For a standard SDR YouTube stream, start with Rec. 709 / BT.709 color space and Partial color range in OBS. But a single output setting cannot reliably correct a playlist whose files use different range assumptions: inspect and normalize inconsistent files, then test the rendered output. Treat HDR footage as a separate workflow rather than applying SDR settings to it.
Color range and color space are separate settings
Color range describes how video levels are represented—commonly full or partial (limited) range. Color space identifies the color system, such as Rec. 709 for SDR or Rec. 2100 for HDR. Changing one does not automatically fix a mismatch in the other. OBS lists range and color space as distinct video properties in its media I/O reference.
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OBS defines its default range as partial. For general SDR streaming, partial is the sensible starting point, not a guarantee that every source file is interpreted correctly. YouTube recommends BT.709 for SDR uploads and converts full-range uploads to limited range, but that does not ensure a mixed-input OBS playlist will look right before it reaches YouTube. See YouTube’s recommended upload encoding settings.
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Set up a mixed-file playlist for SDR
- Confirm the material is SDR. If the playlist is intended for ordinary SDR playback, use BT.709 as the target color space. If any files are HDR, pause and handle them as described in the HDR section below rather than assuming the range setting resolves the difference.
- Check OBS’s global video settings. Open Settings > Advanced and review the color space and color range controls under the video section. For a standard SDR stream, use Rec. 709 and Partial as the starting point. Labels and available options can vary by OBS version; check the installed version’s interface.
- Inspect files that look different or have different production histories. Compare whether each file is SDR or HDR, whether it uses full or partial range, and its color-space and metadata assumptions. If files are inconsistent, normalize or convert them before placing them in a playlist that shares one output path. A global output change intended to fix one file can make the others look wrong.
- Test representative clips. Preview or make a short test recording of each type of file. Compare black and white levels and ordinary midtones in the rendered result, not just the settings label or metadata. This is especially important when using a custom FFmpeg output path.
- Check input controls for live devices. If an item is actually coming from a capture card or webcam rather than a file on disk, make sure that source’s range setting matches the device’s signal.
The available documentation does not establish that current OBS Media Source playlists provide a per-file range override. Do not rely on such a control without checking the interface for your installed OBS version. If there is no per-file control, normalizing the files before playback is the safer route.
#1 Best Overall
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Keep HDR footage on its own workflow
Do not apply the SDR Rec. 709 advice to HDR files. YouTube’s HDR live-streaming guidance specifies an HDR source and a separate encoding path, including hardware HEVC, Main 10, P010, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG. For the documented RTMP setup, OBS 30.1 is the minimum version. Confirm the source format and YouTube’s current requirements before configuring an HDR stream; merely switching full versus partial range is not an HDR conversion.
If a playlist mixes SDR and HDR, range is only one of the differences. The transfer characteristics, color space, and encoding requirements also differ. Treating all clips as one SDR signal can produce an incorrect result.
Rank #2
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Troubleshoot washed-out or overly dark video
- Washed-out image: A partial-range source may be interpreted as full range. Check the source interpretation and output path before trying to compensate with contrast or saturation.
- Very dark or unusually punchy image: A full-range source may be interpreted as partial. Verify the range interpretation; do not assume YouTube’s processing will repair a mismatch already present in the source or stream.
- Metadata says full range, but playback looks like partial: Historical user reports describe disagreements between metadata and encoded range in custom FFmpeg workflows with OBS 28.0.3 and 29.0.1. Those version-specific reports do not establish a bug in current OBS. Test the exact OBS version, encoder, and container you use.
- Some playlist items look right and others do not: Compare each file’s SDR/HDR status, full/partial range, color-space metadata, and output path. If the inputs differ, correct the files individually rather than changing one global setting to chase each symptom.
The OBS community guide Colour Range Guide also describes washed-out or too-dark results as possible symptoms of source and setting mismatches. It is a community resource, so use it alongside the installed OBS controls and your own rendered test.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the finished playlist is ready and you want a YouTube channel to stay live without leaving a home computer on, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It keeps looping even when your computer is off, automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream, and plays the video as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot. The first day is free with no card required; the Monthly price is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams from uploaded videos, not camera-based live capture. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free first day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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Rank #3
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