For a prerecorded video sent to YouTube Live through OBS, set the output to 2560×1440 at 60 fps, use CBR, and set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. At 1440p60, YouTube recommends 34 Mbps for H.264 or 24 Mbps for AV1/H.265. Choose the bitrate that matches your encoder and sustained upload capacity; a setting alone cannot guarantee stable delivery or a particular viewer-side quality.
Recommended OBS settings for 1440p60
These are YouTube’s live-ingest recommendations for the outgoing encoder feed. Your OBS controls and available encoder choices vary with the installed OBS version and hardware.
| Setting | Recommended baseline |
|---|---|
| Output resolution | 2560×1440 |
| Frame rate | 60 fps, if the source, encoder, and connection can sustain it |
| Rate control | CBR |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds; YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds |
| Codec | H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1, provided it is supported by both your OBS encoder and the YouTube stream configuration |
| Connection protocol | RTMPS where available; it is YouTube’s encrypted version of RTMP |
| SDR color | Rec. 709, 8-bit |
| Video format | Progressive scan and square pixels |
| Stereo audio | AAC or MP3, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz |
For 5.1 audio, YouTube’s guidance is AAC at 48 kHz and 384 kbps. Use the audio format appropriate to your program rather than assuming stereo settings apply to surround sound. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the full ingest guidance.
Choose the bitrate for your codec
YouTube’s 1440p60 figures are codec-specific. The values below are the minimum and recommended ingest bitrates in YouTube’s table, accessed 2026-10-03.
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| Codec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 8 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 6 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
Use the recommended figure when your connection can sustain it. Do not apply the H.264 number to AV1 or H.265, or assume a generic 1440p bitrate applies to every codec. YouTube’s figures describe the encoder feed sent to ingest; they do not guarantee what codec a viewer receives or a particular visible improvement.
Check upload capacity before going live
YouTube recommends 20% upload-bandwidth headroom; the reviewed guidance page does not state a publication year (accessed 2026-10-03). Leave that margin above the full outgoing bitrate, including audio, and account for other traffic using the same connection. A speed test is useful, but a single result does not establish continuous stability. YouTube’s streaming tips also recommend testing and monitoring the broadcast.
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- If you cannot sustain the recommended bitrate with headroom, consider a lower resolution or frame rate rather than starting with a rate your connection cannot reliably carry.
- Test with representative movement and audio: a static frame is not a meaningful substitute for the actual program.
- Keep other uploads, downloads, and network activity in mind while evaluating available capacity.
Send a prerecorded video through OBS to a YouTube Live event
A prerecorded file becomes a live broadcast when OBS plays it into an encoder feed and sends that feed to YouTube. The live-ingest bitrate and keyframe settings above apply to this outgoing feed; they are separate from how the local media source is configured to play.
- Create or schedule an encoder stream in YouTube Studio. Follow YouTube’s Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder guidance. Scheduling can let you promote the event and viewers can receive reminders.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key from the event setup into OBS. Treat the key as a credential: anyone who has it may be able to send to your stream. Do not publish it or include it in a recording.
- Set OBS’s outgoing video and audio parameters. Use the 1440p60 baseline above if your source, encoder, and upload connection support it, and match the bitrate to the chosen codec.
- Add and prepare the prerecorded source in OBS. Source playback controls, such as looping or timing, depend on the OBS version and current interface. Confirm the source behavior in your installed OBS before relying on it for an event; YouTube’s ingest settings do not configure local playback.
- Start the encoder early and check the preview. YouTube advises setting up encoder events at least two hours ahead and starting the encoder at least 15 minutes before the scheduled event. Verify the Live Control Room preview and check stream health before and during the broadcast.
- Start the event from Live Control Room. Do not assume that a successful OBS connection alone means the public event has started. Confirm the event status in YouTube Studio.
- Verify any local archive. If you are recording a local copy, check that the file is intact after the event rather than assuming a live stream also produced a usable archive.
Copyright and channel-policy checks for prerecorded content
Using OBS to send a file as a live event does not change the rights or YouTube policies that apply to the content. Before scheduling, confirm that you have permission for the video, music, images, and other material you will broadcast. A prerecorded format is not an exception to copyright rules. Also consider whether repetitive or reused material fits YouTube’s channel and monetization policies; complying with encoder settings does not establish policy eligibility.
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Review the program itself before going live, including any embedded music or third-party clips, and use YouTube Studio’s event and channel notices to address any restrictions or claims. Do not treat a successful preview as proof that the content is cleared for every use.
Troubleshoot common 1440p60 problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS cannot connect or YouTube receives no feed | Incorrect stream URL or key, or an encoder configuration that does not match the event | Re-copy the URL and key from the correct YouTube event, verify the selected protocol and supported codec, and reconnect. |
| Stream health shows instability or dropped frames | Upload capacity is insufficient or fluctuating, or other network traffic is competing for bandwidth | Check sustained upload capacity, preserve YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom, and reduce bitrate, resolution, or frame rate if necessary. |
| Video looks poor despite a 1440p output setting | The outgoing bitrate may be too low for the chosen codec, or the source may not contain 1440p detail | Match the bitrate to YouTube’s codec-specific 1440p60 table and confirm the source and output resolution. The output setting alone cannot guarantee viewer-side quality. |
| Keyframes or rate control do not match the recommendation | OBS may be using a different encoder or configuration than expected | Check the active encoder’s controls for CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval; YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds. |
| Preview is blank, frozen, or ends unexpectedly | The local media source may not be playing or looping as intended | Check source playback and timing in the installed OBS interface, then verify the incoming preview in Live Control Room before starting the event. |
| Encoder is sending, but the scheduled event has not begun | The event still needs to be started in Live Control Room | Confirm the event status and start the broadcast from YouTube Studio when ready. |
When OBS is the right workflow—and when cloud playback may fit better
OBS is appropriate when you want a local, scene-based production and can keep the computer, encoder, and network available for the broadcast. YouTube also documents cloud services as an alternative for continuous prerecorded-video streaming; that is a different workflow, not a YouTube endorsement of a particular provider or a cost or reliability comparison.
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