In OBS Studio, open Settings → Output and set Output Mode to Simple to see separate Video Bitrate and Audio Bitrate fields for streaming. You can change the audio field without changing the video field; choose each for its own purpose.
For a stereo YouTube Live stream, YouTube’s published starting point is 128 Kbps for audio. That is distinct from OBS’s general overview example of around 160 kbps for streaming audio. Set video bitrate separately according to resolution, frame rate, encoder and stable upload capacity, then test the actual stream.
Open OBS Output settings
Open OBS and select Settings, then Output. The page’s controls depend on the Output Mode selector near the top. Set it to Simple if you want the quickest view of the streaming bitrate fields. OBS labels these specifically as video and audio bitrate, making the distinction visible without opening encoder-specific submenus.
Before changing a value, check that you are configuring streaming rather than recording. In Simple mode, the streaming area contains the two values relevant to the live broadcast. Other parts of Output can govern recording quality or recording format; changing those does not necessarily alter what is sent to YouTube. The OBS Studio overview documents the basic Output controls and their purpose.
If you are following a guide written for a different OBS version, the exact arrangement or labels may differ. Output mode, selected encoder and updates can change the screen. Look for the streaming section and confirm the heading before editing. If your goal is the live channel, do not assume that an audio control under recording settings is the live-stream audio control.
This distinction matters for a station that runs overnight. For example, a devotional loop might need a modest video rate to fit its upload connection, while its music uses a separately chosen audio rate. Treating the two fields as one combined quality slider makes it harder to identify which change affects which part of the stream.
Find the separate audio and video fields
With Output Mode: Simple, find the streaming controls labelled Video Bitrate and Audio Bitrate. Video Bitrate is the video encoder’s target rate; Audio Bitrate is the audio encoder’s target rate. They are separate controls, and you may edit one while leaving the other unchanged. The OBS guide describes the audio setting independently from the video bitrate.
The numbers do contribute to one outgoing stream. Audio uses some of the connection’s capacity alongside video, so the total outgoing rate is not just the video figure. But the fact that both consume bandwidth does not mean the controls are linked. If you adjust audio from one value to another, you have not thereby instructed OBS to revise the video field.
In practical terms, write down the existing values before making a change. Then edit Audio Bitrate, leave Video Bitrate as it was, apply the settings, and inspect the fields again. That simple check confirms what was changed. If the picture’s rate needs a separate adjustment, make that decision after considering the stream’s picture needs and connection rather than as an automatic follow-on to the audio edit.
A useful mental model is two tracks sharing a connection, rather than a single quality setting. A change to one track can affect the total bandwidth in use, but it does not substitute for choosing a sensible rate for the other. The OBS bitrate settings guide for YouTube gaming discusses video-rate choices in another use case; for this task, keep the audio and video controls conceptually separate.
Change audio bitrate independently
For ordinary stereo live audio, use YouTube’s live encoder recommendation as your starting point: 128 Kbps. In Simple output mode, enter that value in Audio Bitrate and do not alter Video Bitrate unless you have a separate reason to do so. YouTube’s figure applies to stereo audio in live encoder settings, not to every kind of YouTube video or every audio layout.
A lofi station, bhajan stream or local news loop may have different source material, but the control works the same way: it sets the stream audio encoder’s bitrate, not the video encoder’s. Listen to the resulting broadcast and check that the correct audio source is reaching OBS. A high bitrate cannot repair a muted source, clipping, a badly mixed playlist or audio that is already distorted before encoding.
If you use Advanced mode, go to Settings → Output → Output Mode → Advanced, then inspect the Streaming section. Select the streaming audio encoder or track settings there, and keep them distinct from recording controls. Advanced mode exposes more options for configuring stream and recording independently; recording-specific audio choices do not necessarily affect the live output. OBS explains the additional recording and output options in its standard recording output guide.
Do not increase audio bitrate just because the video rate is high. A bitrate is not a general quality score shared across both signals. It is one encoding choice for a particular stream component, and a value beyond the platform’s stated starting point is not a guarantee that listeners will hear a better result. Check the codec, channel layout, sample rate and actual programme audio as well as the bitrate.
Choose video bitrate for resolution and frame rate
Choose Video Bitrate independently, using the intended resolution and frame rate, the selected video codec, YouTube’s guidance and your stable upload capacity. There is no single correct video number for every 24/7 channel. A static devotional image and a moving local news loop do not create the same viewing experience, but the platform’s guidance and available connection remain important constraints for either.
YouTube’s live encoder settings list video guidance by codec, resolution and frame rate. For example, its current H.264 recommendations include 6 Mbps at 720p60, 8 Mbps at 720p30, 17 Mbps at 1080p60 and 14 Mbps at 1080p30. These are video figures, not audio settings. The figures are platform recommendations for live encoding, not promises about picture quality or universal settings for every encoder and connection.
The choice also depends on whether the connection can sustain the stream. YouTube advises leaving bandwidth headroom, with 20% recommended in its streaming tips. OBS’s connection troubleshooting guidance suggests using 75% of total upload speed as a starting point when troubleshooting dropped frames. These are practical checks, not a guarantee that one speed test predicts a connection through the night. Consider the upload available at the location and time the stream will actually run.
