Start by identifying which file you need to shrink: a local recording, the feed sent to YouTube, or both. They have different settings. For YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS live feed, follow its current constant-bitrate (CBR) and keyframe guidance; for a local archive, use an efficient supported codec and quality-based rate control, then test the result on representative footage. No setting can guarantee a smaller file with identical quality for every scene and encoder.
Separate the live feed from the recording
A live ingest feed has to meet the streaming platform’s requirements. A local recording can use a different encoder profile, so you do not have to use the live stream’s bitrate settings for your archive. In OBS, configure the streaming encoder and recording encoder separately where your setup allows it.
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First check which output is taking up space. A large local recording calls for changes to the recording profile or recording duration. A platform ingest bitrate controls the data sent during the live broadcast; changing it is not a universal way to shrink a separate local archive.
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Estimate archive size before changing settings
Use the measured average bitrate of the recording to estimate its size: bitrate in megabits per second × recording seconds ÷ 8 gives an approximate number of megabytes, before container overhead. For example, a recording averaging 10 Mbps for one hour is about 4,500 MB (roughly 4.5 GB) before overhead. Variable-bitrate recordings can vary with scene complexity, so measure a representative sample rather than assuming the peak or target bitrate is the average.
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Keep YouTube’s live-ingest settings within its guidance
YouTube’s live encoder guidance, accessed October 3, 2026, lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest with H.264, HEVC, or AV1, up to 60 fps, CBR, and a recommended two-second keyframe frequency; it says not to exceed four seconds. Its bitrate recommendations below are for the YouTube ingest feed, not universal targets for local nature-video archives. Check YouTube’s current live encoder settings before a broadcast because platform guidance can change.
| Ingest resolution and frame rate | AV1 or HEVC recommendation | H.264 recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 or 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube recommends 128 Kbps stereo audio. Treat that as live-ingest guidance, not an established ideal for preserving subtle ambience in a local archive. Set audio for the actual soundtrack and test it along with the picture.
YouTube also documents HLS ingestion separately. Its listed HLS requirements include muxed M2TS, H.264 or HEVC, AAC, a closed GOP, and up to 60 fps; the documentation describes HLS as a high-quality, high-resolution option with relatively higher latency. Do not assume that the AV1 option listed for RTMP/RTMPS also applies to HLS. See YouTube’s HLS ingestion requirements if you use that protocol.
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Choose an efficient codec your workflow can actually use
In its Audio/Video Formats Guide, OBS ranks hardware-encoder preference for recording as AV1, then HEVC, then H.264, while noting that compatibility and available hardware matter. OBS says AV1 can improve quality per file size over HEVC. That is a reason to compare codecs on your own footage, not a guaranteed percentage reduction: the reviewed platform and OBS documentation does not establish a universal file-size saving for nature-camera video.
- AV1: Compare it first if your hardware can encode it in real time and your playback, editing, and upload workflow supports the result. OBS warns that real-time software AV1 encoding requires high-end CPUs, so it may not be suitable for every always-on machine.
- HEVC: Consider it when AV1 encoding or playback support is unavailable and the rest of your workflow supports HEVC. Test compatibility before committing a long recording to this format.
- H.264: Keep it when broad compatibility or your existing hardware and workflow make it the practical choice. A newer codec is not useful if the destination cannot handle it or the encoder cannot sustain it reliably.
OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide covers its format and container guidance. Compare short recordings from the same source at the same resolution and frame rate; inspect moving leaves, water, low-light noise, and other difficult parts rather than judging only a static scene.
Use quality-based rate control for a local archive
For a local recording, investigate a quality-based mode such as constant quantization parameter (CQP) if your encoder offers it. Quality-based recording spends more data on complex scenes and less on simple ones, so file size can vary. In OBS 31.0, the NVENC option called variable bitrate with target quality behaves similarly to CQP while adding a maximum bitrate. That ceiling can limit file size or bitrate while retaining a quality target, but it can also constrain difficult scenes. Check your OBS version and GPU: the option is not available in every encoder setup. OBS documents the setting in its Advanced NVENC Options guide.
