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Use FFmpeg’s scale video filter to set the stream’s output dimensions, then choose a YouTube-supported bitrate and frame rate your VPS can sustain in real time. For a first test, 720p at 30 fps is a practical starting point—not a guarantee that every small VPS can encode it. Preserve the source aspect ratio, leave upload-bandwidth headroom, and test the full playlist before relying on it nonstop.
Choose a resolution your VPS can sustain
Resolution is only one part of the load. Higher resolution and frame rate generally require more encoding work and more outgoing bandwidth. The right setting is the highest quality that your specific VPS can encode at real-time speed while sustaining the stream’s total bitrate.
There is no universal minimum CPU or RAM specification established for a “small” VPS. Performance depends on the source files, frame rate, encoder settings, and the instance’s actual resource allocation. A provider’s advertised CPU or network maximum is not proof that the instance can sustain your chosen settings continuously.
- Start at 720p/30 fps if you need a conservative baseline. YouTube’s H.264 recommendation for 240p–720p at 30 fps is 4 Mbps.
- Consider 720p/60 fps only if the material benefits from smoother motion and the VPS can encode it reliably; YouTube lists 6 Mbps for H.264 at that combination.
- Use 1080p only after testing both encode speed and bandwidth. YouTube lists 10 Mbps for H.264 at 30 fps and 12 Mbps at 60 fps.
These are YouTube live-ingest recommendations, not upload-encoding settings. YouTube publishes different settings by codec and page locale, so check the current table for your exact codec, resolution, and frame rate at Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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Set dimensions with FFmpeg’s scale filter
The scale filter sets the output video dimensions. For a 1280×720 output, the basic filter is scale=1280:720. Applying fixed dimensions without considering the source aspect ratio can stretch or distort the picture; choose whether to preserve the ratio, crop, or add padding instead.
Preserve the source aspect ratio
For a 16:9 output canvas no larger than 1280×720, use a ratio-preserving scale such as scale=1280:720:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease. The output may be smaller than 1280×720 if the source has a different shape. Decide how to handle the unused space—padding or cropping—rather than allowing accidental distortion. Check the installed FFmpeg filter documentation for the options supported by your binary.
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Check the installed version
Run ffmpeg -version on the VPS before adopting filter or encoder options. FFmpeg’s online documentation is regenerated nightly and may describe a newer revision than the binary installed on your server. Consult the FFmpeg documentation, the filters reference, and the command-line documentation alongside the local version.
Match the YouTube ingest settings
YouTube supports H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video ingest, up to 60 fps. For a straightforward VPS configuration, H.264 is a practical documented baseline. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval; the interval should not exceed four seconds. Check YouTube’s current encoder page for the selected codec and resolution before going live.
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| H.264 output | YouTube-listed recommended bitrate |
|---|---|
| 240p–720p at 30 fps | 4 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps |
The figures above are YouTube’s published H.264 live-stream recommendations for those resolution and frame-rate combinations; they are not universal targets for other codecs. FFmpeg bitrate options use units and codec-specific options that should be checked against the installed build and the FFmpeg all-options documentation.
Prepare YouTube Live and protect the stream key
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and retrieve the stream URL and stream key from the stream settings. YouTube documents those controls under Manage live stream settings.
- Use RTMPS when available. YouTube describes it as RTMP over TLS/SSL, which encrypts the stream’s transmission; see Encrypt your stream using RTMPS.
- Keep the key private. Do not place it in public scripts, shared screenshots, or logs. If a key is exposed, replace it in YouTube’s stream settings and update the VPS configuration.
- Set the output codec, dimensions, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval to match the encoder settings you have selected in YouTube’s guidance.
The stream key is a credential for sending video to your channel. Treat it accordingly; a command or service configuration containing the key should not be published or shared.
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Test the playlist before leaving it running
Playlist looping and reconnection behavior depend on the input format and the exact files. There is no single loop command established as reliable for every playlist structure, so validate the actual playlist rather than assuming one command will handle all transitions and failures.
- Run a representative test using the same resolution, frame rate, encoder settings, audio, and playlist files planned for the continuous stream.
- Include representative movement and audio, and observe transitions between files for gaps, unexpected black frames, or audio discontinuities.
- Watch FFmpeg’s processing speed. It must keep up with real time; if it falls behind, the VPS cannot sustain that encode configuration.
- Inspect CPU use and actual outbound network load on the instance while the test runs, not just the VPS plan’s advertised limits.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and messages during the test. YouTube explicitly advises, “Make sure to test before you start a live stream.”
- Test restart and reconnection behavior with the installed FFmpeg version and the same playlist structure before depending on unattended operation.
Leave enough outbound bandwidth
The VPS’s available upload capacity must exceed the stream’s total bitrate. YouTube recommends leaving 20% headroom and cautions: “The total bitrate you’re streaming cannot exceed the amount of upload bandwidth available.” See YouTube’s streaming tips.
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Check sustained outbound capacity on the actual instance and account for the whole stream, including audio. Do not choose a bitrate that consumes the provider’s advertised maximum; that leaves no room for variation or other traffic. If the stream health report shows network trouble, reduce the bitrate or choose a VPS/network configuration with more sustained capacity, then repeat the test.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely issue | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Picture is stretched or squashed | Forced dimensions changed the source aspect ratio. | Use a ratio-preserving scale, then deliberately choose padding or cropping for the output canvas. |
| FFmpeg processing speed drops below real time | The VPS cannot encode the selected resolution, frame rate, or encoder complexity at the required pace. | Lower resolution or frame rate, reduce encoding complexity, and retest with the same source material. |
| YouTube reports stream-health or connection problems | Bitrate may exceed sustainable outbound capacity, or the connection may be unstable. | Check actual instance bandwidth, leave YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom, lower bitrate if needed, and run another representative test. |
| Playback breaks at a playlist transition | Input format or playlist handling may not preserve continuity for those files. | Test every transition and audio behavior with the exact playlist and installed FFmpeg version; do not assume a universal loop recipe. |
| Settings documented online fail on the VPS | The server’s FFmpeg version may differ from the version described by the current online documentation. | Check ffmpeg -version and confirm the options in documentation matching the installed build. |
| The stream stops after key replacement or an authentication error | The FFmpeg configuration may still contain an old or incorrect stream key or URL. | Verify the current values in YouTube Live Control Room, update the private VPS configuration, and restart the stream. |
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