The Tool Desk
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Change the audio bitrate in OBS
Simple output mode
- In OBS Studio, open Settings → Output.
- Set Output Mode to Simple if you want the basic streaming controls.
- Under the streaming section, find Audio Bitrate and select the value you want. For YouTube Live stereo, use 128 Kbps as the platform-recommended starting point.
- Leave Video Bitrate unchanged unless you intend to adjust video quality or respond to a bandwidth issue.
- Select Apply, then OK.
The two fields control different parts of the outgoing stream. Changing the audio value does not require changing video bitrate. OBS’s overview guide gives around 160 kbps as a general streaming audio example, but that is not YouTube’s platform-specific stereo recommendation; YouTube Help currently recommends 128 Kbps for stereo Live audio (OBS Studio Overview Guide; YouTube live encoder settings).
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Advanced output mode
- Open Settings → Output.
- Change Output Mode to Advanced.
- Open the Streaming tab and locate the audio bitrate setting for the streaming encoder.
- Adjust the streaming audio value independently of the video encoder bitrate, then select Apply and OK.
Advanced mode offers more control over streaming and recording independently. Check that you are on Streaming: settings on the Recording tab or the separate Audio tab may affect recordings or tracks rather than the live stream. OBS labels and available fields can vary with version and selected encoder; confirm that the setting you change belongs to Streaming (OBS Standard Recording Output Guide).
Choose the right YouTube Live audio setting
YouTube’s live encoder recommendations, accessed October 3, 2026, distinguish stereo from 5.1 surround. These figures apply to live encoding, not ordinary uploaded video files.
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| Live audio format | YouTube-recommended bitrate | Codec and sample-rate guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo | 128 Kbps | AAC or MP3 over RTMP/RTMPS; 44.1 kHz |
| 5.1 surround | 384 Kbps | AAC is required for 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS; 48 kHz |
Use the stereo row for a standard stereo stream; 384 Kbps is not a higher-quality stereo setting. If you intend to send 5.1, verify that your audio chain and selected encoder actually provide 5.1. YouTube’s separate guidance for uploaded video files is not the reference for configuring a live broadcast (YouTube live encoder settings).
Set video bitrate separately
There is no single video bitrate that fits every YouTube Live stream. Choose it according to the ingestion codec, resolution, frame rate, and the upload connection’s stable capacity. For example, YouTube’s current H.264 recommendations include 6 Mbps at 720p60, 8 Mbps at 720p30, 17 Mbps at 1080p60, and 14 Mbps at 1080p30. These are video figures, not audio settings or universal minimums.
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YouTube recommends CBR for RTMP/RTMPS live encoding and a 2-second keyframe interval, not exceeding 4 seconds. Check YouTube’s current table for the resolution, frame rate, and codec you are actually sending rather than copying one example value to every stream (YouTube live encoder settings).
Keep the combined stream within your upload capacity
Audio and video both contribute to the stream’s total outgoing bitrate. YouTube recommends leaving 20% of upload bandwidth as headroom. A speed test is only a snapshot, so test under representative network conditions rather than treating a peak reading as guaranteed stable capacity (YouTube streaming tips).
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If OBS reports dropped frames, investigate the connection and video bitrate first. OBS’s connection troubleshooting guidance suggests using 75% of total upload speed as a starting point for stream bitrate while troubleshooting dropped frames; it is a practical starting check, not a guarantee. Lowering video bitrate to fit a stable connection is different from lowering the audio bitrate. Keep the intended audio setting unless audio bandwidth itself is the issue (OBS Stream Connection Troubleshooting).
Check the setting with a test stream
- Confirm Settings → Output is showing the Streaming controls and that the audio field has the intended value.
- Start a private or unlisted test broadcast if appropriate for your channel, and listen for clear audio while checking that video remains stable.
- Review OBS’s connection status and dropped-frame indicators during the test. If frames drop, address upload stability and video bitrate before changing audio quality.
- If the stream does not sound as expected, verify the active audio source, channel layout, and encoder format; the bitrate field alone cannot correct a muted, misrouted, or incorrectly mixed source.
Troubleshooting common bitrate problems
- The stream’s audio did not change: Check that you edited the Streaming audio bitrate, not a recording track or another tab’s track setting. Confirm the audio source is active and restart the stream after applying settings if needed.
- You cannot find separate fields: Return to Settings → Output and check the selected Output Mode. Simple mode exposes basic streaming audio and video bitrate controls; Advanced mode puts streaming controls in its Streaming tab.
- OBS shows dropped frames: This points to connection or bitrate capacity rather than a need to reduce audio quality automatically. Check stable upload speed, leave headroom, and reduce video bitrate if necessary.
- The stream is stereo but set to 384 Kbps: That YouTube recommendation is for 5.1 surround. Use the stereo recommendation of 128 Kbps for a stereo Live stream.
- You changed recording quality instead of live quality: In Advanced mode, return to the Streaming tab. Streaming and recording settings can be configured separately.
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Quick Recap
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