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To loop a prerecorded gameplay file on YouTube Live, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 input option and pace the file with -re. For a 720p60 file with audio, this is a practical H.264/AAC starting point:
ffmpeg
-stream_loop -1 -re -i "gameplay.mp4"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-r 60 -g 120 -keyint_min 120 -sc_threshold 0
-b:v 8M -maxrate 8M -bufsize 16M
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "<RTMPS ingest URL>/<stream key>"Replace gameplay.mp4 with your file and replace the endpoint and key placeholders with the ingest server and stream key shown for your broadcast in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private. This command re-encodes the video and audio; it assumes the file has an audio stream and your FFmpeg build includes libx264. Its settings are an example for 720p60, not a universal preset. Match the output to your file and available upload bandwidth, and check YouTube’s current encoder guidance before streaming.
What the command does
-stream_loop -1makes FFmpeg repeat the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so put it before-i.-re, also before-i, reads the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible. That pacing is useful when a file is the source for a live output.-c:v libx264encodes video as H.264. The encoder must be present in your FFmpeg build.-preset veryfasttrades some compression efficiency for lower encoding work. If encoding overloads your machine, try a faster preset or reduce output demands; check the stream preview and health after changing settings.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a widely compatible SDR pixel format for this example. HDR or other source formats may need a different workflow.-r 60sets 60 output frames per second.-g 120sets a 120-frame GOP: at 60 fps, that is a keyframe interval of two seconds.-keyint_min 120and-sc_threshold 0help keep keyframes on that interval.-b:v 8M -maxrate 8M -bufsize 16Mset the example’s video rate target, maximum and buffer. The equal target and maximum express the intended constant-rate behavior, but exact rate control depends on the FFmpeg encoder and build.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes audio as AAC at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. These are YouTube’s recommended stereo audio settings; adapt them if your source or audio layout differs.-f flvselects the FLV muxer used for this RTMP-style ingest pattern. Use the RTMPS endpoint YouTube provides when available; YouTube recommends RTMPS.
Choose resolution, frame rate and bitrate
Use the output settings that fit the source and your connection. YouTube’s live encoder guidance, consulted October 3, 2026, lists these H.264 bitrate recommendations; they are platform recommendations, not guarantees of picture quality or connection stability.
| Output | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate | Example frame-rate and GOP settings |
|---|---|---|
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps | -r 60 -g 120 -keyint_min 120 |
| 1080p30 | 10 Mbps | -r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | -r 60 -g 120 -keyint_min 120 |
The examples use a two-second GOP. YouTube recommends keyframes every two seconds and says the interval should not exceed four seconds. Choose a bitrate your upload connection can sustain consistently, allowing headroom for other network use. If it cannot, lower the bitrate, resolution or frame rate rather than assuming the recommended number will work on an unstable connection. The figures above are from YouTube’s mutable support guidance; confirm the current table for your intended output.
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Adapt the command to your file
Set output dimensions when necessary
The sample command does not scale the video. If you need to resize it, add an output filter such as -vf "scale=1280:720" before the output options. Confirm the source’s aspect ratio and avoid stretching the picture; scaling does not restore detail absent from a lower-resolution recording.
Use the source frame rate where practical
The example forces 60 fps. If your recording is 30 fps, use -r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 for a two-second GOP rather than creating output frames the source does not contain. For another frame rate, calculate the GOP as approximately twice the frames per second for the same interval.
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If the input has no audio
The example expects an audio stream. With a silent video, remove the audio options and map only the video, or add an audio source deliberately; do not assume -c:a aac can encode a stream that is not present. Files with multiple audio tracks or unusual layouts may need explicit stream selection.
When stream copy may work
If the file is already encoded in a format and configuration YouTube accepts, stream copy can reduce CPU load: replace the codec settings with -c:v copy -c:a copy. Copying leaves the original codecs, frame rate, keyframes and bitrate unchanged, so it cannot correct incompatible settings. Verify the streams against YouTube’s ingest guidance before relying on this option; compatibility is file-specific.
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Start the stream and check it
- Prepare the file. Confirm its video, frame rate and audio tracks, and inspect the beginning and end. A loop can have a visible or audible seam when playback returns to the start.
- Get the ingest details. In YouTube Live Control Room, use the server URL and stream key assigned to the broadcast. Insert them into the command’s output destination, and never share or publish the key.
- Run a test first. YouTube advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Test with audio and motion similar to the planned stream, and use a private or unlisted test if appropriate.
- Monitor stream health. Watch YouTube Live Control Room for connection or encoder messages while FFmpeg runs. A successful command launch alone does not establish that YouTube is receiving a healthy stream.
Troubleshooting common failures
- FFmpeg reports that
libx264is unavailable: your build lacks that encoder. Install or use an FFmpeg build that includes it, or choose an encoder available in your build and verify its output settings. - “No such file” or input errors: check the filename, path, permissions and shell quoting. Replace the example filename with the actual path.
- Audio stream errors: inspect whether the file contains audio. Remove audio encoding options for a silent source, or select the correct track if it has multiple streams.
- YouTube shows no incoming stream or rejects the connection: confirm the ingest URL and stream key belong to the active broadcast, that the key was copied accurately, and that your network permits the connection. Check Control Room messages rather than repeatedly changing encoding settings at random.
- Dropped frames or unstable stream health: the upload connection may not sustain the configured bitrate, or the encoder may be overloaded. Reduce the bitrate or output resolution/frame rate, use a faster preset if encoding is the bottleneck, and test again.
- Playback looks wrong or has a loop seam: check the file’s start/end, aspect ratio, pixel format and chosen output frame rate. A loop option repeats the file; it does not make the cut between its end and beginning seamless.
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Looping a file does not grant permission to stream its contents. Before broadcasting gameplay footage, music, overlays or other material, make sure you have the rights or permissions needed for the live use. A game’s soundtrack may have separate rights from the gameplay recording. YouTube’s checks and enforcement can affect a live broadcast; consult the platform’s current policies and resolve any claimed material before going live. This FFmpeg command only handles media delivery—it does not verify copyright ownership or whether a channel meets YouTube’s monetization rules for reused content.
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