Twitch is one of the most popular live video streaming platforms in the world, especially for gaming, live streaming, and video-on-demand content creators. Video quality is a fundamental factor in standing out in Twitch, and bitrate plays a crucial role in this aspect. In this article, we will discuss bitrate recommendations for Twitch for videos and live streams, taking into account frame rates of 30 fps and 60 fps.
What is Bitrate?
Bitrate is the amount of data transmitted per unit of time in a video or audio. Typically, it is measured in bits per second (bps) or in kilobits per second (Kbps) for lower rates, or megabits per second (Mbps) for higher rates. Bitrate plays a crucial role in video quality, directly affecting clarity and resolution.
Choosing the appropriate bitrate is critical to balancing video quality with uploadability and the viewer experience on Twitch, both for on-demand videos and live streams.
Why is Bitrate Important on Twitch?
Twitch supports videos and live streams in various resolutions and frame rates, including 30fps (frames per second) and 60fps. Bitrate is a crucial factor in the quality of the video you upload or stream, directly affecting the viewer’s experience. Too low a bitrate can result in pixelated and blurry videos, while too high a bitrate can cause buffering issues and negatively affect the user experience.
Therefore, choosing the correct bitrate is essential to providing a high-quality experience for your audience, regardless of resolution or frame rate. Live Streams at 30 fps
360p (SD):
Recommended video bitrate: 400 Kbps – 1,200 Kbps
Recommended Audio Bitrate: 96-128 Kbps
720p (HD):
Recommended video bitrate: 1,200 Kbps – 3,500 Kbps
Recommended Audio Bitrate: 96-192 Kbps
1080p (Full HD):
Recommended video bitrate: 3,500 Kbps – 5,000 Kbps
Recommended Audio Bitrate: 96-192 Kbps
Live Streams at 60 fps
720p (HD):
Recommended video bitrate: 2,500 Kbps – 6,000 Kbps
Recommended Audio Bitrate: 96-192 Kbps
1080p (Full HD):
Recommended video bitrate: 4,000 Kbps – 8,000 Kbps
Recommended Audio Bitrate: 96-192 Kbps
Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and you may need to adjust the bitrate based on the complexity of your content. Highly detailed, fast-moving game streams may require higher bitrates to maintain quality.
Setting the bitrate for live streams on Twitch can be done in the settings of the streaming software you are using. Make sure the bitrate you set meets the recommendations for the resolution and frame rate you are streaming. Also, consider bandwidth.
Photo by cottonbro studio
