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To loop a pre-recorded video on YouTube Live from a DigitalOcean Droplet, run FFmpeg on the Linux server with -stream_loop -1 before the input file and -re to pace playback in real time. In YouTube Live Control Room, create or schedule an event, then copy that event’s current server URL and stream key into the FFmpeg command. The command sends a continuous feed; it does not create or start the YouTube event for you, guarantee a seamless loop, or ensure the event and its archive remain available indefinitely.
What you need before starting
- A YouTube channel able to create a live event, and a current event server URL and stream key from YouTube Live Control Room.
- A Linux DigitalOcean Droplet with FFmpeg installed, enough CPU for the encoding settings you choose, and a working network connection.
- A video file stored on the Droplet or otherwise available to FFmpeg.
- A plan for monitoring the stream and handling interruptions. A Droplet runs your FFmpeg process, but it does not remove the need to maintain the server or account for YouTube event limits.
A Droplet is the Linux virtual machine doing the encoding and sending. You do not need DigitalOcean’s separate SRS Marketplace image for this direct file-to-YouTube workflow; that image is an optional streaming-server stack, not a prerequisite.
Create the YouTube Live event and get its credentials
- In YouTube Studio, choose Create → Go Live.
- Use the Stream tab to create a new event, or the Manage tab to schedule one.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for that specific event. Do not use a sample key or assume an endpoint is permanent; use the current values YouTube gives you.
- Keep the stream key private. Anyone who has it may be able to send video to the event.
Connecting FFmpeg supplies the encoder feed, but a scheduled workflow may still require you to check the preview and select Go live in Live Control Room. Follow the current controls shown for your event.
Prepare the Droplet and video
Install and verify FFmpeg
Install FFmpeg using the package source appropriate for the Droplet’s Linux distribution, then confirm the installed build includes the codecs and RTMPS support required by your command. Package names and available codec support vary by distribution and build, so verify the result on the server rather than assuming a particular installation includes every encoder.
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Check the source file and workload
Make sure the file is readable from the account that will run FFmpeg. Before a long broadcast, inspect its resolution, frame rate, audio, and codecs, and test with a short private or unlisted event. There is no established minimum Droplet size that guarantees a given resolution: encoding demand depends on the chosen output and the actual server workload. Re-encoding gives you control over the outgoing stream but consumes Droplet CPU.
YouTube recommends testing with movement and audio representative of the intended stream, then watching stream health and encoder warnings. Do not treat a successful connection alone as proof that the video, sound, or bitrate is suitable.
Configure FFmpeg for a real-time loop
Use this schematic command as a starting point, replacing every uppercase placeholder with values for your file, event, frame rate, and current YouTube encoder guidance:
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "/path/to/video.mp4"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v VIDEO_BITRATE -maxrate VIDEO_BITRATE -bufsize BUFFER_SIZE
-g GOP_FRAMES -c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "rtmps://YOUTUBE_INGEST_HOST/YOUTUBE_PATH/STREAM_KEY"This is an illustrative template, not a tested command for every file or FFmpeg build. The loop option is an input option, so place -stream_loop -1 before the corresponding -i. A value of -1 requests indefinite input looping. -re reads the file at its native real-time pace instead of sending it as fast as the server can process it.
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Choose an ingestion URL and protect the key
Prefer RTMPS when YouTube offers it. Use the complete current URL and key copied from the event, including the correct host and path; do not type a guessed endpoint or expose the key in a public script, screenshot, or log. YouTube’s RTMPS ingestion requires the rtmps scheme and port 443, with the correct hostname for TLS SNI. FFmpeg describes RTMPS as RTMP carried over a secure SSL connection.
Set frame rate, keyframes, and bitrate deliberately
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1, supports up to 60 fps, recommends CBR, and recommends a 2-second keyframe interval that should not exceed 4 seconds. For a 2-second GOP with a 30 fps output, for example, -g 60 is the corresponding frame count; calculate the value from your actual frame rate rather than copying that example blindly. Choose the video bitrate from YouTube’s current resolution/frame-rate guidance and confirm the Droplet and its network path can sustain it. AAC or MP3 audio is supported for RTMP/RTMPS.
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Re-encode or stream-copy?
