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To stream several videos in sequence from an EC2 instance to YouTube Live, put their file paths in an FFmpeg concat-demuxer playlist, then use that playlist as FFmpeg’s input. This works most directly when the files have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases. Use the stream URL and key shown in YouTube Live Control Room, and prefer RTMPS when your FFmpeg build and workflow support it.
1. Check the videos before building the playlist
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer reads a text file of media paths and processes the files sequentially. It is not a general-purpose editor: for the documented concat operation, the files need the same streams, codecs, and time bases. If clips differ in resolution, codec, stream layout, or other properties, normalize or transcode them to a common format first. Transcoding adds preparation work and uses encoding resources; stream copy may be an option when the files already meet the compatibility and output requirements. Neither approach guarantees gapless transitions.
Inspect the files and decide the output codec, resolution, frame rate, audio format, bitrate, and keyframe interval before starting the stream. The right EC2 capacity depends on those settings, the number of streams, and whether FFmpeg is encoding or copying streams, so there is no single instance recommendation for every playlist.
2. Create the concat playlist
On the EC2 instance, create a plain-text file such as /path/to/playlist.txt, with one file directive per video, in the order you want them played:
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file '/path/to/video-01.mp4'
file '/path/to/video-02.mp4'
file '/path/to/video-03.mp4'Use paths that exist on the EC2 instance and that its FFmpeg process can read. Keep the playlist under your control. The example command below uses -safe 0 to allow paths the concat demuxer might otherwise reject as unsafe; do not use that option with an untrusted playlist.
3. Get the YouTube ingest URL and stream key
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and use the stream URL and stream key shown for the stream. YouTube describes the key as the credential that directs the encoder feed to its service; reset it if it is compromised. See YouTube’s live stream settings.
- Prefer the RTMPS ingest URL when it is available and supported by your FFmpeg build. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the connection to its servers. Confirm the actual URL in Live Control Room and verify that your FFmpeg build supports the protocol. See YouTube’s RTMPS setup instructions.
- Provide the URL and key to the command as protected environment variables or another secure configuration method. Do not paste the key into public logs, shared screenshots, or shell history.
4. Start FFmpeg on EC2
This is an illustrative command skeleton, not a tested, production-ready command. Set the output codec, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, audio handling, and keyframe behavior to suit the clips and YouTube’s current guidance. Replace the playlist path and environment-variable values with your own:
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ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 0 -i /path/to/playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY"The -re option reads the media at its native playback rate rather than sending it as fast as possible. The command selects H.264 video and AAC audio, but does not set a bitrate, resolution, frame rate, or GOP/keyframe interval; those must be chosen for your stream. If your chosen output uses a different supported codec or protocol, configure the command accordingly. Check the FFmpeg documentation for the concat demuxer’s options and behavior: FFmpeg documentation.
5. Match YouTube’s ingest settings
YouTube’s current encoder guidance for RTMP/RTMPS lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1; frame rates up to 60 fps; CBR bitrate encoding; AAC or MP3 audio; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Choose a bitrate for the exact codec, resolution, and frame-rate row rather than treating one value as universal. For example, YouTube lists 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended for H.264 at 1080p30. These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that your instance or network can sustain the stream. Check the current YouTube live encoder settings when configuring output.
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6. Know what happens when the playlist ends
The concat demuxer processes the listed files in sequence. The command shown does not establish a repeating playlist or a way to insert files into a running playlist without restarting FFmpeg. If you need either behavior, design and test that separately; do not assume changing the text file will refresh an already-running process. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume the same archive behavior for longer streams. Check Live Control Room for the planned duration. See YouTube’s encoder setup guidance.
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7. Troubleshoot common failures
- FFmpeg rejects a file or the transition breaks: check that each path is readable and that the files have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases. Normalize incompatible clips before concatenating.
- Timestamp artifacts appear at a transition: check whether file durations are accurate. FFmpeg uses durations to adjust timestamps between files, and inaccurate duration information can cause artifacts. Consult the concat-demuxer documentation.
- YouTube does not detect or accept the feed: confirm the Live Control Room URL and key, protocol support, output codec and bitrate, then review YouTube’s stream-health messages. Keep the key private when sharing logs. You can reset a compromised key in the live stream settings.
- The stream buffers or drops: compare the configured total bitrate with sustained EC2 outbound throughput and leave YouTube’s recommended headroom. Also check encoder load if FFmpeg is transcoding.
- The live stream is blocked or interrupted over content: only stream videos you have rights to use, and check YouTube’s current live-stream and copyright requirements before broadcasting. A rights check does not guarantee that a video will be accepted by YouTube.
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