Streaming Configuration

RTMP streaming setup for YouTube Live, Twitch, and other platforms.

Last Updated: Version: 1.0.0

Overview
Platform Setup
OBS Output Configuration
Bitrate Recommendations
Multi-Platform Streaming
Quality Optimization
Troubleshooting

Overview

The Multi-Camera Livestream Framework outputs via RTMP to live streaming platforms. Primary platform is YouTube Live, with optional simulcast to Twitch.

Stream Specifications

Parameter	Value
Resolution	1920x1080 (1080p)
Frame Rate	60 fps
Video Codec	H.264 (x264 or Apple VT)
Audio Codec	AAC
Audio Sample Rate	48 kHz
Audio Bitrate	320 kbps

Platform Setup

YouTube Live

Creating Stream Key

Go to YouTube Studio
Click Create → Go Live
Choose Stream tab
Select Streaming software
Copy Stream key (keep secret!)

YouTube Recommended Settings

Setting	Value
Ingest Server	Primary: rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2
Backup Server	rtmp://b.rtmp.youtube.com/live2?backup=1
Video Bitrate	4500-9000 kbps for 1080p60
Keyframe Interval	2 seconds
Audio Bitrate	128-384 kbps

YouTube Stream Health

Monitor at: YouTube Studio → Go Live → Stream Health

Excellent: Green indicator
Good: Yellow indicator (minor issues)
Poor: Red indicator (investigate immediately)

Twitch

Creating Stream Key

Go to Twitch Dashboard
Settings → Stream
Copy Primary Stream Key

Twitch Recommended Settings

Setting	Value
Ingest Server	Auto (or closest)
Video Bitrate	6000 kbps max (non-partners)
Keyframe Interval	2 seconds
Audio Bitrate	160 kbps

⚠️ Twitch Partners/Affiliates have higher bitrate limits.

Other Platforms

Platform	RTMP URL	Notes
Facebook Live	rtmps://live-api-s.facebook.com:443/rtmp/	Use RTMPS
Custom RTMP

OBS Output Configuration

Settings → Output (Simple Mode)

For quick setup:

Video Bitrate: 6000 kbps
Encoder: Apple VT H264 Hardware Encoder
Audio Bitrate: 320 kbps

Settings → Output (Advanced Mode)

Recommended for production:

Streaming Tab

Type: Custom Output (FFmpeg)
 -- or --
Type: Standard

Encoder: Apple VT H264 Hardware Encoder
 -- or --
Encoder: x264 (software, higher quality)

Rate Control: CBR
Bitrate: 6000 kbps
Keyframe Interval: 2
Profile: high
Tune: (none)

Recording Tab (if recording locally)

Type: Standard
Recording Path: /Volumes/RecordingDrive/
Recording Format: mkv (convert to mp4 post-stream)
Encoder: Apple VT H264 Hardware Encoder
Rate Control: CRF
CRF: 18-20

Settings → Video

Base Resolution: 1920x1080
Output Resolution: 1920x1080
FPS: 60

Settings → Audio

Sample Rate: 48 kHz
Channels: Stereo

Settings → Stream

Service: YouTube - RTMPS
 -- or --
Service: Custom...
Server: rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2
Stream Key: [Your key - keep secret!]

Bitrate Recommendations

By Resolution and Frame Rate

Resolution	Frame Rate	Bitrate Range	Recommended
720p	30 fps	2500-4000	3000 kbps
720p	60 fps	3500-5000	4500 kbps
1080p	30 fps	4000-6000	4500 kbps
1080p	60 fps	5000-9000	6000 kbps
1440p	30 fps	8000-12000	9000 kbps
1440p	60 fps	10000-15000	12000 kbps
4K	30 fps	13000-20000	15000 kbps
4K	60 fps	20000-35000	25000 kbps

Network Requirements

Video Bitrate	Upload Speed Needed
6000 kbps	8+ Mbps
9000 kbps	12+ Mbps
15000 kbps	20+ Mbps

Always have 30-50% headroom above your target bitrate.

