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Liquidsoap can send a continuous music program to YouTube Live over RTMP or HLS, but the software is only one part of a dependable 24/7 setup. You also need a continuous audio/video source, a compatible encoder, an always-on host with stable upload bandwidth, a protected YouTube stream key, process supervision, and music rights that cover livestreaming. The official Liquidsoap examples document the output paths; they are not a tested, ready-to-run deployment recipe.
What you need before configuring Liquidsoap
- An always-on Linux or other supported host on which your chosen Liquidsoap release and encoder dependencies are installed.
- A music source or playlist that can continue producing audio, plus video if your YouTube output is configured as a video stream.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming available and a stream URL/key configured in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Keep the key secret; anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your stream.
- Stable outbound bandwidth sufficient for the encoded stream, with capacity left over for network variation.
- Permission to livestream every recording and visual in the program, including any required rights-holder allowlisting.
Check the installed build before writing an encoder configuration: Liquidsoap’s documentation notes that encoder availability can depend on optional libraries, and documents liquidsoap --build-config for inspecting build capabilities. Syntax and supported outputs can vary by release, so validate the configuration against the documentation for the version actually installed.
Choose an ingestion route: RTMP or HLS
Liquidsoap’s YouTube output reference documents both routes. RTMP is the more direct starting point for a typical encoder-driven setup; YouTube recommends RTMPS when available to encrypt the contribution stream in transit. Liquidsoap’s documented RTMP default endpoint is rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2. The RTMP output requires a stream key and encoder. See Liquidsoap’s YouTube output reference and Liquidsoap’s homepage example.
HLS is also documented, with the default endpoint https://a.upload.youtube.com/http_upload_hls and a stream key. It is not merely another name for RTMP: YouTube’s HLS contribution requirements include HTTPS POST/PUT, TS segments, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, and segment durations of 1–4 seconds. HLS generally has higher latency because it sends segments. Use it only when the Liquidsoap release and encoder can meet YouTube’s current HLS requirements. See YouTube’s HLS ingestion guidance.
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| Route | What the documented setup needs | Operational consideration |
|---|---|---|
| RTMP/RTMPS | Liquidsoap RTMP output, compatible encoder, YouTube stream key; YouTube recommends RTMPS for encryption where supported. | Direct encoder output; confirm the endpoint and encoder settings in the current YouTube setup. |
| HLS | Liquidsoap HLS output, YouTube stream key, and compliant HTTPS upload, TS segments, rolling playlist, and 1–4 second segments. | Segmented contribution has higher latency; confirm that the installed Liquidsoap build can satisfy YouTube’s requirements. |
Set encoder values YouTube can ingest
For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube’s current guidance calls for constant bitrate (CBR), supports up to 60 frames per second, and recommends a 2-second keyframe interval that must not exceed 4 seconds. It accepts H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video, and AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS. Liquidsoap’s homepage illustrates an FFmpeg encoder using H.264 video and AAC audio; that is a documentation example, not an independently validated 24/7 configuration. Liquidsoap’s development documentation points to %ffmpeg for video and codecs or containers outside its other encoder set. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and Liquidsoap’s example.
| Setting | Guidance | How to apply it |
|---|---|---|
| Video codec | H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 are listed by YouTube. | Choose a codec supported by the installed FFmpeg/Liquidsoap build and your chosen ingestion route. |
| Rate control | CBR. | Configure a steady target rate rather than a variable-rate stream. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; no more than 4 seconds. | Set the encoder’s GOP/keyframe interval accordingly, then verify the outgoing stream health. |
| H.264 video bitrate examples | 14 Mbps at 1080p30; 8 Mbps at 720p30. | These are YouTube’s recommendations for those particular resolution/frame-rate settings, not universal targets. Use the current table for other combinations. |
| Audio | AAC or MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS; YouTube’s advanced guidance lists stereo, 44.1 kHz, 128 kbps. | Confirm both the codec and rate are supported by the encoder path you configure. |
For a music-only program, a static or looping visual can supply the video track if your chosen output expects one; the Liquidsoap documentation example demonstrates video encoding but does not establish a complete playlist or visual-source recipe. Keep the output resolution and frame rate intentional rather than selecting a higher setting without sufficient upload capacity.
