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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYou can send a radio station’s audio to YouTube Live from a Windows PC using OBS Studio: capture the station’s audio from the app playing it or from an external mixer, add a suitable visual, then connect OBS to a YouTube stream. Before broadcasting, confirm that your channel is eligible, test the audio and video path, and make sure the station’s rights cover online transmission—not just its existing broadcast.
Before you start: channel access and music rights
Check YouTube Live eligibility
YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days. First-time live streaming may take up to 24 hours to activate, so enable it well before the planned broadcast. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
Confirm permission for online transmission
A station’s permission to broadcast terrestrially or through its own online player does not, by itself, establish that it may simulcast the same programming on YouTube. Rights depend on the country, repertoire, contracts, and licence terms. Confirm that the station has permission for the intended online transmission, including the music and any other audio, with the relevant rights holders or a qualified adviser. YouTube also requires streams to respect audio and video rights and its Community Guidelines; see YouTube’s stream settings guidance.
Choose how OBS will receive the station audio
If the station plays in a Windows application
Use OBS Studio’s Application Audio Capture source to capture that application directly. OBS documents this source for Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. In OBS, add an Application Audio Capture source to the scene and select the application that plays the station. Then open Settings → Audio and disable global Desktop Audio capture; otherwise the same sound may be captured twice, creating an echo. Refer to OBS’s Application Audio Capture guide.
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If the station audio comes from an external mixer
Add an OBS Audio Input Capture source and select the input device receiving the mixer’s signal. The right connection depends on the mixer’s output and the PC’s available input. Check whether the mixer provides a compatible output and whether the PC or connected audio interface accepts it; do not assume a particular cable or interface without checking those connectors. Avoid capturing the same device both as a scene source and globally under Settings → Audio, which can produce echo. OBS explains device capture in its audio sources guide.
Set up the YouTube stream in OBS
- Create or select the broadcast in YouTube Studio. Open Live Control Room and create or manage a stream. Copy the stream URL and stream key shown there.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, choose the YouTube service, and enter the stream key. If OBS offers a server field and YouTube provides an RTMPS server URL in Live Control Room, use that URL. Treat the stream key like a password: anyone who has it can send a feed to your stream. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions describe stream keys and how to reset one if it is compromised.
- Build a scene with a video signal. Add station artwork or another suitable visual source in OBS. This is a practical way to make an audio broadcast a video stream, not a requirement for a particular design. Check that the preview displays the intended picture and that the audio meters move when the station plays.
- Start the encoder and check the preview. In OBS, select Start Streaming. For a scheduled stream, wait for the encoder feed to appear in Live Control Room, inspect the preview, and select Go live there when ready.
Choose encoder settings for radio audio and artwork
YouTube’s published guidance for RTMP/RTMPS accepts H.264, H.265, or AV1 video and AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR), frame rates up to 60 fps, and a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds). For stereo audio, it recommends 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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| Setting | Practical choice for a radio simulcast | YouTube guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Use RTMPS when available and enter the server URL shown in Live Control Room. | YouTube recommends RTMPS, the TLS-encrypted form of RTMP. |
| Video codec | Use a codec supported by your OBS and YouTube setup; H.264 is a straightforward choice where compatibility is the priority. | H.264, H.265, or AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS. |
| Rate control | Set CBR in OBS. | CBR recommended. |
| Keyframe interval | Set 2 seconds. | Two seconds recommended; do not exceed four seconds. |
| Audio | For stereo, set 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps if your audio path and encoder allow it. | 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps recommended for stereo; AAC or MP3 supported for RTMP/RTMPS. |
| Resolution and frame rate | Match the artwork or motion being sent. A static image does not need a high frame rate; use a modest, stable setting the PC and upload connection can sustain. | Frame rates up to 60 fps; YouTube lists 1080p30 at 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended, and 720p30 at 3 Mbps minimum and 8 Mbps recommended. |
The bitrate figures are YouTube platform guidance, not a guarantee that your PC or internet connection can maintain them. For a static radio image, choosing a lower, stable video setting can reduce upload demand without sacrificing meaningful motion detail.
Test the feed and monitor the broadcast
- Test the complete audio route. Play the station through the same application or mixer path you will use live. Confirm OBS meters respond, the sound is not doubled, and the level is clear without clipping.
- Check the picture and YouTube preview. Confirm OBS shows the intended visual and Live Control Room receives the stream before you go live.
- Check upload capacity. Use an upload speed test, not just the download result. YouTube recommends leaving 20% bandwidth headroom above the stream’s bitrate. A speed-test result is only a snapshot; it does not guarantee a stable connection throughout a broadcast. Guidance: YouTube encoder settings.
- Monitor during the stream. Keep an eye on OBS audio and stream indicators and YouTube’s stream health. YouTube recommends testing with audio and movement representative of the event, checking the preview, and monitoring the broadcast. Its advice is direct: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
Troubleshooting common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| No audio in OBS | The wrong application or input device is selected, or the station is not playing through that source. | Check the selected Application Audio Capture app or Audio Input Capture device; play audio and watch the OBS meters. |
| Echo or doubled audio | The same application/device is captured both as a scene source and through global Desktop Audio or another global input. | Disable the duplicate capture under Settings → Audio or remove the duplicate source. |
| YouTube does not receive the stream | The channel is not eligible or activated, or the encoder connection details are wrong. | Check channel verification and restrictions, allow up to 24 hours for first-time activation, and re-enter the stream URL and key from Live Control Room. |
| Stream health is unstable or frames drop | The upload connection may not sustain the bitrate, or the PC may be overloaded. | Check upload—not download—capacity, preserve YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom, and reduce resolution or bitrate if needed. |
| The scheduled stream is not publicly live | The encoder is sending a preview, but the scheduled broadcast has not been started in Live Control Room. | Wait for the preview and then select Go live in YouTube Studio when ready. |
| Stream key may have been exposed | A screenshot, scene, or post revealed the credential. | Reset the key in YouTube Studio and update the encoder with the replacement. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If the station’s format can be represented by uploaded recordings or a playlist rather than a live mixer feed, StreamNeo is a cloud option for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; StreamNeo loops the uploaded material in the cloud, supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. It plays uploaded videos, not a live microphone or mixer feed.
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