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To stream AV1 from OBS to YouTube Live, choose an AV1 encoder that your system exposes, use RTMPS and CBR, set the keyframe interval to two seconds, and select the bitrate YouTube recommends for your resolution and frame rate. AV1 is for SDR in YouTube’s cited encoder guidance; use its separate HDR setup guidance if you need HDR. Encoder availability and controls vary by hardware, drivers, operating system, and OBS build, so test your actual setup before going live.
Configure OBS for YouTube Live AV1
- Check that AV1 is available. In OBS, open Settings > Output and inspect the streaming encoder choices. Select an AV1 option only if it appears in your installation and is supported by your system. OBS lists hardware options for QSV, AMD, and NVENC AV1, but that does not mean every computer exposes all three. Hardware and driver dependencies affect availability. OBS explains hardware encoding requirements; the encoder names are also visible in the OBS source strings.
- Set the streaming connection. Use RTMPS where the service and encoder settings allow it; YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transmission. Follow YouTube’s live setup flow to create or select the event and use its stream key in OBS. Treat the key as a password: do not share it or include it in screenshots or recordings.
- Set rate control and keyframes. Choose CBR (constant bitrate) and a 2-second keyframe interval. YouTube’s guidance sets a maximum keyframe frequency interval of four seconds. OBS labels can differ by encoder, so match the underlying requirement rather than assuming NVENC-specific menu names apply to QSV or AMD.
- Choose the output resolution and frame rate. Use the resolution and frame rate you intend viewers to receive, up to 60 fps under YouTube’s cited guidance. In OBS, the output resolution and frame rate are configured under Settings > Video; ensure your stream output matches the bitrate row below.
- Set video bitrate. Use the AV1/H.265 values in YouTube’s table below, not its distinct H.264 recommendations. The listed values are YouTube-published ingestion recommendations and minimums, not independent performance measurements.
- Configure audio and SDR color. For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps for stereo; for 5.1 surround, it supports AAC only and recommends 48 kHz and 384 Kbps. For SDR, YouTube lists Rec. 709 and 8-bit.
YouTube’s AV1/H.265 video bitrate targets
These are the YouTube Help values for AV1/H.265 ingestion, accessed 2026-10-03. Use the row that matches both your output resolution and frame rate. YouTube advises choosing a quality your internet connection can reliably sustain and checking upload speed.
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| Output | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p60 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| 2160p30 | 8 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 6 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 5 Mbps | 15 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 4 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 480p30 | 0.3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| 360p30 | 0.3 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
YouTube’s live encoder settings page contains the full table and requirements. A speed-test result alone does not show whether your connection will remain stable while other devices and applications use it.
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Encoder availability and implementation differences
OBS documents hardware encoding as dependent on supported hardware and drivers. If you do not see an AV1 option, first check that your OBS installation, GPU or other supported encoder hardware, and drivers are compatible. Do not infer support from the presence of an encoder family in OBS’s source strings.
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Sparkle Intel Arc A380 ELF, 6GB GDDR6, Single Fan, SA380E-6G
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OBS’s advanced NVENC documentation describes controls introduced with OBS 31.0, including rate-control and AV1-specific options. That guidance applies to NVENC; do not copy its labels or recommendations to QSV or AMD encoders. For YouTube live ingest, the key targets are CBR and the two-second keyframe interval. See OBS’s NVENC options guidance and YouTube’s encoder requirements.
AV1, HDR, and when to use another setup
YouTube’s cited encoder guidance says AV1 is not supported for HDR and lists H.265/HEVC as the HDR video codec. If HDR is required, use YouTube’s separate HDR instructions instead of applying an SDR AV1 configuration. For SDR, compare the codecs actually available in your OBS installation by availability, YouTube’s bitrate guidance for the target output, and the stability of a representative test; AV1 is not guaranteed to look or perform better on every setup.
Rank #2
UNISHEEN 1080P60 HDMI Video Encoder, H.265/H.264 Live Streaming Encoder, HDMI to RTSP/RTMP/SRT/HLS/WebRTC IPTV Encoder for YouTube Facebook Live, Browser Setup, No PC Software Needed
- 【Hardware H.265/H.264 Encoding at 1080P60】Dedicated hardware encoder delivers broadcast-quality 1080P60 streams with H.265/H.264 compression. Reduces bandwidth usage by up to 50% compared to legacy H.264-only solutions, while maintaining crisp, crystal-clear video output.
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Test the stream before the event
- Start a test broadcast using footage with motion and audio similar to the real stream. YouTube Help explicitly advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
- Check YouTube’s live control room for stream-health status and messages while the test is running. Confirm that the selected resolution, frame rate, audio, and ingest bitrate are as intended.
- Watch for instability during the test. If the stream drops frames or the connection cannot sustain the target, reduce the output resolution or frame rate and choose the matching bitrate row; do not keep a bitrate that the actual connection cannot reliably carry.
- Repeat the test after changing encoder, driver, OBS, network, or output settings that could affect the stream.
Troubleshooting common AV1 setup problems
| Symptom | Likely issue | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| No AV1 encoder appears in OBS | The installed hardware, driver, operating system, or OBS build does not expose a supported AV1 encoder. | Check OBS hardware-encoding compatibility and update compatible drivers; use an encoder that is actually offered by your system if AV1 remains unavailable. |
| YouTube reports an ingest or encoder warning | Output may not match YouTube’s ingest requirements, or the chosen bitrate may be unsuitable. | Verify RTMPS, CBR, a two-second keyframe interval, the correct AV1/H.265 bitrate row, and the stream’s resolution and frame rate. |
| Stream health is unstable or frames are dropped | The connection or encoder may not sustain the chosen output under real conditions. | Run a representative test and monitor health. Lower resolution or frame rate, then use the corresponding bitrate recommendation that your connection can sustain. |
| NVENC instructions do not match the visible controls | Encoder menus differ across NVENC, QSV, AMD, and OBS versions. | Apply the requirements—CBR and a two-second keyframe interval—where the encoder exposes equivalent controls; do not assume NVENC-specific labels transfer. |
| HDR is unavailable with AV1 | YouTube’s cited guidance does not support AV1 for HDR. | Follow YouTube’s separate HDR setup instructions and use the listed H.265/HEVC HDR path. |
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Quick Recap
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URayCoder HD HEVC H.265 MPEG4 H.264 4K HDMI to Video Streaming IPTV Encoder for HDMI to RTSP RTMP HTTP UDP HLS SRT Facebook YouTube Live Streaming Server
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DDMALL H.265 HDMI Video Encoder, Mini 2K Hardware Live Encoder (AVC-2K)
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