For a Wowza Streaming Engine feed to YouTube Live, send H.264 video and AAC audio over RTMP or RTMPS. Use constant bitrate (CBR), set keyframes every two seconds (never more than four seconds apart), and choose YouTube’s recommended H.264 bitrate for your output resolution and frame rate. YouTube recommends RTMPS where supported. These settings are a target profile, not a guarantee that every Wowza deployment emits them by default.
Recommended settings at a glance
| Setting | Use | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | RTMP or RTMPS | YouTube recommends RTMPS where supported. Confirm the transport configured for your Wowza target is supported in your deployment. |
| Video codec | H.264 | Accepted by YouTube for RTMP/RTMPS and listed by Wowza for RTMP live input. |
| Audio codec | AAC | Accepted by YouTube and listed among Wowza’s RTMP live-input audio codecs. AAC is required for 5.1 audio over RTMP/RTMPS. |
| Rate control | CBR | Configure the outbound encoder or transcoder for constant bitrate. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds | YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. |
| Stereo audio | AAC, 44.1 kHz, 128 Kbps | Use these YouTube recommendations for stereo. |
| 5.1 audio | AAC, 48 kHz, 384 Kbps | For 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube supports AAC only. |
For Wowza’s workflow, create a live stream in YouTube Studio, then configure a Wowza stream target to forward the feed using the stream URL and stream key generated by YouTube. The exact controls depend on your Wowza deployment and encoding path; the target values above come from YouTube’s encoder guidance and Wowza’s compatibility documentation. See Wowza’s YouTube streaming guide, Wowza Streaming Engine technical specifications, and YouTube’s encoder settings guidance.
Choose the H.264 bitrate for your output
YouTube’s recommended bitrate varies with resolution and frame rate. The following are H.264 recommendations, not universal minimums and not measurements of a particular Wowza configuration.
| Output | YouTube-recommended H.264 video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 360p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps |
| 480p at 30 fps | 4 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 34 Mbps |
| 2160p at 30 fps | 42 Mbps |
| 2160p at 60 fps | 50 Mbps |
Match the recommendation to the resolution and frame rate actually sent to YouTube, rather than selecting a bitrate from a different Wowza rendition. YouTube also publishes minimum bitrate values; do not treat its recommended values above as minimums. Check its current table before configuring a production stream because guidance can change.
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Configure and verify the Wowza-to-YouTube path
- Create the destination in YouTube Studio. Create a live stream and copy its generated stream URL and stream key/name into the Wowza stream target. Treat the key like sensitive account access information: do not publish it or include it in screenshots or public logs.
- Set the outgoing codecs and transport. Configure the outbound feed for H.264 video and AAC audio over RTMP or RTMPS. Prefer RTMPS when it is supported by the selected target and deployment.
- Set video rate control and keyframes. Use CBR and a two-second keyframe interval. Check the outgoing stream itself: a source or intermediate transcoder can alter the cadence, so do not assume the final output inherits the intended setting.
- Set bitrate for the delivered format. Choose the H.264 recommendation matching the final resolution and frame rate in the table above. Make sure the available upload capacity can sustain the video and audio payload reliably.
- Choose the audio profile. For stereo, configure AAC at 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps. For 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS, configure AAC at 48 kHz and 384 Kbps.
- Run a preflight and monitor the event. Test with movement and audio similar to the real stream, check upload capacity, and watch YouTube Studio’s stream-health feedback while live. YouTube recommends this operational check; it is not a substitute for checking the actual outbound codec, bitrate, and keyframe interval.
Common problems and what to check
- YouTube does not accept or show the feed: verify that the Wowza target points to the stream URL and key for the intended YouTube live event, and confirm the selected RTMP/RTMPS transport is supported in your setup.
- Video codec or audio incompatibility: inspect the outgoing feed, not only the source input. It should be H.264 video and AAC audio for this profile.
- Unstable stream health: compare the outgoing bitrate with the recommendation for the actual resolution and frame rate, then check that the upload connection can sustain it. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring its health messages.
- Keyframe warnings: confirm the final encoded output has keyframes every two seconds and never more than four seconds apart. An upstream setting may not survive a later encoding stage.
- Audio configuration mismatch: verify sample rate, bitrate, and channel layout together. Stereo uses the stated 44.1 kHz/128 Kbps recommendation; 5.1 uses 48 kHz/384 Kbps and AAC for RTMP/RTMPS.
Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
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