Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder

There are iii ways to stream on YouTube: use a webcam, your mobile device, or an encoder (streaming software or a hardware encoder). Using an encoder lets you:

  • Share your screen or broadcast your gameplay
  • Use external audio and video hardware
  • Manage an avant-garde production (similar a few cameras and microphones)

The steps below will aid you get started with your first live stream.

1. Enable live streaming

Enabling a live stream for the first time may have up to 24 hours. Once enabled, your stream tin become live instantly. Larn how to start live streaming.

2. Install an encoder

An encoder converts your video into a digital format to stream on YouTube. Some encoders are software apps on your calculator, while others are standalone hardware.

Sentinel this video to learn more than about why you should utilize an encoder and how they work.

Encoder Live Streaming: Basics on How to Set Up & Use an Encoder

YouTube Live verified encoders

Here's a listing of YouTube Live verified encoders. None of these products are made by YouTube. Make sure to evaluate the products and decide which option makes the most sense for you or your business.

Software encoders

AWS Elemental MediaLive

AWS Elemental MediaLive is a broadcast-form live video processing service, supporting live streaming all the way upwards to 4Kp60 HEVC.

Melon Live Streaming App

Best alive streaming app for professional quality-live streams from your browser. Invite guests with ease. Packed with features, tons of customization options, donations, and no downloads needed.

Open Broadcaster Software

Complimentary and open source software for video recording and alive streaming.

Phase Ten

Use the ability of a alive production studio and command room in a unproblematic app. It's designed to reduce the complexity of social broadcasting and aid you transform your YouTube page into a social TV channel.

Streamlabs OBS
Windows, iOS, Android

Streamlabs OBS is the leading circulate software for streamers. Information technology's free, open-source, and packed with powerful features to assist you grow, get to know, and monetize.

XSplit Broadcaster
Windows (Free version available!)

Revolutionary audio/video-mixing app that allows you lot to create professional live broadcasts and video recordings.

Gamecaster
Windows (Free version available!)

The easiest way to stream and record your greatest gaming moments at the click of a button. Perfect for sharing your gameplay.

Wirecast
Windows, Mac

Like shooting fish in a barrel-to-apply, honor-winning alive streaming and production software. Add cameras, alive screenshots, titles, graphics, and more with just a click of a button. Stream direct to YouTube or whatsoever RTMP destination. Works with the YouTube API so you tin manage, create, and schedule or stream your live channel without leaving the app.

Hardware encoders

AirServer
Windows, Mac

Mirror your mobile device or calculator to YouTube.

AWS Elemental Live

AWS Elemental Live is an on-premises video encoder that processes alive video for broadcast and streaming to whatsoever device.

Elgato Game Capture HD60
Windows, Mac

Record and stream your Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii U gameplay.

Epiphan Pearl 2

The Pearl-two is a video switcher, recorder, streamer, splitter, and scaler all in one. This software offers six video inputs and four for XLR professional person audio, 4K streaming and recording, NDI back up, chroma keying, and much more. Pearl-ii brings the pro features and processing power required for the most demanding live streams.

LiveU Solo

A video encoding device that offers ane-touch, wireless live streaming.

SlingStudio

The industry's outset portable, wireless multi-camera broadcasting platform. Monitor, record, switch, edit, and stream alive HD-quality video wirelessly to YouTube.

Teradek VidiU Pro

Stream in broadcast quality on the go from any HDMI camera, switcher, or video source.

Mobile encoders

AirServer
Windows, Mac

Mirror your mobile device to YouTube.

Streamlabs OBS
Windows, iOS, Android

Built on OBS, and combines Streamlabs alerts, shortcuts, tipping, face masks, and thousands of free themes and overlays.

