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For FFmpeg YouTube Live, set bitrate encoding to constant bitrate (CBR), choose the target YouTube recommends for your ingest codec, resolution, and frame rate, and use a two-second keyframe interval. For H.264, that means 10 Mbps at 1080p30 or 12 Mbps at 1080p60. Test with representative audio and motion before going live, then monitor YouTube’s stream health. These settings describe the feed sent to YouTube; YouTube transcodes it for viewers.
Choose a bitrate for your codec, resolution, and frame rate
YouTube’s English-language encoder guidance lists CBR as the bitrate mode. Its bitrate recommendations vary with the codec, output resolution, and frame rate, so select the row for the signal FFmpeg will actually send—not just the quality you expect viewers to watch. The figures below are YouTube’s published ingest targets; they are not viewer playback bitrates.
| Ingest format | YouTube recommended bitrate | YouTube minimum |
|---|---|---|
| H.264, 1080p30 | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| H.264, 1080p60 | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| H.264, 720p30 or 720p60 | 6 Mbps | Not stated here; check YouTube’s full table |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC, 1080p30 | 10 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC, 1080p60 | 12 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
Source for recommendations and minimums: YouTube Help’s live encoder settings. The complete official table covers 360p through 2160p; check it for other output formats. Note that the H.264 minimums are distinct from its recommended values: at 1080p30 the listed minimum is 14 Mbps, and at 1080p60 it is 17 Mbps. Do not substitute a minimum for a recommended target or apply the H.264 column to AV1 or H.265.
Allow upload capacity for the video target, audio, and network overhead. YouTube advises using a reliable upload connection and recommends an upload-speed test. A connection whose measured upload rate only just matches the video target may not sustain a stable live feed.
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Set the two-second keyframe interval correctly
YouTube recommends a keyframe every two seconds and says the interval should not exceed four seconds. In FFmpeg, the GOP length is measured in frames, so calculate it from the output frame rate:
- At 30 fps: 30 × 2 = 60 frames, so use
-g 60. - At 60 fps: 60 × 2 = 120 frames, so use
-g 120.
Using -g 60 at 60 fps would create a one-second GOP, not two seconds. The example also sets -keyint_min to the same frame count and uses force-cfr=1 to request constant frame rate.
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Example FFmpeg command for H.264 at 1080p30
This is an illustrative RTMPS starting point for a 1080p30 H.264 feed. Replace the input and stream key, and adapt input, audio, scaling, and other options to your production. The example targets YouTube’s 10 Mbps recommended H.264 bitrate for 1080p30.
ffmpeg -re -i INPUT
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency
-b:v 10M -minrate 10M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M
-x264-params "nal-hrd=cbr:force-cfr=1"
-r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmps.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY"Use a YouTube stream key from the live stream setup in YouTube Studio; keep it private, because anyone who obtains it could send a feed to your channel. The command is not a guarantee of strict wire-rate behavior or universal suitability. FFmpeg options and available encoders vary by build, and the selected encoder affects rate-control behavior.
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What the rate-control options mean
-b:vsets the target video bitrate in bits per second.-minrateand-maxrateset rate-control bounds; setting both to the same target expresses CBR intent. Do not call a configuration strict CBR if its maximum differs from its target.-bufsizesets the rate-control buffer size in bits. The example’s 20M buffer is a chosen value, not a YouTube requirement; validate it with your encoder build and stream behavior.-x264-params "nal-hrd=cbr:force-cfr=1"asks libx264 for CBR HRD signaling and constant frame rate. FFmpeg’s documentation says this signaling requires a VBV buffer size and is not allowed in an MP4 container. This example outputs FLV for RTMPS ingest.
FFmpeg documents b as the bitrate, maxrate as a maximum bitrate tolerance that requires bufsize, and bufsize as the rate-control buffer size. minrate is most useful when configuring CBR. Exact output behavior depends on the encoder and build; verify the resulting stream rather than assuming the flags guarantee a perfectly constant wire rate.
Match the rest of YouTube’s ingest settings
YouTube’s current English-language encoder page lists RTMP/RTMPS protocols and recommends RTMPS. It supports H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video, with frame rates up to 60 fps. Match the output to the selected codec and YouTube table row.
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- Use progressive scan and square pixels.
- For the published H.264 guidance, use two B-frames and one reference frame, with CABAC.
- For SDR, use Rec. 709.
- YouTube recommends AAC stereo audio at 128 Kbps; it also lists AAC 5.1 at 384 Kbps. The command uses AAC stereo at 128 Kbps.
See YouTube’s encoder settings for the full codec-specific guidance and bitrate table. Availability of a codec in your FFmpeg installation depends on how that build was compiled and on the encoders available to your system.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Preflight and monitor the live stream
- Choose the actual output. Confirm resolution, frame rate, and ingest codec, then use the corresponding YouTube recommended bitrate. Check that sustained upload capacity can carry video, audio, and overhead.
- Configure CBR and GOP. Set the target bitrate and a two-second GOP based on output frame rate. For libx264, review the CBR HRD and VBV caveats above.
- Test privately or in another safe way. Include audio and movement like the real stream, not just a static image. YouTube Help explicitly advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream. Tests should include audio and movement in the video similar to what you’ll be doing in the stream.”
- Check stream health. Review YouTube’s health status and encoder warnings during the test; reduce or adjust settings if the computer or uplink cannot sustain them.
- Keep monitoring during the event. Watch stream health and messages so that an ingest or connection problem is visible while you can still respond.
Guidance on testing and monitoring: YouTube Help.
Common FFmpeg YouTube Live problems
- Keyframes arrive too frequently or infrequently: recalculate GOP length as output fps × 2. Use 60 at 30 fps and 120 at 60 fps; YouTube recommends two seconds and no more than four.
- Stream health reports bitrate or connection trouble: verify the chosen codec/resolution/frame-rate target, include audio and overhead when assessing upload capacity, and test at the actual event settings. If the uplink cannot sustain the target, adjust the output and consult the matching YouTube table row.
- The output is not behaving like CBR: inspect
-b:v,-minrate,-maxrate, and-bufsizetogether. A mismatched maximum is not the same as strict CBR intent; encoder implementation and build also matter. - libx264 rejects HRD CBR settings: check that VBV buffer size is set and that you are not trying to use
nal-hrd=cbrin an MP4 container. The example sends FLV to RTMPS, not MP4. - FFmpeg reports an unknown option or encoder: check the installed FFmpeg build and its available encoders; options and codec support vary by build.
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