For a standard SDR stream, set OBS to Rec. 709. Set the range to Limited only when the signal reaching OBS is limited-range; the setting must describe the video levels your source and capture path actually produce. YouTube recommends limited-range samples but supports both ranges. A mismatch can make the picture look washed out or crush detail.
Choose the right color space and range
Color space and range are different settings. Rec. 709 describes the color space for SDR video; range describes how brightness values are encoded. Changing one does not correct a mismatch in the other.
- SDR color space: YouTube specifies Rec. 709 and 8-bit for SDR live video. YouTube’s live encoder guidance gives its color-space recommendation.
- Range: Limited and Full refer to video sample levels. An OBS Project Forums community guide explains 8-bit limited luma as 16–235 and full range as 0–255; these are explanatory values, not color-gamut settings. Read the OBS community color guide.
- Match the signal: YouTube’s HLS specification supports limited and full values, recommends limited, and requires the declared range to match the content. See YouTube’s HLS live-encoding guidance.
For a typical SDR workflow whose source and capture chain use video levels, Rec. 709 with Limited is a sensible starting point. Do not select Full merely because a computer monitor uses full-range display levels.
Set the OBS processing options for SDR
- In OBS, open Settings > Advanced > Video. A community how-to identifies this area for color processing controls; exact labels and availability can vary by OBS version. OBS community color guide.
- Set Color Space to Rec. 709 for SDR.
- Set Color Range to Limited when the source signal and capture path produce limited-range video. If the source genuinely produces full-range samples, configure the chain to preserve and correctly declare Full instead.
- For a conventional 8-bit SDR setup, NV12 is a common compatibility starting point described in the OBS community guide. Do not treat it as a requirement for every source or encoder.
- Apply the settings and make a test stream or recording with representative colors, shadows, highlights, and motion. Check that dark detail remains visible and bright detail is not clipped.
Check every stage when using a capture card
A capture card can pass, convert, or expand levels, so setting OBS alone may not resolve a mismatch. Check the output format from the console or PC, the card’s own properties or vendor control panel, and the OBS source and processing settings. Keep the expected range consistent through each conversion.
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A full-range source interpreted downstream as limited can lose information at the ends; a limited-range source interpreted as full can look washed out. The Elgato 4K60 Pro guide illustrates separate full- and limited-range cases, but its menu directions date to 2018 and may not match current drivers or OBS versions. Use it as an example, not a universal set of clicks: Elgato 4K60 Pro color-range guide.
Use YouTube’s 4K60 encoding targets
Color settings do not compensate for an unstable upload or inappropriate encoder settings. YouTube’s current live-encoder page, accessed in 2026, lists these 2160p60 bitrate recommendations and minimums by codec:
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| Codec | Recommended bitrate | Minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 or HEVC | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube-published ingest recommendations, not independently tested optimal settings. Choose a bitrate your upload connection can sustain reliably. YouTube also recommends CBR, a two-second keyframe interval, and says the interval should not exceed four seconds. Its encoder guidance notes that it detects settings and transcodes live streams into multiple output formats. YouTube live encoder settings.
- Test with representative audio and motion before an important broadcast.
- Monitor YouTube’s stream health during the test rather than relying only on the encoder’s local status.
- If the connection cannot sustain the selected bitrate, reduce the bitrate or output target; a nominal 4K60 configuration is not useful if frames or connection stability suffer.
Use a separate setup for HDR
Do not apply the SDR Rec. 709 and 8-bit workflow to an HDR stream. YouTube’s OBS instructions require OBS 30.1 or later and a compatible HDR source and hardware encoder. They direct users to select a hardware HEVC encoder, Main 10, enable HDR, choose P010, and use Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG; YouTube recommends HLG. The broader HDR requirements include 10-bit video, BT.2020 primaries, and matching transfer and matrix characteristics. Enable Full range only if the source produces full-range video. YouTube HDR live-streaming instructions and YouTube encoding guidance.
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4K60 does not by itself mean HDR: use this path only when the source, OBS version, encoder hardware, and signal chain support HDR.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a washed-out or crushed picture
- Picture looks washed out: Check whether a limited-range source is being interpreted as Full. Verify the source or capture-card range and match the OBS processing and declared range.
- Shadows or highlights lose detail: Check whether a full-range source is being interpreted as Limited, or whether any stage clips levels. Inspect the source, card conversion, and OBS settings together.
- OBS controls do not match a guide: The cited community color guide is from 2016 and the Elgato guide is from 2018. Labels and driver behavior can change; verify the current OBS version and capture-card control panel rather than assuming an older menu path is identical.
- 4K60 stream buffers or reports poor health: The YouTube bitrate figures are targets, not guarantees of connection capacity. Test upload stability, monitor stream health, and choose settings the connection can sustain.
- HDR looks wrong under the SDR setup: Confirm whether the source is HDR. Use YouTube’s HDR-specific configuration instead of trying to fix HDR by switching only the SDR range or color-space control.
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