Codec and Bitrate Guide

Choosing the right codec and bitrate settings balances video quality, bandwidth usage, and platform compatibility.

Video codecs

Codec Pros Cons
H.264 Universal compatibility — works on every platform and device Less efficient compression; needs higher bitrate for same quality
H.265 (HEVC) ~40% better compression — better quality at lower bitrate Not supported by all streaming platforms (Twitch, Kick, TikTok require H.264)

Rule of thumb: Use H.264 for streaming to platforms. Use H.265 for local recording or custom servers that support it.

1080p (1920x1080)

Frame rate Low quality Good quality High quality
30 fps 2500 kbps 4500 kbps 6000 kbps
60 fps 4000 kbps 6000 kbps 8000 kbps

720p (1280x720)

Frame rate Low quality Good quality High quality
30 fps 1500 kbps 2500 kbps 4000 kbps
60 fps 2500 kbps 4000 kbps 6000 kbps

Platform requirements

Platform Max bitrate Codec Keyframe interval
YouTube 8000 kbps (1080p) H.264, H.265 2 seconds
Twitch 6000 kbps H.264 only 2 seconds
Kick 6000 kbps H.264 only 2 seconds
Facebook 6000 kbps H.264 only 2 seconds
TikTok 4500 kbps H.264 only 2 seconds
X (Twitter) 5000 kbps H.264 only 2 seconds
Restream 6000 kbps H.264 only 2 seconds
Custom RTMP Varies H.264 or H.265 Varies

Keyframe interval

Most streaming platforms require a 2-second keyframe interval. This means a full frame (I-frame) is sent every 2 seconds. Using a different interval may cause:

  • Stream rejection by the platform
  • Inconsistent transcoding
  • Seek/DVR issues for viewers

Always use 2 seconds unless your platform specifically requires something different.

Choosing settings

For streaming

  1. Check your platform’s requirements (codec, max bitrate)
  2. Test your upload speed — use no more than 60–70% of your upload for the stream
  3. Start at 1080p / 4500 kbps / H.264 / 2s keyframes
  4. Lower to 720p / 2500 kbps if your connection is unstable

For local recording

  1. Use H.265 for better quality at the same file size
  2. Use higher bitrate than streaming (6000–10000 kbps) since storage is cheaper than bandwidth
  3. 1080p60 gives the smoothest recording for editing

For multi-streaming (via Restream)

Use settings that satisfy all platforms simultaneously:

  • H.264 (universal)
  • 4500 kbps (safe for all platforms)
  • 2-second keyframe interval
  • 1080p30

H.265 savings

At equivalent visual quality, H.265 uses roughly 40% less bitrate:

Quality level H.264 bitrate H.265 bitrate
Good 1080p30 4500 kbps 2700 kbps
High 1080p30 6000 kbps 3600 kbps
Good 1080p60 6000 kbps 3600 kbps

This means smaller files for recordings and less bandwidth for streaming — when the platform supports it.