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Choose settings for the YouTube feed you are sending
Use YouTube’s live-ingestion recommendations for the incoming stream, not its separate recommendations for uploaded videos. The figures below are YouTube Help recommendations; the retrieved page does not state a publication or revision year. They are targets, not guarantees of image quality or stream stability.
| Incoming resolution and frame rate | AV1/H.265 recommended bitrate | H.264 recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p60 | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| 2160p30 | 30 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 24 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 15 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 480p30 | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 360p30 | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
These columns are codec-specific: choose the one that matches the stream your encoder sends to YouTube. YouTube also publishes minimums. They range from 0.3 Mbps at 360p30 to 10 Mbps at 2160p60 for AV1/H.265, and from 0.4 Mbps at 360p30 to 14 Mbps at 2160p60 for H.264. Consult the current YouTube live encoder settings for the exact minimum for your row and codec, particularly if your connection is near its limit.
Resolution and frame rate
Choose an output mode your encoder and connection can sustain. YouTube’s live guidance supports up to 60 fps; higher resolutions and frame rates have higher recommended bitrates. Keep the output aligned with the game capture and production rather than selecting a larger number without the source material or capacity to support it.
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Rate control and keyframes
- Set rate control to CBR (constant bitrate).
- Set keyframe frequency to two seconds. Do not exceed four seconds.
- For SDR, YouTube’s advanced recommendations specify Rec. 709 and 8-bit. Its HDR guidance specifies H.265 and 10-bit; AV1 is not supported for HDR in that guidance.
These are YouTube’s documented live-encoder recommendations, not universal settings for every encoder interface. If a control is named differently in your software, consult that encoder’s documentation.
Audio
For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends 128 Kbps stereo; 5.1 surround is supported only through AAC, with a recommended 384 Kbps bitrate. Check that the audio codec and channel layout you select match what your encoder is actually sending.
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Set up each destination and budget upload bandwidth
In a simulstream, each destination receives its own stream target. Add the target bitrates together, then plan for upload capacity of 1.5–2 times the total. YouTube illustrates the calculation with two streams at 6 Mbps and 4 Mbps: the 10 Mbps combined target calls for 15–20 Mbps upload capacity. The upper end is prudent when other people or devices share the connection, or upload performance varies. This is planning guidance, not a stability guarantee. See YouTube’s multistream upload-speed guidance.
- Write down every destination. For each platform, note the output resolution, frame rate, codec, and recommended bitrate from that destination’s current live-encoder guidance.
- Add the bitrates. For example, if your planned feeds target 6 Mbps and 4 Mbps, the total is 10 Mbps.
- Calculate headroom. Multiply the total by 1.5 and by 2 to get the planning range. For the 10 Mbps example, that is 15–20 Mbps of upload capacity.
- Check the real connection. Consider other network traffic and whether the connection’s upload performance is consistent, not just its advertised rate.
- Test the complete show. Run the actual encoder and destinations with similar movement and audio, then check stream health before the event.
The bandwidth arithmetic does not dictate architecture. Depending on your workflow, you might encode separate outputs or send one feed through a relay. YouTube’s guidance establishes the combined bitrate calculation, but does not rank these approaches or establish compatibility for any particular relay. Confirm codec, resolution, frame-rate, and destination support for the tools you choose.
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Choose the connection protocol
RTMPS for the usual YouTube Live workflow
YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP that encrypts data on the way to and through Google’s servers. Use it when your encoder or multistream workflow supports it. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS as ingestion protocols.
HLS when the workflow requires it
HLS is a separate option with specific encoder requirements and greater latency than continuous RTMP delivery. YouTube says HLS disables ultra-low-latency mode. For HLS ingestion, configure TS segments lasting 1–4 seconds, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT requests, and no byte ranges. Use HLS only when your encoder or workflow calls for it, and verify that it can meet these requirements. Details are in YouTube’s HLS ingestion guidance.
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Configure the YouTube stream and key
YouTube can detect the encoder’s resolution and frame rate by default. Use a custom stream key and manually set resolution only when you have a specific reason to control the stream mode. Stream keys are sensitive: treat them like credentials, enter them only into the encoder or service you intend to use, and avoid exposing them on screen or in a public post.
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select the scheduled live stream.
- Copy the stream key and server information shown for that stream. Keep the key private.
- In your encoder or relay, select YouTube as a destination, enter the server and key, and choose RTMPS if available for the normal YouTube Live workflow.
- Set the outgoing codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, CBR, and keyframe interval to match the YouTube recommendations and your bandwidth plan.
- Start a private or otherwise appropriate test and confirm that YouTube receives the intended stream mode and audio.
In the Live Control Room workflow, YouTube detects the encoder’s chosen resolution, frame rate, and bitrate and transcodes the live feed into formats for different devices and network conditions. You normally do not need to create a separate viewer-quality output for every device.
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Preflight and monitor the stream
A speed-test result alone cannot show whether the complete production will behave well. YouTube advises testing before the live event with audio and video movement similar to the planned stream. Check the YouTube stream-health indicators and alerts during the test and while live.
- Run the actual scene, game capture, overlays, and audio sources that the audience will receive.
- Check that the encoder reports the intended codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and connection status.
- Watch YouTube’s stream-health messages and address warnings before the event, rather than assuming the encoder’s local preview proves successful delivery.
- During the broadcast, monitor both the encoder and Live Control Room. A shared or variable connection can behave differently once other traffic begins.
Troubleshoot common multistream problems
| Symptom | Likely checks | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dropping frames or unstable delivery | Combined destination bitrate, available upload capacity, other network use, and YouTube stream-health alerts. | Recalculate the sum of all destination targets and compare it with the 1.5–2× planning range. Reduce output demands or competing traffic, then repeat a representative test. |
| One destination fails while another works | That destination’s stream key, server details, codec support, and ingest settings. | Re-enter the correct private key and verify that the encoder or relay supports that destination’s chosen output. Do not assume a working YouTube feed proves every destination is configured correctly. |
| Unexpected quality or output mode | Encoder output resolution and frame rate, selected stream key, and whether manual resolution settings were applied. | Check the outgoing settings and the Live Control Room’s detected stream information. If there is no reason to force a mode, allow YouTube to detect resolution and frame rate. |
| Keyframe or bitrate warning | Rate control and keyframe interval in the encoder. | Use CBR, set a two-second keyframe interval, and ensure it does not exceed four seconds. |
| HLS connection or latency issue | Segment format and duration, rolling-playlist length, HTTPS request method, and byte-range behavior. | Use TS segments of 1–4 seconds, no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, and no byte ranges. Account for HLS’s higher latency and lack of ultra-low-latency mode. |
| Video works but audio is missing or wrong | Audio codec, bitrate, channel layout, and whether the encoder is sending the intended audio source. | For RTMP/RTMPS, use AAC or MP3; YouTube recommends 128 Kbps stereo. For 5.1, use AAC and the 384 Kbps recommendation. |
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- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
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