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Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to play videos in a defined order, and add -stream_loop -1 to repeat that playlist indefinitely. The playlist controls playback order and looping; it does not set a calendar start time. To schedule a YouTube broadcast, create or schedule it in YouTube Live Control Room, then send FFmpeg’s output to the stream URL and key YouTube provides.
What the playlist does—and what YouTube schedules
An FFmpeg concat playlist is a text file listing media files in playback order. The concat demuxer presents those files sequentially as one input. It does not set a start time, create YouTube event details, or schedule a broadcast. Use YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room to create or schedule the broadcast; use FFmpeg to provide its video and audio.
- Order: the order of
fileentries in the playlist. - Repeat: FFmpeg’s
-stream_loop -1option. - Broadcast schedule: the YouTube Live Control Room settings.
Prepare a concat playlist
Create a plain-text file named playlist.ffconcat beside the videos, or use paths appropriate to your setup. Put this exact header on the first line, with no byte-order mark:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'video-01.mp4'
file 'video-02.mp4'
file 'video-03.mp4'Save the file as UTF-8 or another plain-text encoding without a byte-order mark. Keep entries in the order you want them played. For paths with spaces or special characters, quote and escape them according to the concat demuxer’s syntax. Relative paths are interpreted in relation to the process’s working directory, so test that FFmpeg can find every file.
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By default, the concat demuxer’s safe-path setting is restrictive. The example below uses -safe 0 to permit paths outside that restricted form. Use it only with a playlist you created and trust; do not feed untrusted playlist files to FFmpeg. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
Check that the media can be concatenated
The concat demuxer works best when every entry has matching stream properties, including codecs, time bases, and stream layout. As the FFmpeg Project puts it, “All files must have the same streams (same codecs, same time base, etc.).” Clips with mismatched properties may fail, produce gaps, or show artifacts. Incorrect duration information can also affect timestamps and transitions.
- Check that every path exists and that each file can be decoded.
- Compare video and audio streams, codecs, time bases, dimensions, frame rates, and stream layout across the files.
- If the files are incompatible, normalize them before streaming or use the concat filter and re-encode. FFmpeg’s FAQ recommends the concat filter when re-encoding is needed: FFmpeg concatenation FAQ.
Stream-copying compatible pre-encoded files can reduce processing, but it is not automatically suitable for every live ingest or mixed-media list. Re-encoding, as in the command below, gives you explicit output settings but uses CPU. Test the actual files and your FFmpeg build; neither method guarantees gapless transitions.
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Send the repeating playlist to YouTube
Use this as a template, not a guaranteed copy-and-paste command. Replace the placeholders with settings that fit your media and YouTube’s current Live Control Room instructions. FFmpeg options are order-sensitive: -stream_loop -1 appears before the playlist input it affects.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.ffconcat
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v <video-bitrate> -maxrate <video-bitrate>
-bufsize <buffer-size> -g <keyframe-interval>
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://<youtube-ingest>/<stream-key>'Replace <video-bitrate>, <buffer-size>, and <keyframe-interval> with numeric values, and replace the destination with the stream URL and key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. The values shown for audio are example settings, not a promise that they suit every source or YouTube configuration. The libx264 encoder must be available in your FFmpeg build; available encoders vary by build.
Choose output and upload settings
Set resolution, frame rate, and bitrate to suit the source material, YouTube’s current guidance, and your reliable upload capacity. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe frequency, and says not to exceed four seconds. Its guidance also suggests upload bandwidth headroom of 20%. These are YouTube recommendations, not independent test results; check the current YouTube encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions page before an event.
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In the example, -b:v sets the video bitrate, -maxrate caps it, -bufsize sets the rate-control buffer, and -g sets the GOP/keyframe interval in frames. Calculate the GOP value from the frame rate and chosen interval; for example, at 30 fps a two-second interval corresponds to 60 frames. Match the units FFmpeg expects for the bitrate and buffer values. The command uses -re to read media at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible.
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Use the ingest URL and stream key displayed for the specific YouTube stream. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it, put it in a public script repository, or share a command containing it. If you suspect it has been exposed, replace or reset it through YouTube’s controls before streaming.
Create and start the YouTube broadcast
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create a stream or schedule a broadcast using YouTube’s current interface. Confirm the scheduled event’s title, visibility, and start time there; those details are not encoded in the FFmpeg playlist.
- Copy the stream URL and key shown for that broadcast into the FFmpeg output destination. Keep the key private.
- Start FFmpeg with the playlist and output settings. Watch the terminal for missing-file, decoder, encoder, or connection errors.
- Check the incoming preview and stream health in Live Control Room. Confirm that both picture and sound are present and that YouTube reports an acceptable incoming stream.
- Follow YouTube’s go-live flow for the scheduled broadcast after the preview is ready. YouTube documents ending a broadcast by stopping the encoder feed and, for scheduled broadcasts, using the end-stream control as directed in Live Control Room.
See YouTube’s live streaming instructions for current Control Room steps. YouTube Help advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
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Test before the scheduled start
- Confirm the playlist header, file order, quoting, and paths.
- Check that each source decodes and that stream properties are compatible, or normalize the files/use the concat filter where needed.
- Confirm your installed FFmpeg build supports the chosen video and audio encoders.
- Verify the destination URL and stream key for the intended broadcast.
- Measure reliable upload capacity against the total stream bitrate, with YouTube’s suggested 20% headroom.
- Start a test feed early enough to inspect YouTube’s preview, audio/video, and stream-health indicators.
Troubleshooting common failures
FFmpeg cannot open a playlist file
Check that the first line is exactly ffconcat version 1.0, that it has no byte-order mark, and that the playlist path and working directory are correct. Confirm every listed media path exists and that quoting and escaping are valid. If a path is rejected by safe-path checks, keep the list trusted and use -safe 0 only when you need paths outside the restricted form.
Playback stops, fails between clips, or has gaps
Inspect the files for differences in codecs, time bases, stream layout, and duration information. Normalize incompatible sources or use the concat filter with re-encoding. Timestamp adjustment and inaccurate durations can create gaps; test the complete sequence rather than assuming transitions will be seamless.
FFmpeg reports an unavailable encoder
Your build may not include libx264 or another selected encoder. Check the encoders available in that build and substitute an encoder it supports, adjusting the settings to match. Do not assume a command works identically across operating systems or FFmpeg builds.
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YouTube receives no video or audio
Check FFmpeg’s output for encoding or connection errors, confirm the current ingest URL and stream key, and inspect YouTube’s preview. Verify that the selected output codecs and stream settings meet YouTube’s current guidance and that the playlist files contain the expected streams.
The stream disconnects or health warnings appear
Check connection stability and available upload capacity against the combined video and audio bitrate, allowing the recommended headroom. Confirm the stream key and destination, then review Live Control Room’s health indicators. If the connection drops, restart FFmpeg and follow YouTube’s broadcast controls; a playlist file itself does not recover a disconnected encoder session.
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Having a video file does not by itself establish permission to stream it. Before broadcasting, confirm you have the rights to the video, music, and other included material, and review YouTube’s current live-streaming and monetization policies. Replaying pre-recorded material as a live stream does not guarantee monetization or policy approval. Use the copyright safety checklist as a practical review aid; it does not replace rights clearance or YouTube’s rules.
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