Technical
Keyframe interval
How often a full video frame is sent (vs. just changes). Streaming platforms require 2 seconds — set it once in OBS and forget it.
Related terms
- Encoder
The software or hardware that compresses your video to send it online. 'x264' uses your CPU; 'NVENC' uses an NVIDIA GPU.
- Bitrate
How much data your stream sends per second. Higher bitrate = better image quality but needs more upload speed. Twitch caps it around 6,000–8,500 kbps.
- CBR (constant bitrate)
Sending data at a steady rate regardless of what's on screen. Required by Twitch and Kick because it's predictable for their servers.