Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
To send an existing Icecast MP3 station to YouTube Live through OBS Studio, add the station’s public listener URL as a network Media Source, then connect OBS to the YouTube event with its server URL and private stream key. This can work, but it is not guaranteed for every station: Icecast says MP3 may work but is not officially supported, and endpoint details vary.
Before you start: get the right Icecast URL
Ask the station operator for its public listener URL, including the mountpoint. A mountpoint is the path associated with a stream resource; the complete listener address combines it with the server address. The port, URL format, and any access requirements depend on the station’s configuration.
- Use the listener URL that a player can play—not source-client credentials. A source password does not replace the listener address.
- Confirm that the station is online and that the feed is advertised as MP3.
- Test the URL in a media player before configuring OBS, if possible. If it fails there, ask the operator to confirm the address, mountpoint, and any required authentication.
- Do not publish passwords or other private access details.
There is a compatibility caveat: the Icecast documentation says MP3 might work, but Icecast does not officially support it. Results can depend on the server, endpoint, and decoder.
Add the Icecast feed to OBS
- In OBS Studio, find the Sources dock and select +.
- Choose Media Source, name it if desired, and select OK.
- In the source properties, turn off Local File.
- Paste the full public Icecast listener URL, including its mountpoint, into the input field. Do not substitute the YouTube viewer URL or source-client credentials.
- Select OK and start playback. Check the OBS audio meter: it should move while the feed is playing.
This uses OBS’s documented network-input pattern for Media Source and its documented MP3 media support; the OBS network-input example covers SRT, not Icecast specifically. Treat a direct Icecast URL as a configuration-dependent attempt rather than a guaranteed recipe. OBS’s Media Sources documentation also describes VLC Video as an alternative.
#1 Best Overall
- Pro performance with great pre-amps - Achieve a brighter recording thanks to the high performing mic pre-amps of the Scarlett 3rd Gen. A switchable Air mode will add extra clarity to your acoustic instruments when recording with your Solo 3rd Gen
- Get the perfect guitar and vocal take with - With two high-headroom instrument inputs to plug in your guitar or bass so that they shine through. Capture your voice and instruments without any unwanted clipping or distortion thanks to our Gain Halos
- Studio quality recording for your music & podcasts - Achieve pro sounding recordings with Scarlett 3rd Gen’s high-performance converters enabling you to record and mix at up to 24-bit/192kHz. Your recordings will retain all of their sonic qualities
- Low-noise for crystal clear listening - 2 low-noise balanced outputs provide clean audio playback with 3rd Gen. Hear all the nuances of your tracks or music from Spotify, Apple & Amazon Music. Plug-in headphones for private listening in high-fidelity
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
If Media Source cannot open the feed
- In the Sources dock, select + and choose VLC Video.
- Add a playlist item using the same listener URL, then apply the source settings and start playback.
- If VLC Video is missing, install VLC. OBS requires VLC for this source, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Check whether the audio meter moves. If not, recheck the listener URL and mountpoint, confirm the station is online, and ask whether the endpoint needs a particular URL or authentication.
OBS documents a 400 ms network-caching default for VLC Video; that value is specific to the documented source setting, not a universal Icecast cache recommendation. Adjust caching only if buffering is an issue, and avoid assuming one value suits every feed.
Connect OBS to a YouTube Live event
- In YouTube Studio, create a live stream or open the event you intend to use.
- Copy the event’s ingest server URL and stream key from YouTube’s encoder setup.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, configure the service for YouTube as appropriate, and enter the server URL and stream key. Use RTMPS when available; YouTube recommends it.
- Keep the stream key private. It is an ingest credential, not the public link viewers use to watch.
- Apply the settings and start streaming from OBS when you are ready to test or broadcast.
See YouTube’s encoder setup guidance for the event’s server URL and key, and its live encoder settings for recommended output parameters.
Rank #2
- The new generation of the songwriter's interface: Plug in your mic and guitar and let Scarlett Solo 4th Gen bring big studio sound to wherever you make music
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Find your signature sound: Scarlett 4th Gen's improved Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- All you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
Choose YouTube-compatible audio and video settings
For stereo audio, YouTube lists 44.1 kHz and recommends 128 kbps. Its encoder guidance recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, with a maximum of four seconds. YouTube lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video codecs, and AAC or MP3 audio.
- Prefer RTMPS when available, as YouTube recommends.
- Use CBR and set the keyframe interval to two seconds; do not exceed four seconds.
- For stereo, set audio to 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps as YouTube recommends.
- For an audio-led program, use a simple still or looping visual rather than spending video bitrate on scene complexity the audience does not need. OBS still needs a valid visual scene for a normal video livestream.