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Build the continuous source and start the output
A 24/7 broadcast needs a source that keeps yielding media, and an output that is configured to start and remains connected. Liquidsoap’s homepage demonstrates a fallback source in a video example, but that alone does not provide a complete unattended recovery design. Because exact source composition and function names are release-specific, do not copy an unverified script into production.
- Check capabilities: run
liquidsoap --build-configand confirm the encoder and libraries required for your chosen audio/video formats are present. - Prepare the program source: define the playlist or other continuous music source using syntax supported by your installed release. Decide what should happen when a file is missing, ends, or cannot be decoded; test those cases before broadcasting.
- Configure output: select the RTMP/RTMPS or HLS output supported by the installed release, provide the encoder settings, and supply the YouTube key through a protected configuration or secret mechanism rather than publishing it in a script or repository.
- Start a test broadcast: use a private or unlisted stream where appropriate, open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, and check its preview, audio, video, and stream-health messages before switching to a public broadcast.
- Supervise the process: run Liquidsoap under a service manager or equivalent supervisor configured for the host. Verify that a process crash or host restart results in an intentional restart, and set up alerts so an operator knows when the stream is not healthy. Liquidsoap’s output documentation does not by itself guarantee this host-level recovery.
Plan bandwidth, monitoring, and archives
YouTube advises that the total stream bitrate fit within available upload bandwidth, recommends roughly 20% headroom, and recommends testing and monitoring stream health. Measure the host’s actual outbound path under representative conditions; do not treat a provider’s advertised port speed as proof that the stream will remain stable. Leave capacity for other traffic and avoid running the encoder at a rate the connection cannot sustain. See YouTube’s encoder and connection guidance.
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Monitor the host process and YouTube’s Live Control Room rather than assuming that a running Liquidsoap process means YouTube is receiving healthy media. Establish who will respond to alerts and how the stream will be checked after a restart or network interruption. Keep a separate recording if preserving the entire program matters: YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, while streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. A 24/7 broadcast should not depend on one YouTube archive for a complete recording. See YouTube’s archive guidance.
Clear music rights before going live
YouTube scans live streams for third-party material. If copyrighted material remains after a warning, YouTube may temporarily interrupt or terminate the broadcast. A purchased track or a file available online does not, by itself, establish livestreaming permission. Confirm rights for every recording and visual in the playlist. If a rights holder has licensed the music, check whether it must add the channel to its Content ID allowlist: YouTube says a stream may still be interrupted without that allowlisting even when the streamer has a licence. See YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams.
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Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| Liquidsoap cannot create the encoder or output. | The installed build lacks an optional encoder dependency, or the configuration does not match that release. | Inspect liquidsoap --build-config; verify the installed version’s output and encoder documentation and the relevant FFmpeg libraries. |
| YouTube does not receive the broadcast. | Wrong endpoint/key, unsupported output configuration, or a connection problem. | Confirm the current endpoint and stream key in YouTube Studio, keep the key private, inspect Liquidsoap logs, and verify outbound access from the host. |
| Stream health reports dropped frames or unstable delivery. | The total bitrate may exceed stable upload capacity or the network may be fluctuating. | Measure actual outbound bandwidth, reduce the selected bitrate or resolution if necessary, preserve YouTube’s recommended headroom, and run another test. |
| Audio or video is missing. | The source or encoder may not be producing the expected media track, or the selected codec may not be supported by the configured path. | Check the Live Control Room preview and encoder logs; verify source output, selected codecs, and the Liquidsoap build’s capabilities. |
| The stream stops after a process or host failure. | No supervisor is restarting the service, or the restart path has not been tested. | Configure and test service-manager restart behavior, ensure the host itself restarts after reboot, and alert an operator if recovery does not occur. |
| YouTube interrupts the music stream. | Third-party content matching or missing rights-holder allowlisting may be involved. | Review YouTube’s stream-health or copyright notices, verify the relevant licence and allowlisting with the rights holder, and remove material you are not authorized to livestream. |
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