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What you need before starting
- FFmpeg installed with the encoders you intend to use, such as
libx264and AAC. Available encoders depend on your FFmpeg build. - Local video files in the playback order you want.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. YouTube says first-time activation can take up to 24 hours. See YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
- A sustained upload connection capable of carrying your selected bitrate, with some capacity left for network variation.
This method sends prerecorded video as a live encoder feed; it does not create a camera broadcast. Exact compatibility depends on the files, operating system, shell, FFmpeg build, network, and YouTube account settings.
1. Put the videos in playback order
Create a plain-text file named playlist.txt in the directory containing the videos. Add one file directive per video, in the order you want them to play:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'video-01.mp4'
file 'video-02.mp4'
file 'video-03.mp4'The first line must be exactly ffconcat version 1.0 for automatic format recognition. Relative file names made from portable characters are the simplest choice. FFmpeg’s concat demuxer uses safe path handling by default; avoid disabling it just to accommodate complicated paths. If a name contains spaces or special characters, quote or escape it according to the concat file syntax. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
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Check that the files are compatible
The concat demuxer is a playlist reader, not a general-purpose normalizer. Its inputs need the same streams, codecs, and time bases. For example, a set where one file has no audio and another has audio, or where files use different codecs or incompatible timing, may fail or produce glitches. Normalize such files into a consistent set before concatenating them. The demuxer calculates timestamps using file durations, so damaged or inaccurately probed files can also cause timing artifacts.
2. Choose YouTube-compatible output settings
YouTube’s current encoder guidance calls for RTMP or RTMPS ingest, constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second recommended keyframe interval (no more than four seconds), and frame rates up to 60 fps. Its H.264 recommendations include these examples:
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| H.264 output profile | YouTube recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p30 | 8 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s listed recommendations, not guarantees of quality or a promise that a particular connection can sustain them. Check the current YouTube encoder settings and bitrate table before a broadcast; recommendations can change. Match resolution and frame rate to the source and your upload capacity. For a two-second GOP, 30 fps corresponds to 60 frames and 60 fps to 120 frames.
YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for standard encoder streams, but availability depends on your FFmpeg build and, for hardware encoding, your hardware. The example below uses H.264 and AAC. Confirm the selected encoder applies the intended rate-control and GOP settings.
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3. Create the looping FFmpeg command
Replace YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL and STREAM_KEY with the server URL and key shown for your event in YouTube Live Control Room. This example assumes 30 fps H.264 output at 10 Mbps and AAC audio at 128 kbps; adapt the profile to your source and connection.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 10000k -maxrate 10000k -bufsize 20000k
-r 30 -g 60 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -f flv
"rtmps://YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/STREAM_KEY"In this command, -stream_loop -1 repeats the playlist indefinitely, while -re reads file input at its native frame rate to pace it in real time. They do different jobs. Both are input options, so place them before -i. FFmpeg documents -re as equivalent to -readrate 1; see its main options documentation.
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The video rate and keyframe settings above are example choices for a 30 fps profile, not universal values. The playlist still needs compatible inputs, and FFmpeg may need different scaling, pixel-format, audio, or encoder options for a particular file set or build. If your source is 60 fps, choose an appropriate frame rate and a two-second GOP such as -g 120; select the bitrate from YouTube’s table and your sustainable upload capacity. The command is illustrative, not a tested configuration for every system.
Keep the stream key private
YouTube treats the stream key as the credential that lets an encoder send a feed to the right stream. Do not publish it in scripts, screenshots, terminal recordings, or logs. If it is exposed, an owner or manager can reset it in Live Control Room. See YouTube’s live stream settings guide. Avoid saving a real key in a script that may be shared or backed up where others can access it.
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4. Connect FFmpeg to a YouTube event
- In YouTube Studio, choose Create → Go Live, then create or schedule a stream. Follow YouTube’s create-a-live-stream guide.
- In Live Control Room, copy the server URL and stream key for the event. Use those in the command’s output destination; never paste a real key into public examples.
- Run the FFmpeg command. Wait for YouTube’s incoming preview and confirm the picture and sound are correct.
- If the event is scheduled, use the Live Control Room controls to start the event when the preview is ready. Set privacy and scheduling options there as appropriate for your channel.
Do not assume one endlessly looping FFmpeg process means YouTube will host one uninterrupted event indefinitely. YouTube’s guidance says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; it does not promise that one longer broadcast will be archived as a complete video. Plan controlled restarts if you need long-running programming, and check current event behavior in YouTube Studio. See YouTube’s live stream archiving guidance.
5. Test, then monitor the live stream
- Run a private or unlisted test where appropriate before promoting the broadcast.
- Include representative audio and scene changes in the test. Check the YouTube preview for the correct image, sound, and timing.
- Run a speed test and choose a bitrate your upload can sustain. YouTube recommends testing before going live and watching stream health and messages during the event.
- Keep an eye on both FFmpeg’s terminal output and YouTube’s stream-health indicators once the broadcast is live.
Use YouTube’s encoder setup and troubleshooting guidance for current checks and messages.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg reports concat errors or stops at a file | Inputs have mismatched streams/codecs/time bases, an invalid playlist entry, or a damaged file. | Check each file and playlist path; ensure all inputs expose matching streams, codecs, and time bases. Normalize incompatible files before using the concat demuxer. |
| Video or audio breaks at a transition | Inconsistent input formats or inaccurate file duration/timestamps. | Inspect the transition and the source file; create a consistent normalized set and test the playlist before broadcasting. |
| YouTube receives no feed | Incorrect server URL or stream key, live streaming not yet activated, or FFmpeg output/connection failure. | Copy the event’s current ingest details from Live Control Room, check FFmpeg’s terminal output, and confirm channel live access. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours. |
| Stream health warns about dropped frames or unstable delivery | Upload capacity or network stability is insufficient for the chosen profile. | Run a speed test and reduce output bitrate, resolution, or frame rate to a sustainable profile; monitor health after the change. |
| Output settings are rejected or do not match the intended profile | Unsupported encoder in the installed build, or rate-control/GOP settings not applied as expected. | Check FFmpeg’s available encoders and confirm its output settings, then compare the result with YouTube’s current encoder table. |
Or let it run in the cloud
With FFmpeg, your computer and network connection have to keep running. StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for looping uploaded videos, so your computer can be off. Upload the video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream, and sends videos as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot. The first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, or start your free day.
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