There is no single FFmpeg flag that prevents every long YouTube radio broadcast from stopping. First identify which part failed: the input source disconnected, the FFmpeg process exited, or YouTube stopped receiving healthy output. For a live HTTP input, FFmpeg’s reconnect options can help with some input failures; a dead process needs supervision, and an output or YouTube ingest problem needs separate diagnosis.
Identify what stopped
Before changing flags, establish whether FFmpeg is still running and whether YouTube is still receiving a healthy stream. These are separate failure layers, and a fix for one does not automatically repair the others.
- The FFmpeg process exited: Record its exit code and the final log lines. Input reconnect options do not relaunch an exited process.
- FFmpeg is alive but its input failed: Check the input protocol, connection errors, EOF messages, authentication or token expiry, and whether the source is still available.
- FFmpeg appears to be sending output but YouTube reports a problem: Check YouTube’s stream-health information and the encoder/output logs. An input retry flag is not an output retry policy.
Reconnect a live HTTP input
For an HTTP source expected to remain live, FFmpeg documents options that can reconnect after certain interruptions. These are input-protocol controls, so place them before the -i for the input they apply to:
ffmpeg -reconnect 1 -reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_at_eof 1
-reconnect_on_network_error 1 -reconnect_delay_max 30
-i 'HTTP_INPUT_URL' ...-reconnect 1enables reconnection when a connection is lost before EOF.-reconnect_streamed 1enables it for streamed, non-seekable inputs.-reconnect_at_eof 1treats EOF as an error and causes reconnection; FFmpeg describes this as useful for live or endless streams.-reconnect_on_network_error 1enables reconnection for TCP or TLS errors during connection.-reconnect_delay_max 30sets the maximum reconnect delay in seconds.
This is an illustrative input-option pattern, not a complete YouTube output command. It applies only when the source is HTTP and the installed FFmpeg build supports the options for that protocol. Check the documentation for your installed version and inspect the actual logs; these flags do not fix expired credentials, malformed input, a crash, or a YouTube-side ingest failure.
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Keep an exited process from staying down
If FFmpeg exits, use an external process supervisor or a carefully designed restart loop. Capture the exit status and logs, and make sure a restart cannot leave two encoders publishing to the same stream. Reconnect options can help FFmpeg recover an input while it is running; they do not restart the program after it has terminated.
Do not treat repeated restarts as proof that the underlying fault is fixed. If it exits again, use the last log lines and exit code to determine whether the cause is a failed source, configuration or authentication issue, resource problem, or output-side error.
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Check YouTube output and stream health separately
YouTube recommends testing with representative content, choosing a quality the upload connection can sustain, and reviewing stream health during the broadcast. It also recommends running a speed test to check upload bitrate. A radio stream still needs stable, continuous output; the goal is a reliable bitrate, not simply the highest available quality.
YouTube’s published guidance for delivering live content via DASH describes retries with randomized binary exponential backoff for failed PUT requests and says repeated failures should be signaled to the operator. That is DASH-specific guidance; do not assume it defines how FFmpeg’s RTMP output retries or recovers.
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Use suitable encoder settings for a long broadcast
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists RTMP or RTMPS transport, H.264, H.265 or AV1 video, and AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe frequency, with four seconds as the maximum. Use a bitrate that the upload connection can reliably sustain, and test with representative content before relying on a long event. The appropriate values depend on the stream you are sending and the available upload connection; there is no one bitrate that fits every broadcast.
Troubleshoot common stopping symptoms
| Symptom | Likely area to investigate | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg has exited | Process failure, configuration, input, or output error | Save the exit code and final log lines. Use a supervisor or restart loop only after accounting for duplicate-stream risk. |
| FFmpeg remains running, but the source has disconnected | Input connection or protocol | Confirm the source protocol and check its logs. For a suitable live HTTP input, consider the documented reconnect options. |
| The source reaches EOF and FFmpeg stops reading it | Input ended or EOF handling | For an HTTP live or endless source, check whether -reconnect_at_eof 1 is supported and appropriate. |
| YouTube reports poor stream health | Output delivery, encoder settings, or upload connection | Review YouTube’s stream-health information and test the connection; select a sustainable bitrate. |
| Retries continue but the broadcast does not recover | Wrong failure layer, source authentication or expiry, unsupported option, or persistent fault | Read the complete error context and verify the option against the installed FFmpeg version and input protocol; do not assume input reconnect covers output failures. |
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