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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For a stereo internet-radio relay, use AAC or MP3 audio at 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps, and send it to YouTube over RTMPS. YouTube also recommends constant bitrate (CBR); its two-second keyframe recommendation applies only when your stream includes video. The exact FFmpeg command depends on your station’s input URL and format, so there is no responsible one-size-fits-all command.
Recommended settings for internet-radio audio
YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists AAC and MP3 as supported audio codecs and recommends these settings for stereo audio:
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Audio codec | AAC or MP3 |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz for stereo |
| Audio bitrate | 128 kbps for stereo |
| Rate control | CBR |
| Ingest transport | RTMPS recommended; RTMP is also listed |
These are YouTube’s published encoder recommendations; the Help page does not state a publication year. The audio bitrate is not a video bitrate. If you send audio only, you do not need to select a video bitrate merely because YouTube publishes resolution-based video bitrate guidance. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance explains the supported codecs and settings.
Choose audio-only or add a visual
Audio-only relay
If your FFmpeg setup and YouTube workflow support the audio-only output you intend to send, configure the audio to the stereo targets above. YouTube’s general encoder guidance distinguishes audio settings from video settings; it does not establish that every audio-only input and output combination will work in every FFmpeg build.
#1 Best Overall
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Radio with a still image or visualization
Adding a still image, waveform, or other visual makes the outgoing stream include video. You then need to configure video separately, including its resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframes. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. Those keyframe settings are for video, not the radio audio. Video bitrate depends on codec, resolution, and frame rate; use the relevant values in YouTube’s current encoder table rather than treating one video-table value as an audio target.
Set up the relay in FFmpeg and YouTube
FFmpeg options vary with the station’s URL and protocol, the audio format it supplies, and the FFmpeg build installed on your machine. The available information does not establish those details or verify a command, so treat examples found elsewhere as input-specific rather than universally compatible. Check the syntax against your actual source and the FFmpeg documentation for your build before relying on it.
Rank #2
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- Confirm the station input. Identify the exact stream URL and whether it is reachable from the machine running FFmpeg. Check the format and protocol supplied by the station; do not assume every radio URL is accepted the same way.
- Get YouTube’s destination details. In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and copy the RTMPS server URL and stream key shown for your broadcast. Keep the key private: anyone with it may be able to send video to your stream.
- Configure the output for the source and destination. Choose AAC or MP3, 44.1 kHz, 128 kbps for stereo audio, and CBR in the appropriate options for your FFmpeg build. Use the RTMPS URL and key from Live Control Room. If adding video, set its video parameters separately and use a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds.
- Start the encoder and wait for preview. YouTube’s workflow is to connect the encoder, wait for the preview to appear in Live Control Room, then start the live broadcast there. Confirm that the preview contains the expected picture, if any, and that the radio audio is audible.
- Monitor stream health. Watch the Live Control Room status while the relay is running and respond to any stream-health warning rather than assuming a successful FFmpeg process means YouTube is receiving a healthy stream. See YouTube’s setup and live-streaming workflow.
Check upload capacity before going live
YouTube recommends testing upload speed and leaving 20% headroom above the stream’s required upload bandwidth. Compare the total outgoing bitrate—not just the radio audio bitrate—with the available upstream capacity. A stream carrying video uses additional bandwidth, and other traffic on the same connection can reduce what is available to the encoder. YouTube’s encoder guidance and live setup guidance cover encoder configuration and preflight checks.
Common problems and what to check
- No preview appears: Recheck that the RTMPS server URL and stream key were copied from the correct Live Control Room broadcast, and confirm that FFmpeg can reach the radio input. Keep the key private when troubleshooting.
- Preview appears but there is no sound: Verify that the input is actually delivering audio and that the output is configured for an audio codec supported by YouTube, such as AAC or MP3. Check that the preview itself is audible before going live.
- Stream health reports problems: Run an upload-speed test and compare available upstream capacity with the total outgoing bitrate, leaving YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom. Check for competing network traffic.
- A video setting seems irrelevant to radio: Keyframe frequency and resolution-based video bitrate are relevant only if the outgoing stream contains video. They do not replace the audio settings.
- The command fails on the input: The source URL, protocol, format, or installed FFmpeg build may require different input and output options. Confirm those details and consult the documentation for that build; a command that works for one station is not proof of compatibility with another.
Copyright and continuous radio streams
Having access to an internet-radio URL does not by itself establish that you have permission to retransmit the station’s programming on YouTube. Confirm that you have the necessary rights for the music, recordings, and other material, and review YouTube’s applicable copyright rules before broadcasting. A continuous relay also needs to comply with YouTube’s live-stream requirements; successful encoding does not guarantee that a broadcast will remain available.
Rank #3
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Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a 24/7 YouTube channel playing uploaded recordings rather than relaying a live internet-radio input, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it loops uploaded videos from the cloud and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. Any quality up to 4K 60fps streams as uploaded at one flat price per slot. The first day is free with no card. Monthly is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos to YouTube; it is not a live-camera or internet-radio input relay. Start the free first day.
Quick Recap
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