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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To loop a local 4K 60fps SDR video to YouTube Live with an NVIDIA GPU, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 to repeat the file and -re to feed it at real-time speed. This H.264/NVENC command is a starting point aligned with YouTube’s listed 2160p60 recommendations; it does not upscale a lower-resolution source or guarantee that a particular GPU, file, FFmpeg build, or network can sustain the stream.
FFmpeg command for a 4K60 YouTube Live loop
Replace the final RTMPS address with the ingest URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the stream key private.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0?
-c:v h264_nvenc -preset p5 -rc cbr
-b:v 50M -maxrate 50M -bufsize 100M
-g 120 -bf 2
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"The command assumes the input is already 3840×2160 at 60 fps, has audio or can be streamed without it, and is suitable for an SDR H.264 stream. It encodes with NVIDIA NVENC; it does not convert an arbitrary video into 4K60.
What the important options do
-rereads the file at its native frame rate so it is paced like a live stream rather than sent as fast as FFmpeg can process it.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. These are input options and must appear before-i.-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0?selects the first video stream and, if present, the first audio stream. Change the mapping if your file’s streams differ.-c:v h264_nvencselects NVIDIA’s hardware H.264 encoder. The installed GPU and FFmpeg build must support it.-rc cbrselects constant-bitrate rate control.-b:v 50Mand-maxrate 50Mset the target and maximum video bitrate;-bufsize 100Msets the rate-control buffer.-g 120sets a 120-frame GOP, equal to two seconds at 60 fps.-bf 2requests two B-frames.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes audio as AAC at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz.-f flvuses the FLV output format used for RTMP(S) streaming.
Check the source, GPU, and connection first
Inspect the video and audio
Confirm the file’s dimensions, frame rate, audio stream, pixel format, and SDR or HDR characteristics with a media probe before choosing an encoding path. A file without an audio stream is allowed by the optional audio mapping, but verify that the resulting stream behaves as intended. A loop repeats any visible or audible jump at the end-to-start boundary; use a source with a clean transition if that matters.
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Confirm NVENC support and real-time capacity
NVENC is NVIDIA’s hardware-based encoder, but supported codecs, profiles, bit depth, dimensions, frame rate, and performance depend on the exact GPU. Check the installed FFmpeg encoder options with ffmpeg -h encoder=h264_nvenc and confirm the GPU can sustain the desired 4K60 encode. Seeing the encoder listed does not establish that it can maintain real-time performance for your workload. See NVIDIA’s NVENC application note and NVIDIA’s FFmpeg guide.
Allow network headroom
Make sure stable upload capacity exceeds the total stream bitrate with room for audio and protocol overhead. YouTube’s recommended video bitrate is not the full amount of network traffic the stream requires.
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Match YouTube’s ingest settings
YouTube Help’s current encoder recommendations, checked on 2026-10-03, list the following 2160p60 video bitrates; the retrieved page does not state a publication year:
| Codec | YouTube-listed 2160p60 video bitrate | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | Used by the command above. |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 35 Mbps | Requires a compatible encoder and end-to-end setup. |
YouTube also lists CBR, frame rates up to 60 fps, a recommended two-second keyframe interval (do not exceed four seconds), AAC or MP3 audio, and RTMP/RTMPS transport. For stereo audio, it lists 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. Its advanced settings include progressive scan, two B-frames, one reference frame, square pixels, and Rec. 709 for SDR. Consult YouTube’s encoder recommendations when configuring a different codec or format.
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Use RTMPS and test before relying on the stream
YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP. For a 4K/2160 stream, YouTube sets normal latency; its low-latency option is unavailable at that resolution. Start a test with representative movement and audio, then check YouTube’s stream health before depending on an unattended run.
HDR and alternate codecs need a different setup
The command above is for an SDR H.264 path. YouTube recommends H.265/HEVC over RTMP(S) for HDR, with 10-bit HDR and the appropriate HDR color metadata. Do not apply the SDR command unchanged to HDR footage: verify support across the source, GPU, FFmpeg build, and YouTube ingest, and preserve or set the source’s color characteristics correctly. AV1 is not supported for HDR in YouTube’s listed settings. The best codec depends on the footage and compatible hardware; the available guidance does not establish one universally best choice.
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Troubleshoot a failed or unstable loop
- FFmpeg cannot find
h264_nvencor fails to initialize it: check that the FFmpeg build includes the encoder, the NVIDIA driver and GPU are available, and the GPU supports the input format and target encode. Reviewffmpeg -h encoder=h264_nvenc. - YouTube does not receive the stream: verify the ingest address and stream key in Live Control Room, confirm outbound connectivity and firewall rules, and check network stability. Do not expose the stream key in logs or public posts.
- The stream reports health or bitrate problems: check sustained upload capacity against video, audio, and protocol needs; confirm the selected bitrate and encoding settings; and monitor YouTube’s stream health during a test.
- There is no audio: inspect the file’s audio streams and revise the mapping if the intended audio is not the first stream. If the source has no audio, the optional map does not create any.
- The loop has a click, silence, or visual jump: inspect the file’s end and beginning. FFmpeg repeats the source; it does not make a discontinuous edit seamless.
- Frames or timestamps behave unexpectedly: confirm the source’s timestamps and formats are acceptable and that the input is a file. The real-time pacing flag is appropriate here because the input is a file; FFmpeg cautions against careless read-rate limiting of actual capture or live inputs because it can cause packet loss.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Does this command turn a 30 fps or 1080p file into 4K 60fps?
No. It assumes the input is already 4K60; it does not upscale or convert an arbitrary source.
Quick Recap
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- Military-grade components deliver rock-solid power and longer lifespan for ultimate durability
- Protective PCB coating helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, dust, or debris
- 3.125-slot design with massive fin array optimized for airflow from three Axial-tech fans
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal thermal performance and longevity, outlasting traditional thermal paste for graphics cards under heavy loads
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