For a YouTube loop stream, NGINX RTMP and FFmpeg do different jobs: NGINX’s third-party RTMP module can accept or relay a stream, while FFmpeg reads your prerecorded video and sends the live encoder output to YouTube. On Ubuntu 22.04, the available documentation does not establish a current, verified Open Source package-and-module installation recipe or a tested endless-loop command. The safest path is to choose an installation method deliberately, match NGINX and module versions if building from source, then test the complete stream and recovery behavior before relying on it.
What you need—and what each component does
- NGINX with nginx-rtmp-module: an RTMP server/relay layer. The module project documents live RTMP, relaying, recording, H.264/AAC support and FFmpeg integration. Its README describes “Online transcoding with FFmpeg.” nginx-rtmp-module README
- FFmpeg: the media-processing component that reads a file and produces the outgoing audio/video stream. It may publish directly to YouTube or send to an intermediate RTMP layer, depending on your design.
- YouTube Live Control Room: provides the ingest server URL and stream key. YouTube describes stream keys as password-like credentials; keep them private and reset a compromised key. YouTube: Set up your encoder for live streaming
NGINX itself is not the media-file looping encoder. Installing its RTMP module alone will not make a video repeat. The module’s example configuration includes an RTMP server on port 1935, an application with live on;, relay directives and FFmpeg examples, but examples are not a security review or a guarantee that every directive suits a public-facing server. nginx-rtmp-module README
Choose an installation route on Ubuntu 22.04
Open Source NGINX with the third-party module
The module’s upstream README documents compiling NGINX with the module source using ./configure --add-module=/path/to/nginx-rtmp-module, followed by make and make install. This is a source-build outline, not a complete contemporary Ubuntu 22.04 recipe: the currently supported Open Source package name, compatible module revision and tested build combination are not established here. nginx-rtmp-module README
If you build from source, select and match the NGINX and module revisions. Preserve any configure options needed by your existing NGINX features; replacing an existing binary with one built using different options can remove capabilities you rely on. Verify the resulting binary and configuration before use, and do not assume an older Jammy guide proves current compatibility.
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NGINX documents installing nginx-plus-module-rtmp from the official NGINX Plus repository, loading it with a top-level load_module directive, validating with nginx -t and reloading NGINX. This is specifically an NGINX Plus route, not instructions for installing the Open Source Ubuntu package. NGINX Plus RTMP module documentation
Why an old Jammy build page is not enough
A community wiki page labeled for Ubuntu 22.04.1 describes a source build pinned to NGINX 1.23.1 and older dependencies. Treat it as historical evidence that a Jammy source build has been documented, not as a current, verified installation recipe. Building on Ubuntu 22.04.1
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Configure the RTMP layer carefully
The upstream sample places an rtmp {} block at NGINX’s top level, defines an RTMP server listening on port 1935 and adds an application with live on;. Its README also demonstrates push relaying and FFmpeg execution examples. Use those as configuration concepts, then validate against your actual NGINX build and deployment rather than copying a public-ingest configuration without reviewing access controls. nginx-rtmp-module README
- Restrict who can publish to any RTMP application you expose; an open publish endpoint can be abused.
- Keep the YouTube stream key and other credentials in protected configuration. Do not put them in public screenshots, a repository, or shell history.
- For a source build, confirm the installed NGINX binary, module and configuration are compatible before reloading or replacing a working service.
For NGINX Plus, the documented dynamic-module sequence includes adding a top-level load_module directive, running nginx -t to test configuration, and reloading NGINX after validation. Those instructions apply to NGINX Plus as documented, not automatically to an Open Source build. NGINX Plus RTMP module documentation
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Set the YouTube endpoint and encoder profile
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the live stream and retrieve the server URL and stream key.
