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Streaming Audio Bitrate & Bandwidth Calculator

Calculate the perfect audio bitrate and connection speed for your Shoutcast or Icecast radio station instantly. Stop buffering and optimize your streaming settings for OBS Studio, Mixxx, VirtualDJ, AutoDJ, and any streaming encoder. 100% free with instant recommendations.

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Pro Tip: Use this calculator before every stream to ensure optimal quality and prevent buffering issues.

Quick Presets

Select a preset to auto-fill recommended settings

Test your upload speed at fast.com or speedtest.net

Bitrate Recommendations by Platform

YouTube Live

  • 720p60: 4,500-6,000 kbps
  • 1080p60: 6,000-9,000 kbps
  • 1440p60: 9,000-18,000 kbps
  • 4K60: 20,000-51,000 kbps
  • Audio: 128-320 kbps AAC

Twitch

  • 720p30: 3,000-4,500 kbps
  • 720p60: 4,500-6,000 kbps
  • 1080p30: 4,500-6,000 kbps
  • 1080p60: 6,000 kbps max
  • Audio: 160-320 kbps AAC

Facebook Live

  • 720p30: 3,000-4,000 kbps
  • 720p60: 4,500-6,000 kbps
  • 1080p30: 4,000-5,000 kbps
  • 1080p60: 5,000-8,000 kbps
  • Audio: 128 kbps AAC

Shoutcast Net

  • 720p60: 3,000-6,000 kbps
  • 1080p60: 6,000-10,000 kbps
  • 1440p60: 10,000-20,000 kbps
  • 4K60: 20,000-50,000+ kbps
  • Audio: 128-320 kbps AAC

Understanding Streaming Bitrate

What is Bitrate?

Bitrate is the amount of data transmitted per second in your stream, measured in kilobits per second (kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). Higher bitrate = better quality but requires more upload bandwidth. Your streaming bitrate should be 70-80% of your upload speed to leave headroom for stability.

How to Check Your Upload Speed

  1. Visit fast.com (Netflix) or speedtest.net (Ookla)
  2. Click "Go" or "Begin Test" to start the speed test
  3. Wait for the download speed test to complete
  4. Note your upload speed (usually shown in Mbps)
  5. Use 70-80% of that upload speed for your stream bitrate

Bitrate vs Quality vs Upload Speed

Resolution FPS Bitrate Min Upload
480p 30 500-1,500 kbps 1.5 Mbps
720p 30 2,500-4,000 kbps 5 Mbps
720p 60 4,000-6,000 kbps 8 Mbps
1080p 30 4,000-6,000 kbps 8 Mbps
1080p 60 6,000-9,000 kbps 12 Mbps
1440p 60 9,000-18,000 kbps 20 Mbps
4K 60 20,000-51,000 kbps 50 Mbps

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Bitrate too high: Stream drops frames, stutters, or disconnects when upload can't keep up
  • Bitrate too low: Pixelated, blurry video quality especially during fast motion
  • Ignoring audio bitrate: Remember to account for audio (128-320 kbps) in total bandwidth
  • Using VBR instead of CBR: Variable bitrate can cause issues with some platforms, always use CBR for streaming
  • Wrong encoder: Use hardware encoding (NVENC, QuickSync, AMF) if CPU struggles with x264

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Want to Learn More About Bitrate Optimization?

Get our complete step-by-step guide with encoder settings, resolution tips, and troubleshooting advice.

Read the Complete Optimization Guide

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Next Steps

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Frequently Asked Questions

For 1080p 60fps streaming, use 6,000 kbps (Twitch) or 8,000-12,000 kbps (YouTube). For 720p 60fps, use 4,500-6,000 kbps. For audio-only radio, use 128-320 kbps. Always use 75-80% of your upload speed to prevent dropped frames.

Bandwidth formula: (Video Bitrate + Audio Bitrate) × Number of Viewers = Total Bandwidth. For example, 6,000 kbps video + 160 kbps audio = 6.16 Mbps per viewer. For 100 viewers = 616 Mbps. Use a CDN or unlimited bandwidth hosting like Shoutcast Net to handle high viewer counts.

The best OBS bitrate depends on your upload speed and platform. For Twitch: max 6,000 kbps. For YouTube: 6,000-12,000 kbps (1080p60). For Facebook: 4,000-6,000 kbps. Always test at 75% of your upload speed first, then increase if stable.

Buffering causes: 1) Upload speed fluctuations (use speedtest during peak hours), 2) Too high bitrate for resolution (lower by 20%), 3) CPU overload (use NVENC/GPU encoding), 4) Server distance (choose closer ingest server), 5) ISP throttling (use wired connection, avoid peak times).

CBR (Constant Bitrate): Maintains fixed bitrate throughout stream. Best for live streaming (stable, predictable). VBR (Variable Bitrate): Adjusts bitrate based on complexity. Best for recorded videos (smaller file size). Always use CBR for OBS, Twitch, YouTube Live, Shoutcast streaming.

For 4K 30fps: minimum 15-20 Mbps upload (recommended 25 Mbps). For 4K 60fps: minimum 25-35 Mbps upload (recommended 40 Mbps). YouTube allows up to 51 Mbps for 4K60. Always have 20-25% overhead for stability. Test at lower resolution first if experiencing issues.

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