To send several videos to one YouTube Live stream from an EC2 instance, put their paths in an FFmpeg concat-demuxer playlist and use that text file as the input to FFmpeg. The files need compatible stream layouts, codecs, and time bases; if they differ, normalize them first. Then send the output to the ingest URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room.
Prepare the video files and playlist
The concat demuxer reads a text file containing one file directive per media file, in playback order. Create a playlist on the EC2 instance, for example:
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file '/home/ubuntu/videos/video-01.mp4'
file '/home/ubuntu/videos/video-02.mp4'
file '/home/ubuntu/videos/video-03.mp4'Save it as /home/ubuntu/videos/playlist.txt, or use another path that the FFmpeg process can read. Use absolute paths to avoid ambiguity about the process’s working directory. FFmpeg documents the concat demuxer and its requirements in the FFmpeg documentation.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCheck compatibility before concatenating
This method is most straightforward when all files have the same streams, codecs, and time bases. A playlist is not a general-purpose editor: putting dissimilar files in the list does not guarantee smooth transitions or a valid continuous output. Differences in resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, audio layout, or codecs can cause errors or playback artifacts. Standardize heterogeneous clips to a common format before using the concat demuxer. Pre-transcoding is a practical approach discussed by FFmpeg users, but the official compatibility requirements are the basis for this advice; see the FFmpeg-user discussion from 2024-09-22.
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FFmpeg uses file durations to adjust timestamps between segments. If a transition has timestamp or playback artifacts, check that the files’ duration information is accurate. The documentation notes that inaccurate durations can cause artifacts.
Get YouTube’s ingest details
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Open YouTube Live Control Room and select or create the live stream you intend to use.
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Copy the ingest URL and stream key shown for that stream. The key is a credential that directs the encoder feed to your YouTube stream; keep it private. If it is exposed, reset it using YouTube’s stream settings. See Manage live stream settings.
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Use RTMPS when it is available in Live Control Room and supported by your FFmpeg build and workflow. YouTube recommends RTMPS as an encrypted extension of RTMP; see YouTube’s RTMPS setup instructions.
Keep the stream key out of shared scripts, screenshots, public tutorials, and logs. Putting a secret directly in a shell command may also leave it in shell history. The example below uses environment variables so the command text does not contain the literal key; protect the environment and any process or diagnostic output that could expose it.
Run FFmpeg with the playlist
Set the ingest URL and key in the environment, then run a command such as this conceptual skeleton:
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export YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL='YOUR_INGEST_URL'
export YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY='YOUR_STREAM_KEY'
ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 0 -i /home/ubuntu/videos/playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY"This is an illustrative command skeleton, not a tested command for every EC2 image or media file. It assumes FFmpeg has the needed codecs and protocol support, the input files include compatible video and audio streams, and the selected YouTube ingest URL accepts the resulting output. Adjust encoding, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, keyframe interval, and audio settings for the source media and target stream. A stream-copy workflow can reduce encoding work when the media already matches the concat constraints and target; transcoding can standardize formats and meet output settings but uses CPU.
Why the example uses these options
-rereads the input at approximately its native playback rate, rather than consuming the playlist as quickly as the machine can process it.-f concatselects the concat demuxer, and-ipoints to its playlist file.-safe 0permits paths the concat demuxer would otherwise reject as unsafe. Use it only when the playlist is controlled by you; do not accept untrusted playlist entries.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacrequest video and audio encoding. They are example choices, not a guarantee that these encoders are present in a particular FFmpeg build or appropriate for every input.-f flvselects the output container used by the example for the RTMP-family ingest workflow. Confirm the protocol and URL format provided by YouTube for the selected stream.
For a production command, inspect the files and decide whether to copy or transcode the streams. The example deliberately does not prescribe an encoding preset, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, GOP, or audio configuration because those depend on the clips, target quality, FFmpeg build, and available EC2 resources.
Choose output settings for YouTube Live
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS, frame rates up to 60 fps, CBR bitrate encoding, AAC or MP3 audio, and a recommended keyframe interval of two seconds, not exceeding four seconds. Match bitrate to the exact codec, resolution, and frame-rate row in YouTube’s live encoder settings; these recommendations can change.
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For one specific reference point, YouTube’s encoder settings page retrieved on 2026-10-03 lists 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended for H.264 at 1080p30. Those numbers apply to that row only, not to other codecs or output formats. The selected EC2 instance and network path must be able to sustain the chosen output; YouTube’s recommendation is not a capacity guarantee.
YouTube recommends upload bandwidth with 20% headroom over the combined primary and backup stream bitrate. That is a recommendation from its streaming tips, not an EC2-specific sizing rule. Measure sustained outbound throughput and encoder load using the actual instance, files, and settings. No single EC2 instance type can be prescribed without knowing resolution, encoding mode and preset, number of concurrent streams, and workload.
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The concat-demuxer playlist sends the listed files sequentially. Do not assume that changing the text file while FFmpeg is running will insert new videos into the current session: dynamic playlist refresh behavior is not established by the concat-demuxer guidance cited here. For a changed queue, plan and test a restart process before relying on it in a live broadcast.
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The example does not add a loop option, so it is not an instruction for an endless 24/7 playlist. It also does not promise gapless transitions. Test the complete sequence before scheduling a public stream, including its final file and what viewers will see when the input ends. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume the same archival outcome for longer streams. Check the current behavior in Live Control Room for the planned duration. See Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check rights and channel suitability
Use footage and audio you created or are authorized to stream. Adding files to an FFmpeg playlist does not grant rights to copyrighted material, and an authorized stream is not automatically eligible for monetization. Review YouTube’s current copyright and channel policies for your circumstances before broadcasting; this workflow guide does not establish permission to use any particular video or music.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | What to check | Practical fix |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot open a listed file | Playlist path, spelling, permissions, and whether the FFmpeg process can see the file on the EC2 instance. | Use the correct absolute path and grant the process read access. Keep paths under your control, particularly when using -safe 0. |
| Errors or artifacts when one clip changes to the next | Whether the files have matching streams, codecs, and time bases; whether their duration information is accurate. | Normalize or transcode the clips to compatible properties and verify durations. FFmpeg notes that inaccurate durations can affect timestamp adjustment between files. |
| YouTube does not detect or accept the feed | Ingest URL and key from Live Control Room, RTMP/RTMPS selection, FFmpeg protocol support, output codec, and the stream-health messages. | Re-copy the correct URL and key, confirm the output settings against YouTube’s encoder guidance, and inspect FFmpeg and Live Control Room status. Do not share logs without removing secrets. See YouTube stream settings. |
| Stream buffers or disconnects | Actual output bitrate, sustained EC2 outbound throughput, encoder load, and whether the recommended bandwidth margin is available. | Measure the workload under sustained operation, reduce the selected output bitrate or processing load if appropriate, or use an instance and network path that can maintain the settings. Leave YouTube’s recommended headroom; see YouTube streaming tips. |
| FFmpeg exits after the last listed video | Whether the list contains only a finite sequence and whether a loop or restart behavior was intended. | Do not treat a sequential file list as proof of an endless broadcast. Design and test the desired repeat or restart behavior separately before depending on it. |
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