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FFmpeg Keyframe Interval for YouTube Live at 30 fps: Use -g 60

Use FFmpeg -g 60 for a two-second keyframe interval at 30 fps on YouTube Live over RTMP/RTMPS, and configure a closed GOP.
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For a 30 fps YouTube Live stream sent over RTMP or RTMPS, set FFmpeg’s keyframe interval to two seconds: -g 60. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. At 30 fps, those intervals correspond to 60 and 120 frames respectively; the frame counts are conversions, not values YouTube prints in its encoder table. Use a closed GOP and verify the test stream’s health.

Set the interval to two seconds

In FFmpeg, -g sets the number of frames between keyframes. For output that is actually 30 frames per second, use:

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-g 60

That is a 60-frame interval, or two seconds at 30 fps. YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS encoder guidance recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. At 30 fps, four seconds converts to 120 frames. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance specifies the time interval; the frame counts above are arithmetic conversions.

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Configure a closed GOP, not just the interval

The interval and GOP mode are separate settings. YouTube’s LiveStream API health documentation identifies an open GOP as unsupported and instructs creators to change the encoder configuration to a closed GOP. Select the appropriate closed-GOP option for the codec and FFmpeg encoder you use; its name and availability depend on that implementation. The -g 60 option sets interval, but does not by itself establish that the GOP is closed. See YouTube’s live-stream health messages for the relevant diagnostic.

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Check the protocol before applying other GOP guidance

The two-second recommendation and four-second maximum above are for RTMP/RTMPS, the usual context for this title. Other ingestion protocols have their own published requirements; do not treat their segment guidance as interchangeable with the RTMP/RTMPS encoder table.

  • DASH: YouTube’s DASH guide calls for closed GOPs and says GOP size should be about two seconds and under eight seconds. Follow the DASH-specific guidance if you are using DASH ingestion: Delivering Live YouTube Content via DASH.
  • HLS: YouTube’s HLS ingestion documentation also requires closed GOPs and permits frame rates up to 60 fps. Its segment-duration recommendations are distinct from the RTMP/RTMPS keyframe-frequency table; do not use segment duration as a substitute for the GOP interval. See Delivering Live YouTube Content via HLS.

Verify the stream in a test

  1. Confirm the output frame rate. Make sure the encoded output is 30 fps. The conversion from seconds to frames depends on the output rate.
  2. Set the interval. Use -g 60 for a two-second interval at 30 fps.
  3. Choose closed GOP in the selected encoder. Check the documentation for the specific codec and encoder rather than assuming -g controls GOP mode.
  4. Test representative content. Include audio and motion, then start a test stream and monitor YouTube’s stream health. YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and motion and monitoring health during the event; its health diagnostics include GOP warnings. See the health-status documentation and encoder guidance.
  5. Align backup settings. If you send a backup stream, match its keyframe frequency to the main stream. YouTube reports a GOP mismatch as a configuration problem.

Troubleshoot keyframe and GOP warnings

  • Keyframes are too far apart: Check the actual output frame rate and GOP interval. For 30 fps RTMP/RTMPS, use -g 60 as the two-second target and do not exceed the four-second limit.
  • YouTube reports open GOP: Change the selected encoder’s GOP mode to closed GOP. Changing -g alone may not resolve this warning.
  • YouTube reports a GOP mismatch: If a backup stream is configured, align its keyframe frequency with the main stream.
  • Image quality worsens with very frequent keyframes: YouTube’s health documentation notes that very small GOPs can reduce image quality. Return to the protocol-specific guidance instead of reducing the interval indiscriminately.
  • Buffering or ingestion problems persist: Review YouTube’s health messages, confirm the protocol-specific settings, and retest with representative audio and motion. A correct interval alone does not prove the whole stream configuration is healthy.

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