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1440p streaming

Does YouTube Live Accept 1440p Pre-Recorded Video in OBS?

OBS can encode a local video as a YouTube Live feed at 1440p. Set the output resolution, configure the encoder and stream key, then test playback and stream health.

By VGSources Team 5 min read
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Yes. OBS can play a local pre-recorded video as a Media Source, encode the scene at 1440p, and send it to YouTube Live. YouTube accepts 1440p live ingest at 30 and 60 fps. This is an encoder stream—not a direct upload of a finished file into a live event. Set OBS’s output resolution, connect it to YouTube with a stream key, and check the preview and stream health before relying on it.

How the OBS-to-YouTube workflow works

OBS plays the file in a scene and encodes that scene into a live feed. YouTube receives the feed from OBS through an encoder connection. The video file’s resolution by itself does not determine the outgoing stream resolution: OBS’s output setting does.

YouTube’s encoder guidance lists 1440p as an incoming resolution. After ingest, YouTube transcodes the live feed into formats for viewers using different devices and network conditions, so a 1440p ingest does not guarantee that every viewer will be offered 1440p playback. YouTube’s live encoder settings explain its ingest and transcoding guidance.

Set up a pre-recorded video as an OBS live stream

  1. Add the video: In OBS, create or select a scene, then add a Media Source and select the local file. OBS documents support for formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. See OBS Media Sources.
  2. Choose playback behavior: In the Media Source properties, enable Loop if the file should repeat. The documented default is off. Restart playback when source becomes active controls whether playback starts from the beginning when the source becomes active. If you need a playlist, OBS also documents a VLC Video source with a Loop Playlist setting; VLC must be installed.
  3. Set the outgoing resolution and frame rate: Open Settings → Video. Set Output (Scaled) Resolution to 2560×1440 and select the intended common FPS value. The Base (Canvas) Resolution is a separate composition setting; changing it can require resizing or repositioning sources. OBS identifies Output (Scaled) Resolution as the resolution sent to the stream or recording. See the OBS Studio Overview Guide.
  4. Connect OBS to YouTube: In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the live stream and copy its stream key into OBS’s YouTube streaming configuration. The key directs the encoder feed to the correct stream. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup steps, and do not share the key publicly.
  5. Set encoder output: Use a YouTube-compatible codec and bitrate for the selected resolution and frame rate. YouTube’s published recommendations are in the next section. YouTube recommends RTMPS, CBR bitrate encoding, and a two-second keyframe interval (not exceeding four seconds).
  6. Test before depending on it: Start a test stream and check the Live Control Room preview and stream health. Confirm that the video appears at the expected size, that audio and motion work, and that the file starts and loops—or ends—as intended. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring the stream.

YouTube’s 1440p bitrate guidance

The figures below are YouTube’s published encoder recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular computer or internet connection can sustain the stream. Keep codec columns separate: do not combine a bitrate from one with settings for another. YouTube lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 as video codecs, with frame rates up to 60 fps. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance when configuring a broadcast.

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Incoming format H.264 recommended bitrate AV1 or H.265 recommended bitrate Listed minimums (H.264; AV1/H.265)
1440p at 30 fps 21 Mbps 15 Mbps 7 Mbps; 5 Mbps
1440p at 60 fps 34 Mbps 24 Mbps 8 Mbps; 6 Mbps

Choose 1440p30 or 1440p60

  • 1440p30: A practical choice when the footage does not need 60 fps. OBS cautions that 60-fps streaming can be taxing compared with 30 fps.
  • 1440p60: Can preserve smoother motion when the source and intended presentation benefit from it, but demands more from the system. Test rendering and encoding performance rather than assuming the source file’s frame rate alone makes 60 fps sustainable.

If your encoder supports AV1 or H.265, YouTube’s published recommended bitrate is lower for those codecs than for H.264 at both 1440p frame rates. Use a codec your encoder supports and configure its own corresponding bitrate guidance; do not treat the lower figure as interchangeable with H.264 settings.

Copyright, stream rules, and practical limits

Using a pre-recorded file does not make its contents exempt from YouTube’s rules. Make sure you have the rights needed to stream the video and its audio, and check YouTube’s applicable live-stream policies before broadcasting. The official materials cited here explain the encoder workflow and ingest settings; they do not establish a special exemption for prerecorded content.

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  • 1440p ingest is not universal 1440p playback: YouTube transcodes live streams for different viewing conditions.
  • No universal computer specification is established for this workflow: test the machine and connection you plan to use; do not assume a particular CPU, GPU, or internet tier is mandatory.
  • Long files need deliberate playback settings: Media Source looping is off by default. Confirm whether you want a single play-through, a loop, or a playlist.

Troubleshoot common problems

  • YouTube receives a lower resolution than expected: Check OBS Settings → Video → Output (Scaled) Resolution. The source file’s resolution and the Base (Canvas) Resolution do not substitute for the output setting.
  • The stream is choppy or OBS reports encoding overload: Reduce output resolution or frame rate and test again. OBS recommends reducing one or both to lower rendering and encoding load. See OBS encoding performance troubleshooting.
  • The file stops instead of repeating: Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop; it is off by default. For playlist playback, configure the VLC Video source’s playlist and loop behavior.
  • The video does not start from the beginning when expected: Check Restart playback when source becomes active in the Media Source properties.
  • The live event does not receive the OBS feed: Verify that OBS is configured for the intended YouTube stream and that its stream key is current and entered correctly. Recheck the Live Control Room preview and stream health.
  • The chosen bitrate or codec behaves poorly: Confirm that the encoder is using the YouTube bitrate recommendation for the actual codec, frame rate, and resolution. Then test network stability and system performance.
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