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For a standard SDR 4K 60fps YouTube Live stream, set OBS color space to Rec. 709. Set the range to Limited only when that matches the video produced by your source and capture path. YouTube recommends limited-range samples, but the range setting must describe the actual signal; mismatching it can make dark and bright details look crushed or washed out.
These controls do not make a stream 4K or 60fps by themselves. They tell OBS how to interpret and encode color. Resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval are separate output settings.
Set color space and range for SDR
- Open the video settings. In OBS, go to Settings > Advanced > Video. The OBS community guide places the color controls here; exact labels can vary by OBS version.
- Choose Rec. 709. YouTube specifies Rec. 709 for SDR and 8-bit encoding. The color space identifies the color characteristics; it is not the same as range.
- Match the range to the source. Choose Limited if the source and capture-device path deliver limited/video-range levels and OBS is configured to preserve that range. YouTube’s HLS guidance supports both limited and full values, recommends limited, and requires the declared range to match the samples.
- Check the whole signal path. If you use a capture card, inspect the console or PC output, the card’s properties or vendor control panel, and the OBS source settings. A card may convert or expand levels before OBS receives them.
- Apply the settings and inspect a test stream. Use familiar footage with shadows, highlights, and color gradients. Check the YouTube stream preview and stream health before relying on the configuration for an event.
For 8-bit video, the OBS Project Forums’ 2016 color guide explains Limited luma as 16–235 and Full luma as 0–255. Those are sample-level ranges, not different gamuts. Do not select Full merely because a computer monitor displays a full-range desktop signal.
How to choose Limited or Full
Use Limited when the video path is limited
For a conventional SDR YouTube stream, Limited is a sensible starting point when the camera, console, capture device, and OBS processing are all using video-range levels. YouTube’s recommendation for limited samples does not mean every source should be forced into Limited regardless of how its data was produced.
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Use Full only when the source really provides Full
If a source outputs full-range video, the capture and encoding chain must preserve and correctly declare it. YouTube’s guidance says full range is appropriate when the source produces full-range video. Verify the settings across the source, any card conversion, and OBS rather than inferring range from the monitor.
Watch for a mismatch
A full-range source interpreted as limited can lose detail at the ends of the levels; a limited-range source interpreted as full can look washed out. The Elgato 4K60 Pro guide describes these mismatch cases, but its menu directions date to 2018, so treat them as an example and confirm the options in your current OBS and capture-card software.
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Configure 4K 60fps ingest settings separately
Color space and range do not set resolution, frame rate, or bitrate. YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists these settings for 2160p at 60fps:
| Encoder | Recommended bitrate | Minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 or HEVC | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube-published recommendations, not independently measured optimal values. A stable upload connection matters: choose a bitrate your connection can sustain, then test with representative motion and audio. YouTube also recommends CBR, a two-second keyframe interval (not exceeding four seconds), and supports up to 60fps. It detects encoder settings and transcodes live streams into multiple output formats.
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If you are streaming HDR instead
Do not use the SDR Rec. 709/8-bit path for HDR. YouTube’s OBS HDR instructions require OBS 30.1 or later, an HDR source, and compatible hardware encoding. They direct users to select a hardware HEVC encoder, Main 10, P010, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG; YouTube recommends HLG. The broader HDR requirements include 10-bit video, BT.2020 primaries, and matching transfer and matrix characteristics.
For HDR range, enable Full only if the source produces full-range video. HDR is a separate configuration, not a default consequence of choosing 4K 60fps. Confirm that the source and encoding hardware support the complete HDR path before streaming.
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Troubleshoot a washed-out or crushed image
- Image looks washed out: Check whether a limited-range source is being interpreted as Full. Confirm the source output, capture-card conversion, and OBS range settings agree.
- Shadows or highlights lose detail: Check whether a full-range source is being interpreted as Limited, or whether any stage clips levels. Make the range consistent end to end.
- Colors look wrong but brightness levels seem normal: Confirm that SDR is set to Rec. 709. Changing range does not change the color space.
- 4K60 stream buffers or drops frames: Check upload stability and encoder load, then test at a bitrate your connection can sustain. The YouTube bitrate figures are recommendations and minimums, not a guarantee that a particular connection can carry the stream reliably.
- HDR controls or output are unavailable: Verify OBS is version 30.1 or later and that the source and hardware encoder support the required HDR format and HEVC Main 10 path.
- Capture-card menu names differ: Driver and software versions can change the controls. Check the current vendor panel and source properties rather than relying on a 2018 menu walkthrough.
Or let it run in the cloud
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