To loop prerecorded videos into a YouTube Live stream with FFmpeg, create a plain-text concat list with one file line per clip, then feed it to FFmpeg’s concat demuxer. For a typical RTMP stream, add real-time pacing and input looping. This works best when every clip has compatible streams, codecs, and time bases; use a concat filter and re-encode when they do not.
1. Prepare the clips and playlist file
Put the clips in a stable directory and create a plain-text file such as playlist.ffconcat. List the files in playback order:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'The optional first line must be exactly ffconcat version 1.0, with no byte-order mark or extra whitespace, for FFmpeg to recognize the format automatically. If you are unsure the header will be recognized, explicitly specify -f concat before the input filename. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
Paths with spaces or special characters
Quote or escape paths containing spaces or special characters. Absolute paths can prevent failures if the process starts in a different working directory; make sure they remain valid for as long as the stream runs. For example:
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ffconcat version 1.0
file '/srv/stream videos/clip-01.mp4'
file '/srv/stream videos/clip-02.mp4'Keep the playlist and media files in place after starting FFmpeg. The concat file is a list of paths, not a copy of the video content.
2. Check compatibility and durations
The concat demuxer joins files at the packet level. FFmpeg’s documentation says, “All files must have the same streams (same codecs, same time base, etc.).” Check that clips have matching stream layouts and compatible codecs and time bases before relying on streamcopy.
The demuxer uses reported file durations to build the joined timeline. If a file is truncated or its duration metadata is inaccurate, later timestamps may shift and cause artifacts or gaps. The concat format supports a duration directive after a file entry when its duration cannot be read or is known to be inaccurate:
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ffconcat version 1.0
file 'clip-01.mp4'
duration 120.5
file 'clip-02.mp4'Replace 120.5 with the appropriate duration in seconds. The directive corrects the timeline estimate; it does not repair damaged media. See the concat demuxer documentation for the format and duration behavior.
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In YouTube Studio, obtain the current ingestion URL and stream key for your live stream. Keep the key private: anyone who has it may be able to send video to your stream. A typical FFmpeg starting command for compatible prerecorded clips is:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.ffconcat
-c copy -f flv 'rtmp://SERVER/STREAM_KEY'Replace the final URL with the actual RTMP ingestion URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. Do not publish the command with a real key in it, and avoid exposing the key in logs or shared scripts.
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-repaces a file input in real time instead of reading it as fast as possible.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely.-f concatselects the concat demuxer.-safe 0allows paths outside the demuxer’s default safe subset; use it only when the playlist paths require it and come from a source you trust.-c copyrequests streamcopy, passing encoded packets through without decoding and re-encoding.-f flvselects the FLV container used for this RTMP-style output.
This is an illustrative starting command assembled from documented FFmpeg behavior and a secondary continuous-playlist example, not a tested command or a guarantee of uninterrupted streaming. Confirm that the installed FFmpeg supports the options and inspect its output for stream mapping, input errors, and connection status. The stream can still stop if the process, server connection, stream key, or YouTube configuration fails. FFmpeg’s streamcopy documentation explains the limits of copying encoded streams.
4. Choose streamcopy or re-encoding
| Approach | Use it when | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
Concat demuxer with -c copy |
Clips have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases, and you do not need to change their audio or video. | Avoids decoding and re-encoding, but cannot apply filters or fix mismatched streams. |
| Concat filter with re-encoding | Clips need scaling, overlays, filtering, codec conversion, or other transformations, or they are not suitable for demuxer streamcopy. | Requires decoding and encoding; the output settings and available compute affect processing. |
Streamcopy is not a universal compatibility switch: it preserves the source packets, so the resulting streams still need to satisfy the output and YouTube’s current ingest requirements. If your clips do not match, prepare compatible files first or use FFmpeg’s concat filter and encode the result. FFmpeg’s concat FAQ describes when to use the filter versus the demuxer.
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An FFmpeg concat script is not a YouTube HLS media playlist. HLS is a different output workflow: YouTube’s HLS setup instructions specify TS segments, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT delivery, and segment durations of 1–4 seconds. YouTube says HLS has higher latency than RTMP. Use the current Studio URL and encoder requirements for an HLS stream rather than sending a concat text file as though it were an HLS playlist.
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6. Troubleshoot common failures
FFmpeg does not recognize the playlist format
- Confirm the optional header is the exact first line, with no byte-order mark or leading spaces.
- Alternatively, put
-f concatbefore-i playlist.ffconcatas shown in the command. - Check that the process can read the playlist and each referenced media file.
A clip fails to open
- Check the spelling and case of its path and confirm the file exists from the process’s working directory.
- Quote or escape paths with spaces or special characters; consider stable absolute paths.
- Keep paths within the expected location. If they require
-safe 0, restrict the playlist to files you trust.
Playback has artifacts, gaps, or timestamp errors
- Compare the clips’ stream layouts, codecs, and time bases; the concat demuxer expects them to match.
- Check for truncated files or inaccurate duration metadata. Add a
durationdirective where a duration cannot be read or is known to be wrong. - If clips need conversion or filtering, prepare matching files or use the concat filter and re-encode.
YouTube does not receive the stream
- Verify that you copied the current RTMP ingestion URL and stream key from YouTube Studio and that the key has not been exposed or replaced.
- Read FFmpeg’s output for connection or input errors, and confirm the command is using an output format accepted by the selected YouTube ingest workflow.
- Check the current live-stream settings and account eligibility in YouTube Studio; the FFmpeg command cannot establish those for you.
The stream stops after it starts
-stream_loop -1 repeats the playlist input, but it does not make the FFmpeg process or network connection failure-proof. Check whether FFmpeg exited, the host lost connectivity, the stream key or Studio configuration changed, or YouTube ended the ingest. This command alone does not promise automatic reconnection or 24/7 availability.
7. Protect the channel and the stream
Only stream video and audio you have the rights to use. A live format does not make copyrighted music or footage permissible, and repeating prerecorded material does not guarantee YouTube will consider a channel eligible for monetization. Review YouTube’s current copyright and monetization policies before building a recurring stream around third-party or repetitive material.
Also plan for the practical limits of a do-it-yourself setup: the machine running FFmpeg must stay on, the media and playlist must remain accessible, and the internet connection and YouTube ingest must remain available. A reconnect or recovery procedure is separate from playlist looping.
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