Use FFmpeg to loop and encode the video, then send it to Restream’s RTMP ingest URL and stream key. Restream forwards that feed to your connected YouTube channel. The setup has two separate hops—FFmpeg to Restream, then Restream to YouTube—so use the URL and key for the first hop, not YouTube’s ingest details.
What you need before you start
- A video file that you have the right to stream, and an installed FFmpeg build. The command below is a practical pattern, not a version-tested recipe; verify the options against your installed FFmpeg.
- A Restream account with a connected YouTube channel, or a scheduled YouTube event configured as a destination.
- Restream’s RTMP URL and stream key for the encoder connection. Treat the key as a password: anyone with it may be able to send a feed to the destination.
- Enough upload bandwidth for the chosen encoder bitrate. Restream’s guide advises at least 10 Mbps upload and recommends 25 Mbps or higher for Full HD; these are general service guidelines, not a substitute for selecting a YouTube bitrate for your actual settings.
Restream documents the workflow for streaming software generally, but its cited guide does not specifically certify FFmpeg. YouTube describes a stream key as the credential that lets an encoder send a feed for YouTube to accept. See YouTube’s live stream settings guidance.
Connect Restream to YouTube
- In Restream, create a stream using Encoder | RTMP. Enable the YouTube channel you want to receive the stream.
- Copy the RTMP URL and stream key shown by Restream. Keep them private. These are the credentials FFmpeg will use to send the first hop.
- If you are streaming to an existing scheduled YouTube event, connect that event through Restream’s YouTube integration when it fits your setup. Restream also documents adding an event as a Custom RTMP channel with the event’s YouTube URL and key; that manual route requires a paid Restream plan and has limitations, including Restream API-dependent features such as Chat and Analytics. See Restream’s existing YouTube event instructions and Custom RTMP instructions.
Build and start the FFmpeg loop
Replace the placeholders with your local input file and Restream’s RTMP URL and key. This example shows the command shape only; confirm the loop flags and output URL format for your FFmpeg version and the exact ingest details Restream displays.
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i input.mp4 ... -f flv "<Restream-RTMP-URL>/<STREAM_KEY>"
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-stream_loop -1is intended to repeat the input indefinitely.-repaces file reading in real time. Looping and pacing solve different problems: without real-time pacing, a file can be read faster than its duration.- The ellipsis stands for your chosen encoding and audio options; do not paste it literally. Configure codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframes to suit the source and YouTube’s current guidance.
-f flvindicates an FLV output container in this pattern. Check whether the Restream ingest details require a different output arrangement.
Run FFmpeg and confirm that the feed reaches Restream. Restream’s guide describes copying its URL and key into streaming software and starting the encoder: Go live with streaming software.
Choose encoder settings for YouTube
YouTube’s published encoder guidance supports H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1, up to 60 fps, and constant bitrate encoding. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Select the bitrate for the codec, resolution, and frame rate rather than applying one figure to every stream. The figures below are YouTube guidance, not results from a test of this FFmpeg setup.
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| Output | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264, 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps | YouTube encoder settings, accessed 2026 |
| H.264, 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps | YouTube encoder settings, accessed 2026 |
| H.264, 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps | YouTube encoder settings, accessed 2026 |
For current codec and resolution-specific recommendations, consult YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. Restream’s upload-speed guidance is about connection capacity; it is not the encoder bitrate target. Leave bandwidth headroom for fluctuations, particularly if other devices share the connection.
Verify the YouTube event and end it correctly
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and check that the incoming preview appears and that the picture and audio are correct.
- If the event is not set to start automatically, press Go live in YouTube after the feed arrives. With auto-start off, starting FFmpeg alone does not necessarily make the event public.
- When finished, stop the FFmpeg feed. If auto-stop is off, end the stream separately in YouTube. Restream notes that these event settings affect whether manual start or end actions are required.
- YouTube automatically archives streams shorter than 12 hours. Longer broadcasts are outside that stated automatic-archive condition.
YouTube recommends testing audio and movement similar to the planned stream before going live, then monitoring stream health and messages while it is running. Its encoder workflow is documented at Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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Copyright and content checks for a loop
Only loop material you have the rights and permissions to broadcast. Repeating a file does not change its copyright status. Check YouTube’s live-stream rules and any rights or licenses that apply to music, footage, and other material in the recording before starting. A technically successful feed does not establish that the content is authorized or eligible for monetization.
Troubleshooting
FFmpeg connects, but Restream shows no feed
- Check that the output uses Restream’s URL and key, not YouTube’s direct-ingest details.
- Re-copy the current Restream credentials and verify the URL/key format against the encoder details in your Restream account.
- Check the FFmpeg output for connection errors and verify that your installed build accepts the loop and pacing flags shown in the pattern.
The stream plays too quickly or stops after one pass
- Confirm that the input is being looped indefinitely and that file reading is paced in real time.
- Verify the options against your installed FFmpeg version; the example is not certified for every build.
YouTube does not go live even though the preview is visible
- Check the event’s auto-start setting. If it is off, select Go live in Live Control Room once the incoming feed is ready.
- For a scheduled event, confirm that the intended event is connected as the Restream destination.
Video stutters, drops frames, or has poor stream health
- Compare the encoder bitrate with YouTube’s guidance for the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate.
- Check that available upload capacity exceeds the encoder bitrate with room for network variation; stop other heavy uploads if needed.
- Test motion and audio before the event and monitor YouTube’s stream-health messages while live.
The stream keeps running after you stop FFmpeg
If YouTube auto-stop is disabled, end the broadcast from Live Control Room. Confirm the event’s start and stop settings before leaving a loop unattended.
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