Kick Stream Settings Guide
Optimize Your Stream for Quality, Stability & Viewer Experience
Whether you're on OBS, Streamlabs, or another tool, the right stream settings make all the difference in stream quality and discoverability.
Goal of This Guide
- Deliver smooth 1080p60 gameplay
- Avoid buffering & frame drops
- Make your stream look professional
- 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) |