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1. Prepare and order the MP4 files
Put the videos in a folder and decide the exact playback order. Do not rely on the order returned by a directory listing; the concat list determines what viewers see and when the playlist repeats.
Create a UTF-8 text file named playlist.txt in that folder. Put the following header on the first line exactly, followed by one file directive for each video:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'video-01.mp4'
file 'video-02.mp4'
file 'video-03.mp4'Use paths relative to the list file when convenient. The header lets FFmpeg recognize the concat format automatically. Filenames with quotes, backslashes, or other special characters require escaping according to the concat-demuxer syntax; if you are unsure, use simple filenames without special characters. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation for the exact list syntax and path rules.
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2. Check whether the MP4s can be concatenated directly
The concat demuxer joins encoded packets rather than decoding and rebuilding each video. FFmpeg expects the files to have matching streams, codecs, and time bases. A folder of MP4s is not necessarily a compatible playlist: files may differ in video or audio stream layout, encoding, time base, or duration metadata. Those differences can cause the concat input to fail, create gaps, or produce artifacts at a file boundary.
- Try packet-level concat when the MP4s have matching stream layouts, codecs, and time bases. This can pass the encoded media through without re-encoding it.
- Normalize or re-encode first when the files are unlike one another or playback has boundary problems. This requires decoding and encoding, and the appropriate settings depend on your files and output target.
FFmpeg’s documentation explains the concat demuxer’s compatibility requirements and timestamp handling at ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-formats.html#concat. If you switch to a filter-based workflow to normalize sources, build and test that workflow against the actual files; there is no single filter command that fits every mixed folder.
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3. Get YouTube’s ingest URL and stream key
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the live stream.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for the encoder connection. Use the exact values and format YouTube provides for your stream.
- Keep the key private. Treat it like a password: do not publish it in an article, screenshot, shared command history, or log. Reset it if you believe it has been exposed.
YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes connecting with the server URL and key. Its live stream settings guide covers stream keys, URLs, latency, and automatic start/stop settings.
4. Run FFmpeg with a repeating concat input
Open a terminal in the folder containing playlist.txt, or substitute its full path. This representative command loops the concat input indefinitely, reads local files in real time, encodes H.264 video and AAC audio, and sends an FLV output to an RTMPS ingest URL:
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://INGEST_SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY"Replace the destination with the exact server URL and key format supplied by YouTube. Do not paste a real key into a public example or share a command containing it. The shown options are an illustrative command shape, not a tested universal command: FFmpeg builds differ in available encoders, and the right command depends on the source files and YouTube’s current ingest configuration.
What the important options do
-rereads local media at its native rate rather than letting FFmpeg process it as fast as possible. It is commonly used when sending prerecorded media as a live feed; test timing with your own playlist.-stream_loop -1repeats the next input indefinitely. It must appear before the concat input it applies to:-i playlist.txt.-f concatselects the concat-demuxer input.-safe 0permits paths that the demuxer’s safe-path checks might otherwise reject; use it only with a playlist you control.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacrequest H.264 video and AAC audio encoding. Confirm that the installed FFmpeg build includes the requested encoders.-r 30sets the output frame rate to 30 fps.-g 60and-keyint_min 60request a 60-frame GOP at that rate, corresponding to a two-second keyframe interval. If you change frame rate, revisit GOP settings.-b:a 128krequests 128 kbps audio, while-ar 44100requests a 44.1 kHz audio sample rate. These are example values, not requirements for every source or stream.
With matching inputs, packet-level concat may let you avoid re-encoding, but this sample command explicitly encodes both streams to make the output settings controllable. If you remove the codec options to preserve packets, first verify the concatenated streams and output container/protocol are suitable for the YouTube connection.
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5. Choose output settings for YouTube ingest
YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP. Its encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS and video codecs including H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1, along with AAC or MP3 audio and constant-bitrate encoding. Availability depends on the current YouTube workflow and the codecs your FFmpeg build can produce, so check the current YouTube encoder settings rather than assuming every combination is accepted.
| Setting | YouTube guidance | How to apply it |
|---|---|---|
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds | For 30 fps output, a 60-frame GOP represents 2 seconds. Align keyframe settings with the actual output frame rate. |
| H.264 bitrate examples | 10 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps; 12 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps | These are mode-specific recommendations, not universal values. Check the current table for your resolution, frame rate, codec, and account settings. |
| Bitrate mode | Constant bitrate (CBR) is listed in YouTube’s encoder guidance | Use an encoder configuration that provides the required bitrate behavior, and ensure your upload connection can sustain it reliably. |
| Protocol | RTMPS recommended | Use the ingest protocol and destination YouTube provides; verify the FFmpeg output format and protocol work together. |
YouTube’s recommended bitrates and supported settings can change. The figures above reflect its guidance accessed in 2026; check the live encoder settings page for the current values before configuring a production stream.
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6. Test before making the stream public
- Start with a private or unlisted event, if available for your setup, and run the FFmpeg command.
- Wait for the preview in Live Control Room. Confirm that video appears and audio is audible.
- Watch a transition between two files and the point where the playlist begins again. Look for missing audio, black frames, freezes, or unexpected gaps.
- Check YouTube’s stream-health status and monitor the FFmpeg process and upload connection while the test runs.
- When the output is satisfactory, use the event’s YouTube controls and settings to start the public stream. Whether YouTube starts or ends an event automatically depends on its configured stream-start and stream-stop options.
YouTube recommends testing and monitoring stream health in its encoder settings guidance. Its encoder setup article says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; confirm current behavior if duration or archiving matters to your event at YouTube’s setup guide.
7. Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg rejects the concat list or cannot open a file | Incorrect path, malformed directive, special characters, or an invalid header | Confirm that ffconcat version 1.0 is the first line, each path points to a readable file, and filenames are quoted or escaped as required by the concat syntax. |
| Playback fails or breaks between files | Incompatible stream layouts, codecs, time bases, or inaccurate duration metadata | Compare the files’ streams and metadata. Use compatible sources or normalize/re-encode the files, then test the boundaries again. |
| YouTube does not show an incoming preview | Wrong server URL or key, unsupported output configuration, or connection issue | Copy the current ingest details again from Live Control Room, protect the key, and verify the FFmpeg build, output format, protocol, and codec choices against YouTube’s current settings. |
| Video arrives but audio is absent or distorted | Missing/incompatible audio stream or unsuitable audio encoding | Check that each input has the intended audio stream and test the selected AAC or other accepted audio configuration in the preview. |
| Stream health reports instability or the feed stops | Upload capacity, host/network interruption, process exit, or unavailable storage | Check the stable upload capacity against the configured output bitrate, review FFmpeg errors and host/network status, and confirm the playlist files remain accessible. |
| Long-running stream does not resume after a drop | The local process, network, or host may not reconnect or restart automatically | Plan process supervision, host and network uptime, monitoring, and reconnect handling. Neither FFmpeg’s loop option nor the cited YouTube documentation guarantees uninterrupted 24/7 operation. |
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