What is Bitrate?
Bitrate is the rate in which you send bits to the platform you're streaming to. In this case, it is the rate in which you send your audio and video information to Twitch's servers. Since you have to input an exact value in your streaming software, it is important to know how to calculate bitrate for Twitch.
Some of you may remember me as the guy who made the Twitch Analyzer tool. I've just released a new tool called TwitchTest that will test your bandwidth to the various Twitch ingest servers. This is much more accurate than using a speedtest since it uses a single RTMP connection just like streaming, which takes into account the route and latency to Twitch.
The bitrate value depends on the size of the data you're sending. Setting a wrong value may result in buffering or a pixelated video quality. Sending data to Twitch uses your upload bandwidth, and the amount of data sent varies depending on a few parameters, which are explained below.
Resolution
- Hi, man I need help with my I stream bad, I've been streaming daily without any problems and this past Friday I was streaming without any issues for about 6 hours into it and then IT HAPPEN, OH NO lol. Well I tried changing encoding, changing fps, changing FMS URL, changing x264 CPU preset, testing internet.
- I've created a program for streamers called TwitchTest that will test your upload speed to each Twitch server and report the sustained bandwidth. It's important to know what kind of bandwidth you can get so you can set an appropriate bitrate on your stream to avoid dropped frames.
- Determine your upload speed, using this tool: Twitch Bandwidth Test Tool by R1ch. The reason you’re using this is because “speed test” websites determine your upload speed to servers that are not owned by twitch. Non-twitch servers do not accurately reflect what will be done with twitch over a sustained period of time.
This item refers to the resolution you set on your stream software. This does not mean the resolution you game on. It is fairly common to stream on 720p (your output canvas) while gaming on 1080p (your base canvas), because it helps to lower the required Twitch stream bitrate.
The most common resolutions for streaming are 1080p (1920 x 1080) and 720p (1280 x 720). Twitch does allow for more uncommon resolutions, like 576p or 936p. Use that on your advantage, especially if your internet connection isn't very good or if you play a game with a lot of movement (more on that later).
Frames Per Second
Frames per second (FPS) is a measure of the speed in which images are shown on the screen. The higher the frame rate, the more fluid the video will feel, but also more bitrate will be needed.
When dealing with streaming, the most common values to be used are 30 fps and 60 fps. Higher values are not allowed on Twitch, since most people only have 60Hz monitors and would not benefit much from it.
Bits Per Pixel
Bits Per Pixel (BPP) is a measure of the video 'crispness'. This is not a parameter you input in the most common streaming software. Instead, it will be defined by setting your resolution, fps and the bitrate. In our bitrate calculator, it is treated as an input parameter to give users a reference.
A BPP value of 0.01 is usually a good value. Fast paced games usually need more BPP to look good, since there is a lot of movement on the screen. Slower paced games usually need less BPP, allowing to be streamed at higher resolutions. Experiment with the settings and see what works best for your streams.
Audio Bitrate
Audio bitrate is the amount of audio data to be sent to Twitch. It is usually input separately in broadcasting software, with options ranging from 64 to 320. Change oem boot logo windows 10.
Since audio is an important part of your stream, usually the first part recommended to be upgraded on a new streamer's setup, we encourage you to use higher bitrate values here, like the 256 option. The good news here is: increasing your audio bitrate won't increase much of the overall bitrate.
What percent of upload speed to use?
Trying to stream in the same bitrate as your internet upload speed can result in lag in the game you're playing. Unless you only have a single player game open on your computer, it is important to always stream at a lower bitrate.
Your bitrate should usually be around 80% of your upload connection, but this recommendation changes depending on how many programs you have open, the games you play, if you have an internet browser open, the number of devices connected to your wi-fi, etc. Apple mac os mojave download dmg. Use our Twitch Bitrate Calculator, but be sure to adapt the scenario according to your case.
You can check if your internet connection is enough by using Twitch Inspector. This is an official tool that allows you to create a fake broadcast to a test server and inspect bitrate, frame rate, dropped frames and more. Make sure it is stable before going live for real.
Twitch Broadcasting Guidelines
Twitch recommends a maximum bitrate of 6000 kbps, which is a limited amount to work with. Going much beyond that limit is not a good idea, since it can cause problems to your broadcast.
Twitch partners can get a higher limit, usually around 8500 kbps, which give them more room to play with the streaming settings. Because of this restriction, Twitch affiliates and basic streamers should stick to the 720p resolution most of the time.
The best tip when setting up for Twitch is to focus on having a more stable broadcast, instead of a higher video quality and fps. To check the full guidelines refer to this link.
Minimum recommended internet speed for Twitch streaming
If you plan to stream via Twitch, you’ll want a minimum internet speed of 3 to 6 megabits per second (Mbps). Twitch provides guidelines for bitrate speed recommendations in relation to other factors, like your computer hardware, on this page. Note that Twitch guidelines are in kilobits per second (Kbps). For reference, 1,000 Kbps is equal to 1 Mbps.
The platform further explains some of the ways that bitrate impacts your gameplay by influencing factors like:
- Buffering time
- Connectivity consistency
- High-definition video quality resolution (A high-resolution stream, such as 1080p, 60 frames per second, fps or frame rate, will require a higher bitrate.)
Twitch Bandwidth Test Tool Quality 0
Most standard home internet connections should meet the bare minimum requirement of 3 Mbps. You can double-check your connectivity speed at home using an online internet speed test site. It will review a few key elements impacting your internet connectivity and reliability, including download speed, upload speed, and ping rate.
Ping rate refers to the rate at which your device receives a response from your internet connection after the device has sent a request. Ping rate can impact latency, the delay that occurs from the point when you take an action in a video game to the point that the action is conveyed on the screen. A lower ping rate means faster and more responsive play.
- Good for:
- Checking email
- Browsing websites
- Browsing social media
- Good for:
- Connecting multiple devices
- Streaming videos
- Online gaming for one player
- Good for:
- Streaming videos in HD
- Online gaming for multiple users
- Video chatting with friends
Twitch Bandwidth Test Tool Download
While 3 Mbps should suffice for viewing, note that a higher bitrate is preferable if you’re planning to actively stream live. If you’re streaming, you’ll need to consider not only your download speed but also your upload speed. Upload speed refers to the rate at which your device transmits data to the relevant server, while download speed refers to the rate at which your device pulls data from the server.
Upload speed is especially critical if you’re playing a fast-paced online game with multiple players. You may find this minimal requirement puts you at a disadvantage in multi-player games due to increased lag time. In this case, you’ll likely want an optimal internet speed — for example, via fiber-optic cable. Read on to find out more about internet for gaming and this internet connection type.