Elgato Game Capture HD for Mac and Windows includes YouTube Live Streaming functionality.
The interface for Elgato Game Capture HD 2.5.2 for macOS is shown below, but the interface for Elgato Game Capture HD 3.5 for Windows is extremely similar.
YouTube - Setup with Elgato Game Capture HD
Elgato Game Capture HD has a YouTube Live Streaming option in the Live Streaming section.
When you first start the software, Live Streaming is not yet setup.
To use YouTube Live Streaming, you must have a YouTube account and a YouTube channel.
If your YouTube account is not yet enabled for Live Streaming, you will see a message warning you about that.
Google also provides a detailed FAQ about Live Streaming:
http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=2853698
YouTube Live Streaming - Sign In to existing account
To use YouTube Live Streaming, press the "+" button next to the Account option and select YouTube
A window will appear, allowing you to Sign In to your Google account.
YouTube Live Streaming - Privacy and Category
Before you start streaming, you can adjust the Privacy and Category of your YouTube stream.
At the bottom of the Live Streaming section, there is a small icon with a pair of tools on it. Pressing that button calls up a special Settings window.
Choose Privacy, so you can edit the settings.
To change the Privacy, choose between three options:
Public - Everyone can watch the stream
Unlisted - Only those with a special link can watch the stream
Private - No one can watch the stream except for the creator
For Category, Gaming is the default.
There are 14 other choices beyond Gaming, that you can choose from if you wish.
YouTube Live Streaming - Stream Bit Rate and Available Bandwidth
Before you start streaming, you can also adjust the bandwidth used to send data to YouTube.
Move the dial clockwise to increase the Bit Rate, which will make the video appear sharper.
Press the button on the bottom right part of the Live Streaming section to show the Settings again.
You have four choices for the Maximum Resolution:
360p
480p
720p
1080p
If you are using 720p or 1080p video, and you lower the Bit Rate a lot, Elgato Game Capture HD will switch the stream over to 480p. This is to maintain the highest visual quality for the chosen Bit Rate - HD video with a very low Bit Rate won't look that good.
You can also choose the Frame Rate:
The frame rate can have one of two values:
30 fps
60 fps
Please Note - You cannot use a Bit Rate that is higher than your available Upload bandwidth. Your Upload speed is determined by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
You may have a fast Download bandwidth, like 10Mbps, but your Upload bandwidth is likely to be much lower, like 1Mbps.
To find out your available Upload and Download bandwidth, please use a service like http://www.speedtest.net
YouTube Live Streaming - Archive Live Stream
In the Live Streaming Settings, you can choose to Archive Live Stream Via Recording. It will be saved in the Edit section of the the Elgato Game Capture HD software.
YouTube Live Streaming - Start Streaming
Once you have entered your YouTube account, and have selected your Status and Bit Rate, then you can start Live Streaming.
Press the Stream button to Start and Stop streaming.
When you start Live Streaming, the Stream button will become bright green.
Next, Elgato Game Capture HD will look for a YouTube server. YouTube Live Streaming automatically selects the best server, and it can't be assigned manually. This process may take up to one minute, or more. Once Elgato Game Capture HD has fully connected to a server, your Live Gameplay will immediately start at the YouTube website. A red ON AIR icon will also appear.
To go to your YouTube channel, click on the YouTube logo next to the Stream button. Your custom YouTube page will open up in your default browser.
To go to your YouTube stream, click on the red ON AIR logo. Your YouTube stream will open up in your default browser.
YouTube Live Streaming - Stream Scheduling
If you want to schedule a live stream, you'll need to go to your YouTube channel page, and schedule a Live Event.
Afterwards, you will be able to stream to that event from the Elgato Game Capture HD software.
When you start YouTube streaming, Elgato Game Capture HD will ask you "Which live event would you like to stream to?":
Then, you will be able to choose from all of your pre-existing events:
YouTube Live Streaming - Live Commentary
If you'd like your voice over to appear on the stream, be sure to enable the Live Commentary feature in the Capture section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
For more information about the Live Commentary feature, please see this article:
How do I use Live Commentary with Elgato Game Capture HD?
The interface for Elgato Game Capture HD 2.5.2 for macOS is shown below, but the interface for Elgato Game Capture HD 3.5 for Windows is extremely similar.
YouTube - Setup with Elgato Game Capture HD
Elgato Game Capture HD has a YouTube Live Streaming option in the Live Streaming section.
When you first start the software, Live Streaming is not yet setup.
By default, no Account is listed in the Live Streaming section.
Enabling accounts for YouTube Live Streaming
To use YouTube Live Streaming, you must have a YouTube account and a YouTube channel.
