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To stream an internet radio station to YouTube with OBS, add the station’s direct audio stream as a source, build a scene with a still image or other visual, connect OBS to YouTube Live with your stream URL and key, then check the preview before going live. First confirm you have permission to rebroadcast the station’s audio: a publicly accessible radio player does not grant YouTube streaming rights.
Check broadcast rights before you set up OBS
Confirm with the station and relevant rights holders that your permission covers retransmission on YouTube, the intended territories, and any archived copy. YouTube’s livestream terms require the provider to have the necessary rights for use on Google services, including music licensing rights.
YouTube scans live broadcasts for third-party content. A stream can be interrupted or terminated, and even a creator who has licensed the content may need the rights owner to add the channel to its Content ID allowlist. Check YouTube’s live-stream copyright guidance and ask the rights owner about allowlisting where relevant. Permission to play audio on a station’s website is not, by itself, proof that you can rebroadcast it.
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Prepare the radio source and visual
Use the station’s direct stream URL if it provides one, rather than assuming the URL of its web-player page is the audio endpoint. OBS does not promise compatibility with every station URL, codec, authentication method, or streaming protocol, so test the actual feed before scheduling a broadcast.
#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
Build a scene
- In OBS, create a scene for the broadcast.
- Add the visual you want viewers to see, such as a station logo, schedule, or still image. Check that it is legible at the resolution you plan to send.
- Add an audio source using one of the methods below, then watch the OBS Audio Mixer meters and listen to a test output.
Option A: Add a network stream with VLC Video
OBS’s VLC Video source uses VLC libraries, supports playlists, and has an audio-track selection. VLC must be installed; if you use 64-bit OBS, OBS documents that 64-bit VLC is required. In OBS, add a VLC Video Source, enter the direct station stream URL as a playlist item, and check the source’s audio-track selection. This source’s default network caching value is 400 ms; that is a software default, not a setting guaranteed to work best for every station. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
If the source does not play, verify the endpoint outside OBS and confirm it is a media stream rather than just a web page. Then try the station’s supported stream URL or an audio-capture method. The OBS documentation lists local media formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV, but does not certify all internet-radio endpoints.
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
Option B: Capture audio from a local player
Open the station in a player that can access its stream, then add an appropriate audio-capture source in OBS. The OBS Sources Guide describes audio sources, media sources, and audio-capture options. Check that the intended player appears in the mixer and that its audio is audible in your test. Avoid capturing all desktop audio if notifications or other applications could be heard on air.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select an encoder stream.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key from YouTube. In OBS’s stream settings, enter them, or select YouTube if OBS presents an integration suitable for your setup. Treat the stream key like a password: YouTube describes it as the address and password used to direct the encoder feed.
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for the incoming feed to appear in YouTube’s preview. Confirm the visual and audio are correct before taking the broadcast live.
- Set the intended privacy or visibility option, such as public, unlisted, or private, before you begin.
Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions and stream-settings guidance for the current Studio interface. YouTube says enabling livestreaming for the first time can take up to 24 hours, so do not leave activation until just before your planned broadcast.
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.
Set audio and encoder quality, then test
For RTMP or RTMPS audio, YouTube’s published encoder recommendations list AAC or MP3, 128 Kbps for stereo, and a 44.1 kHz stereo sample rate. For the encoder, YouTube recommends constant bitrate and a two-second keyframe interval, with intervals no longer than four seconds. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the connection to its ingest servers. These are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular radio feed, computer, or network has been tested. Consult YouTube’s encoder settings and RTMPS guidance.
Choose a video resolution and bitrate the computer and internet connection can sustain. For a radio broadcast with a static image, the video does not need detail the visual does not contain; the outgoing stream still needs stable video encoding. YouTube advises leaving upload capacity beyond the combined stream bitrate and recommends 20% headroom. Run a test using the actual station feed and planned settings before going live; YouTube’s streaming tips explain testing and monitoring.
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
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- The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the essential production tools from Akai Professional
- Check that the station audio is present in OBS’s mixer and is not clipping or unexpectedly silent.
- Listen to the audio YouTube receives in preview, not just the local player.
- Confirm the intended image, privacy setting, stream health, and watch-page access.
- Test the network and computer under the conditions you expect during the broadcast.
Monitor the stream and understand long-broadcast limits
During the broadcast, monitor YouTube’s stream health and the audio and video reaching the watch page. Keep the computer and network observed, particularly for a long-running stream. YouTube says encoder streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume that archive behavior applies to streams lasting longer than 12 hours. OBS’s source documentation does not establish unattended 24/7 reliability or guarantee that a particular radio endpoint will reconnect after a failure. Validate reconnect behavior and long-run stability with your own setup. See YouTube’s encoder setup page.
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| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video source stays blank or silent | The URL may point to a player page rather than the direct stream, or the endpoint may not be compatible with the source. | Test the endpoint in a player, confirm the direct media URL with the station, and try an audio-capture route if appropriate. |
| VLC source is unavailable or does not load | VLC may be missing or mismatched with OBS’s architecture. | Install VLC and use 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS, as specified in the OBS Media Sources guide. |
| Audio meters move, but YouTube preview is silent | The selected OBS audio track or output configuration may not be the one being sent. | Check the source’s audio-track selection and stream output, then verify audio in YouTube’s preview. |
| Unexpected sounds are heard on stream | Desktop capture may be picking up notifications or unrelated applications. | Use a more targeted audio source and test with other applications quiet. |
| YouTube does not show an incoming preview | The encoder may not be connected with the correct stream URL or key, or the stream may not have started. | Check OBS’s stream settings and connection status, then confirm the selected stream in Live Control Room. |
| Broadcast is interrupted despite having a licence | YouTube may detect third-party content, and the channel may not be allowlisted by the rights owner. | Contact the rights owner about Content ID allowlisting and resolve any rights or claim issue before restarting. |
| Stream drops or becomes unstable | The endpoint, local computer, or network may be unreliable under the chosen settings. | Test the station feed and stream health, reduce settings if the connection cannot sustain them, and leave the upload headroom YouTube recommends. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is an always-on YouTube channel rather than a broadcast that depends on a running OBS computer, StreamNeo is a cloud option for uploaded videos and playlists. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops the uploaded video from the cloud; it does not broadcast a live microphone or camera.
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
- Nothing has to stay on at home: the stream runs in the cloud.
- Videos stream as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot rather than quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery is included if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required; it is one free day per account.
Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start your free StreamNeo day.
Quick Recap
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.
