You can stream a local video playlist from a Raspberry Pi 5 to YouTube Live with FFmpeg. The simplest route is to use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer and copy the existing audio and video streams—but only if the files have compatible streams and already meet YouTube’s ingest requirements. If they need transcoding, test the workload on your Pi first: Raspberry Pi’s documentation says the Pi 5 uses software video encoders.
Before you start: check the files and the Pi
- A Raspberry Pi 5 running an operating system with FFmpeg installed, plus a reliable internet connection with enough upload capacity for the selected stream bitrate.
- A folder of videos arranged in the order you want to play them.
- A YouTube channel able to use Live Control Room and a stream key.
- FFmpeg tools including
ffmpegandffprobe. Check your installed build withffmpeg -versionand confirm that it supports the output format and encoders you intend to use.
“MP4” describes a container, not the codecs inside it. Two MP4 files can have different video or audio codecs, stream layouts, time bases, frame rates, or other properties. FFmpeg’s concat demuxer expects the files to have the same streams, including matching codecs and time bases. Inspect the whole playlist, not just its filenames, before attempting stream copy. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
Inspect representative files
Use ffprobe to inspect the video and audio streams in each file. For example:
ffprobe -hide_banner -show_streams -show_format "/media/videos/01-intro.mp4"Compare each clip’s video and audio codecs, dimensions, frame rate, pixel format, stream count, and duration. Choose a representative sample, including the files most likely to differ. If streams or formats differ, do not assume that a concat list plus -c copy will make them compatible.
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Create an explicit playlist
Use a text file to set a predictable playback order rather than relying on shell glob ordering. Save this as, for example, /media/videos/playlist.ffconcat:
ffconcat version 1.0
file '/media/videos/01-intro.mp4'
file '/media/videos/02-main.mp4'
file '/media/videos/03-outro.mp4'Use the full path to each file and keep the list in the intended order. Paths containing apostrophes, unusual characters, or leading or trailing spaces need careful escaping and quoting; check the concat demuxer’s file syntax rather than generating a list with assumptions about simple filenames. The example command below uses -safe 0, so only use a playlist you created and trust.
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Choose between stream copy and encoding
| Path | Use it when | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
Concat demuxer with -c copy |
All clips have matching stream layouts, codecs, and time bases, and their encoded streams are suitable for the chosen YouTube ingest. | Avoids re-encoding, but cannot change codecs, resolution, frame rate, or bitrate. Incorrect duration metadata can cause artifacts or gaps. |
| Preprocess files or use the concat filter and encode | Clips differ, or you need to normalize the output’s codecs or other settings. | Provides more control over output compatibility but requires encoding work on the Pi. FFmpeg recommends the concat filter for concatenation when re-encoding is wanted; test whether the actual workload keeps up on your device. |
FFmpeg’s copy mode moves encoded streams without decoding and re-encoding them. That saves processing but does not repair an incompatible source. If the files do not meet the concat demuxer’s compatibility requirements, or do not produce a suitable YouTube feed, stream copy is not the fix. See FFmpeg’s stream-copy documentation and its FAQ on joining video files.
Build and test the FFmpeg stream
The following is a starting shape for a compatible playlist, not a guaranteed drop-in command for every FFmpeg build, file set, or YouTube endpoint. Replace the placeholder endpoint with the RTMPS URL and stream key provided in YouTube Live Control Room. FFmpeg input options apply to the input that follows; verify that your installed version accepts -stream_loop in this position for the concat input.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i /media/videos/playlist.ffconcat
-c copy -f flv
'rtmps://INGEST_HOST/APP/STREAM_KEY'- Confirm compatibility. The concat list must meet the demuxer’s matching-stream requirements, and the copied streams must be suitable for the chosen ingest. Review a representative clip with
ffprobeand test transitions between files. - Use the correct ingest endpoint. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingest. Copy the RTMPS URL from Live Control Room; do not assume a conventional RTMP URL is encrypted.
