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To loop a playlist of local videos into YouTube Live, put their paths in an FFmpeg concat list, then use the concat demuxer with -stream_loop -1 and send the output to your YouTube stream using RTMPS. This direct approach is suited to files with compatible stream layouts and parameters; if the clips differ, normalize them or use a re-encoding workflow before relying on a continuous stream.
Choose the right playlist method
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer reads a list of files as one virtual input. It is the straightforward choice when the clips have compatible streams and parameters. Compatibility can be affected by video and audio codecs, resolution, frame rate, audio layout and time base. A playlist that mixes unlike files may fail or produce transitions and output that are not consistent.
When sources differ, normalize them to matching properties first, or use a concat-filter workflow that decodes and re-encodes the material. Streamcopy or demuxer-based handling can avoid a generation loss when the inputs are compatible; filtering and re-encoding offer more control over scaling, frame-rate conversion and audio, but require encoding work. FFmpeg distinguishes the concat demuxer from the concat filter in its FAQ.
Build the concat playlist
Create a plain-text file named playlist.txt with one entry per video, in the order you want them to play:
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file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'FFmpeg resolves these paths when it runs, so make sure the playlist and media files are accessible to the operating-system account that will launch the process. Use paths in the concat file format carefully if they contain spaces or punctuation, and test the list with a short run before starting a long broadcast.
Send the looping playlist to YouTube Live
For compatible files, this is a starting command. Replace the final URL with the RTMPS server and stream key shown for your broadcast in YouTube Studio:
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 10M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M
-g 60 -r 30 -c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv 'rtmps://SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY'-rereads the file input at its native rate, rather than sending it as fast as FFmpeg can process it. This is appropriate when simulating a live source.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely.-f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txtselects the concat demuxer and reads the playlist. Use-safe 0only when you need paths the demuxer would otherwise reject; keep playlist paths trustworthy.-c:v libx264encodes H.264 video;-b:vand-maxrateset the target and maximum video rate, while-bufsizecontrols the rate-control buffer.-r 30sets a 30 fps output, and-g 60sets a 60-frame GOP—two seconds at that frame rate.-c:a aac -b:a 128kencodes AAC audio at 128 Kbps.-f flvselects the output container used for RTMP/RTMPS ingest.
FFmpeg options apply to the next input or output in command order. That is why the input options -re and -stream_loop appear before -i, and encoding and output options follow the input. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation and protocol documentation for details.
The command is a template, not a universal preset. Its 10 Mbps video rate is appropriate only if it matches your chosen resolution, frame rate and codec guidance, and your connection can sustain it with headroom. Change the GOP if you change frame rate: the example’s 60 frames are two seconds at 30 fps. Files without audio may also need silence added or another measure to keep the output audio stream consistent.
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Match the output to YouTube’s live settings
YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest; H.264, H.265 or AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; up to 60 fps; constant bitrate (CBR); and a recommended keyframe interval of two seconds, no longer than four seconds. YouTube recommends RTMPS to encrypt the connection in transit. Check the current YouTube live encoder settings when configuring a stream, because its full table includes more codec and resolution combinations and may change.
For common H.264 cases, YouTube’s encoder recommendations, accessed in 2026, include:
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| Output | YouTube-recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps |
YouTube recommends 128 Kbps for stereo audio. These are ingest recommendations, not a promise of the quality viewers will see. Match the settings to your source and available upload capacity, and leave connection headroom rather than setting the stream at the full measured upload rate.
Configure the YouTube stream and test it
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select a stream. Copy its server URL and stream key into FFmpeg’s output URL. The stream key is a credential: do not expose it in a public script, screenshot or accessible log. If it is compromised, reset it in Live Control Room using YouTube’s live streaming guidance.
- Run FFmpeg under the same account and environment that will operate the broadcast. Confirm that the playlist and every referenced media path can be read, and that the files are compatible with the chosen concat method.
- Start with a short test stream using representative video movement and audio. Confirm the broadcast appears in Live Control Room, then check YouTube’s stream-health indicators and messages before relying on it for a longer session. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring the stream.
- Decide how you will notice and recover from a stopped FFmpeg process, lost network connection or unreadable local file. Do not assume FFmpeg will reconnect automatically in every failure mode.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot open a playlist entry | The path is wrong, inaccessible to the running account, or malformed in the concat list. | Check each path and its quoting; run a short test with the playlist from the intended working directory and account. |
| Clips fail at a transition or play inconsistently | The input streams have incompatible parameters, such as differing codecs, frame rates, resolutions, audio layouts or time bases. | Normalize the clips to a common format or use a concat-filter workflow with re-encoding. |
| YouTube does not accept the stream or reports poor stream health | The ingest URL or key may be wrong, or the bitrate, frame rate, keyframe interval or connection may not fit the selected stream. | Verify the RTMPS URL and key in Live Control Room, compare encoder settings with YouTube’s current table, and test with reliable upload headroom. |
| The output has no audio or audio changes between clips | One or more sources may lack audio or use a different audio layout or format. | Inspect the source streams and normalize audio or provide a consistent audio stream, including silence where needed. |
| The live stream stops after a local or network failure | The FFmpeg process, host or connection stopped; a looping playlist does not by itself restart a failed process. | Plan monitoring and a restart procedure, and verify recovery behavior in a test rather than assuming it. |
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