To stream a playlist of local video files continuously to YouTube Live, list compatible files in an FFmpeg concat script, read the playlist at real-time speed, loop the input indefinitely, and send the encoded output to the current YouTube RTMPS ingest address and stream key. The concat demuxer joins files virtually; it does not make incompatible clips compatible, and looping a local playlist does not guarantee an uninterrupted internet connection or YouTube ingest.
Prepare a concat playlist
Create a plain-text file named playlist.txt in playback order:
file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'Paths are normally resolved from FFmpeg’s working directory. Use absolute paths if you want to avoid ambiguity about where the command is run. Paths containing spaces or special characters need correct quoting or escaping. If you use the optional first line ffconcat version 1.0, it must be exact, with no byte-order mark or extra spaces, for FFmpeg to recognize the script automatically. The command below explicitly selects the concat demuxer with -f concat, so that header is not required.
Check that the files can be concatenated
The concat demuxer shifts timestamps so the first file begins at zero and each subsequent file begins when the prior file ends. FFmpeg’s documentation requires the files to have the same streams, including matching codecs and time bases. Differences in stream lengths or inaccurate duration metadata can cause gaps or artifacts at transitions. Check the clips before using them in a live playlist; where a duration is unavailable or inaccurate, the concat script supports a duration directive.
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If the files differ in codecs or parameters, or need filters or normalization, use a workflow that re-encodes them, such as FFmpeg’s concat filter, rather than assuming the demuxer can join them cleanly.
Choose a live output configuration
The following command is an illustrative starting template for 30 fps H.264 video with stereo AAC audio. It re-encodes the output to give you control of the live-ingest format; it is not a universal preset or a tested guarantee for every set of clips, computer, or network.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1
-f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency
-b:v 5M -maxrate 5M -bufsize 10M
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://YOUR_INGEST_ADDRESS/YOUR_STREAM_KEY'-rereads the file input at its native frame rate (equivalent to-readrate 1), rather than sending it as fast as the computer can process it.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so it appears before-i playlist.txt.-f concatselects the concat demuxer.-safe 0permits paths outside its safe-path subset; use it only with a playlist you control.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacencode video and audio. The example sets a 5 Mbps video target, a 128 kbps audio bitrate, and 44.1 kHz audio.-g 60and-keyint_min 60set a 60-frame GOP in this example. At 30 fps, 60 frames is two seconds. The keyframe interval should match the output frame rate and YouTube’s current guidance.-f flvselects the output container used by this example for RTMP/RTMPS ingest. The URL at the end is a placeholder: replace it with the current ingest address and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Do not publish or share a real stream key.
Match the stream to YouTube Live
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; constant bitrate (CBR) encoding; and frame rates up to 60 fps. It recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. RTMPS is the encrypted ingest option. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings before production, since platform requirements and recommendations can change.
H.264 bitrate examples
The following are values in YouTube Help’s current table as accessed in 2026. Choose the row for your intended output; the figures are encoding guidance, not a guarantee of quality on every source or connection.
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| Output | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 720p30 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| H.264 1080p30 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
YouTube recommends 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps for stereo audio. Your upload connection needs enough sustained capacity for the selected stream bitrate. Test with audio and motion representative of the actual playlist, then monitor stream health while broadcasting.
The example command’s video bitrate is 5 Mbps, which matches the listed H.264 1080p30 minimum—not the recommended value. If targeting 1080p30 and following YouTube’s recommended video bitrate, adjust -b:v, -maxrate, and -bufsize appropriately, and make sure the connection can sustain the resulting output.
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Start the stream and monitor it
- In YouTube Live Control Room, obtain the current stream’s RTMPS ingest address and stream key. YouTube’s ingestion API also documents RTMP (including RTMPS), HLS, and DASH ingestion types, but this command template is written for the RTMP/RTMPS-style FLV output.
- Replace the placeholder output URL in the command with the address and key for that stream. Keep the key private.
- Run FFmpeg from the directory containing
playlist.txt, or adjust the playlist path. Confirm that FFmpeg opens each listed file and begins encoding. - Check YouTube’s preview and stream health. Watch for configuration warnings, missing audio, dropped ingest, or transition problems rather than assuming that a running FFmpeg process means the broadcast is healthy.
When stream copy is appropriate
Using -c copy can avoid decoding and re-encoding, which reduces processing work and avoids another generation of encoding loss. It also prevents filtering and does not ensure that the source streams meet the destination’s codec, frame-rate, bitrate, or keyframe requirements. Use stream copy only after confirming that every clip and the resulting output are compatible with the chosen YouTube ingest path. If you need to normalize or filter the clips, use a re-encoding workflow such as the concat filter.
Troubleshoot common problems
FFmpeg cannot open the playlist or a clip
- Check that the filename and path are correct relative to FFmpeg’s working directory.
- Check quoting for spaces and special characters in paths.
- If relying on automatic script detection, verify that the first line is exactly
ffconcat version 1.0and has no byte-order mark. Alternatively, specify-f concatas in the example.
There are gaps or artifacts between clips
Compare the clips’ stream counts, codecs, time bases, and durations. Different stream lengths or inaccurate duration metadata can shift timestamps and create poor transitions. Correct the duration information where appropriate, or normalize and re-encode incompatible inputs with a concat-filter workflow.
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FFmpeg sends the playlist too quickly or does not repeat it
Place -re before the file input to read at native speed. Place -stream_loop -1 before -i to repeat the playlist indefinitely; the two options solve different problems.
YouTube flags a stream-health issue
Check the output’s audio presence, codec, bitrate, frame rate, keyframe interval, and connection capacity. YouTube’s health information can identify issues such as low or high bitrate, unsupported codecs, frame-rate mismatch, and ingestion starvation. Recheck the current encoder guidance and run a preflight with representative audio and motion.
The stream works locally but not as live ingest
Confirm that the output codec and container match the selected ingest protocol, that the endpoint and stream key are current, and that the upload connection can sustain the bitrate. A local playlist can loop indefinitely while the network or YouTube ingest still fails.
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