- Test before scheduling. Start with a short representative playlist or clip and check YouTube’s preview, audio, video, and connection status before relying on a long stream.
- Watch the encoder output. Check for FFmpeg errors, dropped frames, interruptions at file boundaries, and whether the connection can sustain the selected bitrate.
The -stream_loop -1 input option repeats the playlist indefinitely. -re reads the input at its native rate, which is appropriate when sending a file as a real-time live feed. If stream copy fails YouTube’s ingest checks, choose a tested encoding configuration instead of expecting -c copy to convert the files.
Set YouTube Live ingest and stream settings
Get the URL and key
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream.
- Copy the stream URL and key for the encoder. Choose the RTMPS URL where available and supported by your FFmpeg build.
- Keep the key private. YouTube treats it like a password: do not expose it in screenshots, shared logs, public repositories, or scripts distributed to others. Reset it in Live Control Room if it is exposed.
YouTube’s stream key guidance explains how the key authorizes the encoder feed and how to reset it.
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Match the feed to YouTube’s recommendations
YouTube’s current live encoder settings depend on ingest codec, resolution, and frame rate. For conventional SDR RTMP/RTMPS ingest, YouTube recommends H.264, constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval (not over four seconds), square pixels, progressive scan, and Rec. 709 SDR color. Its published table has separate recommended video bitrates by codec, resolution, and frame rate; for example, it lists 10 Mbps for H.264 1080p30 and 12 Mbps for H.264 1080p60. Select the row for your actual output and confirm the current table rather than treating either number as universal.
YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio, a maximum frame rate of 60 fps, stereo audio at 44.1 kHz, and 128 kbps for stereo audio in its advanced recommendations. See YouTube’s encoder settings. With -c copy, the input retains its existing encoding settings; the command does not set or normalize these values.
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Preview, go live, and end cleanly
For a scheduled broadcast, wait for the encoder preview in Live Control Room, check that the event is accessible, and select Go live when it is ready. Monitor audio and video quality while the stream runs. When finished, stop FFmpeg and end the stream in the control room as appropriate. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; see its live streaming tips.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Raspberry Pi 5 can—and cannot—be assumed to do
Raspberry Pi’s official camera documentation states: “Raspberry Pi 5 uses software video encoders.” Do not assume it has a dedicated hardware H.264 encoder for this workflow or that it can transcode a particular resolution and frame rate in real time.
When the files are already compatible, stream copy avoids a video encode and is the more practical starting point. If you need to transcode, performance depends on the source codec, resolution, frame rate, filters, FFmpeg build, system load, and thermal conditions. Test the actual playlist or a representative clip and confirm processing keeps pace with playback before scheduling a long broadcast. The available evidence does not establish a benchmark for this exact workflow on Pi 5.
Common problems and what to check
- FFmpeg reports incompatible streams or concat errors: Compare codecs, stream count, time bases, and other stream properties across the clips. Rework the playlist to use compatible files, or preprocess/re-encode them rather than forcing stream copy.
- Artifacts, gaps, or abrupt changes at clip boundaries: Check compatibility and the files’ duration metadata. The concat demuxer uses file durations when advancing through inputs, so incorrect durations can cause timing problems.
- YouTube does not accept the feed: Confirm that the stream URL and key came from the selected Live Control Room stream, that the key is current, that the endpoint is RTMPS if intended, and that the copied codecs/settings are acceptable to ingest. Check that the FFmpeg build supports the output format.
- The broadcast stutters or drops frames: Check available upload capacity against the bitrate for the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate. If encoding, verify that the Pi keeps up with real-time playback and is not overloaded.
- The key appears in a log or shared file: Treat it as compromised and reset it in Live Control Room before continuing.
- The stream is live but not archived as expected: YouTube’s cited automatic-archive guidance applies to streams under 12 hours; consult the current Live Control Room status and YouTube help for longer events.
Or let it run in the cloud
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