- Enter the endpoint and key in the encoder or relay configuration you have chosen. Treat the key as a password; channel owners or managers can reset it if it is exposed. YouTube encoder setup
- Choose a video profile that matches the source and your sustained upload capacity. YouTube’s encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS; H.264, H.265 (HEVC) or AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; frame rates up to 60 fps; and constant bitrate (CBR). It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. YouTube Live encoder settings
- For stereo audio, YouTube recommends a 44.1 kHz sample rate and 128 Kbps bitrate. Its advanced guidance includes square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames, one reference frame, CABAC and Rec. 709 for SDR. Match the settings to your encoder’s capabilities and source; these are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that every combination is supported by a particular FFmpeg build. YouTube Live encoder settings
- Test the stream before scheduling or depending on it. YouTube’s guidance says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” YouTube Live encoder settings
| H.264 profile in YouTube guidance | Listed minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published encoder recommendations, accessed in 2026, not independent performance measurements. They do not specify the CPU or memory needed to encode a particular source. YouTube advises choosing a reliable quality setting for the connection and testing upload speed. YouTube Live encoder settings
RTMP or RTMPS?
YouTube recommends RTMPS, which is RTMP over TLS/SSL, and directs creators to obtain the RTMPS URL from Live Control Room. Confirm that the specific FFmpeg, NGINX and module build you choose can use the selected outbound route before relying on it; compatibility of a particular Ubuntu toolchain was not verified here. YouTube: Stream using RTMPS
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Build and validate the repeating media pipeline
Use FFmpeg to read the prerecorded file and publish its encoded output. NGINX RTMP can sit between FFmpeg and YouTube as an ingest or relay layer, but it does not by itself make the file loop. The module project documents FFmpeg integration and publishing examples; the documentation available here does not establish a current, fully tested command for an indefinite file loop, timestamp handling, reconnect policy or service supervision. nginx-rtmp-module README
Before depending on your implementation, verify it against your installed FFmpeg version and actual media file:
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- Confirm the audio and video timestamps remain acceptable when playback returns to the beginning.
- Check that YouTube receives a stable stream at the selected resolution, frame rate, bitrate and codec.
- Test what happens when the source file ends, the network drops, YouTube disconnects, or the encoder process exits.
- Use an appropriate process supervisor if you need a failed encoder process restarted, and verify the restart behavior rather than assuming it.
- Check the YouTube Live Control Room status and playback output during a test session before using the stream for a scheduled audience.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That is an archive behavior, not a promise that an uninterrupted loop can run indefinitely; plan and test around the platform’s stream lifecycle. YouTube encoder setup
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| NGINX rejects the configuration or fails to start | Confirm the RTMP module is actually present in the chosen build, that directives are in the correct context, and that the configuration matches the installed NGINX/module combination. For the documented NGINX Plus route, run nginx -t before reloading. |
| FFmpeg cannot publish to the endpoint | Check that the server URL and stream key were copied from the current Live Control Room stream and that the encoder’s chosen RTMP or RTMPS transport is supported by the exact toolchain. |
| YouTube reports unstable or poor-quality input | Compare the configured codec, CBR bitrate, keyframe interval, resolution and frame rate with YouTube’s guidance; test sustained upload capacity rather than relying on a short speed peak. |
| Video plays once and stops, or breaks at the loop boundary | The module is not the loop encoder. Validate the FFmpeg loop implementation and timestamp continuity with the chosen file; the available documentation does not establish a tested universal looping command. |
| The stream stops after a process or network interruption | Test the encoder restart and reconnection path, and verify whether YouTube receives a valid resumed stream. Do not treat an RTMP relay directive as proof of automatic recovery for every failure. |
| Unexpected publishing appears on your RTMP server | Restrict publish access and rotate exposed credentials. Never place the YouTube key in public configuration or logs. |
DIY costs and operational trade-offs
The software-centered setup can involve a machine that stays online, network capacity for the outgoing stream, storage for source media and enough compute for the encoding profile if FFmpeg transcodes. The sources cited here do not establish server sizing, resource use or a current compatible Ubuntu Open Source build, so estimate and test for your own source and workload rather than relying on a universal VPS specification. YouTube’s bitrate figures are encoder recommendations, not hardware requirements.
Or let it run in the cloud
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