To send Liquidsoap radio to YouTube Live, add a video source to your radio audio, encode both with FFmpeg, and send the result to the stream URL and key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. A still image is the simplest visual. Use YouTube’s RTMPS ingest URL when your Liquidsoap/FFmpeg setup supports it, and keep the stream key private.
What you need before you start
- A working Liquidsoap radio source, such as a playlist.
- A video source: a still image works for a radio-style stream; a video file is another option.
- A Liquidsoap build with the FFmpeg output support needed for your chosen codecs and protocol. RTMPS compatibility depends on the installed build and configuration.
- A YouTube channel able to use live streaming, plus the current stream URL and key from YouTube Live Control Room.
This workflow sends a video stream, not audio alone: YouTube’s encoder workflow requires video, so Liquidsoap must mux a visual source with the radio audio. The official Liquidsoap book documents both a static image and a video-file alternative.
Get the YouTube stream URL and key
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select a stream. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions if you need to create one.
- Open the stream’s settings and copy its stream URL and stream key. For encrypted ingest, reveal and copy the RTMPS URL from the Stream settings as described in YouTube’s RTMPS guide.
- Store the key separately from your public script and logs. YouTube says the key functions like a password; if it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update the file Liquidsoap reads.
Do not assume a fixed endpoint or reuse a key from an old stream configuration. Use the current URL and key shown for the stream you intend to broadcast.
Build the Liquidsoap and FFmpeg output
The official Liquidsoap book’s example below shows the basic pattern: load a playlist, mux in an image, read and trim a key from a separate file, encode an FLV stream, and send it with output.url.
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radio = playlist("~/Music")
video = single("image.jpg")
radio = source.mux.video(video=video, radio)
ykey = string.trim(file.contents("youtube-key"))
url = "rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/#{ykey}"
enc = %ffmpeg(format="flv",
%video(codec="libx264", pixel_format="yuv420p",
b="300k", preset="superfast", r=25, g=50),
%audio(codec="libmp3lame", samplerate=44100, b="160k"))
output.url(fallible=true, url=url, enc, radio)This is the book’s illustrative configuration, not a verified configuration for every current Liquidsoap/FFmpeg build. Its example URL uses RTMP. To use RTMPS, substitute the exact RTMPS URL provided in Live Control Room and confirm your output supports it; YouTube recommends RTMPS as the secure extension to RTMP.
Choose the visual source
- Static image: simplest for a radio stream and the option shown in the sample. Replace
image.jpgwith the path to an image available to the Liquidsoap process. - Video file: the Liquidsoap book describes using a video file instead of the still image. A moving visual requires video decoding/encoding and more upload bandwidth than a still-image visual.
Choose codecs and settings
The sample encodes H.264 video and MP3 audio at 44.1 kHz. YouTube’s encoder settings list MP3 or AAC for RTMP/RTMPS audio and recommend 44.1 kHz for stereo. Validate the actual output from your encoder rather than assuming the sample matches your environment.
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The YouTube settings page recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. The sample sets r=25 and g=50; check how your installed Liquidsoap/FFmpeg version interprets its parameters and confirm the resulting keyframe interval meets YouTube’s guidance.
The sample’s video bitrate of 300k is explicitly described by the book as deliberately low. It suggests increasing it to around 2000k on a fast connection for better video quality. Those are example values, not universal YouTube requirements: choose a bitrate appropriate to your resolution, visual motion, encoder output and sustained upload capacity. The book says its settings need fine-tuning.
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Start the broadcast and verify it
- Save the key in the separate file referenced by
file.contents, without adding accidental whitespace;string.trimin the sample removes surrounding spaces or newlines. - Start Liquidsoap and confirm that it connects to the exact current URL with the matching key.
- Check the preview and stream health in Live Control Room. If the stream is scheduled, the preview may appear before viewers can watch; click Go live when the stream setup requires it.
- When finished, end the stream in YouTube as appropriate. YouTube’s encoder setup page says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived.
RTMP or RTMPS, image or video?
| Choice | What it means | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Still image | A single image is muxed with the radio audio. | Simpler visual source; shown in the Liquidsoap book example. |
| Video file | A video supplies the visual component alongside the radio audio. | Documented as an alternative by the book; moving content adds video processing and bandwidth considerations. |
| RTMP | The Liquidsoap book’s example uses an RTMP URL. | Use only the current URL shown for your stream; it is not the encrypted option YouTube recommends. |
| RTMPS | Encrypted ingest supported by YouTube where the encoder setup supports it. | Copy the RTMPS URL from Live Control Room and verify compatibility with your Liquidsoap/FFmpeg build. |
| MP3 or AAC | YouTube lists both for RTMP/RTMPS audio. | The book example uses MP3; check the encoded stream’s actual audio format and sample rate. |
Troubleshoot common problems
YouTube does not receive the stream
- Copy the current stream URL and key again from Live Control Room; check for a mismatched key, accidental whitespace, or an outdated endpoint.
- Check that the URL protocol matches your intended connection. For RTMPS, verify that the encoder supports it and that you copied the RTMPS URL, not an RTMP one.
- If RTMPS reports certificate or timeout errors, YouTube advises confirming the RTMPS URL and encoder support; its guide also describes trying port 443 where needed.
The key may have been exposed
Reset the key in Live Control Room, replace the contents of the saved key file, and restart or reconnect Liquidsoap with the new key. Do not leave the replacement key in a script or shared log.
The stream arrives, but picture quality is poor
Inspect the encoded video bitrate and settings, then test with representative audio and visual motion while monitoring YouTube stream health. The Liquidsoap book specifically flags its 300 kbps example as low and says to tune it; do not treat the suggested roughly 2000 kbps value as a universal preset.
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Wait for the preview in Live Control Room, then click Go live if required by that stream’s settings.
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