OBS Studio is widely used for live broadcasting, but incorrect settings can cause dropped frames and buffering. Plan your settings for the event, hardware and network connection.
Upload headroom: keep the total stream bitrate comfortably below your stable upload speed. The source guide recommends using no more than about 60% of the available connection.
1. Choose an encoder
- NVIDIA NVENC: dedicated hardware encoding reduces CPU load.
- Intel Quick Sync: useful on supported Intel integrated graphics.
- x264: CPU-based encoding; allow enough processing capacity for your scene and resolution.
2. Rate control and keyframes
For the AlphaServer RTMP-to-HLS workflow, use CBR, a two-second keyframe interval and the High profile. Choose a low-latency preset where appropriate and supported.
3. Starting bitrate ranges
- 1080p at 60 fps: 5,500–6,500 kbps; allow at least 12 Mbps upload.
- 1080p at 30 fps: 4,000–4,800 kbps, suitable for talks and events.
- 720p at 30 fps: 2,200–3,000 kbps for a balance of quality and bandwidth.
Test the actual connection and content before going live.
4. Connect to AlphaServer WebTV
In OBS Stream settings, choose Custom, enter the RTMP server URL provided with your WebTV service and your personal stream key. AlphaServer handles distribution, adaptive bitrate variants and the HTML5 player for your website.
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