Use Liquidsoap to build and schedule the radio program, then use FFmpeg to encode its audio and video for YouTube Live. YouTube expects a video stream, so pair the radio audio with a still image or other suitable visual. The workflow is: create the program, configure the encoder and YouTube destination, test it in YouTube Studio, then monitor stream health.
What each part does
- Liquidsoap selects and combines audio sources, such as a playlist, jingles, fallback audio, or a live DJ input, and routes the result to an output.
- FFmpeg handles media decoding and encoding for the audio/video stream being sent.
- YouTube Live receives the stream at its ingest URL using your stream key, provides a preview and stream-health feedback, and delivers the live page to viewers.
For a playlist-only radio stream, Harbor is not required. It is relevant if you want Liquidsoap to accept a live DJ source and switch between that input and other program material. See the Liquidsoap Harbor documentation.
Before you configure the stream
- Install Liquidsoap and use documentation that matches the installed version. Liquidsoap’s development reference and cookbook examples may not match every released build or remain syntactically current.
- Prepare audio files you have permission to stream, plus a still image or video suitable for the broadcast.
- In YouTube Studio, create or select a live stream in Live Control Room. Copy the server URL and stream key for the encoder. YouTube describes the stream key as a password and address for the stream; treat it as secret. See Manage live stream settings and Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
- Check that the audio, image, and any other material are authorized for your planned broadcast. A live stream can be interrupted or removed if it violates copyright or YouTube policies; using a playlist does not itself establish permission.
Build the radio program in Liquidsoap
Start with a continuous playlist source. Add scheduling, station identifiers, transitions, and fallback audio only as your format requires. Liquidsoap’s Quickstart explains how sources connect to outputs; its source/output reference covers the available building blocks.
If the show needs a live DJ input, configure an appropriate Harbor input and decide how it takes priority over the playlist and fallback sources. Test what happens when the live input disconnects, so silence or an unintended source does not take over. A Harbor input is an optional part of the design, not a requirement for continuous prerecorded playback.
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Add a visual and prepare the output
A conventional YouTube live video stream needs video as well as audio. For an audio-first station, that can be a still image, such as station artwork, or another suitable video source. Liquidsoap’s FFmpeg cookbook illustrates creating video from an image, encoding it, muxing it with audio, and sending the result through an output. Follow the example for your installed Liquidsoap version rather than assuming its API syntax works unchanged.
The documented YouTube-specific Liquidsoap output reference includes output.youtube.live.rtmp with an FFmpeg encoder. The cookbook also shows an output.url pattern using an RTMP URL. These are examples of integration structure, not a guarantee that every Liquidsoap build supports the same options. In either approach, the encoder needs the audio source, a video source, an FFmpeg encoder configuration, and YouTube’s ingest destination.
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Keep the stream key outside publicly shared scripts and logs. The cookbook demonstrates reading the key from a file; use a protected file or another suitable secret-handling method rather than pasting a real key into an example, repository, or troubleshooting post.
Choose YouTube encoder settings
YouTube’s current general encoder guidance covers RTMP ingest and supports H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, up to 60 frames per second, and AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR), a 2-second keyframe interval, and no more than 4 seconds between keyframes. For stereo audio, its advanced settings list a 44.1 kHz sample rate and 128 Kbps bitrate. Check YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrate, and resolution guidance for the current bitrate table: the appropriate video bitrate depends on codec, resolution, and frame rate, so there is no single setting for every stream.
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Choose a resolution and frame rate that suit the visual and your available upload capacity. A static image does not require an elaborate visual, but the encoded stream still needs valid video settings. Set the bitrate using YouTube’s table for the selected output rather than copying a figure intended for another resolution or codec.
YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingestion. The Liquidsoap YouTube-specific reference surfaced here defaults to an RTMP URL, so do not assume that changing the URL alone enables RTMPS. Verify that the endpoint and your installed Liquidsoap build support the exact secure ingest workflow you intend to use. RTMP and HLS are distinct workflows: HLS has separate ingest instructions, segment requirements, and latency behavior. Do not carry RTMP settings into an HLS configuration without checking YouTube’s relevant documentation.
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Connect Liquidsoap to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room and create or select the live stream you intend to use.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for that stream. YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains where to find and use them.
- Configure the Liquidsoap/FFmpeg output with the chosen ingest URL, encoder settings, program audio, and video source. Use the correct syntax for your installed Liquidsoap version.
- Provide the stream key securely to the output. Do not publish it in a script or expose it in logs; regenerate it in YouTube Studio if it is accidentally disclosed.
- Start the output and wait for the incoming signal to appear in Live Control Room. Confirm that the preview shows video and that the audio is audible before starting or sharing the live event.
Test, monitor, and end the broadcast
Test the exact configuration before relying on it for a scheduled broadcast. Check the Live Control Room preview, listen for clean audio, confirm that the image or video is present, and inspect YouTube’s stream-health messages. YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload headroom; account for both primary and backup bitrate where a backup stream is configured. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
During the broadcast, monitor the encoder and Live Control Room for interruptions, audio/video problems, and health warnings. When the event is over, stop the encoder/output as well as ending the live event in YouTube Studio. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; do not rely on automatic archiving for a stream that runs 12 hours or longer.
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Common problems and fixes
- Live Control Room receives no signal: Check that Liquidsoap’s output is running, the ingest URL and stream key correspond to the selected YouTube stream, and the encoder is reaching the intended RTMP or RTMPS endpoint. Recheck syntax against documentation for your installed Liquidsoap version.
- Audio is present but the preview has no video: Confirm that the output actually includes a video source and that the FFmpeg configuration muxes it with the audio. A playlist alone supplies no video.
- Video or audio is unstable: Check stream-health messages, confirm the selected codec and bitrate are compatible with YouTube’s current guidance, and verify that upload capacity has the recommended headroom. Reduce the chosen resolution or bitrate if your connection cannot sustain the configured output.
- The stream connects but the audio is silent or wrong: Inspect Liquidsoap’s source selection and fallback behavior, confirm the playlist files are available and decodable, and test any Harbor live input separately from the playlist path.
- The key may have been exposed: Treat it as compromised. Replace or reset it in YouTube Studio, update the protected configuration, and verify the new key in Live Control Room.
- RTMPS does not connect: Do not assume the RTMP example automatically supports encrypted ingest. Confirm that your selected YouTube endpoint and Liquidsoap build support the intended secure connection; otherwise, consult the current YouTube and Liquidsoap documentation before changing transport.
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