For a prerecorded MP4 with video and audio, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 to repeat the file and -re to read it at its normal rate. This H.264/AAC RTMPS template is a practical starting point for YouTube Live; adjust its bitrate and keyframe interval to match the output resolution and frame rate, then test it with your actual file and connection.
Starting FFmpeg command
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 10M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"Replace input.mp4 with the path to your recording and replace the URL’s placeholder with the RTMPS address and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Treat the key like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your channel.
FFmpeg documents -stream_loop as an input option; -1 means loop indefinitely. -re reads the input at its native rate, which is useful when output packet timing matters, including live streaming. Both options appear before -i so they apply to the file input. See the FFmpeg documentation.
What to adjust before going live
Resolution, frame rate, and bitrate
The command does not force a resolution or frame rate, so the output generally follows the source and encoder behavior. Keep the source’s native properties unless you have a reason to scale or convert; check the actual output and YouTube Live Control Room rather than assuming a setting from the file name. YouTube’s encoder guidance supports up to 60 fps.
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The example’s 10 Mbps video target is a starting point, not a universal recommendation. YouTube Help’s H.264 guidance, accessed in 2026, gives these ingestion figures:
| Output | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 H.264 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 H.264 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p30 H.265/AV1 | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s listed ingestion figures, not promises of a particular picture quality. Match bitrate to the chosen codec, resolution and frame rate, and to upload capacity that is reliably available during the stream. YouTube recommends CBR and testing your upload bitrate. In the example, -b:v and -maxrate use the same target as a practical approximation; verify the behavior of your FFmpeg build and encoder.
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Keyframe interval
YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says intervals must not exceed four seconds. The command’s -g 60 and -keyint_min 60 correspond to two seconds only at 30 fps. Set the GOP length in frames to about twice the actual output frame rate: for example, use -g 60 -keyint_min 60 at 30 fps or -g 50 -keyint_min 50 at 25 fps. Confirm the output frame rate rather than relying on the input’s nominal value.
Audio
The example encodes audio as AAC at 128 kbps and sets a 44.1 kHz sample rate. YouTube’s RTMP(S) guidance permits AAC or MP3 and recommends 128 kbps stereo AAC at 44.1 kHz in its advanced settings. The example does not explicitly set channel count; if you need to guarantee stereo output, add -ac 2 before the output URL and check that the source mix suits stereo.
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Encoder and transport
libx264 must be available in your FFmpeg build. If it is missing or too slow on the machine, select an available compatible encoder and confirm that its rate-control and keyframe settings meet your needs; performance depends on the hardware and build. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 among its RTMP/RTMPS encoder settings. The example uses H.264 as a straightforward baseline. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP; use the ingest details supplied by your Live Control Room. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
Run and verify the loop
- Prepare the broadcast in YouTube Live Control Room. Obtain the RTMPS ingest address and stream key for the broadcast. Keep the key private and use the exact ingest settings displayed for your channel.
- Check the local input and FFmpeg build. Confirm the file path is correct and that FFmpeg includes
libx264. The command is a general template, not a tested recipe for every operating system, file, build, or connection. - Start FFmpeg from a terminal. Run the command with your file path and key in place. Watch the output for file-read, encoder, or connection errors.
- Confirm the incoming stream in Live Control Room. Check stream health and verify the received resolution, frame rate, and audio before relying on the broadcast.
- Test the loop boundary. Listen and watch across the end-to-start transition. Depending on the recording, a loop can expose an audio click, abrupt change in room tone, image jump, timestamp issue, or decode problem. The FFmpeg option establishes repeated input playback; it does not make every file’s transition perceptually seamless.
- Monitor during the broadcast. YouTube recommends testing with similar audio and video movement and monitoring stream health and messages during the event.
What looping does not handle
-stream_loop -1 keeps FFmpeg reading the input again; it does not supervise the FFmpeg process, restart it after a crash, or restore a connection after a network outage. A long-running broadcast therefore needs someone or something to monitor the actual ingest and recover the process or connection if it stops. YouTube advises testing and monitoring but does not promise uninterrupted service.
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Other ingest and codec choices
RTMP(S) versus HLS
For a standard FFmpeg command sending a prerecorded file, RTMPS is the clearest fit here. YouTube also documents HLS ingestion, but its workflow calls for M2TS segments, playlists, muxed audio and video, HTTPS, and specified codecs. It is not a drop-in replacement for the FLV/RTMP output in this command. Compare protocols based on encoder support, workflow complexity, latency and quality needs, and the ingest configuration available to your account. See YouTube’s HLS ingestion requirements.
H.264 versus H.265 or AV1
Choose a codec only after checking that your installed FFmpeg encoder and the selected ingest protocol support the combination. Compare the quality achievable at a bitrate your connection can sustain, encoder availability and processor load, and whether you can control the keyframe interval. The template uses H.264; changing codecs is not just a matter of changing one name if the encoder, rate control, or protocol requirements also differ.
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