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For a straightforward YouTube Live stream from Restreamer, use H.264 video with AAC audio over RTMP or RTMPS. That is a practical baseline, not a guarantee that every MP4 file will work: MP4 names a container, not the codecs inside it. Check the source’s actual video and audio codecs, then choose passthrough only if they already fit the YouTube output you intend to send. Otherwise, configure an available encoder such as H.264/libx264.
Which format should you use?
Keep three layers separate: the source you give Restreamer, how Restreamer handles that source, and the protocol and encoding settings YouTube receives. A file extension such as .mp4 does not identify its video and audio codecs, and the Restreamer documentation does not publish a complete compatibility matrix certifying every container, codec, and release.
- Source: identify the container and the actual video and audio codecs. Restreamer’s source wizard documents network protocols including HTTP, HTTPS (HLS and DASH), RTP, RTSP, RTMP, and SRT; protocol support alone does not establish that every source’s codecs or container are supported.
- Restreamer processing: passthrough copies the unedited video stream. Restreamer also documents an H.264/libx264 encoding option. Passthrough does not convert an incompatible source; use encoding when the incoming stream needs to be changed, and confirm the encoders available in your installed build.
- YouTube ingest: select settings for the protocol you actually use. RTMP/RTMPS and HLS have different requirements, so do not apply an HLS segment rule to an RTMP stream.
For ordinary SDR streaming, H.264 with AAC over RTMP or RTMPS is the simplest baseline. YouTube’s general encoder guidance also lists H.265/HEVC and AV1 video for RTMP/RTMPS, but the usable option depends on the encoder and ingest path.
Recommended YouTube RTMP/RTMPS settings
YouTube Help’s general encoder guidance recommends these settings. Its recommendations can change, so check the official page for your chosen resolution, frame rate, and codec before configuring a production stream: YouTube Live encoder settings.
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| Setting | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Video codec | H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 |
| Audio codec | AAC or MP3; 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS is supported only with AAC |
| Frame rate | Up to 60 fps |
| Bitrate mode | CBR |
| Keyframe interval | Two seconds recommended; no more than four seconds |
| Advanced SDR video settings | Square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames, one reference frame, CABAC, Rec. 709, and 8-bit color |
| Stereo audio | 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps recommended |
| 5.1 audio | 48 kHz and 384 Kbps listed by YouTube |
The same YouTube page’s English H.264 table lists 14 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps, 17 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps, and 8 Mbps for both 720p at 30 fps and 720p at 60 fps. Those are the recommendations displayed on that page when checked for this article, not universal bitrate requirements; HEVC and AV1 have different values. Verify the current table for your chosen resolution, frame rate, and codec.
YouTube says it transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers, so your encoder settings describe the stream sent to YouTube, not a promise that each viewer receives the original encoded stream. Test with representative movement and sound, and monitor stream health.
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When to use HLS instead
HLS is a separate YouTube ingest route, not another name for RTMP. YouTube’s HLS ingest instructions support H.264 or HEVC video and AAC, AC3, or EAC3 audio. They specify:
- MPEG-TS segments lasting 1–4 seconds.
- No byte ranges.
- A rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments.
- HTTPS POST/PUT requests.
- No encryption other than HTTPS.
Because HLS sends segments rather than one continuous stream, it has higher latency. The MPEG-TS requirement applies to YouTube’s HLS ingest instructions; it is not a universal YouTube Live file-format rule. For RTMP/RTMPS, follow YouTube’s general encoder settings instead.
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HDR needs different settings
Do not apply SDR Rec. 709 and 8-bit settings to an HDR workflow. YouTube’s HDR live-streaming guidance specifies HEVC, 10-bit depth, BT.2020 color primaries and matrix coefficients, and ST 2084 PQ or HLG transfer characteristics matched to the source. YouTube recommends H.265/HEVC for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. For HDR over HLS, follow the HLS segment and request requirements as well.
Configure Restreamer for YouTube
Restreamer’s documented workflow uses its Publication Service and a valid YouTube streaming ID. The specific labels or encoder availability can vary by installed version; consult the settings and connection check in your build when a setting differs from the guide.
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- Inspect the source. Identify its protocol, container, video codec, and audio codec. Do not infer codec compatibility from the extension alone.
- Choose passthrough or encoding. Use passthrough if the source stream already matches the intended destination settings. If it does not, select an available encoder such as H.264/libx264 and configure it for the chosen YouTube ingest protocol. Check your installed build for available encoders.
- Set up YouTube publication. In Restreamer, select Publication Service, enter a valid YouTube streaming ID, save, and connect. Restreamer’s YouTube guide says the live-stream bitrate appears in Restreamer’s main window.
- Confirm audio. YouTube requires an active audio channel for this workflow. If the source has no sound, Restreamer’s wizard notes that silent audio can be used.
- Test and monitor. Send a test with motion and audio similar to the actual program. Check YouTube stream health and Restreamer’s displayed output bitrate before relying on the stream.
- End the broadcast cleanly. Restreamer’s YouTube guide advises ending the stream on YouTube first after an event; interrupting it in Restreamer may prevent YouTube from saving the DVR archive.
Troubleshoot common format and codec problems
- The source will not connect: confirm the selected source protocol and connection details, then use Restreamer’s connection check. A listed protocol does not prove that the source’s particular container and codecs are supported by your build.
- YouTube does not accept or correctly ingest the output: check the codecs and settings for the selected protocol. For RTMP/RTMPS, start with H.264 video and AAC audio; for HLS, follow YouTube’s separate codec and segment instructions.
- Passthrough produces the wrong result: passthrough copies the input rather than changing it. Inspect the incoming codecs and configure encoding if the source does not match the intended output.
- The stream is silent: confirm that an audio stream is present and that its codec is accepted. If the source is silent, add a silent audio channel where supported by the Restreamer setup.
- The stream has problems despite matching resolution: check CBR, keyframe interval, codec, frame rate, and bitrate together. A matching resolution alone does not establish that the stream meets YouTube’s encoder guidance.
- The YouTube DVR archive is missing: after an event, end the live stream on YouTube before interrupting the Restreamer output.
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