For a stereo internet-radio relay, target AAC or MP3 audio at 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps, and use YouTube’s recommended RTMPS ingest. If you add a still image or visualization, configure that video separately: YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval for video, with four seconds as the maximum. The exact FFmpeg command depends on your radio source and FFmpeg build, so there is no single command that can be called universally compatible.
Recommended settings at a glance
| Setting | Recommendation | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Audio codec | AAC or MP3 | Radio audio; both are listed by YouTube for RTMP/RTMPS |
| Audio sample rate | 44.1 kHz for stereo | Radio audio |
| Audio bitrate | 128 kbps for stereo | Radio audio, not video |
| Ingest transport | RTMPS recommended | Connection from encoder to YouTube |
| Rate control | CBR | Encoder guidance; video bitrate settings apply when sending video |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds | Video, if included |
| Upload capacity | Leave 20% headroom above the stream’s total outgoing bitrate | Your internet connection |
These are YouTube’s published live-encoder recommendations, not a guarantee that every radio source or FFmpeg build accepts the same command-line options. YouTube’s guidance is at Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
Choose the right setup for your radio stream
Audio-only relay
If you are sending only the station audio, the relevant YouTube targets are the audio codec, sample rate, and audio bitrate: AAC or MP3, 44.1 kHz for stereo, and 128 kbps for stereo. Do not apply a video bitrate from YouTube’s resolution table to the audio stream; that table concerns video encoding.
Radio audio with a still image or visualization
Adding a still image or animated visual means the outgoing stream has a video component as well as radio audio. Keep the audio targets above, and configure the video encoder separately. YouTube recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, and says the interval should not exceed four seconds. Video bitrate depends on the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate; use the appropriate row in YouTube’s current guidance rather than treating any video bitrate as an audio target. YouTube says Live Control Room can automatically detect resolution and frame rate; its general instructions say creators need to specify resolution, frame rate, and bitrate when streaming there.
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AAC or MP3
YouTube lists both AAC and MP3 as supported audio codecs for RTMP/RTMPS. Choose a format your source and installed FFmpeg build can produce reliably. The published YouTube recommendations establish supported options, but they do not establish which one is best for every station input.
RTMPS or RTMP
YouTube lists RTMP and RTMPS and recommends RTMPS. RTMPS is RTMP over TLS/SSL. Copy the RTMPS ingest URL from your own Live Control Room, rather than guessing or reusing a URL from another stream. See YouTube’s explanation of RTMPS.
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Why there is no universal FFmpeg command
FFmpeg’s input and output options depend on the radio source’s URL or protocol, the incoming audio format, and the capabilities of the FFmpeg build you have installed. An audio-only relay and a stream that combines radio with a visual also need different output configurations. The exact input, build, and packaging requirements are not specified here, and a command that works for one station may fail for another.
Before using a command, identify the station’s actual source URL and format, and check the options supported by your installed FFmpeg version. Treat the source URL as the input and the RTMPS address and stream key copied from Live Control Room as the YouTube destination. Keep the key private: do not post it in logs, screenshots, public scripts, or support requests. Do not assume reconnect behavior or input-specific flags without checking them against your source and current FFmpeg documentation.
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Set up and verify the YouTube destination
- Prepare the live stream in YouTube Live Control Room. Create or select the broadcast and copy its ingest URL and stream key from the encoder setup. Use RTMPS where available, as YouTube recommends.
- Configure your encoder for the actual source. Set the stereo audio output to AAC or MP3, 44.1 kHz, and 128 kbps. If you are sending video too, set its video parameters separately, including CBR and a two-second keyframe interval (not over four seconds).
- Check your upstream capacity. Run a speed test and compare the available upload bandwidth with the total outgoing bitrate, including video if present. YouTube recommends keeping 20% upload headroom; leave room for normal fluctuations rather than sizing the connection exactly to the stream bitrate. See YouTube’s encoder setup guidance.
- Start the encoder and wait for YouTube’s preview. In Live Control Room, confirm the preview appears and listen for audible, continuous radio audio before starting the broadcast.
- Go live and monitor stream health. YouTube’s workflow is to connect the encoder, wait for the preview, then start the broadcast in Live Control Room. Keep an eye on stream health while it runs; YouTube’s setup instructions are at How to start a live stream.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely area to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No preview in Live Control Room | Destination URL, stream key, encoder connection, or source input | Confirm that the URL and key came from the selected broadcast, that the key has not been mistyped, and that FFmpeg can read the station source. Keep the key private while checking logs. |
| Preview appears, but there is no audible radio | Input audio, output codec, or audio configuration | Verify that the source is currently delivering audio and that the output uses a codec YouTube lists (AAC or MP3), 44.1 kHz stereo, and 128 kbps stereo. |
| Stream health indicates instability or the stream drops | Upload capacity or source/encoder continuity | Repeat the speed test, ensure the connection has the recommended 20% upload headroom above the total stream bitrate, and check that the radio input is still reachable. Exact FFmpeg reconnect options depend on the source and build. |
| Video settings seem irrelevant to an audio relay | Audio-only versus audio-plus-video configuration | Do not apply video bitrate or keyframe settings as audio targets. Use those video settings only if the outgoing stream includes a visual component. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a 24/7 YouTube channel playing uploaded recordings rather than a live relay of an internet-radio source, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not take a live radio feed or go live from a camera.
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