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How the overlay pipeline works
FFmpeg’s overlay filter takes two video inputs: the first is the main stream and the second is placed on top of it. A transparent PNG is a common choice for a logo. The filter’s x/y expressions determine where the image appears. See the FFmpeg filter documentation.
The processing path is:
- Your encoder publishes its source video to an Nginx RTMP application.
- FFmpeg reads that local RTMP stream and the overlay image.
- FFmpeg composites the image, encodes the resulting video, and publishes to the YouTube ingest address and stream key for your broadcast.
Compositing changes video frames, so the video must be encoded; -c:v copy cannot preserve an overlay. Audio can be copied only if its codec and parameters are accepted by YouTube; otherwise, encode it to a compatible format.
Run FFmpeg as a separate process
This pattern is a starting point assembled from FFmpeg’s documented two-input filter and YouTube’s live-ingest guidance. It has not been executed or tested, and exact options can depend on your FFmpeg build, source stream, and Nginx setup. Replace the source URL, image path, frame rate, encoding settings, destination URL, and key with values for your environment.
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ffmpeg
-i 'rtmp://127.0.0.1:1935/live/STREAM'
-loop 1 -i '/path/to/logo.png'
-filter_complex '[0:v][1:v]overlay=10:10[v]'
-map '[v]' -map '0:a?'
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency
-pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv 'rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY'The example places the image at x=10, y=10, near the upper-left corner. Adjust the coordinates to suit the output frame and keep the logo clear of important picture content. The output’s -g 60 is a two-second GOP only when the video runs at 30 frames per second. At a different frame rate, calculate the keyframe interval accordingly.
The example uses -loop 1 to keep the still image available as an input. Verify that option against your installed FFmpeg build with ffmpeg -h demuxer=image2 or its local manual; still-image looping and end-of-file behavior can vary with demuxer/build details. Test with a short recording before going live.
If the inputs begin at different timestamps, FFmpeg’s filter documentation advises considering setpts=PTS-STARTPTS. Live sources can behave differently, so test whether timestamp adjustment is needed rather than adding it blindly. If the filter reports timestamp or synchronization issues, inspect both input timelines and test a filter graph adjusted for the actual source.
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Choose where FFmpeg runs
Separate FFmpeg service
Publish the original stream to Nginx, then have a separately managed FFmpeg process read the local RTMP URL, apply the overlay, and send the result directly to YouTube. A service manager can supervise this process and its logs. This approach can keep the YouTube key out of the Nginx configuration if you store the secret separately and restrict access to the service configuration.
Start FFmpeg with nginx-rtmp exec_push
The nginx-rtmp module documents exec_push as running a command for each published stream. It supports $app and $name substitutions and is intended for tasks such as FFmpeg transcoding and republishing. The child process is terminated when publishing stops. Consult the nginx-rtmp directives documentation and confirm that your installed module or fork supports the directive.
Use the full FFmpeg binary path where practical, and check the Nginx process’s environment and file permissions. The module documentation notes that Nginx normally clears the environment, which can affect executable lookup through PATH. The Nginx worker must be able to execute FFmpeg and read the image. Quote paths and filter expressions for the actual configuration and process syntax, then validate configuration with nginx -t and test on a controlled stream. Commands in Nginx configuration are process arguments, so do not place a live key in a broadly readable configuration file.
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Use Nginx to relay FFmpeg’s processed output
If FFmpeg publishes the composited result into a second Nginx RTMP application, that application can use push to publish the stream to a remote server. The directive forwards a stream; it does not add an image. The module also documents push_reconnect for setting a reconnection delay after a disconnect. Check the installed version’s behavior in the directive documentation.
A 2016 module issue shows a YouTube relay example, but it is an old community discussion, not current YouTube setup guidance. Get the ingest address and stream key from the current YouTube live setup for your account.
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YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends RTMPS, lists H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, supports up to 60 fps, and recommends constant bitrate (CBR). It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it should not exceed four seconds. The listed compatible audio codecs include AAC and MP3. YouTube’s settings can change, so confirm the official encoder recommendations before a production broadcast.
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The page’s H.264 recommended bitrate ranges, accessed in 2026, are:
| Output profile | Recommended video bitrate |
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| 1080p at 30 fps | 5–14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6–17 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3–8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 3–8 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s recommendations for H.264, not universal settings for every codec or source. Choose a bitrate that fits the selected resolution and frame rate, the encoder’s behavior, and available upload bandwidth. The sample command does not set a video bitrate; add one that matches the profile you intend to send. Leave headroom in the connection for bitrate variation and other network use.
YouTube recommends RTMPS as a secure extension of RTMP. Use the current ingest protocol and server address displayed in your YouTube live setup rather than relying on an old example. Treat the stream key as a password: keep it out of public examples, screenshots, shell history, and world-readable configuration.
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Test and troubleshoot before going live
Use a short controlled test with similar motion and audio before a real broadcast. YouTube recommends pre-event testing and monitoring stream health; check the official encoder guidance for current monitoring advice.
- FFmpeg cannot open the image: confirm the path is correct and the user running FFmpeg can read the file. Check permissions, including for the Nginx worker if it launches the process.
- FFmpeg cannot find an encoder or filter: confirm the installed build includes the chosen encoder (such as
libx264) and the required filters. Package builds differ; test the command on the same binary used in production. - The overlay is missing, misplaced, or opaque: verify that the second input is the intended image, that the filter uses
[0:v][1:v]in that order, and that the image has transparency if you expect it. Adjustoverlay=10:10coordinates for your resolution. - The logo disappears or FFmpeg exits: check the installed image2 demuxer’s still-image loop behavior and FFmpeg logs. Test with a short local recording before diagnosing the live pipeline.
- The filter reports timestamp or synchronization problems: compare source and image timestamps; test the FFmpeg-documented
setpts=PTS-STARTPTSapproach where appropriate. - YouTube reports connection or ingest errors: verify the current server address, protocol, stream key, and output profile in YouTube’s live setup. Confirm the key is current and private.
- Frames drop or video stutters: inspect CPU headroom, encoding load, available upload bandwidth, and FFmpeg logs. Overlay composition requires video encoding, which uses more resources than passing the original video through unchanged.
- Audio is absent or rejected: confirm the source actually has an audio stream and that
-map '0:a?'behaves as intended. Encode to a compatible codec such as AAC if copying the source audio is not accepted. - The process does not start under Nginx: check
nginx -t, quoting, the full FFmpeg path, Nginx’s cleared environment, and access to both the image and output. Confirm the installed nginx-rtmp module supports the configured directive. - The stream stops when the publisher disconnects: with
exec_push, the documented child process is terminated when publishing stops. For a separately managed service, configure and inspect its own lifecycle and restart behavior.
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