Optimal video bitrate for broadcasting
Contents of the article
Preparing for live broadcasts on YouTube requires careful configuration of the relevant broadcast parameters, in which special attention should be paid to setting up the video encoder to obtain an acceptable picture and sound during the broadcast. After all, when broadcasting on YouTube, as well as when uploading videos to this platform, the quality of the uploaded material always differs from the original.
How to set up bitrate on YouTube
Many novice bloggers, when setting up a video encoder, wonder what settings need to wordpress web design agency be applied to get a really high-quality picture during broadcasting.
First of all, it is worth choosing the right codec - this is an important component when setting up a broadcast on both YouTube and other platforms. Most often, YouTube uses two codecs for video compression and broadcasts: H.264/AVC and VP9.
H.264/AVC is the most common codec used to compress video with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and below.
VP9 - compared to the first codec, it provides a higher quality picture with the same stream, used to compress video with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and higher.
The VP9 codec is suitable for broadcasting, which is guaranteed to provide a high-quality picture. Compared to the H.264 codec, VP9 requires up to 50% less bitrate to achieve the same picture quality as when using AVC and OBS.
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When using the VP9 codec, you need to broadcast in 2K resolution or higher. You also need to consider the video compression mode.
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CBR
Constant Stream Mode. This involves manual adjustment, where the parameter does not change throughout the entire broadcast. Using this mode allows you to more accurately calculate the final file size. However, CBR mode is not effective for YouTube because the quality-to-size ratio is not guaranteed with it.
VBR
The variable bitrate mode means that the selection is performed by the codec itself, depending on the quality required for the broadcast. Using this mode ensures a good balance between quality and sound.
ABR
A mode with a replaceable stream, which combines the capabilities of CBR and ABR. When using this mode, the user sets the parameter himself, but after that the program can make adjustments within certain limits. Enabling the ABR mode guarantees a more accurate calculation of the final file size.
Optimal video bitrate for broadcasting
When choosing a stream speed, you can refer to the official YouTube recommendations. Thus, for a stream in 720p resolution with a standard frame rate of 24-30 FPS, 5 Mbps is indicated as optimal. With a high frame rate of 48-60 FPS and the same resolution in 720p, 7.5 Mbps is used. And for broadcasting in 1080p resolution with a standard frame rate of 24-30 FPS, it is recommended to specify 8 Mbps. If we are talking about a high frame rate of 48-60 FPS, it is recommended to set this parameter to 12 Mbps.
And here is what practical experience of using the platform shows:
At 720p resolution, 10–16 Mbit/sec becomes optimal. Choosing this quality guarantees a good picture and a small file size.
If higher image quality is required, the bitrate should be from 18 to 25 Mbps.
To achieve maximum image quality, you need to select the 50 Mbps parameter with a resolution of 1080p or higher.
These parameters also showed excellent results when broadcasting via OBS.
Audio
It is also necessary to take into account the audio bitrate, the optimal choice of which will increase the quality of the sound during the broadcast, and therefore the overall quality in the ratio "picture - sound". When choosing the optimal audio stream for the broadcast, you should be guided by the following parameters:
32 kbps - suitable only for voice recording.
92 kbps - in addition to voice recording, suitable for low-quality streaming audio.
128–160 kbps – suitable for initial audio encoding.
192 kbps - suitable for encoding audio in normal quality.
256 kbps - provides high quality of recorded audio.
320 kbps - provides the highest quality of recorded audio.
The OBS Studio program, which is known to almost every blogger, allows you to configure the encoder for broadcasting. One of the main advantages of this program is the ability to independently configure all parameters and save them without the need for further reconfiguration during subsequent launches. To install the encoder for broadcasting, you need to open the settings and select the "Output" item in the settings menu, then select one of the two encoders.
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