Figuring out the best settings for your YouTube streams is key to growing your audience.
Recommended Settings
YouTube supports different data speed settings for live videos based on the video quality. Essentially, the bitrate is the amount of data you send each second.
The better the video quality, the more data you need to send.
Resolution / Frame Rate | Minimum Bitrate | Maximum Bitrate | Recommended Bitrate |
2160p @60fps | 10 Mbps | 40 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
2160p @30fps | 8 Mbps | 35 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
1440p @60fps | 6 Mbps | 30 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
1440p @30fps | 5 Mbps | 25 Mbps | 15 Mbps |
1080p @60fps | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
1080p @30fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
720p @60fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
720p @30fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
Keeping your video speed between the suggested minimum and maximum ensures a smooth stream. But remember, faster isn't always better. Going over the top speed for your video quality might add buffering and make it hard for viewers to watch.
Restream Studio
If you're streaming with Restream Studio, the settings are easy.
Our Studio automatically adjusts your bitrate based on the resolution you select for your stream. That way, you stay in line with the requirements of all the platforms you stream to without any extra steps.
Here are Restream Studio settings based on the video quality you pick:
Resolution / Frame Rate | Bitrate |
1080p @30fps | 6 Mbps |
720p @60fps | 5 Mbps |
720p @30fps | 4 Mbps |
Streaming software like OBS
You can further customize your settings if you're using Restream with an encoder, like OBS. Once you have landed on the resolution you'll be using for your streams, you can set your video bitrate to any value that aligns with YouTube's ranges.
Restream doesn't change the video quality you set in your streaming software. The settings you choose, even if they are high-quality like 4K, will be sent directly to YouTube without any changes.
For best results, make sure your bitrate matches your internet connection. As a rule of thumb, your bitrate should not exceed half your upload speed.
For example, if your upload speed is 10 Mbps, you can best support a maximum bitrate of 5 Mbps. Restream provides an easy way to determine your upload speed here.
What you stream
Choosing the right streaming setup depends on what you're streaming.
For action-packed content like video games or live sports, use a higher-quality setting for a better experience. This means streaming in Full HD (1080p) or more if your internet is fast enough.
For less dynamic shows like interviews, podcasts, or presentations, a simpler setup works well. You can give viewers a good experience with both HD (720p) and Full HD (1080p). Just adjust your quality based on how fast your internet is and the desired clarity and detail of the image.
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