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You can send an internet radio feed to YouTube Live by using FFmpeg to combine the station’s audio URL with a still image, then encoding the result to the RTMPS endpoint and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. The command below is an illustrative starting point, not a tested recipe: you must adapt it to the station’s actual stream format, your FFmpeg build, network conditions, and current YouTube credentials.
What you need before streaming
- A radio stream URL that FFmpeg can access, plus any required authentication details. The server’s format and codec determine which FFmpeg input options, if any, you need.
- A still image you have permission to use. It becomes the video track while the radio feed provides the audio.
- An installed FFmpeg build with compatible video and audio encoders. The example uses
libx264and AAC; availability depends on how FFmpeg was built. - A YouTube channel set up to create a live stream, and the stream URL and private stream key from Live Control Room.
- Permission to rebroadcast the station and its underlying recordings. Confirm the station’s terms and the relevant rights for your intended territory before relaying the feed.
YouTube’s encoder guidance covers technical setup, not whether you have rights to rebroadcast a particular station. That depends on the station, its content, applicable licenses, and territory.
Get the YouTube ingest URL and stream key
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live, then create or select a stream.
- In Live Control Room, copy the stream URL and stream key. The key acts like a credential: do not publish it, include it in a public script, or expose it in logs. YouTube explains the encoder setup in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
- Prefer RTMPS for encrypted ingest. In Live Control Room, use the lock icon to reveal the RTMPS URL rather than assuming the ordinary RTMP address is the one to use. Enter the endpoint exactly as displayed; its formatting, including how the key is joined to the URL, can vary. See YouTube’s RTMPS setup instructions.
Check the radio feed and prepare the image
Confirm the input
Make sure the URL points to a stream FFmpeg can read directly, not just a station webpage or player page. Identify the feed’s actual audio codec and whether it requires authentication. Because no particular station URL is specified here, the command cannot verify a specific endpoint or its format. If the feed cannot be opened, inspect its URL, access requirements, and FFmpeg’s error output before changing encoding settings.
Prepare a permitted still image
Choose a graphic you are allowed to display, such as station artwork or a logo. The image supplies video; it does not grant rights to the music or other audio being broadcast. The example below repeats a single image as a video input. Still-image loop behavior and timing can vary with FFmpeg versions, so confirm the semantics for your installed build.
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Illustrative FFmpeg command
Replace cover.jpg, RADIO_STREAM_URL, and the RTMPS destination with your own values. The endpoint shown is deliberately a placeholder; retrieve the real one from Live Control Room and keep the stream key private.
ffmpeg -re -loop 1 -i cover.jpg -i 'RADIO_STREAM_URL'
-map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune stillimage
-r 30 -g 60 -b:v 2500k -maxrate 3000k -bufsize 6000k -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2
-f flv 'rtmps://INGEST_URL/STREAM_KEY'What the important options do
-rereads the input at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible. Check the behavior against your inputs and FFmpeg version.-loop 1 -i cover.jpguses the image as a repeated video input in commonly used FFmpeg builds. Verify still-image timing and loop behavior on your installed version.-i 'RADIO_STREAM_URL'supplies the station feed. Authentication or a different input format may require changes.-map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0explicitly selects video from the first input (the image) and audio from the second (the radio feed).-c:v libx264encodes H.264 video;-r 30sets 30 frames per second; and-g 60sets a 60-frame GOP, equivalent to a two-second keyframe interval at 30 fps.-b:v,-maxrate, and-bufsizeset example video-rate controls. The example is not a universal bitrate prescription; choose settings for your resolution and stable upload capacity.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2encodes stereo AAC at the example audio bitrate and sample rate. Although a radio feed may already use an audio codec that can be remuxed, AAC encoding is a straightforward baseline.-f flvselects the container commonly used for RTMP/RTMPS ingest. The output URL must match the endpoint and key format YouTube shows for your stream.
