You can stream a local 4K, 60fps video file to YouTube Live by playing it through OBS Studio’s Media Source and sending the scene to YouTube with the matching encoder settings. A 10-bit file is not automatically an HDR stream: for HDR, YouTube requires a compatible HEVC Main 10 encode and correctly configured color metadata. Choose SDR or HDR deliberately, then test the whole path before the broadcast.
Choose SDR or HDR before configuring the stream
“10-bit” describes the file’s bit depth; it does not by itself mean the live output will be HDR. You can stream a 10-bit source as SDR. If you want HDR output, YouTube’s documented path requires HEVC (H.265), compatible HDR signaling, and settings that match the source. YouTube’s HDR guidance also specifies BT.2020 primaries and compatible transfer and matrix characteristics. YouTube’s HDR live-streaming instructions detail the required setup.
Do not turn on HDR simply to make an SDR file appear HDR. The metadata and encoded pixel values need to describe the actual source correctly. HDR playback also depends on the viewer’s device supporting HDR.
Prepare the YouTube Live event and protect its key
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or schedule the broadcast and retrieve the current stream URL and stream key for your encoder. YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains the setup flow.
- Keep the stream key private: it is an account credential that lets an encoder send video to your channel. Enter it only in OBS’s stream configuration.
- For a test, use a private or unlisted event where appropriate, and confirm the event’s visibility and timing before the actual broadcast.
Add the video file in OBS
- In OBS, create or select a scene, then add a Media Source and choose the local video file. OBS documents local-file playback and supported containers including MP4, TS, MOV and MKV; a supported container alone does not guarantee that every codec or HDR profile will work. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
- Enable Loop if the file should repeat. Use the restart-on-activation option only if you want playback to start over when the source becomes active.
- Use hardware decoding if available and appropriate for your system. Check that playback is smooth and that the expected audio is present in OBS before going live.
A capture card is not required to play a file stored on the computer; Media Source is OBS’s local-file source. The exact formats and profiles that work depend on the file and the installed decoding and encoding capabilities.
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Set 4K/60 output and the codec-specific bitrate
Set OBS’s output resolution to 3840 × 2160 and frame rate to 60 fps when those match the intended broadcast and your system can sustain them. YouTube’s English live-encoder settings page, checked October 3, 2026, gives different 4K/2160p-at-60-fps bitrate figures by codec:
| Video codec | YouTube-listed minimum | YouTube-listed recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 or H.265 (HEVC) | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published ingest settings, not a guarantee of identical quality or format for every viewer. YouTube says it transcodes live streams into multiple output formats. Select a codec supported by both your encoder and the ingest path, and use the bitrate for that codec rather than applying one figure to all 4K/60 streams. The YouTube live-encoder settings page lists the current recommendations and supported frame rates.
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Set rate control to CBR. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Use those settings alongside the bitrate recommendation for your selected codec.
Configure HDR output when HDR is the goal
YouTube’s current HDR instructions say HDR live streaming is supported with H.265 (HEVC). The OBS HDR instructions specify OBS 30.1 or later, a hardware HEVC encoder, Main 10 profile, P010 (4:2:0), and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG; YouTube recommends HLG. Your device must support the required encoding format and profile—do not assume every GPU or OBS installation can encode HEVC Main 10.
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- Confirm the source file’s actual HDR format and color characteristics.
- In OBS’s encoder settings, select a hardware HEVC encoder and configure Main 10 and P010 if your device exposes those options.
- Set Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG to match the source and workflow. Do not apply HDR metadata to SDR material as a substitute for real HDR conversion.
- Check the YouTube HDR guidance for your selected protocol and encoder. YouTube documents both RTMP(S) and HLS paths; HDR does not universally require HLS.
For HDR HLS, YouTube specifies additional constraints: use an HLS stream key with manual resolution settings unchecked, TS segments of 1–4 seconds, a rolling playlist, HTTPS POST/PUT transport, and no byte-range mode. Follow the current details for the specific encoder implementation; not every encoder or device supports every HDR path. See YouTube’s HDR requirements and protocol setup.
Test the complete broadcast path
- Run a representative private or unlisted test using the same file, resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate, audio path and protocol planned for the broadcast.
- Include representative movement and audio, as YouTube advises, and monitor stream health and any Live Control Room warnings.
- Make sure your sustained upload capacity exceeds the configured stream rate. YouTube recommends 20% upload headroom; at a configured bitrate of 35 Mbps, for example, that means planning for at least 42 Mbps of available upload capacity under the test conditions.
- Let the test run long enough to catch playback, audio, network or encoder instability. If HDR matters, inspect the received stream on an HDR-capable device.
YouTube’s live-streaming tips cover pre-event testing and stream health. A speed test alone does not establish that the connection will sustain the configured rate throughout a broadcast, so test the actual setup.
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Troubleshoot common problems
- The stream is not actually HDR: A 10-bit source alone is not enough. Check that the source is HDR and that the output uses HEVC Main 10, P010 and matching Rec. 2100 color settings.
- OBS does not offer HEVC Main 10 or P010: The installed encoder or device may not support the required profile. YouTube’s HDR instructions require compatible hardware encoding; verify device capabilities rather than assuming support.
- Playback stutters or frames are missed: Check OBS playback and encoder status, confirm the system can decode and encode the chosen format at 4K/60, and test upload headroom. Reduce the output demand or use a capable encoder and connection if the system cannot sustain it.
- YouTube reports poor stream health: Compare the actual encoder bitrate with the selected codec’s recommendation, confirm CBR and a keyframe interval no longer than four seconds, and ensure upload capacity has the recommended margin.
- There is no audio or it is out of sync: Verify the Media Source audio is present in OBS and monitor it during the representative test; confirm the intended audio path before starting the public event.
- HDR HLS is rejected or unstable: Check the HLS key configuration, TS segment duration, rolling playlist, HTTPS transport and byte-range setting against YouTube’s HDR requirements. These constraints apply to the HDR HLS path, not to all RTMP(S) setups.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a pre-recorded YouTube stream running rather than operate OBS on a local computer, StreamNeo uploads and loops videos from the cloud: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home, and StreamNeo can recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream. Each slot streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot rather than quality-based tiers. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. Start the free first day with StreamNeo.
Copyright and YouTube policy still apply
Using a file as a live broadcast does not remove copyright obligations or YouTube’s channel and monetization rules. Use material you own or are authorized to stream, and check the applicable rights for music, gameplay footage and other included content. Review YouTube’s live and monetization policies for your situation before scheduling a long-running broadcast; technical acceptance by an encoder is not evidence that the content is permitted.
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