Video Streaming Technical Details

Network/Upload bandwidth

Minimum recommended upload: 10 Mbps (roughly 1.6× your stream bitrate)

Comfortable upload: 15 Mbps or higher

Wired ethernet is strongly preferred — WiFi introduces jitter and packet loss that causes dropped frames even when your speed test looks fine

Test your upload speed at the venue or location before going live, not just at home

5G/Cellular Backup

Most professional streamers run a cellular connection as a backup — or primary — when venue WiFi is unreliable or wired ethernet isn’t available

5G (mid-band or mmWave) can deliver 50–300 Mbps upload in good conditions, well above what vyb requires

A dedicated mobile hotspot is preferable to tethering from your phone — it keeps your phone free and maintains a more stable connection

Bonded streaming: pros often use hardware encoders (Teradek, LiveU, YoloBox) or apps (Speedify, Calix) that bond multiple connections — WiFi + 5G simultaneously — for maximum reliability. This is worth considering for high-stakes shows.

Cellular signal varies dramatically by venue. An outdoor festival with 10,000 people will saturate nearby towers.

Check signal before the show, not during.If you’re relying on 5G, use a hotspot with an external antenna port and a window-mounted antenna where possible — especially in concrete venues

Video

Protocol: RTMPS (secure/recommended), RTMP

Codec: H.264 (x264), Baseline or Main profile. High profile supported but not required.

Keyframe interval: 2 seconds — hard requirement. OBS calls this “Keyframe Interval = 2.”

B-frames: Disabled — do not enable

Rate control: CBR (Constant Bitrate) required — VBR will cause buffering and dropped frames

Max bitrate: 6,000 Kbps for partners

Recommended bitrate by resolution:

  • 1080p60 → 4,500–6,000 Kbps
  • 1080p30 → 3,500–5,000 Kbps
  • 720p60 → 3,500–5,000 Kbps
  • 720p30 → 2,500–4,000 Kbps

Frame rate: 30 or 60 fps.

Resolution: Max 1920×1080.

Pixel format: YUV 4:2:0

Audio

Channels: Stereo recommended. Mono accepted.

Codec: AAC-LC

Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz

Bitrate: 128 Kbps stereo (minimum); 160–192 Kbps recommended for music

Software / Encoder Settings

OBS Studio (most common, free, recommended)

  • Encoder: x264 (software) or hardware encoder if available (NVENC for NVIDIA, AMF for AMD, VideoToolbox for Apple Silicon)
  • Rate control: CBR
  • Bitrate: match your target from the spec above (e.g. 6,000 Kbps for 1080p60)
  • Keyframe interval: 2 seconds — set explicitly, do not leave on “auto”
  • CPU usage preset (x264 only): veryfast or superfast — slower presets look better but will drop frames if your CPU can’t keep up
  • Profile: Main or Baseline
  • B-frames: 0
  • Audio encoder: AAC, 192 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo

Hardware encoders (Blackmagic/NVENC / AMF / VideoToolbox)

  • Prefer hardware encoding if your GPU supports it — offloads the CPU, more stable under load
  • Set “Max Quality” or “Quality” preset in NVENC; avoid “Performance” mode
  • AMD AMF: Solid alternative on AMD cards; same CBR and keyframe rules apply
  • Apple VideoToolbox: Strong choice on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3); handles long streams well without thermal issues
  • Blackmagic Design: ATEM Mini Pro and ATEM Mini Extreme are the go-to hardware switchers for professional music streaming — handle multi-camera switching, built-in encoding, and direct RTMP output without a separate computer. The ATEM Mini Pro ISO also records all inputs locally as a safety net. Pairs well with Blackmagic cameras but works with any HDMI source.
  • Same CBR, keyframe interval = 2, and B-frames = 0 rules apply regardless of encoder or switcher

Streamlabs

  • Built on OBS under the hood — same settings apply
  • Settings are in the same locations; output and video tabs are identical in structure
  • Slightly higher resource usage than OBS Studio

XSplit

  • Supported but less common in music/live performance contexts
  • Same CBR and keyframe rules apply; found under Stream Settings → Output

Mobile streaming (iPhone / Android)

  • Apps: Larix Broadcaster (free, pro-grade), Streamlabs Mobile, Prism Live
  • Larix is the strongest choice for manual control — lets you set exact bitrate, keyframe interval, and CBR
  • On mobile, cap bitrate at 4,000 Kbps for 1080p30 — mobile encoders are less efficient than desktop
  • Use 720p60 or 1080p30 rather than 1080p60 on mobile — thermal throttling on long streams will degrade quality
  • Lock your phone orientation before going live
  • Airplane mode + WiFi or hotspot only — an incoming call will kill your stream on most setups

General tips across all software

  • Do a full test stream before any show — stream to a private/unlisted GoLive and watch the playback
  • Monitor your encoder’s dropped frames counter during the stream; anything above 1–2% means something is wrong
  • Close all background applications — browsers, cloud sync, video calls — before going live
  • If you’re on a laptop, plug into power; encoding on battery triggers thermal throttling