For a straightforward Linux relay, use FFmpeg: read the station’s published audio stream, combine it with a still image or looping visual, encode the result, and send it to YouTube Live. Use Liquidsoap when you need radio-oriented scheduling or processing; choose OBS if you have a desktop session and prefer a graphical setup. The right option depends on the station’s actual feed and how you plan to keep the stream running.
What you need before starting
- A direct station stream URL. A station’s web-player page may not be the media feed itself. Start with the stream URL or connection details the station publishes, and confirm that your Linux system can access it.
- A visual source. For the YouTube Live encoder workflow described here, combine the radio audio with a still image or moving visual. This article does not assume that every YouTube product or API accepts audio-only ingest.
- A YouTube Live stream key and ingest endpoint. Create or select a stream in YouTube Live Control Room and use the endpoint and key displayed there. Keep the key private.
- Permission to rebroadcast. A feed being publicly accessible does not establish permission to retransmit it. Check the station’s terms and get any rights-holder permission required for its audio and associated artwork.
Choose a Linux workflow
| Option | Best fit | Trade-off to consider |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg | A simple audio relay with a still image or looped visual, controlled from the command line. | You need to identify the feed format, choose compatible input and output settings, and manage a long-running process. |
| Liquidsoap with FFmpeg output | Radio-oriented scheduling or more involved audio processing before delivery to YouTube. | There is more pipeline configuration to maintain. The Liquidsoap book documents an FFmpeg-output example, but use current YouTube settings for a real stream. |
| OBS | A graphical workflow on a Linux system with an active desktop session. | It is less natural for a headless server; configure the audio and visual sources and YouTube destination in the interface. |
For a one-feed relay on a headless Linux machine, FFmpeg is usually the simplest starting point. None of these tools is a universal winner: account for reconnect behavior, the need for radio scheduling, whether a desktop is available, and who will monitor and maintain the process.
Set up an FFmpeg relay
1. Confirm the station feed
Use the station’s published media URL and documentation rather than assuming its web-player address is a direct audio stream. Test that URL locally before building the YouTube output. The appropriate FFmpeg input options depend on the feed’s transport and format; the broad FFmpeg protocol documentation describes available network protocols but cannot identify the right options for every station.
2. Prepare a visual
Choose a still image or a video file to accompany the audio. A still is the lightest option; a looped visual provides movement. Use artwork you have permission to broadcast, and check that the image’s dimensions suit your intended output.
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3. Create the YouTube destination
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and create or select the broadcast.
- Copy the ingest endpoint and stream key shown for that broadcast. Prefer RTMPS when YouTube offers it.
- Keep credentials out of public scripts, repositories, screen recordings, and logs. If a key is exposed, replace it in YouTube rather than continuing to use it.
4. Configure and run FFmpeg
The following is a starting template, not a tested command for every station. Replace the input values and confirm the supported options for your installed FFmpeg build and station feed. Set YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL to the full RTMPS destination accepted by FFmpeg, including the stream key if that is how the endpoint displayed in Live Control Room is formatted. Treat that value as a secret.
export RADIO_URL='https://station.example/path-to-published-audio-feed'
export VISUAL='station-image.jpg'
export YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL='PASTE_THE_COMPLETE_RTMPS_DESTINATION_FROM_YOUTUBE_LIVE_CONTROL_ROOM'
ffmpeg
-re -i "$RADIO_URL"
-loop 1 -framerate 30 -i "$VISUAL"
-map 1:v:0 -map 0:a:0
-c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30
-b:v YOUR_VIDEO_BITRATE -minrate YOUR_VIDEO_BITRATE
-maxrate YOUR_VIDEO_BITRATE -bufsize YOUR_VIDEO_BUFFER_SIZE
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL"Replace the bitrate and buffer placeholders with values appropriate to the selected resolution, frame rate, YouTube’s current recommendations, and your available upstream bandwidth. The example uses 30 fps and a 60-frame GOP to target a two-second keyframe interval; if you change the frame rate, recalculate the GOP so the interval remains two seconds. YouTube recommends CBR, a two-second keyframe interval (not exceeding four seconds), AAC or MP3 audio, and 44.1 kHz / 128 kbps for stereo audio. Its encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 video options and up to 60 fps, but compatibility depends on the encoder and selected protocol. Check YouTube’s current encoder guidance before publishing.