Your YouTube channel needs to be enabled for Live Streaming before you can use this feature.
Before you start streaming, you should agree to the terms here:
https://www.youtube.com/live_streaming_signup
Before you start streaming, you should agree to the terms here:
https://www.youtube.com/live_streaming_signup
All channels in good standing are eligible to apply for live streaming. Check your Account Features page for an Enable button if you meet these criteria.
Go to this Google page to set things up:
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026?hl=en
Once your channel is enabled for live streaming, you’ll see a Live Events option in your Video Manager.
Go to this Google page to set things up:
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026?hl=en
Once your channel is enabled for live streaming, you’ll see a Live Events option in your Video Manager.
If your YouTube account is not yet enabled for Live Streaming, you will see a message warning you about that.
Google also provides a detailed FAQ about Live Streaming:
http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=2853698
YouTube Live Streaming - Sign In to existing account
To use YouTube Live Streaming, press the "+" button next to the Account option and select YouTube
A new window will appear, telling you that Elgato Game Capture HD is requesting permission to connect to your YouTube account.
Press the Allow Access button to continue.
Your YouTube account will then be accessible via the Live Streaming section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
Your YouTube account will then be accessible via the Live Streaming section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
YouTube Live Streaming - Create new account
If you don't already have a YouTube account, you can sign up for a new one via Google's website.
Then, come back to Elgato Game Capture HD and use the Log In procedure detailed above.
Then, come back to Elgato Game Capture HD and use the Log In procedure detailed above.
YouTube Live Streaming - Privacy and Category
Before you start streaming, you can adjust the Privacy and Category of your YouTube stream.
At the bottom of the Live Streaming section, there is a small icon with a pair of tools on it. Pressing that button calls up a special Settings window.
Choose Privacy, so you can edit the settings.
To change the Privacy, choose between three options:
Public - Everyone can watch the stream
Unlisted - Only those with a special link can watch the stream
Private - No one can watch the stream except for the creator
For Category, Gaming is the default.
There are 14 other choices beyond Gaming, that you can choose from if you wish.
YouTube Live Streaming - Stream Bit Rate and Available Bandwidth
Before you start streaming, you can also adjust the bandwidth used to send data to YouTube.
The Live Streaming section has a Bit Rate dial.
Move the dial clockwise to increase the Bit Rate, which will make the video appear sharper.
Press the button on the bottom right part of the Live Streaming section to show the Settings again.
You have four choices for the Maximum Resolution:
360p
480p
720p
1080p
If you are using 720p or 1080p video, and you lower the Bit Rate a lot, Elgato Game Capture HD will switch the stream over to 480p. This is to maintain the highest visual quality for the chosen Bit Rate - HD video with a very low Bit Rate won't look that good.
You can also choose the Frame Rate:
The frame rate can have one of two values:
30 fps
60 fps
Please Note - You cannot use a Bit Rate that is higher than your available Upload bandwidth. Your Upload speed is determined by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
You may have a fast Download bandwidth, like 10Mbps, but your Upload bandwidth is likely to be much lower, like 1Mbps.
To find out your available Upload and Download bandwidth, please use a service like http://www.speedtest.net
YouTube Live Streaming - Archive Live Stream
In the Live Streaming Settings, you can choose to Archive Live Stream Via Recording. It will be saved in the Edit section of the the Elgato Game Capture HD software.
YouTube Live Streaming - Start Streaming
Once you have entered your YouTube account, and have selected your Status and Bit Rate, then you can start Live Streaming.
Press the Stream button to Start and Stop streaming.
When you start Live Streaming, the Stream button will become bright green.
Next, Elgato Game Capture HD will look for a YouTube server. YouTube Live Streaming automatically selects the best server, and it can't be assigned manually. This process may take up to one minute, or more.
To go to your YouTube channel, click on the YouTube logo next to the Stream button. Your custom YouTube page will open up in your default browser.
To go to your YouTube stream, click on the red ON AIR logo. Your YouTube stream will open up in your default browser.
YouTube Live Streaming - Stream Scheduling
If you want to schedule a live stream, you'll need to go to your YouTube channel page, and schedule a Live Event.
Afterwards, you will be able to stream to that event from the Elgato Game Capture HD software.
When you start YouTube streaming, Elgato Game Capture HD will ask you "Which live event would you like to stream to?":
Then, you will be able to choose from all of your pre-existing events:
YouTube Live Streaming - Live Commentary
If you'd like your voice over to appear on the stream, be sure to enable the Live Commentary feature in the Capture section of Elgato Game Capture HD.
For more information about the Live Commentary feature, please see this article:
How do I use Live Commentary with Elgato Game Capture HD?