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To loop a local 3840×2160, 60 fps SDR video to YouTube Live using an NVIDIA GPU, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 input option and the h264_nvenc encoder. This starting command uses YouTube’s listed H.264 recommendation for 2160p60: 50 Mbps video, constant bitrate, and a two-second keyframe interval. It assumes your source is already 4K60 and suitable for SDR/H.264; it does not upscale or convert a different format to 4K60.
FFmpeg command for looping a 4K60 file
Replace the final RTMPS address with the ingest address and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0?
-c:v h264_nvenc -preset p5 -rc cbr
-b:v 50M -maxrate 50M -bufsize 100M
-g 120 -bf 2
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"This is a configuration starting point, not a verified performance result for a particular file, GPU, network, or FFmpeg build. YouTube’s current Help page lists 50 Mbps for H.264 at 2160p60, CBR, and a recommended two-second keyframe frequency (not exceeding four seconds). At 60 fps, -g 120 sets a 120-frame GOP, or two seconds. YouTube recommends RTMPS. YouTube’s encoder recommendations were checked on 2026-10-03; the retrieved page does not state a publication year.
What the important options do
-rereads the file at its native frame rate, pacing file input for a live stream. It belongs before-ibecause it is an input option.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. This is also an input option and must appear before-i.-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. Change the mapping if your file uses different streams.-c:v h264_nvencselects NVIDIA’s hardware H.264 encoder. Thep5preset and two B-frames are starting choices; supported options and performance depend on the GPU and FFmpeg build.-rc cbr,-b:v 50M, and-maxrate 50Mconfigure constant-rate targeting at 50 Mbps.-bufsize 100Msets a 100 Mb rate-control buffer.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes audio as AAC at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. If there is no audio stream, the optional map avoids a missing-stream mapping error.-f flvselects the container used for RTMP/RTMPS output.
Check YouTube, the source file, and the GPU first
Confirm the input is actually suitable
Probe the file before streaming. Check its dimensions, frame rate, audio streams, pixel format, and whether it is SDR or HDR. The command above does not resize, change frame rate, or make an unsuitable source into a 4K60 one. A file with a different layout or multiple audio tracks may also need different stream mapping.
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Confirm NVENC is available and capable
NVENC is a hardware encoder on NVIDIA GPUs, but codec, profile, bit depth, dimensions, frame rate, and sustained performance vary by GPU. Check the installed encoder options with:
ffmpeg -h encoder=h264_nvencA listed encoder name does not establish that the GPU can sustain this particular 4K60 encode. NVIDIA documents capabilities and FFmpeg usage in its NVENC application note and FFmpeg guide.
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Allow for network overhead
Provide stable upload capacity above the video bitrate: the 50 Mbps recommendation is for video, not the combined audio bitrate and transport overhead. Test the actual connection and watch YouTube’s stream health rather than assuming a speed-test peak will remain available throughout the broadcast.
Codec and HDR choices
YouTube lists 35 Mbps for AV1 or H.265/HEVC at 2160p60, compared with 50 Mbps for H.264. These are current recommendations on the same YouTube Help page checked on 2026-10-03, which does not state a publication year. The command uses H.264 to match its listed bitrate and CBR guidance; the figures do not establish a universally best codec or GPU for every setup.
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For HDR, YouTube recommends H.265/HEVC over RTMP(S), with 10-bit HDR and the relevant HDR color metadata. Do not use the SDR command unchanged: confirm the source’s color characteristics and preserve or set them correctly through the full encoding and ingest path. YouTube’s listed settings do not support AV1 for HDR. See YouTube’s encoder recommendations for its current ingest guidance.
Test the stream before relying on a loop
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or open the live stream and copy its RTMPS ingest address and stream key into the command. Do not share the key or publish it in a script or log.
- Run the command as a test and check that YouTube receives the stream at the intended resolution and frame rate.
- Listen to the audio, inspect motion, and watch YouTube’s stream-health indicators before treating the setup as unattended.
- Check the end-to-start transition. A loop repeats the source’s boundary; it will not remove a visible jump, silent gap, or audio pop. Prepare a seamless source if that transition matters.
YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and video movement and monitoring stream health. It sets 4K/2160 streams to normal latency because its low-latency option is unavailable at that resolution. YouTube says: “We recommend streaming to YouTube Live with RTMPS, a secure extension to the popular RTMP streaming video protocol.” Source: YouTube Help.
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Troubleshooting common failures
- FFmpeg reports that
h264_nvencis unavailable: your FFmpeg build may lack the encoder, or its options may not match the installed GPU. Checkffmpeg -h encoder=h264_nvenc, the GPU’s supported formats, and the installed FFmpeg build. - Encoding cannot keep up or the stream health is poor: confirm the GPU supports the target format and can sustain real-time 4K60 encoding. Check network stability and upload headroom above the video rate, including audio and transport overhead.
- YouTube does not receive the stream: verify the RTMPS ingest address and stream key in Live Control Room, outbound connectivity and firewall rules, and that the stream is active in the intended control-room session.
- Video works but audio is absent: check that the file has an audio stream and that the mapping selects the intended one. The optional map permits a video-only source, so it does not guarantee audio will be sent.
- FFmpeg rejects the input or the output behaves unexpectedly: inspect the source’s streams, timestamps, pixel format, and SDR/HDR characteristics; adjust mapping or encoding to match the file and intended ingest format.
- The loop has a jarring restart: this is usually a source-boundary issue rather than a loop-option failure. Edit or prepare the file so its ending transitions cleanly to its beginning.
These are diagnostic checks, not confirmed causes for any particular machine. For a file input, real-time pacing with -re is appropriate. FFmpeg cautions against applying read-rate limiting carelessly to a real capture or live input, where it can cause packet loss.
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Copyright and YouTube channel considerations
Technical delivery does not grant the right to rebroadcast the video or its audio. Before looping content, confirm you own it or have permission for the intended YouTube use, including any music, footage, and other embedded material. YouTube’s applicable copyright and monetization decisions depend on the content and channel; this encoding command does not establish eligibility or guarantee that a stream will remain available. Review YouTube’s current rules in your account and use the copyright safety checklist as a preflight aid.
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