Set the outgoing video size in FFmpeg with its video scale filter, such as -vf "scale=1280:720" for 720p. YouTube normally detects the resolution and frame rate it receives; it does not change the dimensions FFmpeg sends. After applying the filter, match the encoder settings to the target and test the stream on your actual OVHcloud VPS.
Set the output resolution in FFmpeg
FFmpeg’s -vf option applies a video filter to the outgoing video. Put a scale filter in the output path to choose the dimensions sent to YouTube:
-vf "scale=1280:720"outputs 1280 × 720.-vf "scale=1920:1080"outputs 1920 × 1080.-vf "scale=-2:720"targets 720 pixels high and calculates an even width that preserves the input aspect ratio.
The fixed-width-and-height examples can distort footage if their dimensions do not match the source’s aspect ratio. If you need a fixed canvas without distortion, scale proportionally and add padding; choose the canvas and placement to suit the source. Check the installed FFmpeg build’s filter help if an expression behaves differently than expected. FFmpeg documents -vf as an alias for its video-filter option: FFmpeg documentation.
Example command shape
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4
-vf "scale=1280:720"
-c:v libx264 -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"This illustrates where the filter and common encoder options go; it is not a tested, universal recipe. Replace the input, ingest endpoint, and key with your own values. A real command may need explicit stream mapping, different input handling, audio options, and settings suited to your source. Keep the stream key private: anyone with it may be able to broadcast to your stream.
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Match bitrate, frame rate, codec, and keyframes
Resolution is only one part of the incoming stream. YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS support for H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, constant bitrate encoding, and AAC or MP3 audio. YouTube recommends RTMPS, the secure extension to RTMP. The example above uses H.264 and AAC; choose settings supported by your encoder and appropriate to your source.
H.264 bitrate recommendations
The following are YouTube’s published recommended H.264 ingest bitrates, checked on 2026-10-03. They are recommendations for the incoming stream, not guarantees of VPS encoding speed, visual quality, or the resolution viewers will receive after YouTube transcodes the stream.
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| Output | Frame rate | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p | 30 fps | 3 Mbps |
| 720p | 60 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p | 30 fps | 5 Mbps |
| 1080p | 60 fps | 6 Mbps |
| 1440p | 30 fps | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p | 60 fps | 34 Mbps |
| 2160p | 30 fps | 42 Mbps |
| 2160p | 60 fps | 50 Mbps |
For example, the illustrative command’s 4,500 kbps video bitrate is not a blanket recommendation for 720p or any other resolution. Select a value using YouTube’s current table for your exact resolution and frame rate, account for audio and network overhead, and test it. See YouTube’s live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
Keyframe interval and picture format
YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. At 30 fps, a GOP of 60 frames corresponds to two seconds, which is why the example pairs -g 60 with -keyint_min 60. At another frame rate, recalculate the frame count for a two-second interval; verify the encoder’s actual output rather than assuming an option combination enforces it in every build.
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YouTube’s advanced guidance also includes progressive scan, square pixels, two B-frames, one reference frame, and Rec. 709 for SDR. These details may require encoder-specific options beyond the illustrative command. Consult the guidance and your encoder’s local documentation before adding options.
Check YouTube’s detected resolution
YouTube normally detects the resolution and frame rate automatically from the incoming stream. If the ingest workflow requires manual selection, YouTube’s Live Control Room help describes creating a custom stream key and turning on manual settings under Stream Resolution. The YouTube Live Streaming API also has a variable option for automatic resolution detection. Do not confuse that detection setting with FFmpeg’s scale filter: the filter determines the dimensions encoded into the stream, while YouTube reports what it receives. See the YouTube Live Streaming API documentation.
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Verify before a scheduled broadcast
- Start FFmpeg and inspect its output or logs to confirm the intended video stream is being filtered and encoded at the target dimensions.
- Connect to YouTube using the ingest URL and stream key shown for your broadcast, then check Live Control Room’s stream preview and health messages.
- Test with audio and movement similar to the actual program. YouTube says, “We recommend running a speed test to test your upload bitrate.”
- Confirm the stream remains stable at the chosen frame rate and bitrate before relying on it for an event.
Check whether the OVHcloud VPS can handle the workload
Scaling and software encoding use CPU resources; higher resolution and frame rate can increase the work required. The VPS also needs enough outbound network capacity for the combined audio and video bitrate, with headroom. Do not infer real-time encoding performance from a plan’s advertised bandwidth or vCPU count alone: no cited OVHcloud specification establishes that a particular VPS can encode a particular resolution and frame rate.
OVHcloud’s VPS page, checked on 2026-10-03, displayed these configurations. They are provider-listed allocations, not benchmark results; availability and terms may vary, so verify the plan and region in your account.
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| Plan shown by OVHcloud | vCores | RAM | Public bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPS-1 | 2 | 4 GB | 500 Mbps |
| VPS-2 | 4 | 8 GB | 1 Gbps |
| VPS-3 | 6 | 12 GB | 2 Gbps |
| VPS-4 | 8 | 24 GB | 3 Gbps |
During a representative test, monitor CPU, RAM, network use, FFmpeg’s ability to keep up with real time, and YouTube stream health. OVHcloud says its Control Panel can monitor CPU, RAM, and network status. Assess actual use rather than treating the plan’s published bandwidth as continuously available to this process. Plan selection should account for measured encoding load, outbound capacity, and resource allocations together.
For workloads that need hardware encoding, OVHcloud separately offers Cloud GPU instances and says its L4 offering supports H.264, HEVC, and AV1 encoding and decoding. GPU instances are an optional route, not a requirement for using FFmpeg’s scale filter; check current model and region availability in OVHcloud’s Cloud GPU information and its GPU deployment guide.
Troubleshoot a resolution or stream problem
- YouTube shows the wrong dimensions: inspect FFmpeg’s output details and confirm the scale filter is attached to the intended video stream. Check whether another output path or mapping is being used.
- The picture looks stretched: the selected width and height may not match the source aspect ratio. Use a proportional scale expression such as
scale=-2:720; if the delivery canvas must have fixed dimensions, add padding rather than stretching. - YouTube reports an ingest or bitrate issue: compare the outgoing codec, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval with YouTube’s current recommendations for the selected output.
- FFmpeg falls behind real time: watch CPU usage and reduce resolution, frame rate, or encoding complexity, or assess a supported hardware encoder. Confirm the VPS’s actual resource and network use.
- The stream is unstable despite apparently sufficient bandwidth: test the connection and leave headroom above the combined audio and video bitrate. Monitor YouTube’s stream health and messages during a representative test.
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