This template combines FFmpeg’s multiple-input and stream-mapping model with YouTube’s published encoder guidance; it was not run or tested. Change it when the actual station input, installed FFmpeg encoders, or ingest destination requires different options. If libx264 or AAC encoding is unavailable, choose encoders supported by your build and confirm that YouTube accepts the resulting stream.
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Choose compatible stream settings
YouTube Help’s encoder settings guidance lists H.264, H.265, and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; constant bitrate (CBR); frame rates up to 60 fps; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. For a conventional static-image broadcast, H.264 over RTMPS is a straightforward choice, but it is not the only video codec YouTube lists.
| Setting | Practical starting point | YouTube guidance and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Video codec | H.264 with libx264 in the example |
YouTube also lists H.265 and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingest; compatibility depends on the encoder and setup. |
| Video bitrate at 720p30 | The example uses 2.5 Mbps average and a 3 Mbps maximum-rate setting. | YouTube’s page, which shows no publication year and was accessed in 2026, gives 3 Mbps as the recommendation, with a 2 Mbps minimum and 6 Mbps maximum for 720p at 30 fps. |
| Audio | AAC, stereo, 128 Kbps at 44.1 kHz in the example | YouTube lists AAC or MP3 and recommends 128 Kbps stereo audio at 44.1 kHz. |
| Keyframes | At 30 fps, -g 60 represents a two-second interval. |
YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. |
| Ingest protocol | RTMPS for the ordinary setup described here | YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingest. HLS is an alternative for HDR or codecs unsupported by RTMP, but its segmented delivery has higher latency. |
Bitrate must fit the upload connection reliably, not just at a momentary peak. YouTube advises running a speed test and testing before the event. Its guidance says: “Tests should include audio and movement in the video similar to what you’ll be doing in the stream.” A static graphic has little visual movement, but test the actual station audio and full planned settings.
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For HLS details and its use cases, see YouTube’s HLS stream setup guidance. HLS is not a drop-in replacement for the RTMPS command shown above.
Start, check, and end the broadcast
- Run the modified command from a terminal on the machine that will perform the encoding. Keep the private key out of shared shell history, scripts, screenshots, and logs where possible.
- Wait for the stream preview in Live Control Room. Confirm that the image appears, the radio audio is audible, and YouTube reports a healthy incoming stream.
- Run a representative test before relying on the setup: use audio and movement conditions similar to the intended broadcast, and check for interruptions, encoding warnings, and connection instability.
- Monitor both FFmpeg output and Live Control Room while live. An audio-source outage, FFmpeg stopping, or unstable upload can interrupt the stream; this command does not configure a dependable restart or promise continuous availability.
- When finished, stop FFmpeg and end the stream in Live Control Room. YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume a single session will run forever.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot open the radio input | The URL may be a webpage rather than a direct feed, the source may require authentication, or its format may need different handling. | Confirm the exact stream URL and access requirements; inspect FFmpeg’s input error and determine the feed’s actual codec and format. |
| No audio reaches YouTube | The second input may not expose an audio stream in the expected form, or the mapping may not match the inputs. | Confirm the radio input is readable and contains audio, then review -map 1:a:0 against the actual input streams. |
| No picture or an image-loop error | The image path may be wrong, or the installed FFmpeg build may handle still-image looping differently. | Check the path and permissions, then verify -loop 1 behavior for your FFmpeg version. |
| Encoder not found | The installed FFmpeg build may not include libx264 or an AAC encoder. |
Use encoders available in that build and confirm their output is compatible with YouTube’s current ingest guidance. |
| YouTube does not receive the stream | The RTMPS endpoint or key may be wrong, expired, or formatted differently from the placeholder command. | Copy the current endpoint and key from Live Control Room, use the lock-icon RTMPS URL, and follow the exact URL format shown there. Keep the key private. |
| Stream health warnings or interruptions | Upload capacity may be unstable or insufficient for the chosen video bitrate, or the audio source may be dropping. | Check Live Control Room health messages, test upload capacity, reduce settings if necessary, and test the actual broadcast conditions. |
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