For a prerecorded 4K/60 loop, add the video to OBS as a Media Source, enable Loop, and stream at 3840×2160 and 60 fps with constant bitrate (CBR) and a fixed 2-second keyframe interval. At 60 fps, two seconds is 120 frames. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. Your bitrate depends on the encoder codec: YouTube recommends 35 Mbps for AV1 or H.265/HEVC, and 50 Mbps for H.264. These are ingestion recommendations, not guarantees of the quality viewers will receive.
What you need before setting up the loop
You need a prerecorded video, an encoder such as OBS Studio, a YouTube channel with live streaming enabled, and an internet connection with enough sustained upload capacity for your selected bitrate. This setup streams an existing video file; it is not a camera broadcast.
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- Use a video and audio source you have the rights to stream. YouTube’s copyright and monetization rules still apply to prerecorded loops.
- Check that your computer or hardware encoder supports the codec you plan to use.
- If this is your first time enabling live streaming on the channel, YouTube says setup may take up to 24 hours. YouTube Help: Get started with live streaming
Configure the video to repeat in OBS
Loop one video
- Open OBS and add a Media Source to the scene containing your broadcast.
- In the Media Source properties, select the video file and enable Loop. OBS defines this option as replaying the file after playback completes.
- Apply the settings and preview playback. Check the ending and beginning together: the Loop setting repeats playback, but it does not ensure that the transition is visually or audibly seamless.
Loop a playlist of videos
For multiple clips, use OBS’s VLC Video Source with a playlist and enable looping for that playlist. Preview the transitions between clips as well as the final-to-first transition. A looping playlist controls repeat behavior; it cannot remove gaps, abrupt cuts, or audio mismatches in the files themselves. OBS Studio: Media Sources
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Set 4K/60 video, bitrate, and keyframes
Choose the bitrate for your codec
YouTube’s encoder guidance gives different 4K/2160p-at-60-fps bitrate recommendations by codec. Use the value for the codec actually sent to YouTube, rather than treating 4K/60 as one universal bitrate. The figures below are YouTube’s published ingestion guidance; the page’s publication date is not stated and it was accessed on October 3, 2026. YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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- 12G-SDI INPUT WITH STANDARDS CONVERSION – Supports input resolutions up to DCI 4K60 with an SDI input and SDI loop output, plus Teranex-powered automatic standards conversion so any HD or Ultra HD source streams cleanly at any target resolution.
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| Codec | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.265/HEVC | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
Choose a rate your actual upload connection can sustain throughout the broadcast; a speed test is only a snapshot, not a guarantee of stable upload. YouTube’s guidance recommends constant bitrate (CBR). Its broader encoder settings list RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1, and up to 60 fps. YouTube recommends RTMPS, the encrypted version of RTMP.
Set the keyframe interval to two seconds
In the encoder’s output or streaming settings, set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. For 60 fps, that is 120 frames between keyframes. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. Setting a fixed interval in OBS is the intended configuration, but verify the GOP/keyframe diagnostics YouTube receives while testing; the setting alone does not prove the encoded stream kept the interval. YouTube’s Live Streaming API can report GOP diagnostics: intervals over four seconds are flagged, and a very short GOP can reduce image quality. YouTube Live Streaming API: liveStreams
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- H.264 & H.265 Streaming to SRT or RTMP
- DCI 4K Streaming up to 60 fps
- SDI & HDMI Monitor Outputs
- USB-C for Phone Tethering & Webcam Out
- Front Panel Buttons & Spin Knob
Keep the color settings appropriate
For an SDR stream, YouTube’s recommended advanced settings include Rec. 709 color and 8-bit depth. Do not apply HDR settings to SDR footage. YouTube’s guidance describes H.265/HEVC for HDR and states that AV1 is not supported for HDR; confirm that the selected codec and color workflow match the source and encoder. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go live to enter Live Control Room, then create or select the broadcast.
- In the stream settings, copy the stream URL and stream key into OBS’s streaming configuration. YouTube describes the key as the password and address that tell the encoder where to send video and let YouTube accept it. Treat it as a password: do not publish or share it.