Wirecast Go
iOS

Gratuitous download from iOS App Store. Easily produce professional live broadcasts from your iPhone and stream them to YouTube. Switch shots, add photos, graphics, and more on upwardly to three layers at a time for powerful mobile product. Read YouTube comments and chat in real time and interact with your audience. Schedule, create, and manage your YouTube live streams direct inside the app. Upgrade from gratuitous version to stream to any RTMP destination.

three. Connect your hardware

If yous're using hardware, like a webcam, a microphone, or a headset, connect them and make certain they're fix up with your encoder.

Depending on your stream, yous may utilise dissimilar hardware. Here are some typical examples:

Gaming & coincidental live streams
Many streamers use an external microphone, webcam, and headphones. Gamers may besides use other tools similar a greenscreen.

Professional live streams
Advanced stream setups can include more than one microphone, camera, mixer, and hardware encoder.

four. Connect your encoder and go alive

To first streaming, enter your YouTube Live server URL and stream key into your encoder. If you take audio and video hardware, set it up with your encoder, also known as streaming software.

Introducing Alive Control Room - for Live Streaming

Start live streaming now

First, create a stream

  1. Get to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the peak right, clickCREATE and thenGet Live to open the Alive Command Room.
  3. Click the Stream tab.
  4. If it's your showtime live stream: Edit your stream and click Create stream.
    If y'all've live streamed earlier: Your previous stream settings will load, including your stream primal, which means you won't need to update your encoder.
    • For users aged 13-17 on YouTube, your default privacy setting is set to private. If you lot're 18 or over, your default privacy setting is gear up to public. All users can change this setting to make their live stream public, private, or unlisted.
  5. If you're in the YouTube Partner Program, you tin monetize your alive stream. Learn more.

Side by side, connect your stream to your encoder, and so become alive

  1. In your encoder stream settings, if you see the option to stream to YouTube, select that. Otherwise copy the stream URL from YouTube and paste it in to your encoder's Stream settings server. It may say RTMP server.
  2. Copy the stream primal from YouTube and paste it in to your encoders Stream settings where it says Stream Key.
  3. Set upwardly your encoder, then start the stream with your encoder. A watch folio is at present created for your stream, and you're now live on YouTube. Notifications will exist sent and your stream will show up in subscriber feeds.
  4. To cease the stream, end sending content from your encoder. All streams nether 12 hours volition be automatically archived. Yous tin can observe previous, electric current, and upcoming streams in the Alive Tab on your YouTube Studio dashboard. Acquire more than.

Schedule a live stream

Scheduling a stream lets you promote your stream. Viewers can get reminders on upcoming streams, you can share the URL on social media, and more than.

Schedule a stream

  1. Go to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the top correct, click CREATE and then Go Live  to open the Alive Control Room.
  3. Click the Manage tab.
  4. Click Schedule stream.
  5. You tin reuse settings from a previous stream and click Reuse settings, or you tin can create a stream by clicking Create new.
    • For users aged thirteen-17 on YouTube, your default privacy setting is prepare to private. If yous're 18 or over, your default privacy setting is set to public. All users can modify this setting to make their live stream public, private, or unlisted.
  6. If you lot're in the YouTube Partner Program, you can monetize your live stream. Learn more.

Tip: Get your audience excited nearly your upcoming live stream by showing a trailer. Learn more.

When it'due south time to kickoff your stream...

Connect your stream to your encoder, and then go live.

  1. In your encoder stream settings, if you see the option to stream to YouTube, select that. Otherwise re-create the stream URL from YouTube and paste it into your encoder's Stream settings server. It may say RTMP server.
  2. Copy the stream key from YouTube and paste it in to your encoders Stream settings where it says Stream Key.
  3. Set upwards your encoder, and then offset the stream.
  4. In Live Control Room, wait for the stream preview to show upwardly, and then click Go live.
  5. To terminate the stream, click Finish Stream and end sending content from your encoder. All streams under 12 hours will exist automatically archived. You can admission previous, current, and upcoming streams in the Live Tab on your YouTube Studio dashboard. Acquire more than.

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