- Choose video output settings that your computer and upload connection can sustain. The feed being MP3 does not determine the video encoder settings.
These are YouTube’s encoder recommendations, not a promise that every Icecast feed will decode in OBS. Consult YouTube’s live encoder settings if its current guidance or the controls in your account differ.
Rank #3
- PLUG IN AND HEAR SOUND IN SECONDS - USB Type-A connector with a 3.5mm stereo headphone output and a separate 3.5mm mono microphone input. No drivers, no software, no external power - the adapter is USB bus-powered and is recognized as a standard USB audio device.
- WORKS ON WINDOWS, MAC AND LINUX - Driverless on Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8, Linux and Mac OSX, and compliant with the USB Audio Device Class 1.0 specification, so any system that supports class-compliant USB audio will see it. Select it as the sound output and input device after plugging it in.
- TWO JACKS, TWO JOBS - The green jack is stereo OUT for headphones or powered speakers; the pink jack is mono microphone IN for a 3.5mm mic. It does NOT support 4-pole headsets on a single combo plug, it does NOT power passive speakers, and it does NOT add surround sound - it is a stereo 2-channel adapter.
- FOR LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS THAT NEED AN AUDIO PORT BACK - Adds a headphone and mic port to a laptop, desktop, or mini PC whose onboard jack has failed or was never there. Managed and work-issued computers can block new USB audio devices by policy - check with your IT department before ordering for a company machine.
- SABRENT SUPPORT AND WARRANTY - What is in the box: one USB audio sound adapter. Backed by a 1-year limited warranty, extended to 2 years when you register within 90 days on the manufacturer's website.
Test the entire route before announcing the stream
- Run a private or unlisted test event, or otherwise test without directing viewers to a public broadcast.
- Play representative audio from the actual Icecast feed. Confirm that the OBS meter moves and that the sound reaches YouTube.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and messages for ingest warnings or interruptions.
- Listen to the received stream, not only the local OBS preview. A moving OBS meter does not by itself confirm YouTube is receiving audible sound.
YouTube advises testing before going live and monitoring stream health during the event. A test can catch URL, decoding, routing, and ingest problems before they affect a public broadcast.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely checks and fixes |
|---|---|
| Media Source does not play | Verify that you used the public listener URL with the correct mountpoint, that the station is online, and that any required access details are handled correctly. Test the URL in a player or ask the station operator to verify it. Try VLC Video if the feed still will not open. |
| VLC Video is not available in Sources | Install VLC. Match architectures: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
| The OBS audio meter does not move | Check that the feed is playing, the URL is a listener URL rather than source credentials, the mountpoint is correct, and the source is not muted. MP3 compatibility can vary. |
| The OBS meter moves, but YouTube is silent | Check that the source is routed to the audio track sent to the stream and is not muted. Verify the received audio in a private or unlisted test. |
| YouTube reports an ingest problem | Recheck the event’s server URL and private stream key in OBS. Use RTMPS when available, then review YouTube’s stream-health messages and confirm the output settings. |
| The feed buffers or cuts out | Confirm the station itself is stable and the listener URL remains reachable. If using VLC Video, adjust its network caching cautiously; OBS’s documented 400 ms default applies to that source and is not a universal setting. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a YouTube channel live 24/7 from uploaded recordings, rather than relay a live Icecast feed through OBS, StreamNeo is a different option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card; the Monthly price is $9.99 per month.
Rank #4
- Podcast, Record, Live Stream, This Portable Audio Interface Covers it All - USB sound card for Mac or PC delivers 48kHz audio resolution for pristine recording every time
- Be ready for anything with this versatile M-AUDIO interface - Record guitar, vocals or line input signals with two combo XLR / Line / Instrument Inputs with phantom power
- Everything you Demand from an Audio Interface for Fuss-Free Monitoring - 1/4" headphone output and stereo 1/4" outputs for total monitoring flexibility; USB/Direct switch for zero latency monitoring
- Get the best out of your Microphones - M-Track Duo’s transparent Crystal Preamps guarantee optimal sound from all your microphones including condenser mics
- The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the essential production tools from Akai Professional
StreamNeo plays uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not ingest an Icecast feed or stream from a camera. To try it, start your free first day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The new generation of the artist's interface: Connect your mic to Scarlett's 4th Gen mic pres. Plug in your guitar. Fire up the included software. Start making your first big hit
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Never lose a great take: Scarlett 4th Gen's Auto Gain sets the perfect level for your mic or guitar, and Clip Safe prevents clipping, so you can focus on the music
- Find your signature sound: Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- With Scarlett 4th Gen, you have all you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
