Understanding the importance of setting the right bitrate is crucial for achieving a balance between exceptional video quality and a seamless streaming experience for your audience.
To determine the best bitrate, it’s essential to know your internet’s stable upload speed. To prevent buffering or lag, aim for a total bitrate that is around 75% of your upload bandwidth.
When streaming at 1080p and 60 fps for fast-paced games, Twitch officially supports a bitrate up to 6,000 Kbps. However, some streamers have success slightly exceeding this with a stable connection, often ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 Kbps for partners. For non-partners, sticking to 6,000 Kbps is the safer choice.
For content with less motion like talk shows or slower games at 1080p and 30 fps, a bitrate between 4,500 and 6,000 Kbps is typically adequate. If 1080p is taxing on your connection, streaming at 720p and 60 fps with a bitrate of 4,500 to 6,000 Kbps is a good compromise for smooth motion.
Consider utilizing hardware encoders like NVENC for NVIDIA cards in software like OBS over x264 (CPU) encoders to reduce strain on your computer’s processor for a smoother streaming and gaming experience.
Ultimately, the right bitrate hinges on your upload speed and streaming quality objectives. For top-tier 1080p quality, target 6,000 Kbps if your internet can handle it comfortably. Always conduct an upload speed test to finalize your settings for optimal performance.
Happy streaming,
Sean