The Tool Desk
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How the RadioDJ–OBS–YouTube setup works
Think of the station as three connected stages:
- RadioDJ: manages the music library, rotations, jingles, playlists and scheduled events, then plays the station audio.
- OBS Studio: captures that audio, combines it with a scene such as a station graphic, and encodes the output for YouTube.
- YouTube Live: receives the encoder feed, displays its preview and manages the broadcast’s visibility, publication and archive.
RadioDJ is not the YouTube encoder. OBS cannot broadcast RadioDJ’s sound unless that sound reaches an audio source OBS can capture.
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What you need before setup
- A Windows computer that meets the current RadioDJ release requirements. RadioDJ’s feature page lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 as supported; other versions may work but are unsupported. Its listed minimums include a 1 GHz CPU and 8 GB RAM. These are publisher-stated requirements, not a guarantee that a particular PC can run every workload smoothly. Check the current requirements before installation. RadioDJ features and requirements.
- RadioDJ and OBS Studio installed and configured. YouTube identifies OBS as a no-charge, open-source encoder. YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours, according to YouTube, so enable it ahead of a planned launch. YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
- Music and other content cleared for the territories and uses you intend, including live transmission and archived playback.
Set up RadioDJ’s playout and schedule
- Install the current RadioDJ release. Follow its current installation guidance and confirm version-specific prerequisites. RadioDJ’s feature page identifies .NET Framework 4.8 for v2+ and says MariaDB is highly recommended; requirements may change between releases. RadioDJ features and requirements.
- Organize the audio library. Add the tracks and other material you are authorized to use, then arrange them into categories or rotations suited to the station’s programming.
- Build the rotation and events. RadioDJ documents Auto DJ rotations, custom jingles, scheduled events, manual or automatic playlist advance, and support for up to six sound cards. Decide when recurring programs, IDs or jingles should play, and test the sequence before connecting it to a public broadcast. RadioDJ features and requirements.
- Start playout and confirm the output. Listen on the computer and establish which Windows playback device carries the RadioDJ signal. You will need that signal to be available to OBS in the next stage.
Get RadioDJ audio into OBS
There is no single device choice that fits every PC. RadioDJ’s feature page lists Windows sound-card compatibility, but it does not prescribe a universal RadioDJ-to-OBS routing recipe. Start by checking the computer’s existing audio devices and OBS’s available sources; add routing hardware only if the current setup does not expose the signal cleanly.
- Start RadioDJ audio. Play a track or test item so there is a signal to identify.
- Choose the matching audio input in OBS. In the relevant OBS scene or audio settings, select the device or source that receives RadioDJ’s output. The label and route vary by computer; do not assume a particular device name will appear on yours.
- Watch the OBS audio meters. The intended source should respond while RadioDJ plays. If not, check that RadioDJ is outputting to the device you selected and that Windows and OBS can use it.
- Listen through OBS’s monitoring or output path. Confirm that the sound is clean, at a sensible level and not doubled. If OBS captures the same feed through two sources, disable the duplicate to avoid echo or a louder, phasey sound.
- Consider optional hardware only if needed. If the built-in audio arrangement does not give OBS a usable RadioDJ signal, an audio interface or other routing hardware may help. Neither RadioDJ’s feature page nor YouTube’s encoder instructions require a particular product or make extra hardware necessary for every setup.
For setup and troubleshooting, see the OBS Project’s YouTube streaming guide and YouTube’s encoder instructions.
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Build an OBS scene and connect YouTube Live
- Create a simple radio-first scene. Add a station logo, program graphic or other visual if appropriate. A camera or presenter is optional. Confirm that the scene’s audio source is the RadioDJ feed.
- Enable live streaming in YouTube Studio. Complete channel activation before the planned launch; YouTube says first-time enablement may take up to 24 hours. YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
- Create or schedule a broadcast in the Live Control Room. Choose the broadcast details and visibility that suit your purpose. Copy the server URL and stream key shown for that broadcast into the encoder, or connect OBS using its YouTube account integration. OBS’s guide covers its account integration and scheduled-stream controls. OBS Project guide.
- Protect the stream key. Treat it as a secret credential: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your broadcast. Do not publish it or show it in a screen capture.
- Start OBS and inspect YouTube’s incoming preview. Check both picture and audio in the Live Control Room. Follow the controls shown for that broadcast: depending on its settings, starting OBS may not itself publish a scheduled stream, and a separate Go Live action may be required. YouTube encoder workflow.
- End the broadcast deliberately. Use the relevant YouTube and OBS controls, then confirm the archive if one is expected. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; check its latest guidance and plan a restart or archive approach rather than relying on one uninterrupted broadcast beyond that documented boundary. YouTube encoder setup and archiving guidance.
Choose encoding settings without guessing
YouTube’s general encoder setup guidance requires the YouTube Live server URL and stream key, but it does not prescribe one bitrate or resolution as best for every radio station. The right output depends on the visual material, available upload capacity and the current recommendations presented for the broadcast. Avoid copying an arbitrary universal preset: review YouTube’s current encoder guidance and the settings available for the specific stream. YouTube encoder setup guide.
