For a stereo YouTube radio stream configured in OBS, set the stream audio bitrate to 128 Kbps and the sample rate to 44.1 kHz. Those are YouTube’s general recommendations for stereo live audio, not a separate profile for radio or always-on broadcasts.
The number in OBS is only part of the job: you also need to confirm that the intended audio track is selected for the stream, that it is stereo, and that YouTube receives audible sound without clipping or silence. OBS labels can vary between versions, so use the settings for your installed version rather than relying on a universal click path.
Keep live output separate from upload settings
A live encoder and a video upload are different workflows, and their audio figures are not interchangeable. YouTube’s live encoder guidance recommends 128 Kbps for stereo audio; its upload guidance lists 384 Kbps for stereo uploads. If you are configuring OBS to send a live broadcast, use the live figure rather than copying the upload recommendation.
The distinction matters even if your station plays a prerecorded playlist. When OBS is sending that programme to YouTube as a live stream, you are configuring live output. The fact that the source material was recorded earlier does not turn the broadcast into a video upload.
| Workflow or audio layout | YouTube guidance | What it means for an OBS radio stream |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo live audio | 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz | The relevant reference for a typical stereo station |
| Stereo video upload | 384 Kbps | A separate upload workflow; do not transfer this figure to live output |
| 5.1 live audio | 384 Kbps and 48 kHz | A different channel layout, not the stereo setting |
These recommendations come from YouTube’s live encoder settings guide and upload encoding guidance. They describe different configurations, not a quality ladder from which you should simply choose the largest number. For a stereo devotional, lofi, classical music or ambience stream, follow the stereo live row unless you have a deliberate reason to produce a different channel layout.
A bitrate setting cannot make a source recording better than it is. If a track is noisy, distorted or quiet, transmitting it at a higher bitrate will not repair it. Check the programme audio itself as well as the encoder setting, especially if your playlist combines recordings made at different levels.
For broader channel preparation, see how to set up an always-on YouTube channel with prerecorded videos. That is a useful companion to the audio work because a continuous station has both programme and transmission decisions to manage.
Set the OBS stream audio bitrate to 128 Kbps
In OBS, set the bitrate for the audio track used for streaming to 128 Kbps. Look in the audio or streaming output settings that apply to your installed OBS version. The names and placement of controls can change, and some layouts distinguish streaming output from recording output. Do not assume that a value shown for local recording is also the one OBS sends to YouTube.
If the interface presents more than one audio track, identify which track is assigned to the stream before changing its bitrate. A station can have several tracks for different purposes, but the live encoder only sends the track or tracks included in its output configuration. The important result is that the active streaming track uses the intended setting; a correctly entered value on an unused track has no effect on the broadcast.
After changing a value, review the full output configuration rather than relying on memory. Confirm that you are looking at streaming rather than recording settings, that the relevant track is selected, and that the display shows the chosen bitrate. A brief test broadcast can then confirm what actually reaches YouTube.
It may be tempting to raise the audio bitrate above the recommendation as a precaution. YouTube’s documentation does not establish that doing so benefits an ordinary stereo radio stream, and a larger audio number does not solve problems such as a missing track, a poor source file or an unstable network. Begin with the documented stereo value and investigate a specific warning or requirement before changing it.
This is also why bitrate should be considered separately from the overall stream. Video bitrate, audio bitrate and network capacity are different parts of the transmission. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend leaving 20% bandwidth headroom. That is general guidance for streaming, not a guarantee that a stream will remain live overnight; a network disruption can still interrupt a broadcast.
Choose a supported audio codec
For an RTMP or RTMPS live stream, YouTube lists AAC and MP3 as supported audio codecs. AAC is a sensible default for an OBS broadcast because OBS describes it as widely supported in its audio and video formats guide. Keep the choice simple unless your workflow has a specific compatibility reason to use another supported option.
Codec and bitrate answer different questions. The codec is the method used to encode audio; the bitrate describes how much data is allocated to it. Selecting AAC does not itself ensure that the correct track is sent, nor does it replace checking the bitrate and sample rate. Likewise, a supported MP3 configuration does not correct an accidentally silent source.
For most station operators, the practical approach is to keep the audio format consistent from source through OBS and use the supported live output configuration. Avoid changing codec settings during a long-running broadcast just to experiment. Make changes during a planned test, check YouTube’s status messages, and listen to the received output before treating the new setup as ready.
YouTube’s live streaming error messages can help you interpret warnings about audio bitrate or codec. Read the current message in context: a warning points to a configuration to review, but it is not proof that every other part of the stream is correct.
Check sample rate and stereo configuration
For stereo live audio, YouTube recommends a 44.1 kHz sample rate. Set or confirm the sample rate in the relevant OBS audio configuration, and check that the audio device or source feeding OBS is not introducing an unintended mismatch. Depending on the setup and OBS version, the controls may be presented in different places; verify the actual values rather than following a click sequence written for another release.
Sample rate is not bitrate. The sample rate describes how often the audio signal is sampled; bitrate describes the encoded data rate. You can therefore have the recommended bitrate but a different sample rate, or the right sample rate while the stream uses the wrong bitrate. Check both independently.
Also confirm that the intended output is stereo if your station’s programme is stereo. A left-right pair gives the listener the intended stereo presentation, whereas a mono source or incorrect routing can leave one side missing or collapse the programme to mono. Conversely, do not choose a 5.1 configuration merely because YouTube’s table includes one. Its 384 Kbps and 48 kHz figures are for 5.1 live audio, not an upgrade to the stereo recommendation.
