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For a standard SDR YouTube Live stream, set OBS to Rec. 709. Set the range to Limited only when that matches the signal coming from your source and capture path; a mismatch can make the picture look washed out or crush detail. YouTube recommends limited range for HLS, but requires the declared range to match the actual video. HDR uses a different setup.
Choose SDR or HDR first
Resolution and frame rate do not determine color space. A 4K 60fps stream can be SDR or HDR, and each uses a different configuration.
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- SDR: use Rec. 709 and 8-bit video, as specified in YouTube’s live encoder guidance.
- HDR: use YouTube’s HDR-specific settings below; do not apply the SDR Rec. 709, 8-bit recipe to an HDR source.
For SDR, YouTube states: “Color space: Rec. 709 for SDR”.
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Set OBS color space and range for SDR
- In OBS, open Settings > Advanced > Video. The OBS community color guide places the processing controls in this area; exact labels can vary with OBS versions.
- Set the color space to Rec. 709.
- Set the color range to Limited if the source and any capture-device processing produce limited-range video. YouTube’s HLS specification supports limited and full range, recommends limited, and says the selected range must describe the actual samples: YouTube HLS technical guidance.
- If you use a capture card, inspect the console or PC output, the card’s properties or vendor control panel, and OBS’s source and advanced video settings. Keep the signal consistent across each conversion stage.
- Check the output before an important stream with representative motion and audio, then monitor YouTube’s stream health.
Range is not another name for color space. In an 8-bit signal, the OBS community guide describes limited luma as 16–235 and full range as 0–255: OBS Project Forums color-range guide. These levels explain why a mismatch matters; they are not a reason to force one setting regardless of source.
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When to use Limited or Full
| Signal path | OBS range choice | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Source and capture chain produce limited-range video | Limited | Confirm the device and OBS interpret the levels as limited. |
| Source produces full-range video and the chain preserves it | Full | Confirm OBS and YouTube receive a signal correctly described as full range. |
| Capture card converts or expands levels | Match the card’s output, not just the original device setting | Check the card’s current driver controls and OBS source properties. |
A full-range source interpreted as limited can lose information at the ends; a limited-range source interpreted as full can appear washed out. A 2018 Elgato 4K60 Pro guide illustrates separate cases, but its menu directions may not match current OBS or driver versions. Use the current controls for your specific hardware rather than copying old menus blindly.
Do not choose Full merely because a computer monitor displays full-range video. The setting should describe the video signal being encoded, not the display connected to your computer.
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Set the 4K 60fps encoder settings
Color settings do not replace encoder settings. YouTube’s current live encoder guidance gives these 2160p 60fps ingest values:
| Codec | YouTube recommended bitrate | YouTube minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 or HEVC | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube-published recommendations and minimums, not independently tested optimal settings. A bitrate within the recommendation still needs a stable upload connection. YouTube also specifies CBR, up to 60 fps, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. Use these figures as encoder targets, then test with the motion and audio you expect to stream. YouTube detects encoder settings and transcodes live streams into multiple output formats. See its encoder settings guidance.
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Configure HDR only for an HDR source
YouTube’s OBS HDR instructions require OBS 30.1 or later, an HDR source, and compatible encoding hardware. The setup they describe is:
- Choose a hardware HEVC encoder.
- Set the profile to Main 10.
- Enable HDR and choose P010 as the color format.
- Choose Rec. 2100 PQ or Rec. 2100 HLG; YouTube recommends HLG.
- Ensure the source and encoder meet YouTube’s HDR requirements, including 10-bit video and BT.2020 primaries with matching transfer and matrix characteristics.
For HDR range, enable Full only if the source produces full-range video. Follow YouTube’s current OBS HDR setup and HDR requirements. A 4K60 resolution alone does not make a stream HDR.
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Troubleshoot washed-out or crushed video
- Picture looks washed out: check whether limited-range source video is being interpreted as full. Verify the output range from the console, PC, or capture card through OBS rather than changing the setting at random.
- Shadows or highlights lose detail: check whether a full-range source is being interpreted as limited, or whether one conversion stage is clipping levels.
- Color looks wrong despite a correct range: confirm the SDR color space is Rec. 709. Changing range does not change the gamut or color space.
- Capture-card menus differ from a guide: device drivers and software change. Treat the 2018 Elgato instructions as an example of the signal-matching problem, not a current universal menu path.
- Stream drops frames or becomes unstable: check upload stability and stream health; do not assume meeting a published bitrate target guarantees a reliable connection.
- HDR option is unavailable or output is not HDR: verify OBS 30.1 or later, a genuine HDR source, and compatible hardware/encoder settings before troubleshooting Rec. 709 SDR controls.
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