YouTube detected third-party content; a licensed channel may also lack the rights holder’s Content ID allowlisting. | Review the notice, verify rights for the works and uses, and contact the rights owner about allowlisting where relevant. |
| The broadcast runs into the archive limit | YouTube’s documented automatic archive behavior covers streams shorter than 12 hours. | Plan a restart and archive workflow within YouTube’s current guidance rather than relying on a single stream beyond that limit. |
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