# The Correct Keyframe Interval in OBS Studio

**URL:** https://community.wowza.com/t/the-correct-keyframe-interval-in-obs-studio/95162
**Category:** Streaming Tips
**Tags:** encoder
**Created:** [July 18, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/the-correct-keyframe-interval-in-obs-studio/95162 "2022-07-18T18:59:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Rose\_Power-Wowza\_Com](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.wowza.com/rose_power-wowza_com/32/431_2.png) [@Rose\_Power-Wowza\_Com](https://community.wowza.com/u/Rose_Power-Wowza_Com)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.wowza.com/t/the-correct-keyframe-interval-in-obs-studio/95162/1 "2022-07-18T18:59:26Z")

</div>

**Question:** What is the correct keyframe interval setting in OBS Studio?

### **A. We typically recommend a keyframe interval of 2 seconds.**

- **IMPORTANT!!** Please note that if you set the keyframe interval to 0 seconds in OBS Studio, this does not mean 0 seconds, it will instead instruct OBS to change the keyframe interval to “AUTO”.
- A Setting of 0 or AUTO is around 8 seconds.
- This will affect both the quality and latency of your stream.

  

**From the OBS Studio website:**

 ![Screen Shot 2022-07-11 at 9.39.24 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/wowza1/original/2X/b/bd4a3fa77b0a12eb098a7245b784798604aa107e.jpeg)

  

A **keyframe interval** , also called an i-frame interval, is an encoding setting that determines how often the whole picture is transmitted.

When a stream is encoded, only some frames show the complete picture. The initial (key) frame includes a complete image, while subsequent (delta) frames only depict changes from that image. This helps reduce redundant data and lower the bandwidth.

If your video stream depicts static scenes such as a news desk or talk show, then a keyframe interval of two seconds would suffice. But action-packed streams of sporting events require a shorter keyframe interval of around one second.

See more info on Optimal Encoder Settings here:

> **[Encoding best practices for Wowza Video](https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-encode-source-video-for-wowza-video)**
>
> Create high-quality encoded video streams for Wowza Video.