Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to play an ordered list of local video files, then send the resulting feed to YouTube’s ingest server. For a prerecorded playlist, the core pattern is a UTF-8 playlist manifest, real-time pacing with -re, and an FFmpeg output configured with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Live Control Room. The command below is a starting point, not a guarantee: file compatibility, encoding capacity, network stability, and YouTube’s current settings all matter.
Build a playlist manifest
Create a text file named playlist.txt and put one file directive on each line, in the order you want the videos to play:
file '/media/video-01.mp4'
file '/media/video-02.mp4'
file '/media/video-03.mp4'Use paths that exist on the machine running FFmpeg. The concat demuxer reads the listed files as one input, but it works most reliably when the files have matching streams, codecs, and time bases. Differences in duration metadata can also produce artifacts or gaps. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation before mixing files with different properties.
Manifest paths containing apostrophes or unusual characters need careful quoting. The example command uses -safe 0, which allows paths that the concat demuxer would otherwise reject. Use that setting only when you control the manifest contents; do not feed it an untrusted playlist.
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Choose stream copy or re-encoding
Stream copy for compatible files
If every playlist item has compatible streams and timestamps, copying the encoded streams can reduce CPU load. It is less forgiving of differences between files: mismatched codecs, resolutions, frame rates, audio layouts, or time bases may prevent clean concatenation or produce playback problems.
Re-encoding for a consistent output
Re-encoding lets FFmpeg normalize the output to one profile, at the cost of more processing. The example below encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC; it does not set a resolution, frame rate, video bitrate, or keyframe interval. Choose those settings to fit your files, encoding hardware, and YouTube’s current encoder guidance. Check the installed FFmpeg build and test the whole playlist before relying on the command for a scheduled broadcast.
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Send the playlist to YouTube with FFmpeg
For prerecorded files, -re paces input in real time rather than sending it as fast as FFmpeg can read it. The command combines that pacing with an indefinite loop of the concat input:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "rtmp://YOUR_SERVER/YOUR_APP/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"Replace the destination with the current server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. The exact combined invocation is an illustrative composition; confirm that it behaves correctly with your FFmpeg build and media. FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer documentation also shows a real-time RTMP example using H.264/AAC and FLV output.
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If your files do not join cleanly, inspect their stream properties and timestamps, then normalize or re-encode them to a common profile. Accurate input durations matter to the concat demuxer; incorrect duration information can cause artifacts or gaps.
Connect FFmpeg in YouTube Live Control Room
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live.
- Open the Stream tab and create or select a stream.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown by YouTube into FFmpeg’s output destination.
- Start FFmpeg and check the preview and stream health in Live Control Room.
- For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview, then select Go live in Live Control Room.
YouTube’s instructions describe entering the Live server URL and stream key in the encoder. Treat the key as a password: do not expose it in public scripts, screenshots, shell history, or logs. YouTube’s encoder workflow is documented at Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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Use RTMP/RTMPS unless your format calls for another ingest method
For a conventional FFmpeg playlist, RTMP or RTMPS is the simpler starting point. The YouTube Live Streaming API describes primary and backup ingest addresses and supports RTMP (including RTMPS), HLS, and DASH ingestion types; see LiveStreams | YouTube Live Streaming API.
YouTube documents HLS as an alternative for HDR or codecs that RTMP does not support. HLS has segment, playlist, and HTTPS requirements and higher latency than RTMP. If you need HLS, follow YouTube’s current HLS stream setup requirements rather than treating the RTMP command above as interchangeable.
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Keep a 24/7 process healthy
Test the complete playlist before scheduling
Run through the full set of files and check both FFmpeg’s output and YouTube’s preview. Watch for input errors, timestamp discontinuities, encoder overload, network failures, and changes in stream health. The API describes health states including good, ok, bad, and noData.
Know what FIFO recovery can and cannot do
FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer offers recovery options for certain output failures. Its RTMP example includes -drop_pkts_on_overflow 1, -attempt_recovery 1, and -recovery_wait_time 1. Dropping packets when the queue overflows trades completeness for continued processing; recovery settings do not guarantee an uninterrupted YouTube broadcast. For a 24/7 deployment, consider process supervision and alerting outside FFmpeg as well.
Plan archives separately from stream continuity
YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not guarantee that a single uninterrupted 24/7 stream will produce one continuous archive. If archive continuity matters, check YouTube’s current Live guidance and plan around the documented duration limit.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg rejects a file or the playlist stops at a transition | Inputs have incompatible streams, codecs, time bases, or timestamps; a path may also be wrong. | Verify every manifest path and inspect file properties. Normalize or re-encode incompatible inputs, then test transitions before going live. |
| Artifacts, gaps, or a brief interruption between clips | Duration metadata may be inaccurate, or files may not have compatible timing. | Check the concat demuxer’s duration caveat and validate the full playlist. Correct the media or use a normalized set with reliable timestamps. |
| YouTube does not show a usable preview | The destination URL or key may be wrong, FFmpeg may not be sending output, or the selected ingest path may not fit the format. | Copy the current URL and key from Live Control Room, inspect FFmpeg’s output/errors, and verify the chosen protocol and format. |
| The broadcast buffers, drops packets, or ends unexpectedly | Network instability, host restart, encoder overload, or output failure can interrupt a long-running process. | Check FFmpeg speed and errors, host/network stability, and YouTube stream health. FIFO recovery can help with certain output failures, but use external supervision and alerts for a continuous service. |
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