To send Liquidsoap audio to YouTube Live, create a Liquidsoap source, configure an encoder, then send that source to YouTube using the ingest URL and stream key from YouTube Live Control Room. On Liquidsoap 2.4.5, the dedicated output is output.youtube.live.rtmp. Check your installed version before using examples: the operator and its arguments have changed between releases.
What you need before you start
- A working Liquidsoap installation with the encoder support and codecs you plan to use. Exact configuration depends on the installed release and build.
- An audio source, such as a playlist or other input. Liquidsoap sources provide content; outputs send it to a destination.
- A YouTube live stream set up in YouTube Live Control Room, where you can copy its ingest URL and stream key.
- A computer or server that can stay online for the duration of the stream. This is a deployment choice, not a special hardware requirement of the Liquidsoap-to-YouTube workflow.
For version-specific output arguments, use the Liquidsoap 2.4.5 Source / Output reference. The guidance below describes the configuration in steps rather than presenting one supposedly universal script: the working syntax depends on your Liquidsoap version, installed FFmpeg support, and whether your stream includes a visual track.
Configure Liquidsoap to send audio to YouTube
- Check the installed Liquidsoap version. Match the operator name and arguments in your configuration to that release’s documentation. In the 2.4.5 reference, the dedicated YouTube RTMP operator is
output.youtube.live.rtmp. - Define the source. Create or select the playlist or other input that will provide the radio audio. A playlist or remote input may be unavailable or take time to prepare, so consider whether the source can fail.
- Choose an encoder. The 2.4.5 YouTube output accepts an encoder and source; the reference says the encoder will most likely be an FFmpeg encoder. Configure audio, and video if your chosen output requires it, to match YouTube’s current guidance and the stream you created.
- Set the YouTube output. Supply the ingest URL, secret stream key, encoder, and source to
output.youtube.live.rtmp. The documented default URL isrtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2; use the endpoint supplied for your stream in Live Control Room when configuring the output. The operator also hasfallibleandstartoptions that affect behavior when the source is unavailable and when the output starts. - Start Liquidsoap and verify receipt. Check that the process connects, then confirm YouTube detects the incoming feed and inspect its stream-health messages before relying on it for a scheduled broadcast.
The output’s fallible setting matters when its child source can fail: the 2.4.5 reference explains that a fallible child may cause the output to stop until the source becomes available again. Liquidsoap’s Quickstart explains the general distinction: a normal output expects an infallible source, while playlists and remote inputs can fail or take time to prepare.
Set the YouTube stream key and encoder correctly
Copy the ingest details from Live Control Room
Create or select the stream in YouTube Live Control Room, then copy its stream URL and key into your output configuration. YouTube describes the key as the information that tells the encoder where to send the feed and allows YouTube to accept it. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it in a script repository, issue, or public example. If it is exposed, the channel owner or manager can reset it in the Stream tab and update the encoder. See YouTube’s guide to managing live stream settings.
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Match YouTube’s published ingest recommendations
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists RTMP and RTMPS ingest; H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; frame rates up to 60 fps; constant bitrate (CBR); and a recommended two-second keyframe interval, which should not exceed four seconds. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingest. Check that your Liquidsoap and encoder build supports the protocol you choose rather than assuming every build does.
For stereo audio, YouTube’s advanced settings recommend AAC or MP3 at 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps. For 5.1 audio, its recommendation is AAC at 48 kHz and 384 Kbps. Select the video bitrate for the actual codec, resolution, and frame rate; YouTube’s H.264 figures include these examples:
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|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube-published encoder recommendations, not a guarantee of quality on a particular connection. See YouTube’s live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the full guidance and the row matching your format. Leave upload capacity above the combined stream bitrate: YouTube’s streaming tips recommend 20% additional bandwidth headroom.
Decide whether the radio stream needs a visual
An audio source and a YouTube presentation are separate configuration questions. Whether you need a visual track depends on the encoder and output you configure. If that path expects video, pair the radio audio with an image or other video source; do not assume an audio-only source will satisfy a video encoder. A Liquidsoap community discussion illustrates muxing radio audio with video and sending an FFmpeg-encoded FLV stream, but it is an example rather than authoritative syntax for current releases. Use the versioned Liquidsoap API documentation for your actual operator configuration.
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Choose the output and where Liquidsoap runs
Dedicated YouTube output or generic encoder output
Use output.youtube.live.rtmp as the direct, YouTube-specific route in Liquidsoap 2.4.5. The generic output.url route is an alternative when you need an encoder that manages its own data output; its documented controls include fallible, restart_delay, and self_sync. The reference calls out self-synchronization for certain %ffmpeg RTMP use cases. Prefer the dedicated output when it fits your needs, and use the generic route for a reason rather than mixing their arguments.
RTMP or RTMPS
YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingest. The available protocol support depends on your installed Liquidsoap and encoder build, and the versioned reference does not establish one universal RTMPS script for every installation. Verify the protocol support in your build and use the endpoint supplied in Live Control Room.
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Local machine or hosted server
Running Liquidsoap on a machine you control offers direct operational control; a hosted Linux server is an option if you need the process to run unattended. Neither changes the basic source, encoder, endpoint, and key configuration. You do not need a capture card or audio interface just to send an existing Liquidsoap audio source to YouTube.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Test the stream and troubleshoot common failures
Before depending on the broadcast
- Test audio and any visual track using content representative of the planned program.
- Confirm YouTube detects the incoming feed and review stream-health warnings before the event.
- Check upload capacity against the stream bitrate, with the 20% additional headroom recommended in YouTube’s streaming tips.
- During the event, monitor YouTube’s stream-health messages and Liquidsoap’s logs.
If Liquidsoap rejects the output or does not connect
- Unknown operator or argument: Check the installed Liquidsoap version and use its matching API. Older examples may show
output.youtube.liveoroutput.urlwith the key embedded in an RTMP URL. Liquidsoap’s change notes sayoutput.youtube.livewas renamedoutput.youtube.live.rtmpand older bitrate or quality arguments were replaced by an encoder argument. Do not combine syntax from different releases. - YouTube does not receive the feed: Verify the ingest URL and stream key against Live Control Room, then confirm the encoder is available and the outgoing network can carry the configured stream.
- Protocol or encoder error: Check that your installed build supports the selected encoder, codecs, and RTMP or RTMPS protocol. YouTube’s RTMPS recommendation does not guarantee that every build supports it.
- Source is fallible or unavailable: Confirm the playlist or input is valid and ready. Configure output fallibility intentionally; in the 2.4.5 YouTube output, a fallible child can stop the output until the source becomes available again.
- Key may have been exposed: Reset it in Live Control Room and replace the value in the Liquidsoap configuration.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a prerecorded YouTube radio stream to continue without keeping Liquidsoap and a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not stream from a camera.
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The monthly option is $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free day.
Copyright and YouTube channel rules still apply
Sending audio through Liquidsoap does not grant rights to broadcast it. Use music and recordings you own or are licensed to stream, and check YouTube’s applicable copyright and channel policies before building a continuous radio feed. A technically healthy connection does not establish that the content is permitted or eligible for monetization. Review the rights and reuse questions with YouTube rather than assuming that looping or adding a visual changes the underlying content’s status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an older Liquidsoap example that says output.youtube.live?
Only if its syntax matches your installed release. For Liquidsoap 2.4.5, the versioned reference uses output.youtube.live.rtmp.
Can Liquidsoap send RTMPS in every installation?
Not established for every build. Confirm that your installed encoder and Liquidsoap build support RTMPS and use the endpoint shown in YouTube Live Control Room.
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