For most radio-first scenes, the audio feed is the essential signal; a still station graphic does not require the same visual detail as live video. Whatever settings you choose, test the complete OBS-to-YouTube path privately or with an appropriate unlisted setup before announcing a public launch.
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RTMPS and connection details
Most operators should copy the server URL supplied by YouTube or use OBS’s YouTube integration instead of constructing an ingest address manually. Google’s technical documentation describes RTMPS as RTMP carried over SSL/TLS and specifies an rtmps URL, a valid YouTube ingestion endpoint and application path, correct hostname/SNI handling, and port 443. A mismatched RTMP/RTMPS endpoint or port can prevent connection. Google’s RTMPS ingestion documentation.
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Using RadioDJ, OBS or a YouTube stream key does not grant permission to broadcast music. YouTube’s livestream terms say: “You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights for the exploitation of the Live Content on the Google Services throughout the world, including, without limitation, music licensing rights from artists, record labels, publishers (including public performance licenses) and any other royalty participants.” YouTube livestream terms and conditions.
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The required permissions depend on the works, territories and uses involved. Check coverage for the live transmission and any archived playback with the relevant rights holders or qualified local advice. Owning a recording, crediting an artist, or subscribing to a consumer music service does not by itself establish that you have the necessary broadcast and archive rights.
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. Its guidance says a match may cause the video to be replaced with a placeholder and a warning; if the content continues, YouTube may interrupt or terminate the stream. For licensed content, YouTube advises asking the rights owner to add the channel to its Content ID allowlist. A license may not prevent interruption if the channel is not allowlisted. YouTube’s guidance on copyright issues with live streams.
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Can you run a 24/7 YouTube radio stream?
You can automate RadioDJ’s playout and keep OBS sending an encoder feed, but an automated playlist and a continuous technical connection do not remove platform limits or operational risks. YouTube’s automatic archive guidance covers streams shorter than 12 hours. For a station intended to run continuously, plan how broadcasts will be ended and restarted, who will monitor the feed, and how audio or connection failures will be noticed and handled. Confirm current YouTube guidance before relying on a longer uninterrupted session.
Also distinguish a station that is technically online from one that YouTube accepts for monetization. YouTube says live streams may be monetized for channels in the YouTube Partner Program, while its channel monetization policy applies to live streams and may make repetitive or mass-produced content ineligible. An automated playlist is not a guaranteed monetization strategy; eligibility and ad serving are governed by YouTube’s current policies and decisions. YouTube channel monetization policies.
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Troubleshoot common setup problems
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS meters do not move while RadioDJ plays | OBS is listening to a different device, or the RadioDJ output is not exposed to that source. | Confirm RadioDJ’s active Windows playback device, select the corresponding available OBS source, and check that the signal reaches it. If the existing arrangement cannot expose the feed, investigate suitable routing hardware. |
| Audio is silent on YouTube although it appears in RadioDJ | The selected OBS scene may not contain the intended audio source, or the encoder may be sending a different signal. | Check the source and meters in the scene being broadcast, then listen through OBS’s monitoring/output path and verify the YouTube preview. |
| Audio echoes or sounds doubled | The same RadioDJ output may be captured through more than one OBS source. | Identify duplicate sources and disable the extra capture; test again before publishing. |
| YouTube does not receive the encoder feed | The stream URL or key may be wrong, or the connection may use an incompatible endpoint or port. | Copy the URL and key from the specific YouTube broadcast again, or reconnect through OBS’s YouTube integration. If configuring RTMPS manually, verify the endpoint details and port 443 against Google’s documentation. |
| OBS is sending, but the scheduled broadcast is not public | The broadcast may require a separate YouTube Go Live action. | Check the Live Control Room preview and controls for that broadcast; do not assume starting the encoder publishes it. |
| The stream is interrupted after a copyright match | YouTube may have detected third-party content; a license may not be reflected in Content ID allowlisting. | Review the notice, confirm rights for the exact works and uses, and ask the rights owner about channel allowlisting where applicable. Do not restart with the same uncleared content. |
| A long-running stream does not produce the archive you expected | YouTube’s stated automatic archive coverage is for streams shorter than 12 hours. | Plan broadcasts and archive handling around YouTube’s current published guidance rather than assuming an indefinitely long stream will be archived as one video. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is simply to keep uploaded recordings playing on YouTube, StreamNeo is a cloud option rather than a RadioDJ-and-OBS workstation setup: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The computer and home connection do not have to stay on. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not broadcast a camera feed.
- One flat price per slot at any quality up to 4K 60fps as uploaded, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does RadioDJ encode or publish the YouTube stream by itself?
No. RadioDJ handles playout and scheduling; OBS encodes the broadcast for YouTube Live.
Can I use a camera with this setup?
Yes. A camera or presenter is optional; OBS can combine it with the RadioDJ audio in a scene.
Quick Recap
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