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To loop a prerecorded video into a YouTube live stream with FFmpeg, send it at real-time speed, loop the input indefinitely, encode H.264 video and AAC audio, and publish to the RTMPS server and stream key from YouTube Live Control Room. The command below is a 1080p30 starting point—not a universal bitrate preset—and needs adjustment for your source, FFmpeg build, ingest settings, and upload connection.
FFmpeg command for a looping YouTube stream
For a video with usable timestamps and an audio stream, this example encodes 1080p30 H.264 video with stereo AAC and sends it to YouTube over RTMPS:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://SERVER/STREAM_KEY"Replace input.mp4 with your file and replace the destination with the RTMPS server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the stream key private: it grants access to your stream. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
The example’s video bitrate of 4,500 Kbps is a conservative starting value, not YouTube’s recommended target for 1080p30. YouTube currently lists 10 Mbps as recommended for that resolution and frame rate. Choose the corresponding value from YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate table, then verify that your sustained upload speed has headroom.
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What the command’s options do
-rereads the file at its native rate, so FFmpeg sends it at approximately playback speed rather than as fast as it can encode.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option and belongs before-i.-c:v libx264selects FFmpeg’s H.264 encoder.-b:v,-maxrate, and-bufsizeconfigure bitrate-targeted encoding.-preset veryfasttrades some compression efficiency for faster encoding. If the computer cannot encode in real time, a faster preset may reduce load, while a slower preset generally needs more processing time.-g 60sets a maximum GOP size of 60 frames. That is a two-second keyframe interval only at 30 fps. YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds.-keyint_min 60and-sc_threshold 0constrain keyframe placement for a more regular interval. Recalculate GOP length if you deliberately set a different output frame rate.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a widely supported pixel format for H.264 delivery.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes audio as AAC at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. YouTube’s published recommendation is 128 Kbps at 44.1 kHz for stereo.-f flvselects the FLV muxer used with RTMP-family streaming. The destination uses RTMPS, YouTube’s encrypted RTMP option.
Choose settings for your source and YouTube ingest
Resolution, frame rate, and bitrate
The command does not resize the source or convert its frame rate. Its 4,500 Kbps example does not become appropriate for every file simply because the command can encode it. Use YouTube’s current recommendation for the intended ingest resolution and frame rate; the following figures are YouTube’s published H.264 guidance, not measured results:
| Ingest resolution and frame rate | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 5 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 7 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 4K30 | 11 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
These are H.264 recommendations; YouTube also publishes separate ranges for AV1 and H.265. Check its live settings table before deployment because platform guidance can change. Ensure the connection can sustain the stream bitrate with additional headroom rather than relying on a speed-test peak.
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Keyframes and audio
YouTube lists H.264, AAC or MP3 audio, and constant bitrate (CBR) among its live encoder settings. The example uses a two-second GOP at 30 fps and AAC stereo settings matching YouTube’s published recommendation. For a different output frame rate, set the output rate deliberately and make the GOP roughly two seconds of frames; do not assume -g 60 means two seconds at every rate.
Files without usable audio or with unusual timestamps
This command assumes the input has a usable audio stream. If the video is silent or has no audio track, looping the file does not create an audio stream; construct a continuous audio/video input explicitly, choosing silence or a separate music source as appropriate. The needed filter chain depends on that choice. If the file has unusual or discontinuous timestamps, inspect and correct the input before relying on it for continuous output.
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Set up and start the YouTube broadcast
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream.
- Copy the server URL and stream key from the stream setup and substitute them into the command’s RTMPS destination. Do not publish or share the key.
- Run the command. Check the YouTube preview and stream health before treating the broadcast as production-ready.
- Test with representative motion and audio, then monitor stream health. YouTube explicitly recommends testing before going live with audio and movement similar to the intended stream; see its encoder settings guidance.
What a 24/7 loop does—and does not—guarantee
-stream_loop -1 repeats the input, but it does not restart FFmpeg after a crash, restore a failed host or network connection, or handle a YouTube disconnect. A genuine continuous service needs supervision and a recovery plan for encoder, computer, network, and source failures. YouTube’s setup guidance says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived when ended; do not assume one uninterrupted stream longer than 12 hours will produce a complete archive. See YouTube’s encoder setup guidance.
Troubleshooting common failures
- YouTube does not receive the stream: check that the RTMPS server URL and stream key were copied from the correct Live Control Room stream, that the key has no accidental edits, and that your network permits the connection.
- The stream buffers or reports poor health: compare the sustained connection speed with the selected video and audio bitrates, allow headroom, and reduce the target bitrate or ingest resolution if the connection cannot sustain it.
- Video looks soft or blocky: check whether the chosen bitrate is below YouTube’s published recommendation for the actual ingest resolution and frame rate. Also confirm the source itself has enough detail; encoding cannot restore missing detail.
- FFmpeg cannot find an encoder: verify that your installed build includes
libx264and AAC encoding support. The command’s encoder names are not guaranteed to be present in every FFmpeg build. - Audio is missing: inspect the input for an audio stream. A video-only file needs an explicitly constructed silent or separate audio input before AAC can be sent.
- FFmpeg stops at the end of the file: confirm
-stream_loop -1appears before-iand that the input can be read repeatedly. The loop only handles file repetition, not recovery from process or network failure. - Keyframes do not land every two seconds: check the encoded output frame rate and calculate GOP length from it. Sixty frames is two seconds only at 30 fps.
Copyright and channel eligibility
Before looping a recording, confirm you have the necessary rights to its video and audio. A live ingest configuration does not grant permission to rebroadcast copyrighted material. YouTube’s live policies and monetization decisions are separate from whether FFmpeg successfully sends a stream; review the current rules in YouTube Studio and use material you are authorized to stream.
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