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Use FFmpeg’s overlay filter to place a transparent logo over video and drawtext to render and scroll a message. You need an FFmpeg build with the required text-rendering libraries, a prepared logo and text file, and encoder settings that match YouTube’s current guidance. The command below is a starting point—not a tested, universal preset—so validate it with your own files, FFmpeg build, connection, and YouTube stream settings before broadcasting.
What you need before building the filter graph
- A video input, such as
video.mp4. - A logo image with transparency, typically a PNG. The example positions it without resizing it.
- A UTF-8 text file containing the scrolling message, such as
message.txt. A text file avoids many of the escaping problems that come with embedding punctuation in a filter string. - An FFmpeg build with the libraries needed by
drawtext. - A YouTube live stream URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. Treat the key as a password and do not expose it.
FFmpeg’s filter documentation describes overlay for compositing images and drawtext for rendering text or reading it from a file. The exact behavior and available options depend on the installed FFmpeg build.
Check that your FFmpeg build supports drawtext
The FFmpeg filter reference says drawtext requires a build configured with --enable-libfreetype. Font fallback and the font option require --enable-libfontconfig; text shaping requires --enable-libfribidi. The current reference also lists libharfbuzz as a drawtext build requirement. Not every FFmpeg binary includes the same optional libraries.
Check the build on the machine that will run the stream:
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ffmpeg -filters | grep drawtext
ffmpeg -buildconfOn systems without grep, inspect the filter list and build configuration using the equivalent tools. If FFmpeg reports an unknown filter or a library-related error, use a build that includes the needed support and consult documentation matching that build.
Prepare the logo and scrolling message
Logo placement and size
The logo is FFmpeg’s second video input; overlay composites it over the first. This expression places it ten pixels from the left and bottom edges:
overlay=10:main_h-overlay_h-10For a lower-right placement, use main_w-overlay_w-10:main_h-overlay_h-10. These expressions position the image but do not scale it. If the logo is too large, add a scaling step to the filter graph before overlaying it. Keep a transparent image format if you want the video to show through around the logo.
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Text file and scroll direction
Put the desired message on one line in message.txt. FFmpeg’s documented right-to-left example is:
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drawtext="fontsize=15:fontfile=FreeSerif.ttf:textfile=LONG_LINE:y=h-line_h:x=-50*t"The x expression moves the text over time; changing the coefficient changes its speed. The example’s font size and font file are illustrative documentation values, not recommendations for every resolution. Choose a font installed on the streaming machine and a readable size for your output.
FFmpeg filter strings pass through multiple parsing layers: filter options, filtergraph syntax, and shell quoting. Colons, commas, quotes, backslashes, and special characters in paths can require escaping. FFmpeg’s syntax and escaping guidance explains those layers. Using textfile keeps the message itself out of the filter string, but paths and filter expressions still need to be valid for your shell and build.
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Combine the logo and scrolling text
This synthesized shell example applies the logo first, then draws a white text line near the bottom. Its horizontal expression sends the text leftward and wraps it to the right again. It has not been run or tested; replace every placeholder and adapt the encoder settings to your actual stream.
ffmpeg -re -i video.mp4 -loop 1 -i logo.png
-filter_complex "[0:v][1:v]overlay=10:H-h-10,drawtext=fontfile=/path/to/font.ttf:textfile=/path/to/message.txt:fontcolor=white:fontsize=32:y=H-th-24:x=W-mod(80*t,W+tw)"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency -b:v 6000k -maxrate 6000k -bufsize 12000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://SERVER/STREAM_KEY"-rereads the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as the machine can process it. Check the input and output behavior for your intended setup.-loop 1asks FFmpeg to loop the still-image input; confirm that the logo remains available for the duration of the stream in your build and workflow.overlay=10:H-h-10places the logo at lower left. HereHandhrefer to the main and overlay heights.drawtextuses a font path and text-file path that you must replace.W,H, andtwrefer to the main width, main height, and rendered text width. The escaped comma is part of the filter expression.- The H.264, bitrate, GOP, audio, pixel-format, and RTMPS values are example settings only. Choose the ingest URL and key from YouTube Studio and configure the stream for your selected resolution, frame rate, and codec.
