For a typical stereo YouTube Live stream sent from FFmpeg over RTMPS, use AAC audio at 44.1 kHz, 128 Kbps, and two channels. To loop a video file indefinitely, put -stream_loop -1 before that file’s -i option. These are audio and input-loop settings—not a complete video configuration or a guarantee that a stream will stay uninterrupted.
Recommended AAC settings for YouTube Live
YouTube’s current live-encoder guidance recommends AAC or MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion. For ordinary stereo audio, its recommended settings are:
| Setting | Stereo recommendation |
|---|---|
| Codec | AAC |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz |
| Audio bitrate | 128 Kbps |
| Channels | 2 (stereo) |
These are YouTube recommendations, not a claim that other values cannot work. AAC is a straightforward choice for the FFmpeg example below. YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS guidance also lists MP3 as an accepted audio codec; for 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS, it specifies AAC.
FFmpeg’s native aac encoder is its default AAC encoder. Setting -b:a 128k makes the intended audio bitrate explicit; for this encoder, specifying the bitrate enables constant-bitrate mode. -ar 44100 requests a 44.1 kHz output sample rate, and -ac 2 requests two channels. Check your local FFmpeg build and output if you need to confirm the resulting stream parameters.
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Loop a video file to YouTube Live with FFmpeg
This is a practical starting pattern for an input file that contains both video and audio:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2
-f flv 'rtmps://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY'The command combines YouTube’s published audio recommendations with FFmpeg options. It is not an exact command published or tested by YouTube or FFmpeg. Replace input.mp4 and the endpoint/key placeholder with your actual file and the stream details supplied by YouTube Studio. Never publish a working stream key: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
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What the options do
-rereads the file at its native playback rate rather than sending it as fast as FFmpeg can process it.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so it belongs before the relevant-i. A value of0means no looping.-i input.mp4selects the input file.-c:v libx264selects an H.264 video encoder. The example does not set a video bitrate, resolution, frame rate, or keyframe interval; choose those for your source, target stream, encoder capacity, and upload connection.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2encodes AAC audio at the recommended stereo bitrate and sample rate, requesting two channels.-f flvselects the FLV output format used for this RTMP-family workflow.- The final quoted address uses YouTube’s RTMPS endpoint format. Replace the placeholder with the actual stream URL and key from your YouTube setup.
Video and connection settings still matter
Audio is only part of the outgoing bitrate. YouTube recommends constant-bitrate encoding for live streams, a two-second keyframe interval, and no more than four seconds between keyframes. Video bitrate recommendations depend on codec, resolution, and frame rate, so do not treat the audio settings in the example as a complete encoder configuration. YouTube also recommends upload bandwidth headroom of 20 percent. Compare your connection’s sustained upload capacity with the total stream bitrate, including video and audio, before going live.
Set up YouTube’s stream details safely
- Configure the live stream in YouTube Studio. Follow YouTube’s live setup instructions and select the intended stream workflow. The stream URL and key you use must be the ones supplied for that setup.
- Keep the key private. Enter it in your local FFmpeg command or a protected script, not in a public post, screenshot, or shared document. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before relying on it again.
- Start a private or otherwise appropriate test. Match the test material to the real event: check speech or music levels, channel balance, picture motion, and whether the file loops cleanly at its end.
- Watch YouTube Live Control Room. Confirm that the stream is arriving and inspect its health before making the event public. YouTube specifically recommends testing before starting a live stream.
A loop option only repeats the input. It cannot prevent interruptions caused by network loss, decode errors, timestamp problems, mismatched source streams, encoder overload, an incorrect key, or platform-side conditions.
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RTMPS versus HLS: use the right workflow
For the command above, RTMPS is the relevant choice: YouTube recommends it as the secure extension to RTMP, and the example uses the RTMP-family FLV output. Do not paste that command into an HLS setup.
YouTube documents HLS as a separate ingestion route. Its HLS guidance also lists AAC and recommends 44.1 kHz/128 Kbps for stereo, but HLS requires its own segment and playlist behavior and HTTPS methods. YouTube says ultra-low latency is unavailable with HLS. If your stream is configured for HLS, follow the HLS-specific setup rather than adapting this RTMP/FLV command by assumption.
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Stereo versus 5.1 audio
The settings above are for ordinary stereo use. YouTube’s live encoder guidance recommends 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps for stereo, and 48 kHz and 384 Kbps for 5.1. For 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube specifies AAC. A 5.1 stream also needs an appropriate multichannel source and encoding path; changing only the sample rate or bitrate in the stereo command does not create a correct surround mix.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common FFmpeg loop-streaming problems
| Symptom | Likely checks and fixes |
|---|---|
| YouTube does not receive the stream | Confirm you used the stream URL and key from the correct YouTube Studio setup, that the key is current, and that the selected ingestion workflow matches the output format. Check network access and the FFmpeg console output. |
| The file plays once instead of looping | Place -stream_loop -1 before the input’s -i. Check that it applies to the intended input and that the option value is not 0. |
| Audio is missing, distorted, or in the wrong channel layout | Verify the input actually contains an audio stream and inspect FFmpeg’s output. Confirm the requested AAC encoder, 128k bitrate, 44100 Hz rate, and two-channel output; check the source mix and local FFmpeg build as well. |
| Stream health reports instability or the picture buffers | Check total video-plus-audio bitrate against sustained upload capacity, leaving YouTube’s recommended 20 percent headroom. Reduce video demands if necessary and confirm the encoder can keep up with the chosen resolution and frame rate. |
| The stream stops at the end of a loop or after running for a while | Looping is not a continuity guarantee. Review FFmpeg logs for file read/decode errors or timestamp issues, then test the full intended duration and monitor YouTube’s stream health before depending on it. |
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