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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For an ordinary stereo YouTube Live stream sent through RTMP/RTMPS, use AAC at 44.1 kHz, 128 Kbps, and two channels. To repeat a local video indefinitely, put FFmpeg’s input option -stream_loop -1 before that file’s -i. Use YouTube’s RTMPS endpoint and your own stream key, then test the stream in Live Control Room before relying on it.
Recommended AAC settings for YouTube Live
YouTube’s current live encoder guidance recommends AAC or MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS. For standard stereo audio, its recommended configuration is 44.1 kHz at 128 Kbps. In FFmpeg, request two channels with -ac 2. These are recommendations for compatibility, not a claim that other settings are technically impossible. YouTube’s live encoder settings also recommend RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP.
| Use case | Codec | Sample rate | Bitrate | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical stereo live stream | AAC | 44.1 kHz | 128 Kbps | 2 |
| 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS | AAC required | 48 kHz | 384 Kbps | 5.1 |
The 5.1 figures are YouTube’s listed recommendations; this guide’s command is for stereo, not surround sound.
FFmpeg command to loop a video to YouTube
For a file with video and audio, this is a practical starting pattern for RTMPS ingestion:
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2
-f flv 'rtmps://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY'- Replace
input.mp4. Use the path to the video you want to broadcast. - Replace the endpoint and key placeholder. Use the actual server URL and stream key provided for your stream by YouTube Studio. Never publish a real key or leave it in a shared command, screenshot, or script.
- Run the command and check Live Control Room. Confirm that YouTube receives the stream and that audio and video behave as expected before making it public or depending on it.
This combines documented FFmpeg and YouTube settings; it is a starting example, not a command published or tested by either source. The libx264 choice does not set an appropriate video bitrate or guarantee a suitable encode for every machine or source. Choose video settings for the source, target resolution and frame rate, encoder capacity, and available upload rate. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval, with four seconds as the maximum interval. Its video bitrate recommendations depend on codec, resolution, and frame rate; audio settings alone do not define a complete live configuration. See YouTube’s encoder settings.
How FFmpeg’s infinite input loop works
-stream_loop applies to an input file. A value of -1 repeats that input indefinitely; 0 means no looping. Place the option before the relevant -i, as in -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4. If a command has multiple inputs, put the option before the -i for the file you want to repeat. See FFmpeg’s main options documentation.
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Looping controls input repetition; it does not guarantee an uninterrupted broadcast. File decode errors, timestamp or stream mismatches, high encoder load, network outages, a wrong stream key, or YouTube-side conditions can still interrupt a stream.
What the audio options do
-c:a aacselects FFmpeg’s native AAC encoder, the documented default AAC encoder.-b:a 128ksets audio bitrate to 128 Kbps. FFmpeg documents that specifying this bitrate for its native AAC encoder activates CBR mode; writing it explicitly makes the intended value clear.-ar 44100requests a 44.1 kHz output sample rate.-ac 2requests two output channels.
These options request output characteristics; check the output from your locally installed FFmpeg build and source material rather than assuming every input is already stereo or at the target sample rate. FFmpeg documents the native AAC encoder and codec options in its codec options documentation.
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RTMPS versus HLS
RTMP/RTMPS
The command above uses RTMPS with an FLV output, a workflow YouTube supports. YouTube recommends RTMPS for its secure transport. Follow the RTMP/RTMPS encoder settings for that workflow.
HLS
HLS is a separate YouTube ingestion route, not a protocol you can select by changing the endpoint in the RTMP/FLV example. YouTube’s HLS guidance also lists AAC and recommends 44.1 kHz stereo at 128 Kbps, but HLS has its own HTTPS, playlist, and segment requirements. Ultra-low latency is unavailable with HLS. If you choose HLS, follow YouTube’s HLS setup instructions rather than reusing the RTMP command.
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Bandwidth and pre-stream checks
Audio is only one part of the stream’s total bitrate. Account for the selected video codec, resolution, and frame rate, then leave network capacity beyond the combined stream bitrate. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend 20 percent upload-bandwidth headroom.
- Test before the intended broadcast, with audio and motion similar to the real content.
- Check that YouTube receives both audio and video and monitor stream health in Live Control Room.
- Verify that the stream key and server URL match the stream configuration in YouTube Studio. YouTube explains stream setup and encoder key entry in Manage live stream settings.
- Confirm that the source plays cleanly through its end and that looping returns to the beginning without a decode failure.
Common problems and fixes
YouTube receives video but no sound
Check that the input actually contains an audio stream and that the command includes -c:a aac. Confirm YouTube’s preview and stream health during a test, and inspect FFmpeg’s output for audio mapping or encoder errors.
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The audio format or channel count is unexpected
Make the output request explicit with -ar 44100 -ac 2 -b:a 128k, then verify the resulting stream. A request does not repair a damaged source or guarantee that every build and input behaves identically.
The stream will not connect
Check the actual YouTube server URL and key, ensure the key has not been mistyped or revoked, and confirm that your network can reach the RTMPS endpoint. Test in Live Control Room rather than assuming that a locally running FFmpeg process means YouTube is receiving a valid stream.
Playback stops at the end of the file
Put -stream_loop -1 before the input’s -i. If the option follows -i, it may not apply to the intended input.
The stream drops or stutters despite looping
Looping does not address upload instability, insufficient headroom, encoder overload, source errors, or platform-side interruptions. Check FFmpeg logs, reduce demands on the encoder or network as appropriate, and run a representative test while watching stream health.
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