Bitrate Calculator

They're CastFork's read of the ballpark encoder-setting guidance major streaming platforms publish for each resolution and framerate — a min/recommended/max band, not one precise number, since actual optimal bitrate varies by content (fast motion needs more than a static talking-head shot).

H.265 and AV1 can reach similar visual quality at a lower bitrate than H.264. We use conservative real-time-encode estimates (H.265 ~40% smaller, AV1 ~50% smaller than H.264) rather than the higher savings sometimes quoted for slower offline encodes.

Streaming at exactly your max upload speed leaves zero room for network jitter, other traffic on your connection, or protocol overhead — a single dropped packet becomes a dropped frame. The 1.5x rule of thumb (the same one OBS's own setup guidance uses) leaves a safety margin.

128 kbps AAC-LC stereo is a standard, broadly compatible audio setting — it's also what CastFork Studio's own program output uses, so the total figure here matches what Studio actually sends.