Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder

There are three ways to stream on YouTube: utilize 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 sound and video hardware
  • Manage an advanced production (like a few cameras and microphones)

The steps below will help you lot get started with your starting time alive stream.

ane. Enable live streaming

Enabling a live stream for the starting time time may have upwards to 24 hours. Once enabled, your stream can become live instantly. Learn how to start live streaming.

two. Install an encoder

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

Scout this video to acquire more about why y'all should use an encoder and how they work.

Encoder Alive Streaming: Nuts on How to Set up & Utilise an Encoder

YouTube Live verified encoders

Hither's a list of YouTube Live verified encoders. None of these products are made past YouTube. Make certain to evaluate the products and make up one's mind which pick makes the most sense for you or your business.

Software encoders

AWS Elemental MediaLive

AWS Elemental MediaLive is a circulate-form live video processing service, supporting live streaming all the mode up to 4Kp60 HEVC.

Melon Live Streaming App

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

Open Broadcaster Software

Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming.

Stage Ten

Use the power of a live production studio and control room in a simple app. It'due south designed to reduce the complexity of social broadcasting and help y'all transform your YouTube folio into a social TV channel.

Streamlabs OBS
Windows, iOS, Android

Streamlabs OBS is the leading broadcast software for streamers. It's complimentary, open-source, and packed with powerful features to help you grow, get to know, and monetize.

XSplit Broadcaster
Windows (Free version available!)

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

Gamecaster
Windows (Free version available!)

The easiest way to stream and tape 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-utilize, laurels-winning live streaming and production software. Add cameras, live screenshots, titles, graphics, and more with simply a click of a button. Stream direct to YouTube or whatever 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 figurer to YouTube.

AWS Elemental Live

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

Elgato Game Capture HD60
Windows, Mac

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

Epiphan Pearl 2

The Pearl-ii 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 support, chroma keying, and much more. Pearl-2 brings the pro features and processing power required for the most demanding live streams.

LiveU Solo

A video encoding device that offers i-touch, wireless alive streaming.

SlingStudio

The manufacture's commencement portable, wireless multi-camera broadcasting platform. Monitor, record, switch, edit, and stream live Hard disk drive-quality video wirelessly to YouTube.

Teradek VidiU Pro

Stream in broadcast quality on the become from whatsoever HDMI camera, switcher, or video source.

Mobile encoders

AirServer
Windows, Mac

Mirror your mobile device to YouTube.

Streamlabs OBS
Windows, iOS, Android

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

Wirecast Go
iOS

Costless download from iOS App Shop. Easily produce professional live broadcasts from your iPhone and stream them to YouTube. Switch shots, add photos, graphics, and more on up to three layers at a fourth dimension for powerful mobile production. Read YouTube comments and conversation in real time and interact with your audience. Schedule, create, and manage your YouTube alive streams directly within the app. Upgrade from free version to stream to any RTMP destination.

3. Connect your hardware

If y'all're using hardware, like a webcam, a microphone, or a headset, connect them and make sure they're prepare with your encoder.

Depending on your stream, you may use different hardware. Here are some typical examples:

Gaming & casual live streams
Many streamers employ an external microphone, webcam, and headphones. Gamers may also utilise other tools like a greenscreen.

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

iv. Connect your encoder and go live

To start streaming, enter your YouTube Live server URL and stream fundamental into your encoder. If y'all have sound and video hardware, set information technology up with your encoder, also known every bit streaming software.

Introducing Live Command Room - for Live Streaming

Offset live streaming now

First, create a stream

  1. Get to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the top right, clickCREATE and thenGo Live to open the Live Control Room.
  3. Click the Stream tab.
  4. If it's your beginning live stream: Edit your stream and click Create stream.
    If you've alive streamed before: Your previous stream settings volition load, including your stream central, which ways you won't demand to update your encoder.
    • For users aged 13-17 on YouTube, your default privacy setting is set to private. If you're eighteen or over, your default privacy setting is set up to public. All users can change this setting to make their live stream public, private, or unlisted.
  5. If yous're in the YouTube Partner Plan, you can monetize your live stream. Learn more than.

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

  1. In your encoder stream settings, if you see the choice to stream to YouTube, select that. Otherwise copy the stream URL from YouTube and paste it in to your encoder's Stream settings server. Information technology may say RTMP server.
  2. Copy the stream key from YouTube and paste it in to your encoders Stream settings where information technology says Stream Primal.
  3. Set upwardly your encoder, then start the stream with your encoder. A sentry page is now created for your stream, and you lot're at present live on YouTube. Notifications volition be sent and your stream will show upward in subscriber feeds.
  4. To end the stream, terminate sending content from your encoder. All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived. You lot tin can detect previous, current, and upcoming streams in the Live Tab on your YouTube Studio dashboard. Learn more.

Schedule a live stream

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

Schedule a stream

  1. Go to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the meridian correct, click CREATE and then Become Live  to open up the Alive Control Room.
  3. Click the Manage tab.
  4. Click Schedule stream.
  5. You lot tin can reuse settings from a previous stream and click Reuse settings, or you tin can create a stream by clicking Create new.
    • For users aged 13-17 on YouTube, your default privacy setting is set to private. If you're 18 or over, your default privacy setting is set to public. All users can change this setting to make their live stream public, private, or unlisted.
  6. If you lot're in the YouTube Partner Plan, yous can monetize your alive stream. Learn more.

Tip: Become your audience excited well-nigh your upcoming live stream by showing a trailer. Acquire more than.

When it's time to get-go your stream...

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

  1. In your encoder stream settings, if you run into the option to stream to YouTube, select that. Otherwise copy 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 Fundamental.
  3. Prepare your encoder, then kickoff the stream.
  4. In Live Command Room, look for the stream preview to prove upwardly, and and so click Go live.
  5. To end the stream, click Stop Stream and stop sending content from your encoder. All streams nether 12 hours will be automatically archived. You can access previous, current, and upcoming streams in the Live Tab on your YouTube Studio dashboard. Learn more.

Was this helpful?

How can we ameliorate information technology?