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For a conventional stereo spoken-word podcast on YouTube Live, set OBS’s streaming audio bitrate to 128 Kbps and the audio sample rate to 44.1 kHz. In OBS, go to Settings → Output and change the streaming Audio Bitrate—not the recording or video bitrate. YouTube’s live-encoder guidance is destination-specific; it recommends 128 Kbps for stereo, while OBS’s general overview cites around 160 Kbps as a typical streaming starting point.
Set the OBS streaming audio bitrate
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Open OBS and choose Settings → Output.
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Find the streaming Audio Bitrate control and set it to 128 Kbps. Output Mode and OBS version can change the layout. If the field is not visible, check the Output Mode and the streaming controls; do not change the recording bitrate by mistake.
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Set the audio sample rate to 44.1 kHz in the relevant audio settings, then confirm that the stream uses stereo. YouTube’s live-encoder guidance recommends these values for stereo audio. [YouTube live encoder settings]
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Use AAC as the audio codec when it is available in the OBS streaming output. YouTube lists AAC or MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS live streams. [YouTube live encoder settings]
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Use stereo settings for ordinary podcast speech
Stereo is the suitable layout for a conventional podcast stream, even if most of the audio is centered speech. Do not apply YouTube’s 5.1-channel recommendation to a stereo podcast: the separate 5.1 guidance is 48 kHz and 384 Kbps, for a different audio setup. [YouTube live encoder settings]
Keep audio and video bitrate separate
The 128 Kbps setting applies to audio only. A YouTube Live encoder stream still needs a valid video feed, even if the picture is static or minimal. Set video bitrate separately: YouTube’s recommendations vary by incoming video codec, resolution, and frame rate. Choose video settings for the visual design and available upload bandwidth rather than treating the audio setting as a total-stream target. [YouTube live encoder settings]
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Check the audio source before going live
A bitrate cannot fix a weak, noisy, or missing microphone signal. OBS lets you add an audio input device, such as a microphone, as a scene source. Avoid capturing the same device both globally in Settings → Audio and as a scene input unless that is intentional; OBS warns that doing both can cause echo. An external microphone is optional, not a prerequisite for setting the bitrate. [OBS Audio Sources]
Test the complete stream and leave upload headroom
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Run a test with audio and motion resembling the planned broadcast. YouTube advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” [YouTube live encoder settings]
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Confirm that the microphone signal reaches OBS and that the stream reports healthy in YouTube’s stream health information.
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Check your total stream bitrate against available upload bandwidth. YouTube recommends keeping 20% headroom, and its streaming tips cover network interruptions and stream stability. [YouTube streaming tips]
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Troubleshoot common audio-setting problems
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The Audio Bitrate field is missing: Check OBS’s Output Mode and make sure you are looking at the streaming settings, not recording controls.
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The stream is silent: Verify that the intended microphone or audio input is active in the scene and that its signal reaches OBS before adjusting bitrate.
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You hear echo: Check whether the same input device is captured both globally in Settings → Audio and as a scene source.
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The stream drops or becomes unstable: Check YouTube’s stream-health messages and whether total bitrate fits the available upload connection, with the recommended 20% headroom.
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You are unsure whether to use 128 or around 160 Kbps: For a stereo stream going to YouTube Live, use YouTube’s specific 128 Kbps recommendation. OBS’s around-160-Kbps figure is general streaming guidance, not the destination-specific target. [YouTube live encoder settings] [OBS overview]
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