Testing Your Connection

# Test upload speed
speedtest-cli --simple

# Or use web-based test
open https://speedtest.net

Multi-Platform Streaming

Option 1: OBS Multiple Outputs (Built-in)

OBS can output to multiple RTMP endpoints simultaneously:

Install Multiple RTMP Output plugin
Configure additional outputs
Start both when going live

Pros: Simple, no extra cost Cons: Uses more CPU/upload bandwidth

Option 2: Restreaming Service

Use a service like Restream.io or Castr:

OBS → Restream.io → YouTube
                  → Twitch
                  → Facebook

Pros: Single output from OBS, lower bandwidth Cons: Monthly cost, slight latency increase

Option 3: Nginx RTMP Server (Self-hosted)

Set up local RTMP relay:

# Basic Nginx RTMP config
# /usr/local/etc/nginx/nginx.conf

rtmp {
    server {
        listen 1935;
        application live {
            live on;
            push rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/[key];
            push rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/[key];
        }
    }
}

Pros: Full control, no service costs Cons: Requires server setup and maintenance

Quality Optimization

Encoder Selection

Encoder	CPU Load	Quality	Recommendation
Apple VT H264	Very Low	Good	Primary choice on M1
x264 (medium)	High	Excellent	If CPU allows
x264 (fast)	Medium	Good	Balance option

Apple VT Hardware Encoder Settings

Profile: high
Allow B-Frames: Yes

x264 Software Encoder Settings

Rate Control: CBR
Bitrate: 6000
Preset: veryfast (or faster if CPU-limited)
Profile: high
Tune: none
x264 Options: (leave empty for defaults)

Color Space Settings

For best compatibility:

Settings → Advanced → Video
Color Format: NV12
Color Space: 709
Color Range: Partial

Audio Processing

In OBS Audio settings:

Normalize audio levels
Use limiter to prevent clipping
Consider noise gate for microphones

Troubleshooting

Stream Disconnects

Symptoms: Stream drops mid-broadcast

Solutions:

Switch to backup RTMP server
Lower bitrate (network congestion)
Check ISP stability
Use wired Ethernet (not WiFi)
Enable “Automatically reconnect” in OBS

Dropped Frames

Symptoms: OBS shows dropped frames in stats

Types:

Encoding lag: CPU/GPU can’t keep up
Network: Upload can’t sustain bitrate
Rendering lag: GPU overloaded

Solutions:

Encoding: Lower preset (faster), use hardware encoder
Network: Lower bitrate, check connection
Rendering: Reduce scene complexity, close other apps

Pixelation/Artifacts

Symptoms: Stream looks blocky, especially during motion

Solutions:

Increase video bitrate
Lower resolution (1080p → 720p)
Lower frame rate (60 → 30)
Use CRF instead of CBR for quality-priority encoding

Audio Out of Sync

Symptoms: Audio doesn’t match video

Solutions:

Check audio sync offset in Advanced Audio Properties
Verify consistent sample rate (48 kHz everywhere)
Check Dante clock sync
Restart audio devices

Platform Rejects Stream

Symptoms: Platform shows “stream key invalid” or similar

Solutions:

Re-copy stream key (they expire sometimes)
Check RTMP URL is correct
Verify account is in good standing
Check stream restrictions (scheduled time, etc.)

High Latency to Viewers

Symptoms: Viewers report 20+ second delay

Solutions:

Enable “Low Latency” mode on platform
YouTube: Ultra Low Latency mode
Reduce keyframe interval
Accept trade-off: lower latency = less buffer = more risk of stuttering

Quick Reference

OBS Stats Window

View → Stats (Dock to main window)

Key metrics:

Dropped Frames (Network): Target 0%
Dropped Frames (Encoder): Target 0%
Rendering Lag: Target 0%
Output Bitrate: Should match settings

Test Stream Checklist

Before going live:

Test stream for 5+ minutes
Verify video quality on platform preview
Verify audio levels and sync
Check platform stream health indicator
Test scene transitions
Verify stream title/description
Confirm scheduled start time (if applicable)

Emergency Contacts

Platform	Support
YouTube	Creator Support
Twitch	Twitch Support

Streaming Configuration

Table of Contents

Overview

Stream Specifications

Platform Setup

YouTube Live

Creating Stream Key

YouTube Recommended Settings

YouTube Stream Health

Twitch

Creating Stream Key

Twitch Recommended Settings

Other Platforms

OBS Output Configuration

Settings → Output (Simple Mode)

Settings → Output (Advanced Mode)

Streaming Tab

Recording Tab (if recording locally)

Settings → Video

Settings → Audio

Settings → Stream

Bitrate Recommendations

By Resolution and Frame Rate

Network Requirements

Testing Your Connection

Multi-Platform Streaming

Option 1: OBS Multiple Outputs (Built-in)

Option 2: Restreaming Service

Option 3: Nginx RTMP Server (Self-hosted)

Quality Optimization

Encoder Selection

Apple VT Hardware Encoder Settings

x264 Software Encoder Settings

Color Space Settings

Audio Processing

Troubleshooting

Stream Disconnects

Dropped Frames

Pixelation/Artifacts

Audio Out of Sync

Platform Rejects Stream

High Latency to Viewers

Quick Reference

OBS Stats Window

Test Stream Checklist

Emergency Contacts

See Also