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Do not substitute a recording-oriented quality mode for YouTube’s CBR recommendation on an RTMP/RTMPS live feed without checking the platform’s current requirements. A separate recording profile is the way to optimize the archive without treating the live ingest settings as an archival preset.
Reduce resolution or frame rate only after a visual test
Fewer pixels or frames can reduce data and encoding load, but can also remove detail or smoothness. A wide shot of a still landscape may tolerate a different compromise than a close view of wind moving foliage or water. Make short comparison clips at the actual output resolution and frame rate before changing a 24/7 profile.
- Record a sample containing daylight, low light, moving leaves or water, and the most detailed parts of the scene.
- Make a second sample with one change at a time: codec, quality setting, resolution, or frame rate. Avoid changing several variables together, so you can identify what caused any loss.
- Compare the clips at the size viewers will see. Check fine detail, motion, noise, audio, file size, and whether the encoder keeps up continuously.
- Choose the smallest file that preserves the quality you actually need, then verify the full workflow before relying on it for continuous operation.
OBS suggests trying 30 fps as a performance fix when 60 fps is not working; that is not a blanket recommendation to reduce every nature stream to 30 fps. YouTube likewise advises testing with similar audio and movement before going live: “Make sure that you test before you start your live stream. Tests should include audio and movement in the video similar to what you’ll be doing in the stream.” See YouTube’s live encoder guidance.
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Use a recoverable recording container
A container does not deliver the main compression improvement; it affects recovery and compatibility. OBS describes MKV as flexible and recoverable after an interrupted recording, which matters if a long capture is stopped by a crash or power loss. Some editing software may need the file remuxed to another container. Fragmented MP4 or MOV can suit common upload and editing workflows. Choose a format your tools accept, and test recovery and editing before recording for days at a time. See the OBS format guide.
Check copyright and YouTube’s live rules
Reducing file size does not change whether a video or soundtrack is permitted on YouTube. Before looping nature footage, confirm you have the rights to both picture and audio, including any music or ambient recording you did not create. Review YouTube’s current live-stream and copyright requirements, and check whether your channel is eligible to go live. A smaller encode does not make reused or copyrighted material compliant. You can use this copyright safety checklist as a preparation aid.
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- The archive is still large: Confirm the average bitrate and recording duration, then inspect the recording encoder’s rate control. A live ingest bitrate may not be the profile controlling the local file.
- Fine detail breaks up in motion: Your quality target or bitrate ceiling may be too restrictive, particularly for foliage, water, or noisy low-light footage. Raise the quality target or ceiling, or compare a more efficient supported codec.
- The computer cannot sustain encoding: Try hardware encoding if supported, reduce output load only after visual comparison, and check OBS’s encoding performance guidance. Software AV1 in particular can demand a high-end CPU for real-time encoding.
- The live stream is rejected or unstable: Check that the selected ingest protocol and codec are supported, that the live feed uses CBR, and that its keyframe interval follows the current platform guidance. Recheck YouTube’s settings rather than applying an archive preset to the live output.
- A recording is damaged after interruption: Check whether it was recorded in MKV and whether your editor needs a remux. Test the chosen container’s recovery behavior before relying on it for continuous capture.
- The sample looks good but the long run does not: Verify the encoder, stream health, recording continuity, and file size over a longer period. Repeat that check after software or driver updates.
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Keep the winning profile documented
Record the OBS version, encoder, codec, rate-control mode, quality target or bitrate ceiling, resolution, frame rate, audio settings, and container that passed your tests. Note the resulting file size and any visible issues. Recheck stream health, recording continuity, and quality periodically, particularly after encoder software or driver updates. For a planning estimate, use the upload-time calculator to assess how long a file will take to upload on your connection.
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