The Tool Desk
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Transfer your video files to the VPS over SSH with scp or SFTP; use rsync when you expect to update the library. Then create an ordered FFmpeg concat list and send its output to the RTMPS server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. The VPS must have enough storage, CPU capacity and sustained outbound bandwidth for the stream.
What you need before uploading
- A VPS you can access with SSH, plus its hostname, username, SSH port and available storage. The provider supplies these details and sets the server’s storage, CPU and network limits.
- Video files you have the rights to stream. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance also requires compliance with its Community Guidelines; rights and legal requirements depend on the content and jurisdiction. YouTube’s live-streaming encoder setup guidance.
- An FFmpeg installation on the VPS and a working YouTube Live setup.
Confirm YouTube Live access
YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours. In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room, create or select an encoder stream, and copy the server URL and stream key. Interface details can change. Keep the key private: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your stream. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
Create a destination directory on the VPS
Connect using the account and SSH details from your VPS provider. Create a directory for the files, for example:
sudo mkdir -p /srv/stream/videos
sudo chown "$USER":"$USER" /srv/stream/videosUse a path your account can write to. The example changes ownership to the connected user; if your provider manages permissions differently, follow its instructions instead. Check available disk space before copying a large library.
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Transfer the playlist videos
One-time copy with scp
From a terminal on your local computer, run:
scp -r ./videos user@host:/srv/stream/videos/Replace ./videos with the local source directory and user@host with your VPS username and hostname. If SSH listens on a non-default port, specify it with -P (uppercase):
scp -P 2222 -r ./videos user@host:/srv/stream/videos/OpenSSH’s current scp documentation says the utility transfers over SSH and uses SFTP by default. Confirm the remote host identity before accepting its key, and use key-based authentication where available. See the OpenSSH scp manual.
Repeat transfers with rsync
For a library you update over time, rsync can avoid retransmitting unchanged file data:
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rsync -av --progress ./videos/ user@host:/srv/stream/videos/The trailing slash on ./videos/ means to copy the directory’s contents into the destination. For a non-default SSH port, pass the port through SSH:
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rsync -av --progress -e "ssh -p 2222" ./videos/ user@host:/srv/stream/videos/Rsync works over a remote shell such as SSH. Review its official documentation for options if you need to delete destination files that are no longer present locally; do not add deletion behavior unless that is what you intend.
Use a graphical SFTP client if preferred
A graphical SFTP client can connect with the same VPS hostname, port and SSH credentials. SFTP operates over encrypted SSH; use it to open the destination directory and upload the files. The provider-specific connection details and any required authentication settings come from your VPS provider. OpenSSH describes its secure file-transfer protocol in the sftp manual.
Verify the copied files
Compare the local and remote file counts and sizes, then inspect or play a sample file from the VPS. For important media, generate a checksum on each machine and compare the results. These are useful operational checks, not a YouTube requirement.
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On the VPS, create /srv/stream/videos/playlist.txt with one entry per video, in the order you want it played:
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file 'clip01.mp4'
file 'clip02.mp4'
file 'clip03.mp4'These paths are relative to the playlist file. Keeping the list beside the clips and using simple filenames works with FFmpeg’s default safe-path mode. The concat demuxer reads the listed inputs in sequence; it is not a playlist generator that automatically discovers files, so add or reorder entries yourself.
Check compatibility before concatenating
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer works best when the files have matching streams and compatible codecs and time bases. If their stream layouts or parameters differ, transitions may fail or cause glitches. Incorrect duration information or truncated inputs can also produce gaps or artifacts. Review the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation and test the complete list before relying on it for a long stream.
Send the playlist to YouTube with FFmpeg
This example reads the playlist in real time, re-encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC, and sends the result to YouTube over RTMPS:
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ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 1 -i /srv/stream/videos/playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY'Replace the example destination with the exact RTMPS server URL and stream key shown in Live Control Room. Treat the combined destination as a secret: avoid saving the key in shared scripts, logs or public repositories. If you need a persistent setup, restrict access to the file or use a suitably protected secret mechanism.
