For a 30 fps YouTube Live stream sent over RTMP or RTMPS, use a 2-second keyframe interval: in FFmpeg, set -g 60. YouTube recommends 2 seconds and says not to exceed 4 seconds; at 30 fps, that upper limit converts to 120 frames. Configure a closed GOP as well, then test the stream and check YouTube’s stream health.
Set the interval to 60 frames
Use -g 60 when your FFmpeg output is actually 30 frames per second. FFmpeg documents -g as the number of frames between keyframes. At 30 fps, 60 frames is two seconds: 30 frames per second × 2 seconds = 60 frames. YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS encoder guidance recommends a 2-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed 4 seconds. The 4-second limit converts to 120 frames at 30 fps; that frame count is arithmetic from YouTube’s interval, not a separate value printed in its guidance. YouTube’s live encoder settings and FFmpeg’s GOP option documentation describe the relevant settings.
-g 60This sets the keyframe interval target in the usual fixed-GOP configuration. It does not, by itself, configure a closed GOP or determine the stream’s codec, bitrate, audio, container, or ingestion protocol. Those depend on the chosen encoder and the rest of your setup.
Configure a closed GOP
YouTube identifies open GOP as unsupported in its LiveStream API health messages. Set the selected encoder’s closed-GOP option; its name and availability depend on the codec and encoder implementation, so there is no single universal FFmpeg flag that can be prescribed for every setup. Check the documentation for the encoder you are using and verify the resulting stream in YouTube’s health panel. YouTube’s health-status documentation describes open-GOP warnings and related diagnostics.
The Tool Desk
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Check protocol guidance before changing other settings
The 2-second recommendation and 4-second maximum above apply to YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS encoder guidance, the typical context for this title. Other ingestion protocols have distinct requirements; do not treat a segment duration as a keyframe interval.
| Ingestion context | GOP guidance | What to keep distinct |
|---|---|---|
| RTMP/RTMPS | 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds. At 30 fps, these convert to 60 and 120 frames respectively. | YouTube’s encoder table lists CBR and supports frame rates up to 60 fps, but the 30 fps frame counts are conversions of the interval guidance. |
| DASH | About 2 seconds and under 8 seconds; use closed GOPs. | This is DASH-specific guidance, not a reason to relax the more specific RTMP/RTMPS maximum when using RTMP/RTMPS. |
| HLS | Closed GOPs are required. | HLS segment-duration guidance is separate from the RTMP/RTMPS keyframe-frequency table. |
For protocol details, consult YouTube’s DASH guide and HLS ingestion guide.
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Verify the output and stream health
- Confirm the output frame rate. Make sure the encoded output is 30 fps before using the 60-frame conversion. If the output frame rate differs, calculate the interval in frames from the actual output rate.
- Set the GOP interval. Use
-g 60for the recommended two-second interval at 30 fps. - Enable closed GOP. Use the appropriate setting for your selected encoder and codec; the option is implementation-dependent.
- Test representative content. Send a test with the audio and motion you expect in the real stream, then monitor YouTube’s stream health during the test.
- Align backup streams. If sending a backup stream, keep its keyframe frequency aligned with the main stream. YouTube reports a GOP mismatch as a configuration issue.
Troubleshoot keyframe warnings
- GOP longer than four seconds: YouTube’s API health messages warn that this can cause buffering. For RTMP/RTMPS at 30 fps, use the recommended
-g 60rather than exceeding the 120-frame conversion of the maximum interval. - Open GOP: YouTube reports this as unsupported. Change the closed-GOP setting in the selected encoder and run another test.
- Backup-stream GOP mismatch: Make the backup stream’s keyframe frequency match the main stream, then recheck health.
- Very small GOP: YouTube’s health messages note that very small GOPs can reduce image quality. Check your configuration rather than shortening the interval without a specific reason.
- Unexpected interval warning: Verify the actual output frame rate, the selected encoder’s GOP behavior, and YouTube’s stream-health report. The
-gvalue alone does not establish that the encoder is producing the intended closed-GOP stream.
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