Best bitrate and settings for IRL streaming (Twitch, YouTube, Kick)
5 min read ·
In IRL streaming, the right settings balance quality against what mobile internet can handle. Too high a bitrate freezes; too low makes the picture blurry.
From the phone to the cloud
This is where the internet fluctuates. Use adaptive bitrate between 2,500 and 8,000 kbps at 1080p: the app lowers it by itself when the signal degrades. If your phone and app support it, prefer H.265 (HEVC) — it delivers the same quality with roughly 30–40% less data. Use an SRT latency of 2,000 ms or more to leave time to re-send lost packets.
From the cloud to the platforms
This leg leaves a data center with stable internet, so you can use the maximum bitrate each platform accepts. Reference values (check the official pages, recommendations change):
- Twitch: up to about 6,000 kbps at 1080p60
- Kick: up to about 8,000 kbps
- YouTube: accepts higher bitrates at 1080p60
- Audio: AAC at 128 to 160 kbps
30 or 60 fps?
For walking, driving or sports, 60 fps makes motion much smoother. Where the signal is weak, 1080p30 or 720p60 save data. On Stratu, the main stream always goes out at the fps you chose, even if the camera fluctuates.
Keyframes and other details
Use a 2-second keyframe interval — that's what the platforms ask for. Avoid B-frames in live streaming and keep the same resolution from start to finish. On Stratu, these output settings come ready: you only choose the quality.
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