The latest update of OBS Studio, version 29.1, brings exciting news for content creators and streamers. This release introduces support for AV1 streaming to YouTube over Enhanced RTMP, leveraging the capabilities of the next-generation video codec.
OBS 29.1 — With AV1 Encoding on GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs — Now Available
The AV1 codec has been gaining momentum in the industry and with the AV1 encoding feature now available on all GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, including laptop GPUs and the recently launched GeForce RTX 4070, creators can take advantage of real-time AV1 hardware encoding.
This technology provides a significant boost, delivering approximately 40% more efficient encoding compared to the widely used H.264 codec. Not only does AV1 encoding offer better efficiency, but it also ensures higher-quality video output, surpassing competing GPUs in this aspect.
One of the major advantages of AV1 encoding is its ability to reduce the required upload bandwidth for streaming. This is particularly beneficial as streaming services and internet service providers often impose limitations on bandwidth. With AV1, creators can achieve greater efficiency, especially at higher resolutions.
For instance, streaming 4K content at 60 frames per second now only requires a 10 Mbps upload bandwidth, compared to the previous 20 Mbps required by H.264. This breakthrough makes 4K60 streaming accessible to a broader audience, enabling a more immersive and visually stunning experience.
AV1 — The New Standard
As a founding member of the Alliance for Open Media, NVIDIA has played a crucial role in the development of the AV1 codec. The company recognized the need to push the boundaries of outdated formats that were defined nearly two decades ago, driven by the demands of gamers and online content creators.
The previous standard for live streaming, H.264, often fell short when it came to delivering high-quality video, especially at higher resolutions and frame rates. The introduction of AV1 addresses these limitations by providing creators with a more efficient and advanced encoding option, resulting in improved image quality and smoother playback.
YouTube users can now benefit from AV1 support through the recent update to RTMP. This enhanced protocol also includes HEVC streaming support, expanding the range of formats available to users within the existing low-latency protocol commonly used for H.264 streaming. Although still in beta, the enhanced RTMP ingestion feature on YouTube unlocks new possibilities for content creators, paving the way for enhanced streaming experiences.
To configure OBS Studio for AV1 streaming using GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, detailed instructions can be found in the OBS setup guide, ensuring a seamless integration of this cutting-edge technology into your streaming workflow.
GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs also introduce AV1 encoding support on the eighth-generation NVENC, taking high-quality streaming to new heights. This feature offloads compute-intensive encoding tasks from the CPU to the dedicated hardware on the GPU, resulting in improved performance and efficiency.
NVENC on GeForce RTX GPUs has been carefully designed to meet the demands of professional content creators, preserving video quality with exceptional accuracy. Creators can now achieve higher-quality streams at the same bitrate as competing products or reduce the bitrate while maintaining a similar level of picture quality.
Better Streams With NVENC, NVIDIA Broadcast
For an even more polished streaming experience, NVIDIA Broadcast, an integral part of the exclusive NVIDIA Studio suite of software, offers a range of AI-powered effects to enhance live streams, voice chats, and video calls. Features like eye contact, noise and room echo removal, virtual background, and more ensure that your content looks and sounds impeccable, transforming any space into a professional home studio.
With OBS Studio 29.1 and the power of AV1 encoding on GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, content creators can elevate their streaming quality, unlock new possibilities, and captivate audiences with visually stunning and high-performance streams
