For 4K60 SDR streaming on YouTube, set OBS to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, use RTMPS, CBR, and a two-second keyframe interval. YouTube recommends 50 Mbps for H.264 or 35 Mbps for AV1/HEVC. For a local recording, choose MKV for resilience and remux it to MP4 if your editor or upload workflow needs MP4. Your available codecs and ability to stream and record at once depend on your hardware, so test the complete setup before going live.
Recommended OBS settings for a 4K60 YouTube stream
These are YouTube’s live encoder recommendations for 3840×2160 at 60 fps. The bitrate values are platform guidance, not a guarantee that your connection or encoder can sustain them. YouTube’s current encoder settings page was accessed October 3, 2026: YouTube live encoder settings.
| Setting | Recommended value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Output resolution and frame rate | 3840×2160, 60 fps | Use progressive scan and square pixels. |
| Video codec and bitrate | H.264: 50 Mbps; AV1 or H.265/HEVC: 35 Mbps | YouTube’s table lists minimums of 14 Mbps for H.264 and 10 Mbps for AV1/HEVC at 4K60; these are minimum settings, not recommended targets. Codec options depend on the encoder available to OBS. |
| Rate control | CBR | Constant bitrate is YouTube’s recommendation for live encoding. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds | YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. |
| Transport | RTMPS | YouTube recommends RTMPS for encryption in transit; RTMP/RTMPS are the documented ingestion protocols. |
| Audio | AAC or MP3; 128 Kbps stereo; 44.1 kHz for stereo | YouTube lists these audio settings for RTMP/RTMPS. Its 5.1 guidance is 384 Kbps at 48 kHz, with RTMP/RTMPS 5.1 supported only for AAC. |
| Advanced video settings | Two B-frames, one reference frame, CABAC | Use these YouTube-recommended values only if the selected OBS encoder exposes compatible controls. |
YouTube automatically detects encoder settings by default and transcodes the incoming stream for viewers. Its documentation does not establish one universal upload-speed multiplier: test the actual connection and monitor stream health during the broadcast.
Choose SDR or HDR before configuring color
For SDR
Use Rec. 709 color and 8-bit output for a standard dynamic-range stream.
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YouTube recommends H.265 over RTMP(S) for HDR and calls for 10-bit video. AV1 is not supported for HDR in this guidance. Check that your capture, encoder, OBS settings, and intended viewing workflow all support the HDR format you plan to send. YouTube says low-latency optimization is unavailable for 4K; 4K streams are optimized for quality and use normal latency. See YouTube’s live encoder guidance.
Best OBS recording format for a local 4K60 copy
Use MKV when a failed stop must not ruin the recording
MKV is OBS’s resilient recording container: if recording does not stop gracefully, the whole file is not corrupted. The tradeoff is that some editing or upload workflows prefer MP4. OBS can remux a completed MKV recording to MP4 without re-encoding. See the OBS Standard Recording Output Guide.
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Choose MP4 only when direct compatibility matters more
For a workflow that requires direct editing or upload in a compatible MP4 format, OBS’s format guide also describes fragmented MP4/MOV as options. Choose the container based on what your editor accepts and how important resilience to an ungraceful stop is; MKV is not mandatory. See the OBS Audio/Video Formats Guide.
Choose the recording codec and encoder separately from the stream
Codec: balance file size and editor support
OBS gives a general quality and file-size direction of AV1, then HEVC, then H.264. That is not a guarantee for every encoder or project. OBS notes that AV1 is not yet well supported in editing software; H.264 is a practical compatibility fallback, while HEVC is an option when both the encoder and editing workflow support it. Hardware codec availability varies by system. See the OBS formats guide and OBS Hardware Encoding.
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Separate recording encoder: more control, more resource use
In OBS Advanced Output, you can set a recording encoder and quality independently of the live stream. This can preserve a higher-quality local copy, but a separate encoder uses extra resources. “Same as stream” reuses stream settings and does not allow pausing recordings. OBS describes “High Quality” as high quality with medium file size, while “Indistinguishable” produces higher quality with larger files and may affect weaker or older systems. “Lossless” is unsuitable for ordinary recording unless you specifically need it: OBS reports about 7 GB per minute and says it uses the CPU encoder. Details are in the Standard Recording Output Guide and Recording Encoder Presets Guide.
Configure and test the complete OBS workflow
- Set the stream output. In OBS, open Settings and select the Output section. Use Advanced output mode if you need to choose a separate recording encoder. Set the stream encoder to a codec your system offers, then configure CBR and the applicable YouTube bitrate from the table above.
- Set the video dimensions and frame rate. In Settings > Video, use 3840×2160 output resolution and 60 fps for a 4K60 stream. Keep the source, canvas, and output choices consistent with the game or capture you intend to show.
- Set keyframes and compatible advanced options. In the selected encoder’s settings, choose a two-second keyframe interval. If controls are available, use YouTube’s recommended two B-frames, one reference frame, and CABAC. Encoder labels and exposed controls can differ by platform and hardware.
- Configure audio and color. Use AAC or MP3 audio with YouTube’s 128 Kbps stereo recommendation and 44.1 kHz stereo sample rate. For SDR, set Rec. 709 and 8-bit; for HDR, follow YouTube’s H.265/10-bit guidance instead.
- Choose recording output. In Settings > Output > Recording, select MKV for resilience, or a compatible fragmented MP4/MOV option if direct compatibility is more important. Select “Same as stream” for simplicity, or a separate recording encoder and quality preset if your system can handle the extra work.
- Connect YouTube and verify the stream. In OBS Settings > Stream, select YouTube and connect your account or enter the stream key from YouTube Studio. Keep the key private. Start a test stream before the real event, then check YouTube’s stream health and confirm picture, motion, and audio. If you recorded in MKV and need MP4, use OBS’s remux function after recording.
OBS says hardware encoders can move encoding work from the CPU to a specialized GPU component, but codec and mode availability depends on the platform and encoder. No general recommendation can guarantee that a particular computer will sustain simultaneous 4K60 streaming and separate recording. Test with representative gameplay motion and audio. YouTube likewise advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
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Troubleshoot common 4K60 problems
- Stream health reports instability or dropped frames: Check the actual upload connection and whether it sustains the chosen bitrate; use YouTube’s stream health indicators and test before the event. Do not assume the recommended bitrate is achievable on every connection.
- OBS or the game struggles when recording starts: A separate recording encoder adds resource demand. Try “Same as stream,” reduce the recording quality target, or use a hardware encoder that your system supports. Retest the combined workload rather than judging streaming performance alone.
- The recording is damaged after a crash or forced shutdown: Use MKV for future captures, because it is designed to avoid corruption of the entire file after an ungraceful stop. Remux completed recordings to MP4 when needed.
- Your editor will not import the recording: Remux MKV to MP4 in OBS, or choose a container and codec supported by the editor. If using AV1, first verify editor support; OBS notes that editing support is not yet broad.
- The HDR image looks wrong or HDR options are unavailable: Confirm the capture and encoder support the intended HDR path, and use YouTube’s H.265/10-bit recommendations rather than AV1 for HDR.
- 4K stream latency is not low: This is expected under YouTube’s current guidance: low-latency optimization is unavailable for 4K.
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