The template re-encodes to H.264 video and AAC audio. This is a controllable starting point when source compatibility is uncertain, but encoding costs CPU. If the file already has compatible codecs and timestamps, stream-copying may reduce encoding load; it is not established as reliable for every file or ingest condition. Test that approach with the exact source and event before relying on it.
Start FFmpeg and bring the event live
- Run the command on the Droplet and keep the process in a session or service arrangement you can monitor. A disconnected terminal should not be mistaken for a healthy stream.
- Watch FFmpeg output for connection failures, timestamp problems, encoder overload, or a nonzero exit status.
- Open the event in Live Control Room. Check the preview and stream-health indicators; resolve encoder warnings before relying on the broadcast.
- If the event is scheduled and YouTube requires it, select Go live after confirming the preview.
- Observe at least one file boundary. A loop repeats the file, but it does not remove a hard cut, silence gap, or abrupt audio transition at the end-to-start point.
Plan for interruptions and long runtimes
-stream_loop -1 describes what FFmpeg does with its input while the process is running. It does not automatically restart FFmpeg after a server reboot or process failure, recover every dropped YouTube connection, or guarantee that a YouTube live event remains open forever. For a long-running channel, decide how you will detect a failed process or ingest, restart the encoder, and verify the event state. Test that recovery procedure rather than assuming the loop flag provides it.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That does not establish that one event can run indefinitely or that broadcasts longer than that will be archived. If a continuous broadcast matters, plan sessions and archive handling around the event’s intended runtime, and verify current YouTube behavior before committing to a longer session.
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Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely area to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot connect or YouTube receives no feed | Event credentials, URL, network, or RTMPS configuration | Copy the current server URL and key again from the correct event. Check for typos in the host and path, confirm the URL uses the offered RTMPS endpoint, and ensure outbound access to port 443. |
| YouTube preview appears, but the event is not publicly live | Event workflow | Check Live Control Room. A scheduled stream may require preview verification and an explicit Go live action. |
| Video or audio is missing, rejected, or unhealthy | Codec, output settings, or source file | Check FFmpeg’s output and YouTube’s encoder warnings. Test representative motion and sound; confirm the selected codec, bitrate, frame rate, and keyframe interval meet current guidance. |
| Droplet is overloaded or frames are late | Encoding workload | Re-encoding can be CPU-intensive. Check the server’s actual load and simplify or adjust the encoding workload, or test stream-copying if the source codecs and timestamps are compatible. |
| The stream stops after a disconnect or restart | Process and recovery plan | Check FFmpeg’s exit status and logs, then restart the process and confirm the YouTube event is still usable. The loop option does not itself restart a failed process or guarantee automatic reconnection. |
| The repeated video has an obvious jump or audio gap | File boundary | Inspect the end and start of the source file. Looping repeats the file as-is; edit or replace the media if the transition needs to be smoother. |
Copyright and channel-policy checks
Streaming a file you can play locally does not establish that you have the rights to broadcast it. Before going live, confirm you have permission for the video, music, and any other included material, and review YouTube’s current copyright and monetization rules. Repeatedly broadcasting a pre-recorded file also does not guarantee monetization eligibility; assess the channel and content under YouTube’s current policies rather than assuming that a live format changes the rules.
Cost and operating trade-offs
A self-managed Droplet gives you command-line control, but its total cost is not just the virtual machine: include the server, storage for the media, bandwidth where applicable, and the time spent maintaining FFmpeg and recovery. The available evidence does not establish a current Droplet price, a reliable minimum server size, or a workload-specific performance guarantee. DigitalOcean also offers an SRS Marketplace image with bundled FFmpeg and streaming-server features, but it is optional and its listed software versions should not be treated as current without checking the listing.
If you prefer not to maintain a server, YouTube’s encoder help identifies Gyre as a cloud-based prerecorded-video streaming tool. This article does not establish its current pricing, feature set, availability, or terms, so compare those details directly before choosing it.
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Or let it run in the cloud
With StreamNeo, upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the video as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot rather than quality tiers; if YouTube drops the stream, StreamNeo automatically recovers. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
StreamNeo is for YouTube prerecorded-video streams, not camera broadcasts or other platforms. See StreamNeo or start your free day.
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