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What the example settings mean
-rereads the file input at its native rate instead of sending it as fast as the server can encode it.-f concat -safe 1selects the concat demuxer and keeps its safe-path checks enabled.-c:v libx264,-preset veryfastand-pix_fmt yuv420pselect H.264 encoding with a faster preset and a widely compatible pixel format. The preset trades encoding efficiency for lower CPU demand.-b:v 4500k,-maxrate 4500kand-bufsize 9000kset an illustrative video bitrate, cap and buffer. They are not universal recommendations: suitable values depend on resolution, frame rate, source material and current YouTube guidance.-g 60sets a GOP length of 60 frames. Its time interval depends on the input/output frame rate. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds; set GOP length to fit the actual output frame rate. Consult its current live encoder settings.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes AAC audio at the example bitrate and sample rate. Confirm that audio is present and at a suitable level in the preview.-f flvselects the output container commonly used for the RTMP/RTMPS ingest workflow.
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists H.264, HEVC or AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; constant bitrate (CBR); and the two-second keyframe interval noted above. The command here uses H.264 and AAC. Consult YouTube’s current settings rather than assuming the example values suit every source or ingest configuration. YouTube encoder settings and bitrates.
Stream-copy or re-encode?
Re-encoding can make varied inputs more consistent but uses VPS CPU. Stream-copy avoids that encoding workload, but only works reliably when the files have compatible stream layouts and parameters and the resulting codecs and container are suitable for the destination. Inspect the actual media first; do not assume that clips with the same filename extension are compatible. FFmpeg’s concat documentation explains the input constraints.
Preview, go live and monitor the VPS
- Start FFmpeg and check its output for file-opening, codec or connection errors.
- In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, wait for the incoming preview and verify picture, sound and continuity before starting the public broadcast.
- Watch YouTube’s stream-health indicators and the VPS’s CPU, memory, disk and network use while the feed runs.
- Test ahead of the scheduled broadcast. YouTube advises having upload capacity with 20% headroom over the stream’s bitrate and testing the real feed. The VPS needs adequate, sustained outbound capacity; the figure is headroom guidance, not a guarantee of service quality. See YouTube’s encoder guidance.
Common problems and fixes
SSH connection or permission errors
Check the VPS hostname, username, SSH port and authentication method against the provider’s configuration. If the connection works but upload fails with a permission error, verify that the destination exists and that your account can write to it.
Files are missing, incomplete or in the wrong directory
Compare file counts and sizes, check the destination path and confirm whether you copied the directory or its contents. Re-run rsync for a repeatable transfer, then inspect a sample file on the VPS before starting FFmpeg.
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FFmpeg cannot read a playlist entry
Check that the filename and capitalization match the actual file, that the relative path is relative to playlist.txt, and that the list uses the file 'filename' format. Keep paths simple with -safe 1; changing safe-path behavior is not a substitute for checking untrusted paths.
Gaps, glitches or failed transitions
Check whether the inputs have compatible streams, codecs and time bases, and whether any file is damaged or has inaccurate duration metadata. Test with a short concat list. If the source files differ, re-encoding them to a consistent output may help, at the cost of additional CPU.
No preview, dropped connection or unstable stream
Confirm that the exact server URL and key are current and belong to the selected YouTube stream. Check FFmpeg’s connection messages, VPS network capacity and YouTube stream health. If YouTube’s ingest disconnects, reconnecting FFmpeg may be necessary; monitor the session rather than assuming a process will recover by itself.
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Re-encoding can overload a small VPS, while an undersized or unstable outbound connection can interrupt delivery even when encoding is fine. Check resource use and sustained network capacity; consider stream-copy only if the inputs are genuinely compatible, or select VPS capacity that fits the encoding and output requirements. Provider limits vary, so verify the specific plan’s storage, CPU and network terms.
Or let it run in the cloud
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