If you prefer to keep the message at a constant location rather than scroll it, replace the time-based x expression with a fixed horizontal coordinate. If you want a continuous marquee rather than a wrap, adjust the expression and test the transition visually; the example’s wrap behavior may not suit every design.
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The logo and text filters affect the picture before encoding; they do not determine the correct outgoing codec or bitrate. YouTube’s live encoder settings guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS, frame rates up to 60 fps, CBR, AAC or MP3 audio, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. It publishes bitrate ranges by codec, resolution, and frame rate.
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For examples from YouTube’s current guidance, H.264 at 1080p30 has a recommended bitrate of 5 Mbps; H.264 at 1080p60 has a minimum of 6 Mbps and a recommended bitrate of 17 Mbps. These are YouTube recommendations for those specific settings, not universal values. Check the current table for the exact codec, resolution, and frame rate you plan to use, and choose a bitrate your upload connection can sustain. YouTube recommends RTMPS and suggests running a speed test to select a reliable bitrate.
The sample command uses a 60-frame GOP value, which corresponds to a two-second interval only when the video runs at 30 fps. If your frame rate differs, adjust the GOP/keyframe settings to match YouTube’s interval guidance and your encoder configuration.
Connect and test in YouTube Studio
- Set up a live stream in YouTube Studio. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions and select the stream’s intended settings.
- Copy the stream URL and key into your FFmpeg command. YouTube’s live stream settings guide explains these fields. Keep the key private; YouTube describes it as a password and address for the feed.
- Run a private or otherwise appropriate test before the event. Include audio and movement similar to what you plan to broadcast. Confirm the logo and text are legible, the scroll speed is right, and the audio is present.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and messages. YouTube recommends monitoring them during the broadcast. Resolve warnings or connection issues before relying on the stream.
Copyright and channel-policy checks
A logo or scrolling notice does not grant permission to stream the underlying video, music, images, or other material. Use content you own or are authorized to broadcast, and make sure the message itself does not create a rights issue. Visual overlays also do not establish that a stream satisfies YouTube’s other channel or monetization policies. Check the requirements that apply to your channel and content before going live.
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Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
drawtext is unknown or unavailable |
The installed FFmpeg build lacks the filter or required libraries. | Inspect ffmpeg -filters and ffmpeg -buildconf; use a build with the required text-rendering support. |
| Font cannot be found or text does not render | The font path is wrong, the font is not installed, or the build lacks relevant font support. | Use a real font file path that the streaming process can read; check the build’s font-related options and its matching documentation. |
| Filtergraph fails to parse | A special character or path was interpreted by the shell or filter parser. | Keep the graph simple, use textfile, and escape punctuation at the correct parsing layer. Test the exact command in the same shell and FFmpeg build you will use live. |
| Logo is missing, obscures too much, or sits in the wrong place | Input order, image transparency, dimensions, or coordinates are wrong. | Confirm the image is the second input and has transparency if needed; adjust the overlay coordinates or add a scaling step. |
| Text moves too fast, too slowly, or is hard to read | The time coefficient, font size, contrast, or vertical position does not suit the output. | Adjust the coefficient in the x expression, choose a legible font size and color, and preview at the target resolution. |
| YouTube reports poor stream health or drops frames | The encoder settings may not match YouTube’s recommendations or the connection may not sustain the bitrate. | Check YouTube’s current codec/resolution/frame-rate bitrate table, keyframe interval, CBR setting, and upload capacity; inspect YouTube’s health messages. |
| YouTube does not receive the feed | The stream URL or key may be wrong, or the selected protocol/settings may not match the command. | Copy the current URL and key from YouTube Studio, verify the command’s destination and stream format, and keep the key private. |
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