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If AWS Elemental MediaLive reports alert 6018, first check whether it can connect to the YouTube endpoint: the alert means MediaLive could not connect, not that YouTube rejected the video encode. Verify the destination, protocol, port, stream name and key before changing codec or bitrate settings. If MediaLive connects but YouTube reports stream-health errors, troubleshoot the incoming video and audio separately.
Start by identifying which part of the stream is failing
There are three different failure points, and they call for different checks:
- MediaLive cannot connect: Alert 6018 identifies an endpoint connection failure. Begin with destination configuration and network reachability.
- MediaLive connects but YouTube flags the stream: Use the messages in YouTube Live Control Room to investigate codec, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, keyframes or audio/video layout.
- The stream starts but delivery is unstable: Check the applicable connection and stream-health messages, then monitor the stream during a test and live event.
A bitrate adjustment will not normally resolve a wrong endpoint or an invalid stream key. Likewise, a successful connection does not establish that YouTube accepts the incoming media settings.
Work through a MediaLive connection error
1. Read the exact MediaLive alert and output group
AWS describes alert 6018 as occurring when a channel configured to send RTMP output “was not able to connect to its endpoint.” Treat it as a connection or destination issue first. Other output alerts can indicate different symptoms, such as failed writes, so use the alert text rather than assuming all RTMP output errors have the same cause. See the AWS MediaLive alert 6018 documentation.
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2. Compare every destination field with YouTube Live Control Room
Confirm that the destination configured in the MediaLive RTMP output group matches the current YouTube ingest details. AWS says the operator and downstream system must agree on the destination. Check:
- Protocol: RTMP or RTMPS.
- Server or destination address, including the correct URL.
- Port, if specified.
- Application name and stream name/key.
- Username and password, if the destination setup requires them.
For a standard MediaLive channel, AWS says to configure two destinations; a single-pipeline channel requires one. Confirm the pipeline type and destination count in the AWS RTMP destination guidance. Do not copy a destination from an old event or another channel without checking that it is still the active YouTube ingest configuration.
3. Refresh and protect the YouTube stream key
In YouTube Live Control Room, retrieve the stream key associated with the intended stream and update the MediaLive destination if the key changed. YouTube’s encoder troubleshooting guide recommends checking the stream key when an encoder fails to start. If a key may have been exposed or is no longer wanted, reset it in Live Control Room and enter the replacement in MediaLive, following YouTube’s stream-key guidance.
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Treat the key like a password: do not include it in screenshots, shared logs, public examples or support messages unless the recipient and channel are trusted and the sharing method is secure.
4. Check RTMPS, SSL and timeout details
YouTube recommends RTMPS. If the error mentions an invalid SSL certificate, verify that the configured protocol and server are RTMPS. YouTube’s RTMPS troubleshooting guidance says to specify port 443 if needed. If the message says the connection timed out, check that the URL is correct and that the encoder supports RTMPS. Do not switch protocols or ports at random: make the MediaLive destination agree with the ingest details YouTube provides.
5. Investigate network reachability if the destination details are correct
If the URL, protocol, port and key are current but MediaLive still cannot connect, investigate the outbound path from the AWS deployment to the configured endpoint and review the available MediaLive operational information around the failure. Network rules and routing depend on the account and deployment; there is no single firewall rule that can be assumed for every setup. YouTube also advises testing the outbound internet connection when an encoder’s local output looks and sounds healthy.
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If YouTube receives the stream, check ingest compatibility
When MediaLive connects, use YouTube Live Control Room’s stream-health messages to guide changes. YouTube lists errors involving unsupported video or audio formats, bitrate, audio sample rate, number of audio or video streams, channel count, progressive or interlaced video, resolution, frame rate, keyframe frequency, and mismatches between primary and backup streams. Diagnose the reported field rather than changing several encoder settings at once. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and error guidance.
Video settings to verify
YouTube lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC) and AV1 as supported video codecs for RTMP/RTMPS, with frame rates up to 60 fps. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR), square pixels and progressive scan. The recommended keyframe interval is two seconds and should not exceed four seconds.
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For H.264, YouTube publishes these bitrate recommendations for the listed resolution and frame rate:
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| Video format | Recommended bitrate | Minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published H.264 recommendations for the specified formats, not universal values for every codec or stream. Consult the live encoder settings page for the resolution, frame rate and codec you actually use. If MediaLive cannot connect, bitrate is not the first setting to change.
Audio settings to verify
YouTube lists AAC or MP3 for audio and recommends 44.1 kHz stereo audio at 128 Kbps. Check the incoming sample rate, channel count, codec and number of audio streams against the specific YouTube health message.
Primary and backup stream consistency
If you use primary and backup streams, YouTube requires their settings to match for failover. Compare resolution, codec, interlacing, profile, bitrate, frame rate, keyframe frequency, audio sample rate, channel count and audio codec. A mismatch can undermine failover even when each stream connects individually.
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Run a test and monitor the live event
- Before the event, start a test with audio and motion similar to the planned program.
- Check the MediaLive alert state and confirm that the intended output destination is active.
- In YouTube Live Control Room, inspect stream health and resolve the specific warnings or errors shown there.
- During the event, keep monitoring MediaLive alerts and YouTube stream health so a new connection or ingest problem is visible promptly.
YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health and messages during the event. Its encoder settings guidance covers stream configuration and health checks.
Common symptoms and the next check
| Symptom | Most useful next check |
|---|---|
| MediaLive alert 6018 | Verify endpoint address, protocol, port, application, stream name/key and any required authentication; then check network reachability. |
| Encoder error when starting | Confirm the current YouTube stream URL and key, and update the encoder if the key was reset. |
| Connection timeout | Confirm the URL and RTMPS support; verify the destination port and outbound path. |
| Invalid SSL certificate | Check that the server and protocol are configured for RTMPS; specify port 443 if needed. |
| YouTube reports a codec, bitrate, resolution, frame-rate, keyframe or audio error | Change the reported ingest setting and recheck stream health; do not treat it as proof of a MediaLive endpoint failure. |
| Primary/backup mismatch | Compare all video and audio parameters required for YouTube failover. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep prerecorded video playing as a YouTube live stream rather than operate a MediaLive encoder pipeline, StreamNeo is a separate cloud service for uploaded videos and playlists. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly is $9.99 per month. It is not a replacement for diagnosing a MediaLive RTMP output error. Start a free StreamNeo day.
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