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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To put an online radio station on YouTube Live with BUTT and OBS, route the station’s audio into OBS, use OBS to send an encoded stream to YouTube, then check the preview in YouTube Studio and start the live session. BUTT and OBS do different jobs: BUTT is for sending live audio to services such as Icecast and Shoutcast, while OBS is the encoder in this YouTube workflow. A BUTT-to-Icecast connection does not automatically carry station playback into OBS or send it to YouTube.
What you need before you start
- An online radio station that you are authorized to rebroadcast on YouTube.
- A computer running OBS and access to the station’s actual audio output, whether it plays in a browser, a desktop player, or through a physical mixer or interface.
- A YouTube channel that can livestream. YouTube says first-time live-stream activation may take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your planned broadcast. YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains the Live Control Room workflow.
- A visual for the stream, such as a station graphic, logo, or visualizer. OBS sends a video stream to YouTube, so audio alone is not the full video setup.
BUTT’s official site describes it as software for streaming live audio from a computer microphone or line input and lists Icecast, Shoutcast, and WebRTC support, with Windows, macOS, and Linux versions. BUTT’s documented features do not make it a universal bridge from an online radio player into OBS. In this guide, OBS sends the YouTube broadcast.
Route the station audio into OBS
1. Identify where the station plays
First identify whether the station audio comes from a browser, a desktop player, a physical mixer, or another device. Also note the computer’s operating system and whether the source and OBS run on the same machine. Those details determine the capture method; there is no single click path that applies across all systems and audio setups.
2. Create an OBS scene and audio source
In OBS, create a scene for the broadcast and add a suitable visual, such as a still station graphic. Add or configure an audio source that receives the station’s playback. Depending on your setup, that may mean capturing the application or system audio, or using the audio input connected to the mixer or interface carrying the station signal. Do not assume that hearing audio through your computer speakers means OBS is capturing it.
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3. Check the signal before going live
Play the station and watch the relevant audio meter in OBS. Listen to the signal being sent or monitored, if available. Confirm that it is continuous and clear, at a sensible level, and not doubled by a second source carrying the same audio. The exact routing controls vary by operating system, player, and devices; consult the instructions for the capture method you actually use rather than enabling unrelated inputs by default.
Set up YouTube Live and connect OBS
- Open YouTube Studio: select Create → Go Live, then create or select the stream in Live Control Room. YouTube’s encoder setup provides the server URL and stream key OBS needs. If livestreaming is not enabled on the channel yet, allow up to 24 hours for first-time activation. See YouTube’s setup instructions.
- Enter the YouTube destination in OBS: open OBS stream settings. Select YouTube if that option is available, or enter the server URL and stream key in the corresponding destination fields. Make sure the selected OBS destination corresponds to the stream you intend to use in YouTube Studio.
- Protect the stream key: treat it like a password. Anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your channel. Do not show it in a screenshot, recording, or tutorial. If you think it has been exposed, replace or reset it through YouTube’s stream setup controls. OBS’s stream-key guide explains the credential risk.
- Start the encoder: start streaming in OBS. In Live Control Room, confirm that YouTube receives the feed and that its preview shows the intended visual and clean station audio.
- Start the YouTube live session: for a scheduled stream, wait for the preview, then select Go live in Live Control Room. Starting the encoder in OBS and starting the scheduled live session in Studio are distinct actions.
- End the broadcast: stop the encoder in OBS and end the stream in YouTube Studio as appropriate for the session.
Choose encoder settings for a radio stream
YouTube’s current encoder guidance recommends RTMPS and CBR. Its published settings include H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 video options; AAC or MP3 audio; and a two-second keyframe interval recommendation, not exceeding four seconds. For stereo audio, its table lists a 44.1 kHz sample rate and 128 kbps bitrate. These are YouTube’s recommendations, not a guarantee that each codec or control appears with every OBS version, hardware encoder, or ingestion setup. Check the active YouTube guidance and the options available in your OBS encoder. YouTube’s encoder settings provides the platform details.
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For a radio broadcast with a mostly still graphic, ensure the audio is present and stable and the video output remains valid. Choose compatible settings your computer and upload connection can sustain. YouTube recommends testing under conditions similar to the intended stream; a brief test can reveal missing audio, incorrect routing, or an unstable connection before your audience arrives.
Handle music rights and YouTube policy
Being able to receive or rebroadcast a station does not by itself establish the right to transmit its programs on YouTube. Confirm that you have permission for the music, performances, recordings, station material, and any other content in the broadcast, including the rights needed for a livestream and any archive YouTube creates. Rights can vary by territory and by the specific recording or composition. Do not assume that a station’s existing online broadcast license covers YouTube.
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YouTube may apply copyright enforcement to a livestream or its archive. A continuous radio feed can also raise monetization or reused-content questions; permission to use material and eligibility for monetization are separate matters. Review YouTube’s current policies and any notices or restrictions shown in Studio before relying on the stream for revenue. Do not evade a claim or restriction by changing the audio or stream identity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common problems
YouTube shows video but there is no station audio
Check the OBS meter for the source that should carry the station playback. If the station is audible through speakers but the meter does not move, OBS is not receiving that route; revisit the application/system capture or the physical input actually in use. Confirm that the source is not muted and that the YouTube preview itself has audio.
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The station audio is doubled or echoes
Look for two OBS sources capturing the same signal, such as an application or system capture plus a microphone or interface input. Temporarily mute one candidate source at a time while monitoring the output, then keep the route that provides the clean signal.
OBS connects, but the scheduled broadcast is not live
Confirm that OBS is using the server URL and key for the selected stream in YouTube Studio. Check that the feed reaches the Live Control Room preview. For a scheduled stream, select Go live there once the preview arrives.
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The stream is unstable or drops
Check that OBS is using compatible YouTube-recommended encoder settings and that the computer and upload connection can sustain the chosen output. Test with a representative duration and the same audio and visual setup. If you change settings, verify the new preview and audio before starting the scheduled session.
The stream key may have been exposed
Replace or reset the key in YouTube’s stream setup controls, then update OBS with the replacement. Avoid sharing screenshots that show the key, even if the rest of the setup appears harmless.
Archives and keeping a channel live
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. That published behavior does not promise an automatic archive for streams lasting 12 hours or longer. A long-running encoder session also depends on the computer, power, and network staying available. If your aim is a continuous YouTube presence rather than an attended broadcast, weigh those dependencies before choosing a local setup.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want an uploaded recording or playlist to play as a continuous YouTube livestream without leaving a computer running at home, StreamNeo runs that playback from the cloud. Upload the video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a live microphone or camera feed.
- Nothing needs to stay on at home; the stream runs from the cloud.
- Each slot streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot with no quality tiers or re-encode.
- StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
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Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo plans and pricing, or start the free day at StreamNeo registration.
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