Kick Stream Settings Guide
Set up Kick stream settings that balance quality, stability, and a smoother viewer experience.
Good stream settings are about consistency, not just maxing everything out. The right balance helps you stay stable, look clean, and avoid unnecessary dropped frames or buffering.
Goal of This Guide
- Deliver smooth 1080p60 gameplay
- Avoid buffering and frame drops
- Make your stream look polished and reliable
- Ensure compatibility with Kick's encoder system
Step 1: Recommended OBS Settings for Kick
Open OBS Studio → Go to Settings → Output
Output Tab
- Output Mode: Advanced
- Encoder: x264 (or NVIDIA NVENC for better GPU performance)
- Rate Control: CBR
- Bitrate:
- 6,000 – 8,000 kbps (Recommended for 1080p60)
- Max supported by Kick is 8,500 kbps
- Keyframe Interval: 2
- CPU Usage Preset (x264 only): veryfast or faster
- Profile: High
✅ Tip: If you're on NVENC (NVIDIA GPU), use "Quality" preset and "High" profile.
Video Tab
Go to Settings → Video
- Base (Canvas) Resolution: 1920x1080
- Output (Scaled) Resolution: 1920x1080 (or 1280x720 for low-end PCs)
- Downscale Filter: Lanczos (sharpest scaling)
- FPS: 60 (or 30 if on low hardware)
Audio Tab
Go to Settings → Audio
- Sample Rate: 48 kHz
- Desktop Audio: Set to your system's default
- Mic/Auxiliary Audio: Set your main microphone
In Advanced Audio Properties (in mixer):
- Set Mic to "Monitor Off"
- Ensure desktop/game audio is not clipping into red
Step 2: Get Your Kick Stream Key
Go to Kick.com → Click your profile picture → Creator Dashboard
Navigate to Settings → Stream Key
Copy:
- Server (RTMP URL): rtmp://ingest.kick.com/live
- Stream Key
🔒 DO NOT share this key — it gives full access to your stream.
Step 3: Add Kick Info to OBS
In OBS → Settings → Stream:
- Service: Custom
- Server: rtmp://ingest.kick.com/live
- Stream Key: Paste what you copied from your Kick dashboard
Hit Apply, then OK.
Step 4: Stream Info & Going Live
Before you click "Start Streaming" in OBS:
- Go to your Kick Dashboard
- Edit Stream Title, Game Category, and Language
- Upload a custom thumbnail for VOD visibility
- Click Start Streaming in OBS → Go Live on Kick automatically
✅ Kick auto-detects your stream once OBS starts.
Performance Tips
| Issue | Fix Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Lag or dropped frames | Lower bitrate to 6000 kbps |
| Audio out of sync | Sync settings in Advanced Audio Properties |
| Pixelated video | Set bitrate to 8000+ and resolution to 1080p |
| High CPU usage | Use NVENC encoder (GPU-based) |