The Tool Desk
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Live playout is different from uploading a video
A live stream sends a real-time feed to YouTube’s live ingest endpoint using a protocol such as RTMP or RTMPS and the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio. An ordinary upload creates a video file for YouTube to process. The frame-rate guidance differs: YouTube’s live encoder recommendations cover ingest settings, while its upload guidance says to encode and upload at the frame rate the video was recorded. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and YouTube’s upload encoding guidance.
| Workflow | Destination and timing | Frame-rate approach | Relevant controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live file playout | Live ingest; play the file at real-time speed | Choose an output cadence and convert to it when encoding | Stream URL and key, protocol, keyframe interval, sustained bitrate |
| Normal video upload | Upload a completed file for processing | Use the recording frame rate, as YouTube recommends | File/container and upload encoding settings |
Prepare the FFmpeg command
This example loops input.mp4, converts the video to 30 fps, encodes H.264 and AAC, and sends an FLV stream to YouTube. Replace the endpoint placeholder with the server URL and stream key provided in YouTube Studio; do not share or publish the key.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-vf "fps=30"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-b:v 10M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmp://SERVER/STREAM_KEY"The command is an illustrative starting point, not a tested or universally suitable recipe. It assumes an FFmpeg build that includes libx264; available encoders depend on how FFmpeg was built. The 10 Mbps video bitrate is YouTube’s recommended H.264 bitrate for 1080p30 live ingest, not a guarantee that your connection can sustain it. YouTube’s live recommendations vary by codec, resolution and frame rate; for H.264, the page lists 8 Mbps for 720p30 and 17 Mbps for 1080p60. Consult the current live encoder table for your target and leave enough stable upload capacity for the entire stream.
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What each important option does
-rereads the input at its native playback speed instead of sending the file as fast as the machine can process it. This is appropriate for playing a file as a live feed.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. Omit it if the stream should end when the file finishes.-vf "fps=30"converts the video to a 30-fps output cadence, dropping or duplicating frames as needed. Change 30 to the cadence you intend to send.-c:v libx264selects the H.264 encoder;-preset veryfasttrades some compression efficiency for lower encoding workload. H.264 is used here as a straightforward compatibility profile; YouTube also lists H.265/HEVC and AV1 for live encoding.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a commonly used pixel format for this H.264 example.-b:v,-maxrateand-bufsizeset encoder rate-control parameters. These illustrative values do not guarantee a constant instantaneous bitrate. Choose suitable rate control for your encoder and verify behavior in a test.-g 60sets a 60-picture GOP. At 30 fps, that is two seconds between keyframes.-keyint_min 60and-sc_threshold 0are used here to maintain a fixed keyframe cadence in the example.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes audio as AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz. Check that the input has the intended audio and that it sounds correct in the live preview.-f flvselects the FLV muxer used for this RTMP example. Use the endpoint and protocol appropriate to the stream configuration YouTube provides.
Make the output constant frame rate
Use an encoding filter or output frame rate
For a normal video file being transcoded, -vf "fps=30" is an explicit way to request 30-fps output. FFmpeg’s output -r 30 can also duplicate or drop frames before encoding to achieve the requested output frame rate. The FFmpeg documentation distinguishes output frame-rate conversion from input -r.
Do not confuse input -r with frame-rate conversion
Input -r has a different function: it ignores stored timestamps and generates timestamps at the specified rate, a behavior intended for raw formats. Do not place input -r before an ordinary timestamped video file as a casual fix for variable frame rate; use an encoding path that converts the output cadence instead.
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Stream copy cannot create a new cadence
-c:v copy passes the compressed video through without re-encoding its frames. It therefore cannot turn an arbitrary variable-frame-rate source into a new constant-frame-rate cadence. For CFR conversion, encode the video and request the target output rate. FFmpeg’s documentation describes these input and output options.
Match GOP length to the chosen frame rate
YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval for live encoding and says not to exceed four seconds. GOP length is measured in frames, so calculate it from the output frame rate. The FFmpeg all-options documentation defines GOP size in pictures; see YouTube’s recommendation and FFmpeg’s all-options reference.
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| Output frame rate | GOP for a two-second interval |
|---|---|
| 25 fps | 50 frames |
| 30 fps | 60 frames |
| 60 fps | 120 frames |
For fixed-rate output, the codec time base should be 1/frame_rate and timestamp increments should be one, as described in the FFmpeg all-options documentation. In practice, choose the output cadence and matching GOP together, then check YouTube’s stream health for keyframe or frame-rate warnings.
Choose resolution, codec and bitrate for the actual stream
The example’s 1080p30 bitrate is not a default for every source. Match output resolution and frame rate to the material and the quality you want, then use the live bitrate recommendations for the selected codec and target. A recommended encoder bitrate is a platform setting, not proof that a particular internet connection can hold it steadily. If the upstream link varies or is shared, choose a conservative target and test it under realistic conditions.
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YouTube lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 for live encoder configurations, with frame rates up to 60 fps. The command above uses H.264; its bitrate examples apply only to the H.264 targets identified above. Check YouTube’s live settings table for the codec, resolution and frame rate you plan to send.
Test the stream before relying on it
- In YouTube Studio, create or open the live stream and copy the ingest URL and stream key into the command. Treat the key as a password.
- Run FFmpeg with representative footage, including the busiest motion and the audio you intend to use. Confirm the stream appears in YouTube’s preview and that picture and sound stay synchronized.
- Check the stream health indicators while it runs. YouTube recommends testing with similar audio and movement and monitoring stream health during the event; its encoder guidance and live streaming error messages explain common warnings.
- Only schedule or start the intended broadcast after checking the output cadence, keyframe interval, audio and sustained connection with a representative test.
Common problems and fixes
- YouTube reports an unsuitable frame rate: Confirm that the video is being encoded, not stream-copied, and that the output uses
-vf "fps=30"or an appropriate output-r. Do not use input-ron a normal file as a substitute for conversion. - YouTube warns about keyframe timing: Match GOP size to output fps: for example, 60 frames at 30 fps. YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four; see its live error messages.
- The stream buffers, drops frames or shows connection trouble: The configured bitrate may exceed stable upstream capacity, or encoding may be too demanding for the machine. Check stream health, reduce the target bitrate or output workload as appropriate, and test again against YouTube’s live recommendations.
- FFmpeg says the encoder is unavailable: The installed build may not include
libx264. Use an available compatible encoder or install an FFmpeg build that includes it, then confirm its supported options before adapting the command. - The stream does not start or reaches the wrong destination: Recheck the ingest URL and stream key in YouTube Studio, the selected protocol and the FLV output. Never paste a private key into public logs or posts.
- The stream ends when the video ends: That is expected if looping is omitted. Add
-stream_loop -1before the input option when indefinite repeat is intended; omit it when a single play-through is desired.
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