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Before you start
- Install an FFmpeg build that includes the concat demuxer, your chosen encoders, and RTMPS support. Check it with
ffmpeg -version; if necessary, inspect available protocols and encoders withffmpeg -protocolsandffmpeg -encoders. Available features depend on the build. - Make sure you can create a live stream in YouTube Studio and access its encoder settings. YouTube provides the stream URL and key in Live Control Room; see YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
- Check that the clips can be joined by the concat demuxer: their streams, codecs, and time bases need to match. Differences in duration information can cause artifacts at transitions. See the FFmpeg Formats documentation.
Prepare the clip list
- Put the demo files in the folder you will use for the stream, and decide the playback order. The list order determines the sequence.
- Create a plain-text file named
videos.txtbeside the clips. For simple filenames, use this format, withffconcat version 1.0as the exact first line:ffconcat version 1.0 file 'demo-01.mp4' file 'demo-02.mp4' file 'demo-03.mp4' - Save the file as plain text and verify that every filename and extension matches the files on disk. Filenames with spaces or special characters need correct escaping or quoting. FFmpeg’s concat demuxer applies safe-path checks by default;
-safe 0allows paths it would otherwise reject. Use that option only with a playlist you control.
The concat demuxer presents the listed files as one virtual input. It is not a general-purpose fix for clips with different stream layouts: standardize or re-encode mismatched files before joining them, or build a filter-based workflow suited to their actual streams.
Create the YouTube stream and protect its key
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Create > Go live to set up or select the live stream in Live Control Room. YouTube’s labels can change; use the current encoder details displayed for the event.
- Copy the event’s stream URL and stream key. YouTube may show an RTMP URL by default; if you intend to use encrypted RTMPS, reveal and copy the RTMPS URL explicitly. YouTube describes RTMPS as RTMP over TLS/SSL and recommends it: Encrypt your stream using RTMPS.
- Treat the stream key like a password. Do not include a real key in a public script, repository, screenshot, or shared command history. Use a private environment variable or another secure method to supply credentials.
Run FFmpeg to loop and send the playlist
Adapt this illustrative command to the URL shown for your event and to the encoders available in your FFmpeg build:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i videos.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY"
-rereads the file input at its natural rate instead of sending it as fast as possible.-stream_loop -1loops the input indefinitely; because it is an input option, it appears before-i videos.txt. See the FFmpeg documentation.-f concatselects the concat demuxer, and-safe 0relaxes its path checks for this controlled playlist. If all paths are safe relative filenames, remove-safe 0.- The example encodes H.264 video and AAC audio and sets 30 fps, a 60-frame GOP, and a 4,500 kb/s video target. These are example values, not a Google-prescribed or verified configuration. In particular, the 4,500 kb/s target is not suitable for every resolution or frame rate.
- If your files contain no audio stream, remove the audio output options or deliberately provide a silent audio source; validate the result with your installed build.
- Confirm how your copied RTMPS URL expects the stream key. If the URL already includes a path or key, do not append it a second time. Follow the URL/key arrangement supported by your FFmpeg build.
Choose settings that fit the video and connection
Use YouTube’s current live encoder settings, bitrate, and resolution guidance to choose resolution, frame rate, and bitrate for the actual stream. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1, up to 60 fps, and AAC or MP3 audio on that settings page; the installed FFmpeg build and ingest path must support the encoder you choose. H.264 is a conventional compatibility choice for an RTMP/RTMPS workflow.
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- YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. In the example, 30 fps and
-g 60make the GOP 60 frames, or two seconds; if you change frame rate, recalculate the GOP accordingly. - YouTube’s bitrate guidance varies by resolution, frame rate, and codec. Set the encoder’s bitrate and rate-control values to fit the relevant row and ensure your upload connection can sustain the resulting stream. Do not treat the example bitrate as universal.
- The command uses a constant-bitrate-style target and maximum rate, but the precise behavior depends on the encoder and build. Confirm the resulting stream in Live Control Room rather than assuming command-line values guarantee a particular ingest quality.
Preview, go live, and stop cleanly
- Run the command and wait for YouTube Live Control Room to show an incoming preview and stream health information.
- For a scheduled event, click Go live after the preview appears unless your event’s auto-start settings handle this step. Starting FFmpeg sends the feed; it does not necessarily publish the event to viewers.
- Monitor stream health, especially after the first transition and when the playlist returns to its first clip. Check for dropped frames, audio problems, or a connection warning.
- When finished, end the YouTube event in Live Control Room and stop FFmpeg. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; see its encoder instructions.
Troubleshoot common problems
- FFmpeg cannot find a listed clip: check that you launched FFmpeg from the folder containing
videos.txt, or use correct paths. Keep-safe 0only when you trust and control the playlist paths. - The concat input fails or transitions glitch: confirm that the clips have matching stream layouts, codecs, and time bases, and check duration information. Re-encode files to a consistent format if needed.
- No incoming signal in Live Control Room: verify that the event is ready to receive an encoder feed, that you copied the correct event URL and key, and that the URL/key combination is not duplicated or malformed. Confirm RTMPS support in your FFmpeg build.
- Preview arrives, but the event is not public: check whether the scheduled event still requires a separate Go live action or whether auto-start is enabled.
- Audio is missing or FFmpeg reports an audio-stream error: inspect whether the clips contain audio. Remove the audio output options if there is no audio, or add a deliberate silent source and verify the command’s behavior.
- Stream health is poor or frames drop: compare resolution and frame rate with YouTube’s current bitrate guidance, then lower the output demands if the available upload capacity cannot sustain them.
- The loop does not restart as expected: confirm that
-stream_loop -1is before the concat input’s-i, and that the playlist can be read through its final entry.
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