Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to join an ordered list of MP4 files into one continuous encoder feed, then send that feed to YouTube Live with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. The playlist controls the order of the videos; YouTube’s event controls determine when the broadcast is shown to viewers.
What you need
- A server with FFmpeg installed and access to the MP4 files.
- A YouTube channel able to create a live stream, plus its ingest server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room.
- A stable server connection and enough capacity to read and encode the media while sending the stream.
Keep the stream key private: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your stream. Do not publish it in a script repository, a public command example, or logs.
Prepare the files and playlist
Check the files first
For a reliable concatenation, use files with matching resolution, frame rate, video codec, and audio codec. This is practical guidance for the concat workflow, not a separate YouTube requirement. Different characteristics can cause playback or transition problems, so test the exact files you intend to broadcast.
Write the playlist in playback order
Create a text file such as playlist.txt, with one file entry for each MP4. The order of the entries is the order FFmpeg will read them:
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file '/path/to/first.mp4'
file '/path/to/second.mp4'
file '/path/to/third.mp4'Use paths that are accessible from the server account running FFmpeg. If a path contains a single quote, spaces, or unusual characters, check the concat-demuxer quoting rules for your installed FFmpeg version rather than assuming the example will work unchanged.
Configure YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio and enter the Live Control Room.
- Create or select the live stream or scheduled event you intend to use.
- Copy the stream’s server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio into your encoder configuration. Treat the key as a password and use a private configuration method rather than committing it to a public script.
- Decide whether you are preparing one continuous show or separate scheduled events. A playlist is media sequencing for one encoder feed; it is not a schedule of separate broadcasts.
YouTube’s API distinguishes the ingest configuration (liveStream) from viewer-facing scheduled or live events (liveBroadcast). One stream configuration can be associated with recurring broadcasts, but only one event can be live at a time. See YouTube Live Streaming API documentation.
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Send the playlist from the server
Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer as the input and configure the output for the YouTube ingest address and key. The exact command depends on the installed FFmpeg version, input formats, and chosen YouTube ingest protocol. The available sources for this workflow do not establish a version-independent command line, so verify syntax against the FFmpeg documentation for the version installed on your server before using it in production. Use placeholders in scripts or examples; never expose a real stream key.
YouTube’s setup guidance is to enter the Live server URL and stream key in the encoder. Start FFmpeg, then wait for the incoming feed to appear in the Live Control Room preview. For a scheduled event, use YouTube’s event controls to select Go live after the preview is available. When finished, stop the outgoing feed and end the event using the controls shown in the Live Control Room. Follow YouTube’s live streaming setup guidance for the current interface.
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Choose an ingest protocol
| Protocol | What to know |
|---|---|
| RTMP or RTMPS | YouTube documents RTMPS as RTMP carried through an SSL connection. The practical FFmpeg playlist guide uses RTMP for this kind of feed. Use the protocol supported by your encoder and configured in the YouTube Live Control Room. |
| HLS | YouTube also supports HLS ingest. Its Help documentation notes higher latency because content is sent in segments, and requires a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments. HLS may suit cases such as HDR or codecs not supported through RTMP, but requires an encoder configured for HLS. |
There is no universally best protocol for every server and media collection. Compare encoder support, latency needs, file format support, and the operational complexity of segmented delivery. See YouTube’s ingest protocol guidance and YouTube’s HLS ingestion documentation.
Test playback and understand archive limits
- Watch the Live Control Room preview before starting a public event.
- Check transitions between files, including audio continuity and whether the next file begins as expected.
- Monitor stream health during the broadcast and verify that the playlist remains available to the FFmpeg process.
- YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume a longer continuous or looping playlist will be preserved as one complete archive on that basis.
Testing transitions before relying on a long broadcast is operational advice based on the playlist workflow; it is not a claim that any particular configuration has been tested.
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Playlist order is not event scheduling
The concat playlist determines which media files the encoder sends, and in what order. A scheduled YouTube broadcast determines when an event is presented to viewers, along with its own event controls. If viewers need distinct watch pages or separate start and end controls, create and manage separate YouTube events; changing the order in one playlist does not create a calendar of broadcasts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
The feed does not appear in the Live Control Room
- Confirm that FFmpeg is running and can read the playlist and every listed file.
- Recheck that the server URL and stream key are copied from the intended YouTube stream configuration and that the selected protocol matches the encoder output.
- Keep the stream key private, but check the configured value for accidental whitespace or truncation.
The playlist stops or a file is skipped
- Confirm the playlist paths exist and are readable by the account running FFmpeg.
- Check playlist order and the quoting of paths containing spaces or special characters against the installed FFmpeg version’s concat-demuxer rules.
- Check server storage and process logs for read errors; do not assume a file was successfully opened just because earlier entries played.
There is a glitch at a file transition
- Compare resolution, frame rate, video codec, and audio codec across the files.
- Test the transition in the Live Control Room preview before relying on the full broadcast.
- If the sources differ, prepare compatible files or verify a version-appropriate FFmpeg workflow that handles those differences.
The broadcast is on the wrong schedule or watch page
Check the selected YouTube event separately from the FFmpeg playlist. The playlist controls incoming media order; the event controls which scheduled broadcast viewers see.
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