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To set up a custom RTMP stream, get the ingest server URL and stream key from the destination’s live dashboard, enter them in your encoder, configure settings the destination accepts, and confirm that the destination reports an incoming stream. In OBS, use the destination’s preset if it supports the connection; otherwise choose Custom and paste the URL and key into their matching fields. Prefer RTMPS when the destination supplies it.
What you need before you start
- An encoder: OBS is one option; destinations may also support other software or hardware encoders.
- An ingest/server URL and a stream key: Both must come from the destination you intend to stream to. Endpoints and credentials differ between services, so do not guess or reuse another service’s URL.
- Video and audio sources: Add the camera, screen, media, or other sources you want the encoder to send. The destination’s requirements determine which codecs and settings are accepted.
A stream key is an authorization credential, not just a label. Twitch documents that its key identifies and authorizes a broadcast as it enters Twitch’s ingest system. Keep it private, do not show it on stream, and do not paste it into public posts or screenshots. If you think it has been exposed, use the destination’s dashboard to replace or reset it where that option is available.
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Get the correct URL and stream key
First create or select a live event, input, or broadcast in the destination’s dashboard. Copy the ingest URL and key shown for that specific destination. Follow that platform’s current instructions: the location and lifetime of credentials differ by service and event.
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In YouTube Live Control Room, open Stream settings and copy the stream key. YouTube may show an ordinary RTMP URL by default; its help instructions say to reveal and copy the RTMPS URL using the lock icon. If your encoder offers a YouTube RTMPS preset, use it. See YouTube’s instructions for encrypting a stream using RTMPS.
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Cloudflare Stream
For Cloudflare Stream, create a Live Input and note its supplied RTMPS URL and unique key. Cloudflare’s OBS live-streaming walkthrough shows how to enter those details and verify the input status. Its source examples include a webcam, screen capture, or browser source; those are optional content sources, not requirements for using a custom endpoint.
Twitch
Twitch documents a broadcast URL pattern of rtmp://<ingest-server>/app/<stream-key>. The ingest server specifies where the stream goes, and the key authorizes it. Use the server and key provided for your account rather than copying the example pattern literally. Twitch also documents an optional bandwidthtest=true query parameter for a test checked with Twitch Inspector; it disables live viewing while the test runs. See Twitch’s video broadcast documentation.
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Enter the destination details in OBS
- Open OBS stream settings. In OBS, open Settings, then Stream.
- Choose a service. Select the destination’s built-in service preset when one matches and supports the protocol you need. For a manually specified endpoint, choose Custom.
- Enter the server URL. Paste the destination’s ingest URL into Server. Preserve the supplied protocol and full address; do not change RTMPS to RTMP or vice versa without a reason.
- Enter the key. Paste the destination-specific key into Stream Key. Check for accidental leading or trailing spaces, and keep the field private.
- Save and configure the output. Select the resolution, frame rate, video and audio codecs, rate control, bitrate, and keyframe interval accepted by the destination. Add the sources you want to send.
- Start and verify. Start streaming in OBS, then check the destination dashboard or test player for a connected or incoming status. A successful start in OBS alone does not confirm the platform is receiving the stream.
Choose RTMP or RTMPS
RTMPS is RTMP carried over a TLS/SSL connection, which encrypts the connection. If the destination supplies an RTMPS endpoint and your encoder supports it, prefer that endpoint. YouTube specifically recommends its RTMPS URL; copy the one shown in Live Control Room rather than assuming the ordinary RTMP address is interchangeable.
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Set encoder settings for the destination
There is no universal bitrate or codec requirement for every custom RTMP destination. Check the receiving platform’s current specifications and make sure your upload connection can sustain the selected bitrate. YouTube’s published recommendations are one platform’s guidance, not a general RTMP standard.
YouTube settings and example bitrates
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, CBR rate control, and AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Its example video bitrate recommendations are:
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| Output | AV1 or H.265 recommendation | H.264 recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
These figures are YouTube recommendations in its encoder settings guidance, accessed October 3, 2026; they are not requirements for other destinations. Consult YouTube’s live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for other output combinations and any later changes.
Balance quality with available upload bandwidth
- Set the encoder to a bitrate the connection can sustain consistently, rather than using all measured upload capacity. Leave headroom for normal network variation and other traffic.
- Match resolution and frame rate to the source and the destination’s accepted formats. Higher resolution or frame rate generally requires more bandwidth.
- Use the destination’s supported codec and audio format. A codec accepted by one service may not be accepted by another.
- Use the destination’s keyframe guidance. For YouTube, set two seconds and do not exceed four seconds.
Test the incoming stream
Start the encoder and watch the destination’s live dashboard for an incoming or connected state. If it provides a test player or preview, confirm that both video and audio arrive as expected before relying on the stream. Cloudflare’s OBS guide, for example, shows checking the Live Input status and test player. Twitch’s optional bandwidth-test mode can be used with Twitch Inspector without making the test publicly viewable.
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Troubleshoot a failed custom RTMP connection
OBS starts, but the destination shows no input
- Re-copy the server URL and key from the correct event or input in the destination dashboard.
- Check that the server URL is in the Server field and the key is in Stream Key.
- Confirm the live event or input is active and that you have not used credentials from a different event.
- Check whether the dashboard has a separate preview or connected status; OBS reporting that it is streaming is not proof of receipt.
RTMPS reports an SSL error or times out
- Confirm that the endpoint begins with the protocol supplied by the destination and that you copied its RTMPS address if using secure transport.
- Verify that the encoder supports RTMPS. A custom field does not make an encoder support a protocol it cannot use.
- For YouTube RTMPS, check the supplied endpoint and port 443. If you are configuring a low-level integration, verify TLS and that SNI uses the server hostname.
- Do not replace an endpoint with a guessed host or port. Re-copy the current destination-provided address.
The stream connects but is unstable or the destination rejects it
- Compare the codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, rate control, audio format, and keyframe interval with that destination’s published requirements.
- If the connection drops or the dashboard reports buffering, reduce bitrate or output demands and test again; ensure the upload connection has capacity beyond the video bitrate.
- For YouTube, use CBR and its recommended two-second keyframe interval, with no interval over four seconds. Do not apply YouTube’s exact bitrate figures to another platform.
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