Audio also consumes part of the outgoing bandwidth budget. If you set video at a rate that already presses the connection, even a sensible audio setting will not make the total stream reliable. If OBS reports dropped frames, follow connection guidance and consider lowering video bitrate first. Reducing audio is a separate adjustment and is not a substitute for correcting a video rate the connection cannot sustain.
For a channel built around a repeating file, the stream’s operational setup matters alongside encoding. A guide to running a church sermon loop with a spare Windows PC can help you think through the playback arrangement, while this article addresses the distinct audio and video rate controls.
Compare OBS and YouTube audio guidance
OBS’s overview gives around 160 kbps as a general streaming audio example, with a note that a lower setting may suit a low upload speed. YouTube Help gives 128 Kbps for stereo and 384 Kbps for 5.1 surround in its current live encoder recommendations. These numbers describe different scopes: OBS’s is general guidance, while YouTube’s is specific to YouTube Live audio layouts. Do not treat OBS’s general figure as YouTube’s stereo recommendation.
| Stream audio layout | YouTube Live audio recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo | 128 Kbps | The starting point for a typical two-channel live stream. |
| 5.1 surround | 384 Kbps | A different channel layout and higher platform recommendation; over RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube specifies AAC for 5.1. |
For a typical music, devotional, study or news stream mixed in stereo, use the stereo row as your initial reference. Do not select the 5.1 figure simply because the video is high resolution, and do not read the OBS general example as a platform-specific target. The stream’s audio layout is what distinguishes these two YouTube recommendations.
YouTube’s live encoder page also gives sample-rate and codec guidance: stereo at 44.1 kHz and 5.1 at 48 kHz, with AAC or MP3 listed for RTMP/RTMPS audio; 5.1 over that protocol is supported only with AAC. These are live encoder details, not advice for an ordinary uploaded video file. Check the current official page if your setup uses surround sound or a less typical encoder configuration, as platform instructions can change.
A stream of a single singer and harmonium, for instance, may be mixed and sent as stereo even if the source was recorded with several microphones. In that case, the relevant starting point is the stereo recommendation, not the number of microphones used during recording. Confirm the channel layout actually sent to OBS and YouTube rather than inferring it from the source material.
Test the stream output before relying on it
After changing a setting, send a representative test stream and listen and watch on YouTube. Check the broadcast itself rather than only the OBS preview: the preview confirms what OBS is composing, but the delivered stream also passes through encoding and the platform’s live ingest. Listen for missing, unbalanced or distorted audio, and watch for buffering, dropped frames or interruptions in the picture.
Change one variable at a time. If you are checking audio, keep the video rate stable and make an audio-only adjustment. If you are troubleshooting dropped frames, use OBS’s stats and connection guidance to evaluate the video rate and upload. Recording what you changed and when makes it easier to undo a setting if the next test behaves differently. Do not make simultaneous changes to both rates unless there is a clear reason, because then you will not know which adjustment mattered.
Test the material and operating conditions you expect to use. A short clip with quiet speech may not expose the same problems as a long music loop with sustained sound. Likewise, a connection test during a quiet period may not reflect the time your station is busiest. YouTube’s 20% headroom suggestion and OBS’s troubleshooting advice are starting points for planning, not assurances of overnight stability.
If OBS repeatedly drops frames, first distinguish a connection problem from an audio quality concern. Lowering audio bitrate does not directly fix a video encoder overloaded by its chosen rate or a connection that cannot sustain the combined stream. For a 24/7 loop where the recurring burden is keeping a playback computer running, a cloud broadcast can remove the need to leave that computer on; StreamNeo turns an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream without requiring your computer to remain powered for the broadcast.
For a more detailed launch checklist, use the YouTube Live streaming dos and don’ts alongside the platform’s own current encoder instructions. If the channel also depends on a particular computer staying awake, the Mac mini power-cut guide covers a separate continuity concern rather than bitrate selection.
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FAQ
Does changing OBS audio bitrate change video bitrate?
No. In Simple output mode, Audio Bitrate and Video Bitrate are separate streaming controls. Editing one does not require changing the other, though both contribute to the total bandwidth used by the stream.
What audio bitrate should I use for stereo YouTube Live?
YouTube’s live encoder guidance recommends 128 Kbps for stereo audio. OBS’s overview mentions around 160 kbps as a general streaming example, but that is not YouTube’s stereo-specific recommendation. Confirm the current YouTube guidance if your audio layout or encoder is unusual.
Where are the streaming audio controls in Advanced mode?
Open Settings → Output, choose Advanced as the Output Mode, and inspect the Streaming section. Advanced mode also presents recording settings, so make sure you are editing the live stream rather than a recording track.
Should I lower audio bitrate when OBS reports dropped frames?
Dropped frames are a reason to examine the connection and video bitrate, not to assume that audio is the cause. Audio and video share outgoing capacity, but the controls remain separate. Use OBS’s connection troubleshooting advice and test a sustainable video rate with upload headroom.