For a recorded 1080p/30 lecture with audio, use FFmpeg’s input-side -stream_loop -1 to repeat the file indefinitely and -re to send it at its normal playback rate. The command below is a starting template: replace the destination with the stream URL and key shown for your YouTube event, then verify the result in Live Control Room.
FFmpeg command for a 1080p/30 lecture
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "lecture.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0?
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 5M -maxrate 5M -bufsize 10M
-pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmps.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY"Replace lecture.mp4 with the path to your recording. Replace the example destination with the stream URL and key for the actual event; the endpoint shown is a template, not a substitute for checking YouTube’s event settings. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it in a script, screenshot, or article example.
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This template targets H.264 video at 1080p/30 with AAC audio. It is not a tested or guaranteed result for every file, FFmpeg build, or connection. Confirm your build supports the encoders and protocol you use, and test the source in Live Control Room.
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-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so it must appear before-i. FFmpeg documents the option in its stream_loop documentation change.-rereads the file at its native rate, pacing the prerecorded input for live output. FFmpeg’s protocol documentation shows the same real-time pattern with a file sent to an RTMP destination.-map 0:v:0selects the first video stream.-map 0:a:0?selects the first audio stream if one exists; the question mark makes that mapping optional. Check the resulting audio behavior rather than assuming a video without audio is suitable for your broadcast.-c:v libx264encodes H.264 video.-preset veryfastis an x264 speed-versus-compression setting; if your machine cannot encode in real time, test a faster preset or a compatible hardware encoder.-b:v 5M -maxrate 5M -bufsize 10Mset the video rate-control values in this example. Five Mbps is YouTube’s listed H.264 minimum for 1080p/30, not a universal ideal.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a broadly used pixel format.-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0requests a 60-frame GOP and disables scene-cut keyframes; at 30 fps, 60 frames is two seconds.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes AAC audio at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz, matching YouTube’s listed stereo recommendations when the source and output are stereo.-f flvselects the FLV container used for this RTMP-style ingest command.
Match the output to YouTube Live
YouTube lists RTMP and RTMPS ingest, recommends RTMPS, supports H.264, HEVC, and AV1 video options, and lists AAC or MP3 audio and CBR bitrate encoding. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. See YouTube’s current live encoder settings. FFmpeg describes RTMPS as RTMP over a secure SSL connection in its protocol documentation.
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Bitrate for the example and other output sizes
YouTube’s current H.264 guidance lists 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended for 1080p/30, and 6 Mbps minimum and 17 Mbps recommended for 1080p/60. The retrieved guidance page does not state a publication year; these are current figures accessed in 2026, not claims about when the page was published. Consult the live bitrate table for the resolution and frame rate you actually send.
The example’s 5 Mbps is the listed minimum for 1080p/30. Choose settings for the source’s resolution, frame rate, and motion, and leave upload capacity headroom. YouTube advises testing upload capacity and monitoring stream health. For a different frame rate, set the GOP to about two seconds’ worth of frames—for example, frame rate multiplied by two—while staying within YouTube’s keyframe guidance.
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Audio and connection
YouTube lists 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps for stereo audio in its recommended advanced settings. The command follows those values, but check the recording’s actual audio tracks and the Live Control Room preview. Use the event’s actual ingest URL and confirm that your FFmpeg build supports the selected protocol; YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingest.
Start the broadcast and verify it
- In YouTube Studio, create or select the live stream and open Live Control Room. Get the stream URL and key from its settings. YouTube explains the setup in Manage live stream settings. Keep the key private.
- Run the command with your recording path and event destination. Watch the Live Control Room preview and stream-health messages. YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and video movement and monitoring stream health during the event; see its encoder guidance.
- Check the event’s visibility and schedule in YouTube Studio, then confirm viewers can access it as intended. A running FFmpeg process alone does not prove YouTube is receiving or presenting a healthy stream.
- Let the source reach its end and verify that playback starts again as expected. The loop option is documented, but behavior should be checked with your specific file and setup.
Adjustments and limitations
If encoding cannot keep up
H.264 software encoding uses local CPU. If it cannot encode in real time, try a faster x264 preset or a hardware encoder supported by your FFmpeg build, while keeping the output compatible with YouTube. The right choice depends on your machine and file; no particular performance level can be assumed.
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If you want to copy rather than re-encode
-c:v copy -c:a copy can reduce CPU use when the source already matches the ingest codec and parameters. Do not assume an uninspected lecture file meets the required bitrate, keyframe, codec, or audio constraints. When uncertain, transcode and inspect the actual ingest against YouTube’s encoder settings.
Other practical checks
- If the input has no audio, the optional audio map prevents a hard failure from a missing audio stream; test whether YouTube accepts and presents the resulting output as you intend.
- If RTMPS fails, confirm the event’s displayed URL and that your FFmpeg build supports the chosen protocol. YouTube recommends RTMPS, but use the endpoint shown for the event.
- If the preview is absent or unhealthy, check the URL and key, selected video/audio streams, available upload capacity, and encoder settings before treating the local process as proof of a successful broadcast.
- Use recordings you have the rights to stream. A live encoder does not grant permission to rebroadcast lecture audio, video, slides, or other third-party material, nor does it guarantee YouTube will accept or monetize a stream.
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