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The command maps the first audio stream from the station input and the video stream from the image input. If the station feed does not expose audio as 0:a:0, or does not play with the shown input form, identify its actual format and adjust the input options and mapping. Do not assume a generic command works for every station.
5. Test before making the broadcast public
- Start with a private or otherwise controlled test broadcast.
- Confirm that YouTube receives both a visible picture and audible station audio.
- Listen for silence, clipping, unexpected gaps, or channel issues; inspect the visual for freezes or unintended content.
- Review stream-health messages in Live Control Room and fix any reported encoder or connection problems before sharing the broadcast publicly.
YouTube’s Live Streaming API documentation describes live-stream resources; for this workflow, Live Control Room is where you obtain and monitor the broadcast’s ingest details.
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RTMPS or HLS?
For the FFmpeg relay above, prefer RTMPS when available: YouTube describes it as the secure extension to RTMP and recommends it for secure ingestion. HLS is a separate ingest workflow with protocol-specific configuration, not a drop-in replacement for the RTMPS destination in the example.
| Ingest method | What to account for |
|---|---|
| RTMPS | YouTube recommends secure RTMPS ingestion. Use the endpoint and stream key shown for the selected broadcast. |
| HLS | YouTube documents an HTTPS stream URL, MPEG-TS segments of one to four seconds, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, and HTTPS POST/PUT. HLS has higher latency because it sends segments; its documented audio codecs include AAC, AC3, and EAC3. |
See YouTube’s HLS setup requirements if you specifically need HLS. Check current protocol and encoder compatibility before choosing a codec or copying settings between workflows.
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Keeping a Linux relay running
A process running in a terminal depends on that session and machine remaining available. For unattended operation, a Linux VPS is one possible deployment, not a requirement. You still need to arrange monitoring and restart behavior, and a remote host is not failure-proof. No particular provider, bandwidth plan, or service level is established here.
With Liquidsoap, the radio pipeline can handle scheduling or processing and pass output through an FFmpeg encoder; the Liquidsoap book illustrates a YouTube RTMP output shape. Treat it as a pipeline example, not a substitute for YouTube’s current transport and codec requirements.
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Troubleshooting common failures
- YouTube receives no audio: Check that the station URL is the direct media feed, that FFmpeg can read its format, and that the audio stream mapping matches what the input exposes.
- YouTube receives audio but no picture: Confirm the visual file opens and that the output maps the image input as video. For a still image, ensure the image input is looped so it continues throughout the broadcast.
- Connection or authentication fails: Recopy the current endpoint and key from Live Control Room, verify that the destination is the RTMPS URL for the selected broadcast, and keep the complete destination private.
- Stream health reports encoder issues: Compare the chosen codec, frame rate, keyframe interval, audio settings, and output bitrate with YouTube’s current guidance for that protocol. A setting recommended for one ingest method is not automatically valid for every other method.
- Playback breaks when the station feed changes or drops: Check the station’s feed status and format first. The appropriate reconnect or restart behavior depends on the pipeline and deployment; monitor a long-running process rather than assuming it will recover from every failure.
- The stream is technically working but cannot be rebroadcast: Stop the broadcast until you have confirmed the necessary permissions for the station audio and visual material.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is an always-on YouTube radio stream but you do not want a Linux machine at home to run the relay, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not broadcast a live microphone or camera.
Quick Recap
- Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream runs from the cloud.
- Any quality up to 4K 60fps streams as uploaded at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
- Monthly: $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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