Create a YouTube Live Stream With an Encoder: Step by Step

YouTube describes three ways to stream: a webcam, a mobile device or an encoder, meaning streaming software or a hardware box. An encoder lets you share your screen or gameplay, use external audio and video hardware, and manage an advanced production with several cameras and microphones.

An encoder converts your video into a digital format YouTube can ingest. Some are apps on your computer and others are standalone hardware.

Scheduling lets you promote a stream: viewers get reminders for upcoming streams and you can share the URL in advance. In the Live Control Room open the Manage tab, click Schedule stream and either create a new one or click Reuse settings.

Reuse settings copies the previous stream's metadata, settings and stream key, and you can still change the new stream after it is created. When it is time, start your encoder, wait for the preview to appear in the Live Control Room, then click Go live.

To end, stop sending content from the encoder (and click End Stream if you scheduled it). YouTube says all streams under 12 hours are automatically archived and can be found in the Live tab of Studio.

The Live Control Panel is a compact pop-out version of the Live Control Room that shows views and chat revenue. It is available when you stream with an encoder or a webcam.

YouCast turns the videos you upload into a 24/7 live stream that runs from the cloud, to YouTube and, with a stream key, to Twitch, Kick and Instagram, so there is no encoder to configure, no computer to keep awake and no home upload line to saturate.

The steps above are what an encoder needs. With YouCast you skip the encoder: choose the channel and the video, set the title and thumbnail and start the stream from the dashboard.

You can try one stream on the free trial and add more streams as the channel grows.