Quality & Encoding

Bitrate, codecs, latency, protocols and data use for stable, good-looking live streams.

12 articles

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Cover graphic with the headline "KICK OBS SETTINGS 8,000 KBPS" and a gauge and the Kick icon

KICK OBS Settings: CBR, 8,000 kbps Max, 1080p60 and Encoder Presets

The KICK streaming limits and the recommended OBS settings for x264, NVENC and AMD: CBR only, 8,000 kbps, 1920x1080, 60 fps, 2-second keyframes.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "TWITCH DUAL FORMAT" and a phone and the Twitch icon

Quality & Encoding 2 min

Twitch Dual Format Streaming: Vertical + Horizontal Setup in OBS

How Twitch dual format streaming works: horizontal and vertical at once, the OBS and Aitum Vertical steps, the 1080 x 1920 canvas and safe zones.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "MULTI- PLATFORM MATH" and a stack of layers with YouTube and Twitch icons

Quality & Encoding 3 min

Simulstreaming From YouTube: Upload Speed Math for Multiple Platforms

YouTube's guidance on streaming to several platforms at once: add up the bitrates, aim for 1.5 to 2 times upload, and local versus cloud encoding.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "5.1 SURROUND AUDIO" and headphones and the YouTube icon

Quality & Encoding 2 min

5.1 Surround Sound on YouTube Live: Codecs, Bitrate and Setup

How to stream 5.1 audio to YouTube Live: automatic detection, RTMP and HLS codec support, 48 kHz and 384 Kbps settings and known compatible encoders.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "HLS INGEST RULES" and a cloud and the YouTube icon

Quality & Encoding 2 min

YouTube HLS Ingestion: Segment Duration, Codecs and Required Settings

The settings YouTube requires for HLS ingestion: segment duration of 1 to 4 seconds, TS format, rolling playlist, HTTPS and the supported codecs.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "UPLOAD SETTINGS H.264" and a film frame and the YouTube icon

Quality & Encoding 2 min

YouTube Upload Encoding Settings: MP4, H.264, AAC and Bitrate Table

YouTube's recommended upload settings: MP4 container, H.264 High Profile, AAC audio, frame rates, deinterlacing and SDR/HDR bitrates by resolution.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "TWITCH SETTINGS 48H MAX" and a gauge with a Twitch badge

Quality & Encoding 2 min

Twitch Broadcast Settings: CBR, 6,000 kbps and the 48-Hour Limit

Twitch's recommended settings for 1080p and 720p, why it prefers CBR, audio limits and the maximum broadcast length.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "RTMP VS RTMPS" and a padlock

Quality & Encoding 2 min

RTMP vs RTMPS: Why YouTube Recommends the Encrypted One

What RTMPS adds, what YouTube says about it, and how to protect a stream key.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "HDR, AV1 OR HEVC?" and a film frame with a play button

Quality & Encoding 2 min

HDR, AV1 and HEVC on YouTube Live: Which Codec for Which Job

YouTube's codec guidance for live: HEVC for HDR, AV1 not supported for HDR, tiling for 4K AV1, and 10-bit versus 8-bit.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "LOW OR ULTRA-LOW LATENCY?" and a lightning bolt

Quality & Encoding 2 min

Normal, Low or Ultra-Low Latency: Which YouTube Live Setting to Choose

What each latency mode means, what it costs in quality, and why a non-interactive 24/7 stream usually wants normal latency.

Oct 4, 2026

$Cover graphic with the headline "4.5 TB A MONTH?" and a gauge$

Quality & Encoding 3 min

Bitrate vs Upload Speed: What a 24/7 Stream Really Costs in Data

Turning YouTube's recommended bitrates into gigabytes per day and per month, to see what streaming around the clock from home would require.

Oct 4, 2026

Cover graphic with the headline "BITRATE CHEAT SHEET" and a gauge

Quality & Encoding 3 min

YouTube Live Encoder Settings: The Official Bitrate Table, Explained

Minimum and recommended bitrates by resolution and codec, keyframe interval, CBR and audio settings from YouTube's encoder guidance.

Oct 4, 2026

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