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To loop a local prerecorded video into your own YouTube Live event from a Mac, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 input option and pace the file with -re. Create the event in YouTube Studio, use that event’s RTMPS server URL and private stream key, then monitor Live Control Room while FFmpeg runs. This method loops a file you provide; it does not replay another channel’s YouTube Live URL.
Before you start
You need a prerecorded video file on your Mac, FFmpeg, a YouTube channel able to go live, and a dependable upload connection. The command below is a template, not a tested one-command setup: installed FFmpeg versions differ, and a particular build may not include the libx264 encoder. Check your file’s streams and your FFmpeg build before relying on the example.
- Have the source file’s path ready and check its video and audio codecs, resolution, and frame rate.
- In Terminal, check the installed version with
ffmpeg -version. If an encoder or option is missing, consult documentation for that installed version; FFmpeg documentation is regenerated nightly. - Create or select your YouTube Live event and obtain its RTMPS server URL and stream key from Live Control Room.
This workflow does not establish instructions for rebroadcasting another channel’s live feed. Only stream content you have the rights and permission to use.
Create the YouTube Live event and protect its key
- Open YouTube Studio and create or select the live event.
- Open the event’s Live Control Room stream settings. Copy the server URL and stream key for that event.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it like a password: do not include it in a screenshot, shared shell history, or logs. If it is exposed, YouTube documents resetting it in Live Control Room.
- Use the server URL and key together in the FFmpeg output address. Do not paste the example address below unchanged.
YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends RTMPS, the encrypted option, and documents RTMP/RTMPS as supported encoder protocols: YouTube Live encoder settings. A custom stream key may offer manual or automatic resolution settings; choose settings consistent with the actual output you send.
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Prepare and run the looping command
Replace the input path, ingest URL, and stream key placeholders. The sample uses H.264 video, AAC audio, and an illustrative 4.5 Mbps video rate; it is not a universal bitrate prescription. The -stream_loop -1 option must appear before the corresponding -i, because it applies to that input.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "/path/to/video.mp4"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency
-b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"- Set
/path/to/video.mp4to the actual local file path. Quotation marks help when the path includes spaces. - Replace the quoted output address with the RTMPS server URL and stream key for your event. Avoid putting a real key into commands that you later share or publish.
- Set GOP/keyframe cadence to match your output frame rate. With the example
-g 60, 60 frames equal two seconds only at 30 fps; at 60 fps, 60 frames equal one second. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it should not exceed four seconds. - Choose video bitrate for the resolution and frame rate and ensure your connection can sustain it. YouTube’s current H.264 recommendations include 5 Mbps for 1080p30 and 6 Mbps for 720p30; these are recommendations, not guarantees of quality or connectivity.
- Press Return to run FFmpeg. Watch its output for connection errors, encoder failures, or stalled progress, and confirm the event receives video and audio in Live Control Room.
FFmpeg documents -stream_loop -1 as infinite input looping; -stream_loop 0 disables looping. The -re flag is equivalent to -readrate 1 and paces a file input in real time. FFmpeg warns against applying a low read rate to actual live capture or network inputs because it can cause packet loss. See the FFmpeg documentation.
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Choose output settings that fit the file and connection
Protocol and codecs
Use the event’s ingest address and prefer RTMPS. YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS encoder guidance supports H.264 video and AAC or MP3 audio. The example re-encodes to H.264 and AAC for predictable output; if your FFmpeg build lacks libx264, that command will fail until you use a compatible build or another supported encoder.
Bitrate, resolution, and frame rate
Pick a resolution and frame rate the source can provide and the upload connection can sustain. A larger bitrate does not compensate for an unstable connection. YouTube lists support up to 60 fps, and its H.264 guidance recommends 5 Mbps at 1080p30 and 6 Mbps at 720p30. Treat those values as service recommendations for those specific output modes, not as mandatory values for every stream. Check YouTube’s current encoder guidance before going live, since recommendations can change.
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Keyframes and constant bitrate
YouTube recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe frequency, with four seconds as the maximum. The example sets a nominal two-second GOP at 30 fps and disables scene-cut GOP changes for more predictable intervals. If your target is another frame rate, change the GOP length accordingly. The example’s rate-control flags do not prove that your connection can sustain the selected bitrate; monitor stream health during a test.
Re-encode or copy?
The template re-encodes, which gives you control over codecs and keyframe timing. Stream copy can avoid re-encoding when the source already matches the destination requirements, but it cannot apply filters and may fail if the target container needs information missing from the source. Inspect the input first; when compatibility or controlled keyframes are uncertain, re-encoding is the more predictable approach.
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Test, monitor, and end the event
- Test a representative section with motion and audio before relying on a long broadcast.
- Confirm YouTube receives the intended picture and sound, then monitor Live Control Room’s stream health and messages while live.
- When finished, stop the FFmpeg process and verify the event ends as intended in YouTube Studio.
- YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived when ended. Do not assume the same archive behavior for streams lasting 12 hours or longer.
For YouTube’s guidance on checking stream health, testing, and supported settings, see Live encoder settings; for archive behavior, see YouTube’s live stream archive information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
FFmpeg reports that libx264 is unavailable |
The installed FFmpeg build does not include that encoder. | Check the build’s available encoders and use a compatible build or encoder. The template is not guaranteed to work with every macOS installation. |
| YouTube does not receive the stream | The event URL or key is wrong, the key belongs to a different event, or the connection is failing. | Copy the server URL and key again from that event’s Live Control Room settings; check FFmpeg’s connection messages and YouTube’s stream health. |
| Video or audio is missing or incompatible | The source streams, mapping, or output encoding do not match what you expect. | Inspect the file’s actual streams. Confirm the command’s selected encoders are available and that YouTube is receiving both picture and sound. |
| Stream stutters or drops frames | The selected output rate may exceed dependable upload capacity, or the connection may be unstable. | Test a lower resolution, frame rate, or bitrate that the connection can sustain, and monitor YouTube’s health messages. |
| Keyframe warnings appear | GOP duration may not match the target frame rate or may exceed YouTube’s stated interval. | Set the GOP in frames to produce a two-second interval at the chosen frame rate, and keep the interval at or below four seconds. |
| The video does not loop | -stream_loop -1 may be missing or placed after the input it should affect. |
Place it before that input’s -i; use a local file input for this workflow. |
Copyright and channel-policy checks
Looping a file technically does not grant the right to broadcast it. Use material you created, licensed, or otherwise have permission to stream, including music and any embedded footage. Review YouTube’s copyright and monetization policies for your content and channel. Repeated or reused material can raise issues beyond the live encoder settings; no command can guarantee that a stream complies with YouTube’s rules or avoids claims.
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