Use FFprobe to read a file’s video codec and frame-rate fields precisely, or VLC’s Codec Information menu for a quick graphical check. These checks help you prepare a video, but they do not prove that a particular encoder or looping setup will accept it.
Check the codec and frame rate with FFprobe
FFprobe is part of FFmpeg and reports information about a file’s streams. This command prints the codec name and two frame-rate fields for the first video stream:
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ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_name,r_frame_rate,avg_frame_rate -of default=noprint_wrappers=1 input.mp4Replace input.mp4 with the file’s actual path. If the file is elsewhere, include the full path; for example, /path/to/video.mp4. On systems where paths contain spaces, put the path in quotation marks.
- Install FFmpeg, which includes FFprobe, if it is not already available.
- Open a terminal or command prompt and run the command with your file path.
- Read
codec_name,r_frame_rateandavg_frame_ratein the output.
For structured output, replace the final option with -of json. To see all stream fields, including details that can help distinguish multiple tracks, run:
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ffprobe -v error -show_streams -of json input.mp4To include container-level information as well, add -show_format. The container and video codec are different layers: MP4 is a container, while H.264 or HEVC may be the codec inside it. An MP4 extension alone does not establish which codec the video stream uses. FFprobe’s options and output formats are documented by the FFmpeg Project.
Check it in VLC or MediaInfo
VLC: a quick menu-based check
- Open the video in VLC.
- Choose Tools > Codec Information.
- Look for the video stream’s codec and frame-rate details in the information window.
Menu labels can vary with the operating system or VLC version. VLC’s documentation notes that it may not identify a codec in enough detail in some cases; it points to MediaInfo when fuller specifications are needed. See the VLC User Documentation.
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When MediaInfo may help
If VLC does not show enough detail, inspect the file with MediaInfo as a second tool. A second report is particularly useful when FFprobe shows missing or unclear frame-rate values; do not treat one ambiguous field as a definitive answer.
Understand the reported values
Codec and container are not interchangeable
codec_name is FFprobe’s machine-friendly name for the coded video format. Values can include h264 or hevc, depending on the file. A file can be an MP4 container without using H.264 video. If audio matters to your workflow, inspect the audio stream separately rather than assuming the video result describes it.
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Keep both frame-rate fields
r_frame_rate and avg_frame_rate are distinct reported values. Record both as shown, including fractions. For example, 30000/1001 is approximately 29.97 frames per second; retaining the fraction avoids losing the distinction when matching a source or project rate.
If a field is 0/0, N/A, blank, or the two values differ, do not guess which one is the definitive rate. Check with another tool such as MediaInfo. If the distinction matters, FFprobe can show per-frame data with -show_frames, though that can produce a large amount of output.
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Use the file check to prepare for YouTube
YouTube’s upload-encoding guidance recommends encoding and uploading at the frame rate at which the content was recorded. It lists 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 and 60 fps as common frame rates, while allowing other rates. It also recommends deinterlacing interlaced content before upload; its example converts 1080i60 to 1080p30. These are upload recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular live encoder or loop-stream configuration will work.
YouTube recommends MP4 as a container and H.264 as the video codec in its stated upload settings. Its other recommendations include progressive scan, High Profile, two consecutive B frames, closed GOP, CABAC, variable bitrate and 4:2:0 chroma subsampling. Treat these as platform guidance for uploads, not universal acceptance requirements for every live workflow.
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Bitrate recommendations for SDR and HDR uploads
YouTube Help, accessed 2026, gives the following video bitrate recommendations. They are platform recommendations, not independent performance measurements or guarantees.
| Video type | Frame-rate range | 1080p recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| SDR | 24, 25 or 30 fps (standard) | 8 Mbps |
| SDR | 48, 50 or 60 fps (high) | 12 Mbps |
| HDR | 24, 25 or 30 fps (standard) | 10 Mbps |
| HDR | 48, 50 or 60 fps (high) | 15 Mbps |
Consult YouTube’s recommended upload encoding settings for the current recommendations and additional resolutions. Do not assume these upload bitrates are settings for a live encoder.
What a file inspection can—and cannot—tell you
Inspecting the file tells you what its streams report before you use it. It does not establish that a specific encoder, input method, stream configuration or loop service accepts the file or will keep a live stream running. Check the requirements of the workflow you intend to use, and confirm its stream output separately.
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