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For a 1440p 60 fps YouTube live stream, set the video bitrate to 24 Mbps for AV1 or H.265/HEVC, or 34 Mbps for H.264. Use CBR encoding and a 2-second keyframe interval. YouTube’s listed minimum bitrates are 6 Mbps for AV1/H.265 and 8 Mbps for H.264. These are live-encoder recommendations, not settings for uploading finished videos.
Recommended 1440p60 video settings
| Setting | Recommended value |
|---|---|
| Resolution and frame rate | 2560 × 1440 at up to 60 fps |
| Video codec | H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1, subject to encoder support |
| Video bitrate | AV1 or H.265/HEVC: 24 Mbps recommended; 6 Mbps minimum. H.264: 34 Mbps recommended; 8 Mbps minimum. |
| Rate control | CBR |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds; do not exceed 4 seconds |
| Streaming protocol | RTMPS recommended; YouTube also lists RTMP |
| Maximum frame rate | 60 fps |
These figures come from YouTube Help’s live encoder settings guidance, which does not state a publication year; the guidance was accessed October 3, 2026. Choose the recommended bitrate when your encoder and connection can sustain it. The listed minimums are lower-end settings, not a guarantee of stable or consistently good-looking gameplay.
Set up the encoder and stream key
- Choose the output format. Set the encoder to 2560 × 1440 and 60 fps if your game capture and computer can produce it reliably. Select a codec supported by your encoder and workflow. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1.
- Set bitrate and rate control. Use 24 Mbps for AV1 or H.265/HEVC, or 34 Mbps for H.264, with CBR. If you cannot sustain the recommended bitrate, troubleshoot the connection or consider a lower output setting rather than assuming a minimum bitrate will work well in every situation.
- Set keyframes. Use a 2-second interval. Do not set it above 4 seconds.
- Configure YouTube’s stream settings. YouTube recommends letting Live Control Room detect resolution and frame rate automatically by default. If you need to specify them manually, create a custom stream key and enable manual settings under stream resolution.
- Use RTMPS where available. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP. Keep your stream key private; anyone who obtains it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
Plan for the upload connection
Your internet connection needs enough upload capacity to carry the selected video bitrate steadily. Test upload speed at the place you will stream from, as YouTube advises, and compare the result with your chosen bitrate. YouTube does not set a universal extra upload-speed buffer, so do not treat any particular margin as an official requirement. In practice, a connection that only just reaches the video bitrate leaves little room for variation from network congestion or other devices using the connection.
- Run the test from the actual streaming location and, if possible, at a time when the network will be used as it is during the broadcast.
- For a demanding game or event, test the full encoder setup rather than relying only on a speed-test result.
- If you are streaming over Wi-Fi and see instability, trying Ethernet is an optional way to remove the wireless link as one possible source of variation. A cable cannot increase the upload capacity supplied by your internet service.
Configure audio and color
Stereo audio
YouTube lists AAC or MP3 for stereo audio and recommends 44.1 kHz sample rate and 128 Kbps bitrate.
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5.1 surround audio over RTMP/RTMPS
YouTube’s guidance lists AAC only for 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS, with a recommended 48 kHz sample rate and 384 Kbps bitrate.
SDR color
For SDR, YouTube’s advanced settings list Rec. 709 color space and 8-bit depth. Match the encoder’s color settings to the material you are sending rather than changing them blindly; incorrect color handling can make the image look washed out or otherwise different from the game capture.
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Test before going live and monitor the broadcast
- Run a test stream with gameplay or other footage that has movement similar to the real broadcast, and include audio.
- Check that the stream reaches YouTube at the intended resolution and frame rate, and inspect both picture and sound.
- Watch Live Control Room’s stream health messages during the test and broadcast. Use them alongside encoder and network readings to diagnose problems.
- If the stream is unstable, lower the output bitrate or frame rate and test again; if the issue persists, investigate the local network and other upload traffic.
Troubleshoot common 1440p60 problems
YouTube reports dropped frames or an unstable stream
The connection may not be sustaining the chosen bitrate. Retest upload capacity at the venue, check whether other devices or applications are uploading, and try Ethernet if you are currently on Wi-Fi. Reduce bitrate or frame rate if needed, then repeat a representative test.
The encoder cannot keep up
1440p at 60 fps is demanding. If the encoder struggles, verify that the selected codec is supported and that the computer can encode the game and stream at the same time. Reduce the output workload—for example, by using a lower frame rate or resolution—and confirm stability before the event.
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The stream looks worse than expected despite a high bitrate
Check that the encoder is actually set to 2560 × 1440, 60 fps, and CBR, and that it uses the intended codec and bitrate. Confirm that the stream is not dropping frames and review YouTube’s health messages. A high configured bitrate cannot compensate for an encoder that cannot produce the requested frames or a connection that cannot deliver them consistently.
Manual resolution settings are unavailable or do not take effect
YouTube recommends automatic detection by default. For manual selection, create a custom stream key and enable manual settings under stream resolution in Live Control Room.
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The connection is reliable on paper but fails during the event
A speed test is only a check of the connection at the time and place it is run. Repeat it under realistic conditions and test with the actual encoder, audio, and moving video. A wired connection may help isolate Wi-Fi problems, but it will not resolve insufficient service upload capacity.
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