Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo repeat one finished saree catalog video on YouTube Live from Ubuntu, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 input option before the video’s -i. FFmpeg will keep reading that file until you stop the process; it does not make a directory of clips into a playlist or guarantee that the YouTube stream stays online indefinitely.
Before you start
- An Ubuntu computer with FFmpeg installed and enough sustained upload capacity for the chosen stream bitrate.
- A finished video file that you have permission to stream, including any music, product images and footage it contains. YouTube’s encoding guidance does not establish the rights to your catalog assets.
- A YouTube channel and an encoder stream configured in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Account eligibility and live-stream access can vary; check your channel’s current status there.
This method is for one continuous video file. If your “playlist” is several separate clips, still images or a text playlist, first prepare a continuous video or use a playlist-specific FFmpeg workflow. -stream_loop repeats its input; it does not discover or sequence files in a folder.
Prepare Ubuntu and get the YouTube ingest details
Check the installed FFmpeg build
In a terminal, run:
ffmpeg -versionUbuntu’s FFmpeg version depends on the release and package source. For example, the Ubuntu Jammy manual identifies package version 7:4.4.2-0ubuntu0.22.04.1; that is specific to Jammy and should not be assumed for other Ubuntu installations. If an option behaves differently on your machine, consult ffmpeg -h full and the documentation for your installed build.
Copy the encoder URL and stream key
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room.
- Create or select an encoder stream and copy the server URL and stream key shown for that stream.
- Use the RTMPS server URL where available and supported by your FFmpeg build. YouTube recommends RTMPS; it carries RTMP over TLS/SSL to encrypt the stream in transit.
Treat the stream key as a password. Do not publish it, commit it to a public script repository or paste it into a public support post. If it is exposed, reset it in the Live Control Room.
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Run a single-file loop with FFmpeg
Use this as an illustrative starting command, replacing the input filename and output destination with your own. The RTMPS URL and key must be the values shown in the Live Control Room; the placeholder below is not a working ingest address.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "catalog.mp4"
-c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30 -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"-stream_loop -1 tells FFmpeg to repeat the input indefinitely. Its position matters: place it before the -i for the file it should repeat. -re reads the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible. The example encodes H.264 video and AAC audio in an FLV output for the RTMP-family ingest. It is not a tested command or a guarantee that every Ubuntu FFmpeg build has the same encoders enabled.
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The example’s 30 fps and 60-frame GOP correspond to a two-second keyframe interval at that frame rate. YouTube’s current encoder guidance recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it should not exceed four seconds. Match the actual frame rate and stream settings you intend to use rather than copying example values blindly.
Choose a bitrate for the actual source and connection
Bitrate depends on resolution, frame rate and codec; it is not one universal number. YouTube’s current Help table gives H.264 at 720p30 a minimum of 2 Mbps and a recommended 6 Mbps. That figure applies to that profile, not every resolution or codec. Choose a setting that your upload connection can sustain with headroom, then check the Live Control Room’s preview and stream-health messages.
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YouTube’s encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS ingest, H.264/H.265/AV1 video, up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, and constant bitrate (CBR). For stereo audio it lists 44.1 kHz and recommends 128 kbps. H.264 with AAC is a conservative common starting point for general-purpose FFmpeg builds, but confirm the requirements for your selected stream and encoder.
Test before the catalog event
- Start with a private or unlisted test stream before scheduling a public broadcast.
- Check that the Live Control Room preview shows the video and that its health indicators do not report an ingest problem.
- Test audio and motion similar to the real catalog stream, and monitor stream health while it runs.
- Stop FFmpeg with
Ctrl+Cwhen you want to end this sender. Stopping the process ends the input loop.
What “infinite loop” does—and does not—mean
The loop option controls how FFmpeg reads the input file. It does not guarantee continuous network access, encoder operation or YouTube availability, and it does not by itself ensure an endless YouTube event. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not treat that as a promise of uninterrupted streaming or archiving beyond that duration. Plan and verify the event length and archive behavior in YouTube’s current live-stream tools.
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Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg says it cannot open the file | The filename, path or file permissions may be wrong. | Check the path and confirm the Ubuntu user running FFmpeg can read the file. Quote paths containing spaces. |
| The file plays once and stops | The loop option may be missing or placed after the input it is meant to affect. | Put -stream_loop -1 before that file’s -i. |
| YouTube does not receive the stream | The ingest URL, stream key or selected stream may not match; the key may have been reset. | Copy the current server URL and key from the correct Live Control Room stream. Keep the key private; reset it if exposed. |
| Stream health reports instability | The connection may not sustain the selected bitrate, or the profile may not match YouTube’s applicable settings. | Check the current stream-health messages, verify bitrate and encoder settings, and test with sufficient upload headroom. |
| Video appears but audio is missing or unsuitable | The input may have no audio, or audio encoding and sample-rate settings may not fit the source or stream. | Inspect the source’s audio tracks and choose an appropriate audio configuration; YouTube’s guidance lists AAC or MP3 and, for stereo, 44.1 kHz. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube catalog stream without leaving an Ubuntu computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key once, then go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed.
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