To repeat a fixed sequence of local video files in a YouTube Live stream, put their paths in an FFmpeg concat file and pass that input to FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1. This works best when the files have matching stream layouts, codecs and time bases. You still need to choose output settings that match the current ingest options shown for your YouTube account.
What the concat file does
An FFmpeg concat file is a plain-text list that presents several media files as one virtual input, in the order listed. With -stream_loop -1, FFmpeg repeats that finite input indefinitely. The list is static: it does not discover new files or provide a scheduling system.
This method runs on the computer where FFmpeg is running. The machine, FFmpeg process, network connection and source files must remain available for the stream to continue.
Prepare and check the video files
Compare the streams before concatenating
The concat demuxer expects the listed files to have the same streams, including matching codecs and time bases. Check that they have compatible audio and video stream counts and types, and consistent encoding properties. It does not normalize different files for you.
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- If the files already have compatible streams, try the concat demuxer with stream copy or the encoding template below.
- If they differ in codec, stream layout, size, aspect ratio or other relevant properties, standardize them first or use FFmpeg’s concat filter and re-encode.
- Allow for encoding time and processing capacity when choosing the filter route; it adds a re-encoding step.
FFmpeg’s documentation distinguishes the concat demuxer from the concat filter and recommends the filter when re-encoding is needed: FFmpeg concat filter documentation.
Check durations
The demuxer uses each file’s duration to position the following file. Inaccurate duration metadata can cause irregular transitions or artifacts. Inspect the media and its reported durations; the concat file’s duration directive can override a duration when you have a reliable value. Do not add a guessed duration to mask a problem. See FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
Create the concat playlist
Save a plain-text file named playlist.ffconcat in the same folder as the example clips. The first line must be ffconcat version 1.0, followed by one file directive for each clip:
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ffconcat version 1.0
file 'segment-01.mp4'
file 'segment-02.mp4'
file 'segment-03.mp4'Relative paths keep the example portable and work with FFmpeg’s default safe-path behavior when they use permitted portable characters. The demuxer’s safe-path mode is enabled by default. If a trusted playlist genuinely needs file names or paths that safe mode rejects, -safe 0 can permit them, but it relaxes path checks as well as the guard against unsafe directives. Do not use it with untrusted playlist contents. Details are in the concat demuxer documentation.
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- Get the current ingest settings. In YouTube’s live control room, check the stream’s ingest details and current guidance for codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, keyframe interval and audio. These can depend on the stream setup; do not treat an old forum command as authoritative.
- Keep the stream key private. Use the ingest endpoint and key provided for your stream. Do not publish the key in a script repository, screen recording or log that others can access.
- Run a short test with the files and output settings you intend to use. A command template for a compatible playlist is:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -i playlist.ffconcat
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv 'rtmp://INGEST_ENDPOINT/STREAM_KEY'This is a template, not a verified YouTube recipe. Replace the endpoint and key with the values for your stream, and select output encoding and FLV/RTMP settings using current account-specific guidance. The example encodes video with libx264 and audio with aac; verify that those choices and all required parameters suit your setup. -stream_loop -1 is an input option, so it belongs before the corresponding -i. -re reads file input at a rate intended to approximate real time; check its behavior with your installed FFmpeg version and source. The example does not set a bitrate, resolution, frame rate or keyframe interval because those should be confirmed against current YouTube guidance rather than copied from an outdated recipe.
Watch FFmpeg’s output and YouTube’s live console during the test. Confirm that YouTube receives a usable audio/video stream and that the handoff between clips is acceptable before leaving the process unattended. A community example of FFmpeg outputting FLV to a YouTube Live RTMP endpoint is not a substitute for current official platform requirements.
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Choose between the concat demuxer and filter
| Approach | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Concat demuxer | Inputs already have compatible streams and suitable duration information. | Can avoid re-encoding, but does not reconcile incompatible streams; inaccurate durations can affect transitions. |
| Concat filter with re-encoding | Inputs need normalization, resizing, frame-rate adjustment or filtering. | Adds an encoding step and requires enough processing capacity; output quality depends on the chosen settings. |
These are workflow trade-offs, not benchmark results. If stream copy or demuxing produces broken transitions, first inspect compatibility and duration metadata; if the sources genuinely differ, normalize them or move to the filter workflow.
Troubleshoot common failures
FFmpeg rejects a file or fails at a transition
- Likely cause: The clips have different stream counts, codecs, time bases or layouts.
- Fix: Compare their streams, standardize the inputs, or use the concat filter and re-encode instead of expecting the demuxer to normalize them.
The next clip starts early, late or with artifacts
- Likely cause: A file’s duration metadata does not accurately represent its content.
- Fix: Inspect the reported duration and use a concat-file
durationdirective only with a sound value. Test the transition again.
FFmpeg reports an unsafe path
- Likely cause: A path is outside the demuxer’s default safe-path rules.
- Fix: Prefer relative paths with portable characters. Use
-safe 0only for a playlist you control and genuinely need to allow.
YouTube does not receive a usable stream
- Likely cause: The endpoint, key, output format, codecs, audio stream or other ingest parameters may not match the current stream setup.
- Fix: Check the key and endpoint, inspect FFmpeg’s logs for output errors, verify that the output includes the expected audio and video, and consult the current YouTube live console and official guidance. This article does not establish a universal bitrate or codec recipe.
The stream stops when the computer or connection drops
- Likely cause: This local FFmpeg workflow depends on the running process, host and network.
- Fix: Keep those resources running and monitor the test, or use a cloud service designed to keep an uploaded-video stream running.
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