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To loop a prerecorded video and send it to YouTube Live with FFmpeg, use -stream_loop -1 to repeat the file, -re to read it in real time, H.264 video, and AAC audio. This 1080p30 example is a starting point; adjust the bitrate, frame rate, and keyframe interval to match your output and YouTube’s current recommendations.
Starting FFmpeg command for a 1080p30 stream
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://SERVER/STREAM_KEY"Replace input.mp4 with the video file’s path. Replace the destination with the RTMPS server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private: anyone who has it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
The 4,500 Kbps video target is a conservative example, not YouTube’s recommended 1080p30 target. YouTube currently recommends 10 Mbps for H.264 at 1080p30. Choose the figure for your intended resolution and frame rate from YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate table, and confirm your connection can sustain the combined video and audio data with upload headroom.
What the command does
-rereads the file at its native rate instead of sending it as fast as the machine can process it. This is appropriate when replaying a file as a live stream.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so it belongs before-i.-c:v libx264selects FFmpeg’s H.264 encoder. The bitrate target, maximum rate, and buffer size configure bitrate-targeted encoding.-preset veryfasttrades some compression efficiency for faster encoding. If the machine cannot encode in real time, try a faster preset; if it has ample capacity and you want better compression efficiency, a slower preset may help, but test it before relying on it.-g 60sets a maximum GOP size of 60 frames. At 30 fps, that is a two-second keyframe interval.-keyint_min 60and-sc_threshold 0help keep keyframes on a regular interval.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a widely compatible pixel format for H.264 playback and ingestion.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes audio as AAC at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz, YouTube’s recommended stereo settings.-f flvselects the FLV muxer used for RTMP-family streaming. The destination uses RTMPS, the encrypted option YouTube recommends.
These options use FFmpeg’s documented input-looping, real-time input, encoding, and muxing behavior; the exact available encoders depend on your FFmpeg build. See the FFmpeg documentation.
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Match output settings to your source and YouTube
The example does not resize the video or convert its frame rate. Its 60-frame GOP is two seconds only if the encoded output is 30 fps. If you output at a different frame rate, choose the GOP in frames to represent roughly two seconds—for example, 60 frames at 30 fps or 120 frames at 60 fps. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds.
| YouTube H.264 ingest output | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 5 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 7 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 4K30 | 11 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published H.264 recommendations by ingest resolution and frame rate, not universal requirements. Its live settings page also lists AV1 and H.265 guidance; check the current table before deployment because platform recommendations can change.
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YouTube currently lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, AAC or MP3, and CBR among its live encoder settings. The example specifies a bitrate-targeted x264 configuration, but if you need to satisfy a strict CBR setup, verify the actual output and your FFmpeg encoder options rather than assuming the flags alone guarantee platform-compliant CBR behavior.
Set up the YouTube stream and test it
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream.
- Copy the server URL and stream key provided for that stream. Put them in the RTMPS destination in the command; do not publish or share the key.
- Run FFmpeg and check the YouTube preview and stream-health indicators. Test with representative movement and audio before treating the setup as production-ready. YouTube specifically advises testing with audio and motion similar to the intended stream.
- Confirm that the chosen output resolution and frame rate match the bitrate row you are using, and that the machine can encode steadily while the network uploads continuously.
YouTube’s setup instructions are in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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Prepare for 24/7 operation
An infinite input loop only repeats the file. It does not restart FFmpeg after a crash, repair a lost network connection, keep the host powered, or recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream. A DIY 24/7 setup therefore needs a continuously powered machine, reliable upload connectivity, process supervision and a plan for source, host, encoder, and network failures.
Also account for YouTube’s archive behavior: YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived when ended. Do not assume one uninterrupted stream longer than 12 hours will produce a complete archive.
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Common problems and fixes
- YouTube does not receive a stream: Check that the RTMPS server URL and stream key are the ones shown for the selected stream, that the key has not been changed, and that the network permits the connection.
- Stream health reports bitrate or connection problems: Check sustained upload capacity, then lower the output bitrate or resolution if the connection lacks headroom. Choose settings for the actual resolution and frame rate rather than copying the example target.
- FFmpeg cannot keep up: Watch its output for encoding speed. Try a faster x264 preset or reduce output resolution/frame rate, then retest. A faster preset may increase the bitrate needed for comparable image quality.
- Keyframe interval is wrong for the output: Recalculate GOP size from the output frame rate. The example’s 60-frame interval is two seconds at 30 fps, not at every frame rate.
- No audio or unexpected audio: Confirm the input has the audio stream you intend to send and that it can be encoded as AAC. For a silent video, or a still image with separate music, build an explicit continuous audio/video input; looping a file does not create a missing stream.
- The video ends instead of looping: Keep
-stream_loop -1before-iand verify that the input file can be read repeatedly. - The stream stops after a host or process failure: The loop option cannot recover a failed process or computer. Add external supervision and recovery procedures, or use a cloud service designed to continue playback independently of a home computer.
Copyright and channel-policy checks
Only stream video and audio you have the rights or permissions to use. A video looping successfully through FFmpeg does not establish that it is permitted for a public livestream, remains eligible for monetization, or complies with YouTube’s rules. Check YouTube’s current policies and any licenses that apply to your content before broadcasting or archiving it.
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