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AzuraCast

How to Send an AzuraCast Station to YouTube Live with FFmpeg

Use the AzuraCast listener mount as FFmpeg’s audio input, pair it with a video source, and publish to the current YouTube event’s RTMPS endpoint after testing the preview.

By DocumentaryTube Team 6 min read

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To relay an AzuraCast station to YouTube Live, give FFmpeg the station’s listener-facing audio mount, combine that audio with a video source such as a still image, and publish to the RTMPS URL and stream key for the YouTube event. Test the preview and audio in YouTube Live Control Room before making the stream public. Your exact mount URL and working FFmpeg options depend on your AzuraCast setup and FFmpeg build, so treat the command below as a template—not a tested, universal invocation.

What you need before you start

  • An AzuraCast station whose listener-facing mount is reachable from the machine running FFmpeg.
  • FFmpeg built with the input and output protocols and codecs you plan to use. Check your local build’s help and codec support; available options differ by build.
  • A still image or other video source that you have the right to use. An audio-only radio mount generally needs video alongside it for a YouTube live encoder workflow.
  • A YouTube Live event and its current Stream URL and stream key from Live Control Room.
  • A reliable upload connection with enough capacity for the selected video and audio output.

Find the correct AzuraCast source URL

Use the listener-facing mount point: it carries the station output listeners hear. AzuraCast describes Liquidsoap as the AutoDJ backend that assembles the output and the broadcast frontend as the software optimized to serve listeners. A DJ connection is an input for sending a DJ contribution into the station, not the source to use when relaying the finished broadcast. See AzuraCast’s documentation for station and mount-point context.

The default listener URL pattern is {HTTP/HTTPS}://{BASE_URL}.TLD/listen/{STATION_URL_STUB}/{MOUNT_POINT_URL}, but an installation can use a custom mount URL. Copy the URL shown in the station’s mount-point or public/listener information, or from its public page; do not guess the hostname, port, station slug, or mount filename. Confirm that the FFmpeg host—not just your own browser—can reach it.

AzuraCast notes that reverse proxy services may prevent direct connections on broadcaster ports. If the URL does not connect from the FFmpeg machine, check DNS and hostname, TLS, port access, the exact mount path, any required credentials, and the proxy’s behavior. The correct fix depends on the installation; there is no universal port or proxy setting.

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Get the YouTube event’s RTMPS endpoint and key

  1. In YouTube Studio, open or create the live stream in Live Control Room.
  2. Under Stream settings, copy the event’s Stream URL and stream key. The key is secret; YouTube describes it as the stream’s “password and address.” Do not publish it or include it in screenshots or shared logs.
  3. If you want encrypted ingest, reveal and copy the RTMPS URL using the lock control under Stream settings. YouTube may show the ordinary RTMP URL by default, so do not assume the displayed URL is RTMPS. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP. Use the exact endpoint shown for this event.

If a key is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update the encoder with the replacement. RTMP and RTMPS are not interchangeable strings: use the protocol and URL provided by YouTube and confirm that your local FFmpeg build can publish to that endpoint.

Configure FFmpeg to send audio with video

The relay has three parts: an input for the AzuraCast listener audio, a video input (for example, a looped still image), and an output to YouTube. The following is a command shape with placeholders, not a tested command. Substitute your actual mount URL, image path, and event-specific RTMPS URL and key; syntax and supported options can vary with FFmpeg version, build, URL escaping, source format, and endpoint.

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ffmpeg -re -loop 1 -i "/path/to/licensed-still.jpg" -i "AZURACAST_LISTENER_MOUNT_URL" -map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2 -f flv "YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"

This illustrates the intended mapping: video comes from the still image and audio from the listener mount. It does not establish that these flags will work unchanged with your FFmpeg build or mount format. Check your build’s local ffmpeg -h output and available encoders, then adapt input options to the actual source. Keep the key private; if you put it directly in a command, it may be visible in shell history or process listings. Use an appropriate secret-handling method for your environment.

Choose compatible audio and video settings

YouTube’s encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS and lists AAC or MP3 audio. For stereo audio, YouTube recommends 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps. The example uses AAC at those recommended stereo values, but a source with different channel layout or encoding may require adjustment. Confirm that the audio is audible and stable in YouTube’s preview.

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Video settings depend on the resolution you choose and your available upload capacity. If configuring video output, YouTube recommends a 2-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed 4 seconds; consult its current encoder guidance for the recommended video bitrate at your chosen resolution. Do not select a bitrate that your connection cannot sustain.

Official guidance: YouTube: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. It recommends testing before starting a live stream. YouTube also explains stream setup and keys in Set up your YouTube live stream.

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Test the relay, then go live

  1. Start FFmpeg and leave the YouTube Live Control Room open for the event.
  2. Wait for YouTube to receive the encoder signal and show a preview or health status.
  3. Check that the image appears, the station audio is present, and the sound is not silent, badly distorted, or intermittent.
  4. Read any stream health messages and resolve warnings before clicking Go Live.
  5. Once public, keep monitoring stream health and audio continuity. YouTube recommends testing first and watching health messages while live.
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Troubleshooting common failures

Symptom Likely cause What to check
FFmpeg cannot open the input Wrong URL or unreachable mount Use the listener mount shown by AzuraCast, not an admin, DJ, API, or now-playing endpoint. Check the exact path, DNS, TLS, port access, and whether a reverse proxy blocks the route from the FFmpeg host.
YouTube does not receive the stream Wrong destination URL, protocol, or key Copy the current event’s endpoint and key from Live Control Room. If using encrypted ingest, reveal and use the RTMPS URL rather than assuming the default RTMP URL is secure.
YouTube reports missing video The relay sends audio only Add a compatible video input, such as a still image you are licensed to use, and map it as the output video stream.
Video arrives but audio is absent Input mapping or source-format mismatch Confirm the mount is the station audio stream and that FFmpeg maps its audio to the output. Check the source format and YouTube preview.
The key is rejected or the event remains disconnected Incorrect, stale, or exposed key Copy the key exactly for the selected event. If it was exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update the encoder.
Preview is unstable or health warnings appear Network capacity or output settings may not suit the connection Review YouTube’s health messages and current bitrate guidance for the chosen resolution; verify that the FFmpeg host’s upload connection can sustain the output, then test again.

Or let it run in the cloud

If you want the station’s prerecorded programming to keep a YouTube channel live without leaving an FFmpeg machine running, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it loops uploaded video, supports any quality up to 4K 60fps at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. It streams to YouTube only and plays uploaded videos rather than going live from a camera. Start your free day with StreamNeo.

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