This is worth checking with the actual music or programme, not only with a tone or test clip. A devotional track with vocals centred and instruments spread across the stereo field can reveal a missing channel; an ambience recording may make a one-sided problem less obvious until you listen carefully. Listen on headphones or speakers that let you distinguish left from right, and compare the output with the source.
If you are building a specifically Indian classical music station, the guide to making a 24/7 Indian classical music radio stream on YouTube covers the broader station context. This audio configuration remains a general stereo live recommendation rather than a genre-specific setting.
Confirm the selected track is sent to YouTube
OBS can show multiple audio tracks, and the track that looks active in the mixer is not necessarily the one included in the live output. Check the streaming track selection or output assignment for your OBS version. The goal is straightforward: identify the track carrying the station programme, then verify that it is selected for YouTube’s live stream.
A practical check is to play known programme audio and watch which mixer meter responds. If the meter for the intended source moves, that establishes that OBS is receiving signal at that point. It does not establish that the same track is included in the stream, so verify the output assignment separately. The final check is on YouTube: listen to the test broadcast and confirm that it contains the same programme.
This distinction catches a common configuration gap. A local recording may sound correct because its recording track is selected, while the stream output uses a different track with no audio. Similarly, a source can be visible and active in the scene but be muted, routed to another track, or omitted from the streaming output. Confirming the actual received audio is more reliable than inferring it from the OBS scene alone.
If you use multiple sources, such as a playlist plus a microphone for announcements, decide which should be heard on the live programme and route them intentionally. Make a short test with each source separately, then together if they will overlap. Keep track assignments simple enough that you can explain which signal goes to the audience; complexity makes overnight troubleshooting harder.
Operators using OBS for a long-running devotional playlist may find the guide to running a 24/7 YouTube bhajan stream using OBS on a laptop useful alongside this track check. The audio bitrate setting is only dependable when the intended programme reaches the output path.
Test meters, playback and stream health
Before relying on a station for an extended run, test the complete path from source to YouTube. YouTube recommends testing before going live with audio and movement similar to the intended stream, and monitoring stream health and messages during the event. For an audio-led channel, use representative music or programme material rather than checking only that an OBS meter moves.
During a test, check these points in order:
- The intended source is playing and its OBS meter responds.
- The streaming output is assigned to the track carrying that source.
- The YouTube test playback is audible in both channels as intended.
- The signal is not obviously distorted, clipped, or intermittently silent.
- YouTube’s health panel or messages do not show an unresolved audio warning.
These are practical listening and configuration checks, not a certification that a particular station is fault-proof. Listen for a section with quiet passages as well as a louder part: a stream that seems fine during a loud chorus can reveal a gate, mute or routing problem when the programme falls quiet. Check enough of the playlist to encounter source changes, since one file may behave differently from the next.
Meters help you locate a problem but cannot substitute for listening. If they remain still, first check playback, mute states, the selected source and routing. If they move but YouTube playback is silent, review the streaming track assignment and audio output settings. If the sound is audible but distorted, reduce excessive source or mixer levels and retest rather than changing bitrate as a first response.
For continuous operation, repeat the test after a meaningful change: for example, after replacing an audio device, changing OBS output settings, altering the scene or revising the playlist. Keep a note of the working values and the date of the last test. That gives you a known configuration to compare against if the station later develops silence or a channel imbalance.
Audio configuration does not guarantee an uninterrupted broadcast. YouTube’s bandwidth headroom advice is useful, but network capacity can vary, and the platform recommends watching stream health and messages. For a station that matters overnight, plan how you will notice a failure and how you will restore the intended output; bitrate alone cannot do that work.
Make the operating plan fit the station
OBS is a practical choice when you want direct control over scenes, sources and a local playback workflow. That control also means your computer, power, network, playlist and audio routing all matter. If the station runs from a laptop, consider what happens if it sleeps, reboots, loses its audio device or loses connectivity. A correct 128 Kbps setting does not prevent those failures.
For some operators, keeping a computer on and checking OBS is the right trade-off, particularly when live intervention or changing scenes is part of the programme. Others want a prerecorded loop to continue without their own computer running. In that case, StreamNeo removes the specific burden of leaving a personal computer running to keep an uploaded video on air, while the audio still needs to be prepared and checked before the channel is ready.
Choose the operating approach based on who will respond to interruptions, whether the programme needs live control, and how the source material is maintained. Do not treat automation or a bitrate value as a substitute for confirming YouTube playback and monitoring the channel. Your readiness check should include both the audio configuration and the practical plan for noticing when the stream is no longer behaving as intended.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
What audio bitrate should I use for stereo OBS audio on YouTube Live?
Use 128 Kbps for the streaming audio track. YouTube’s live encoder guidance gives that recommendation for stereo audio; it does not specify a separate bitrate for radio or always-on streams.
Should I use 384 Kbps because my radio programme is prerecorded?
No. YouTube lists 384 Kbps for stereo uploads, a different workflow from sending a live broadcast through OBS. A prerecorded playlist that OBS sends as a live stream should use the live stereo recommendation, not the upload figure.
Is AAC required, and should the sample rate be 44.1 kHz?
YouTube lists AAC and MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS live audio, and OBS describes AAC as widely supported. For stereo live audio, YouTube recommends 44.1 kHz; confirm the sample rate and codec in the settings that apply to your installed OBS version.
How can I tell whether YouTube is receiving the correct audio track?
Watch the relevant OBS meter, verify that the track is selected for streaming, then listen to the YouTube test playback. A moving meter alone only shows that OBS receives a signal; it does not confirm that the same track reaches the live output.