Use OBS Studio on the Windows mini PC as the encoder: add a still image or simple visual, bring in the station audio from a compatible stream URL or a Windows player, then send the scene to YouTube Live using the stream URL and key from Live Control Room. Test the exact station feed first—its format, login requirements, and regional availability determine which audio method will work.
Before you start
- A Windows mini PC with OBS Studio installed and a reliable wired or wireless internet connection.
- A YouTube channel eligible to livestream. Verify the channel and enable livestreaming ahead of time; YouTube says first-time activation can take up to 24 hours, and its live-streaming tips say the channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days. YouTube: Get started with live streaming
- The station’s stream URL or access to a Windows app or browser that can play it.
- Permission to rebroadcast the station audio and use any associated station name, logo, or artwork on YouTube.
You do not need a particular mini PC model based on the available official guidance; no minimum CPU, RAM, or GPU specification is established here. YouTube Help says, “You do not need expensive equipment, what you have at hand will do.” A dedicated mini PC is optional: try an existing Windows computer first if it can run OBS and stay connected for the intended broadcast.
Set up YouTube Live and keep the key private
- Open YouTube Live Control Room, verify that livestreaming is enabled, and create or schedule the event.
- Copy the event’s stream URL and stream key into OBS’s streaming settings. The key lets YouTube recognize and accept the encoder feed; treat it like a password. Do not share it in screenshots, public configuration files, or tutorials. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room. YouTube: Create a live stream with an encoder and YouTube: Stream key
Create a visual scene in OBS
Radio provides audio, but the encoder sends a video stream. In OBS, create a scene and add a station logo, cover image, or simple branded graphic as an Image source. Keep the visual within the canvas so it does not appear cropped or blank in YouTube’s preview. OBS scenes can combine image, media, and audio sources. OBS: Sources Guide
Bring the station audio into OBS
Option 1: Try the station URL in VLC Video
If the station publishes a compatible, accessible stream URL, add a VLC Video source in OBS and enter the URL or a playlist. This source supports playlists and extended media formats, but VLC must be installed; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. The URL may still fail if the feed format is unsupported, requires authentication, or is restricted by region. Test the exact feed before relying on it. OBS: Media Sources
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Do not assume OBS’s built-in Media Source accepts every online radio URL: its documented support focuses on local audio and video files.
Option 2: Capture a Windows player or browser
If the station only plays in a Windows application or browser, use OBS Application Audio Capture to capture that player. OBS supports this source on Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. Select the relevant application and confirm its sound appears in the Audio Mixer. Some application audio outputs may not be compatible; if capture fails, a virtual-cable routing setup may be needed. OBS: Application Audio Capture
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Avoid duplicate audio
Watch the OBS Audio Mixer meters while the station plays. If you use an Audio Input/Output Capture source for a device, disable that same device in OBS’s global audio settings to prevent echo. For Application Audio Capture, OBS likewise advises disabling global Desktop Audio to avoid capturing the same sound twice. OBS: Audio Sources and OBS: Application Audio Capture
Configure the encoder and check the signal
In OBS’s streaming settings, connect to YouTube using the event’s stream URL and key. For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video codecs, AAC or MP3 audio, and constant bitrate encoding. Its recommended keyframe interval is two seconds and should not exceed four seconds. Advanced settings list 44.1 kHz stereo audio and 128 Kbps stereo audio. For a static radio visual, choose settings your mini PC and upload connection can sustain; the cited guidance does not establish a minimum computer specification. YouTube: Live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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- Start the station playback and confirm the OBS audio meter responds without clipping or duplicate sound.
- Start streaming from OBS, then check the event preview in YouTube Live Control Room before making the broadcast public.
- Run a short test using audio and movement similar to the planned broadcast. Watch YouTube’s stream health and messages, and verify that both the visual and audio reach the preview.
- Keep the encoder bitrate within the available upload capacity. YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload headroom; a connection that can only just match the selected bitrate is more vulnerable to interruptions. YouTube: Live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions and YouTube: Troubleshoot live stream issues
Rights and continuous operation
A publicly playable station feed is not permission to rebroadcast it. Confirm that you have the necessary rights for the audio, station branding, and artwork for the intended platform and territory. YouTube’s general guidance is to avoid infringing other content; it cannot determine the rights status of a particular station feed. YouTube: Copyright on YouTube
For a broadcast that must continue unattended, consider what happens if the player, OBS, Windows, or the internet connection stops. The documented OBS and YouTube setup does not promise automatic recovery after a failure. Test restarts and reconnection behavior before relying on a mini PC as a 24/7 host.
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Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The station plays locally but OBS has no audio. | The feed is incompatible with the chosen source, the URL requires access credentials, or the app’s audio output cannot be captured. | Try the station URL with VLC Video, or capture the playing app with Application Audio Capture on a supported Windows version. Check the mixer meters; consider virtual-cable routing if application capture is incompatible. |
| The YouTube preview is silent or has echo. | OBS may not be receiving the intended source, or the same audio may be captured by both a source and global Desktop Audio. | Check the Audio Mixer while playback runs and disable duplicate global audio capture as appropriate. |
| The video is blank or the image is cropped. | The scene may not contain a visible image source, or the image may not fit the canvas. | Check the OBS scene and confirm that the intended visual appears in the Live Control Room preview. |
| YouTube does not accept the encoder feed. | The stream URL or key may be wrong, livestreaming may not be enabled, or the key may have been reset. | Confirm the event’s current stream URL and key in Live Control Room, and check the channel’s livestream eligibility. |
| The stream drops or becomes unstable. | The available upload capacity may be insufficient or variable relative to the configured bitrate. | Check YouTube’s stream health and messages, lower the bitrate if needed, and leave the recommended 20% upload headroom. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded radio recordings without leaving the mini PC on, StreamNeo runs the loop in the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add the YouTube stream key once, and go live. It plays uploaded videos rather than going live from a camera, and it streams to YouTube only.
Quick Recap
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