Use H.264 as the compatibility baseline
H.264 remains widely supported. When a LIVE endpoint does not explicitly list AV1, validate the complete connection with H.264 before testing another codec.
- Confirm the destination’s accepted codec.
- Recheck picture and sound after every codec change.
Separate hardware from format
NVENC is NVIDIA hardware encoding; AV1 is a video format. Depending on the GPU generation, NVENC may provide H.264, HEVC or AV1 options.
- Check the exact encoder shown on the current device.
- Keep OBS and the graphics driver current before comparing results.
Test the combined multi-instance load
Several OBS instances share encoder sessions, GPU memory and upload capacity. A setting that works for one stream may fail when all intended instances run together.
- Record a stable H.264 baseline first.
- Increase concurrency gradually.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Start here for common questions about purchasing, access and system requirements.
Does every NVIDIA GPU encode AV1?
No. AV1 encoding depends on the GPU generation, driver and OBS build.
Should TikTok LIVE always use AV1?
Only when the current endpoint explicitly supports it and an end-to-end test succeeds.
REFERENCES
References
Content reviewed: September 29, 2026 · TKLive product team