Switchboard and Twitch: Recommended Encoder Settings
A smooth, professional-looking stream on Twitch starts with the right encoder settings. If your viewers are experiencing buffering, pixelation, or dropped frames, incorrect encoder settings are often the cause. This guide provides the official recommended settings for streaming to Twitch through your Switchboard account. Following these recommendations will help you deliver a stable, high-quality broadcast that keeps your audience engaged.
Last updated 4 months ago
Here are the standard encoding guidelines for streaming on twitch.tv. Given the numerous possible configurations and options, following the items below will help you get started in the right direction.
If you need to adjust the settings based on your encoder or streaming setup, we recommend visiting Twitch's Broadcasting Guidelines, located here.
‼️ Important: Exceeding a bitrate of 6000 kbps could cause an issue when connecting to Twitch.
720p 60fps (x264 Specs)
Resolution: 1280x720
Bitrate: 4500 kbps
Rate Control: CBR
Framerate: 60 or 50 fps
Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
Preset: veryfast <-> slow
Profile: Main/High
720p 30fps (x264 Specs)
Resolution: 1280x720
Bitrate: 3000 kbps
Rate Control: CBR
Framerate: 30 fps
Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
Preset: veryfast <-> slow
Profile: Main/High
Audio
Codec: AAC-LC or MP3, Stereo
Maximum bit rate: 160 kbps (AAC), 128 kbps (MP3)
Sampling frequency: any (AAC), 44.1 kHz (MP3)
Happy #Multistreaming