- If you need reusable settings, YouTube allows a custom stream key. If a key is compromised, reset it in Live Control Room and replace the value in OBS.
- Start streaming from OBS, then check Live Control Room for the incoming signal and stream-health messages before making the broadcast public or starting the planned loop.
YouTube automatically detects encoder settings and transcodes a live stream into other output formats for viewers. A 4K stream cannot use YouTube’s low-latency option; plan for normal latency rather than expecting 4K low-latency behavior. YouTube Help: Live streaming latency
Rank #3
- HDMI + SDI Inputs in One Device – Use either HDMI or SDI input, or combine both with picture-in-picture or side-by-side layouts for flexible workflows.
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- Simultaneous Streaming & Recording – Record to SD card, USB storage, or network drives while streaming live; supports loop recording and scheduled captures.
Test and monitor the broadcast
Test before the intended broadcast, using audio and movement representative of the stream. YouTube specifically advises testing with similar audio and movement. Check that the upload connection holds the selected bitrate and inspect YouTube’s stream health and messages while live. Confirm that the received GOP interval matches the intended two seconds and is not longer than four seconds. Monitor the loop itself for freezes, blank frames, audio gaps, or a jarring end-to-start join.
- Video: confirm the incoming resolution and frame rate are 3840×2160 and 60 fps.
- Bitrate: confirm the encoder output is CBR at the codec-specific target you selected and that upload capacity remains stable.
- Keyframes: check YouTube’s diagnostics rather than assuming the configured interval survived encoding and ingestion unchanged.
- Loop: watch at least one end-to-start transition and listen for a click, silence, or abrupt level change.
Troubleshoot common 4K/60 loop problems
YouTube reports a poor or unstable stream
The connection may not sustain the selected upload bitrate, or competing traffic may be consuming upload capacity. Check the actual connection during the broadcast, reduce the encoder bitrate if necessary, and test again before relying on the stream. Lowering bitrate may affect the delivered picture; do not assume that a nominal connection speed guarantees a stable 4K/60 feed.
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- UVC to HDMI Conversion: Supporting up to 4K@30fps and 1080p@60fps decoding, ZowieBox enables flexible conversion for webcam and video workflows. As a video decoder and HDMI to IP converter, it expands connectivity options for professional video devices. Note: USB capture card functionality is not currently supported.
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The keyframe interval is flagged
Check the encoder’s fixed interval setting and the received GOP diagnostic. At 60 fps, two seconds corresponds to 120 frames. Correct the encoder configuration if the received interval exceeds YouTube’s four-second maximum; if it is unusually short, review the encoder setting because YouTube warns that a very short GOP can reduce quality.
The loop has a visible or audible jump
OBS’s Loop option only repeats the file. Edit or replace the source if its final frame, opening frame, or audio endpoint does not join cleanly. Preview the entire transition rather than checking only that playback restarts.
Best Value
- 4K HDMI Encoding with Loop-Through Output – Encode HDMI video up to 4096×2160p30 while using the HDMI loop-through for local monitoring or pass-through to displays and switchers.
- Multi-Protocol & Multi-Destination Streaming – Stream simultaneously via RTMP, RTMPS, SRT, NDI|HX, HLS, and TS over UDP/RTP, supporting modern broadcast and IP workflows.
- Advanced Video Processing & Overlays – Includes de-interlacing, scaling, cropping, aspect ratio conversion, and support for text, image, and clock overlays for branded output.
- Simultaneous Streaming & Recording – Record video directly to internal storage (128 GB), external USB storage, or network locations while streaming live, with support for scheduled and loop recording.
- Flexible Network & Connectivity Options – Equipped with Gigabit Ethernet with PoE and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, plus support for 4G/5G USB modems (not supplied) for fixed or mobile deployments.
YouTube does not receive the encoder signal
Verify the stream URL and key in OBS, confirm the broadcast is selected in Live Control Room, and check that the key has not been reset or copied incorrectly. If the key may have been exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update OBS.
Live streaming is not available yet
For first-time activation, allow up to 24 hours for setup. Check Live Control Room again after activation completes.
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