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To loop a local video into YouTube Live with FFmpeg, read the file in real time, encode it to a YouTube-compatible profile, and publish to the stream URL and key from YouTube Live Control Room. The command below is a starting template—not an outage-proof system: FFmpeg can repeat the input, but the computer, network, process, file, stream key, and YouTube event must all remain available.
What the setup does—and what it does not
A continuous file-based livestream has three separate jobs:
- Loop the source: FFmpeg reads the local file repeatedly and at real-time speed.
- Encode for ingestion: FFmpeg sends a supported video and audio stream at a suitable bitrate and keyframe interval. YouTube then transcodes the incoming live feed for viewers; you do not need to pre-create every viewer playback format.
- Keep the publishing path healthy: The source file, FFmpeg process, computer, internet connection, stream key, and YouTube live event all need to work. Looping the file alone does not reconnect a failed process or guarantee recovery after a network or YouTube interruption.
This workflow is for streaming a prerecorded local file as a YouTube Live broadcast. It is not a camera-streaming setup.
Choose the YouTube ingest profile first
YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, and frame rates up to 60 fps. Use RTMPS when available; YouTube says it encrypts data in transit to and through Google’s servers. The settings below are YouTube recommendations, not guarantees for every source or network.
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Video, bitrate, and keyframes
- Bitrate mode: CBR.
- Keyframes: A 2-second interval is recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds. The GOP length in frames must match the chosen frame rate—for example, 60 frames at 30 fps or 120 frames at 60 fps.
- H.264 bitrate examples: YouTube lists 1080p30 at 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended; 1080p60 at 6 Mbps minimum and 17 Mbps recommended; and 720p30 at 3 Mbps minimum and 8 Mbps recommended.
- H.265/AV1 comparison: For 1080p30, YouTube lists 4 Mbps minimum and 10 Mbps recommended; for 1080p60, 4 Mbps minimum and 12 Mbps recommended.
Select the bitrate for the codec, resolution, and frame rate you actually intend to send, then check that your upload connection can sustain it with headroom. Do not treat the lowest listed bitrate as the recommended target.
Audio, color, and advanced settings
- For stereo, YouTube’s advanced recommendations include AAC or MP3, 44.1 kHz, and 128 kbps. For 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube supports AAC and recommends 48 kHz and 384 kbps.
- For SDR, YouTube recommends Rec. 709 and 8-bit. For HDR, it recommends H.265; its guidance says AV1 is not supported for HDR.
- Other advanced recommendations include square pixels, progressive scan, 2 B-frames, 1 reference frame, and CABAC. Whether and how to set these depends on the encoder and source.
- YouTube’s 4K/2160p streams are not eligible for its low-latency optimization and are set to normal latency.
Get the stream URL and key from YouTube
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and create or select the live event you plan to use.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that event. Use the exact destination YouTube provides; do not guess or reuse a URL format from an unrelated setup.
- Treat the key like a password. Do not post it in public examples, screenshots, logs, or support requests. If it is exposed, reset it in the stream settings and update the FFmpeg command or service that uses it. YouTube describes the stream settings workflow in Manage live stream settings.
Build and run an FFmpeg loop command
FFmpeg options generally apply to the next input or output, so keep input options before -i and output encoding and destination options after it. The FFmpeg documentation defines -stream_loop -1 as infinite input looping and -re as reading at native frame rate. See the FFmpeg documentation for option details.
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Template: local MP4, H.264, 1080p30
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4"
-vf "scale=1920:1080:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1920:1080:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2,fps=30"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "YOUR_RTMPS_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"This example targets H.264 1080p30 at YouTube’s recommended 14 Mbps video bitrate. Replace the input path and the final destination with your file and the exact RTMPS URL/key from Live Control Room. Keep the key private. The scale-and-pad filter fits the image inside 1920×1080 without stretching it; it can add black bars if the source aspect ratio differs. The audio options are for stereo AAC. Validate the result against your installed FFmpeg build, source file, and chosen event before relying on it unattended.
Adjusting the profile
- 1080p60 H.264: Set the filter to
fps=60, use-g 120 -keyint_min 120, and choose a video bitrate appropriate to YouTube’s 1080p60 H.264 recommendation (17 Mbps) and your upload capacity. - 720p30 H.264: Change the scale and pad dimensions to 1280×720, retain 30 fps and a 60-frame GOP, and use a bitrate chosen for the 720p30 recommendation (8 Mbps).
- H.265 or AV1: Use an encoder available in your FFmpeg build and confirm YouTube’s current codec-specific settings. Do not simply change the bitrate while leaving an incompatible encoder or profile.
- HDR: Confirm the source, pixel format, bit depth, and codec are appropriate for HDR before sending; YouTube recommends H.265 and does not support AV1 for HDR.
The example uses explicit frame-rate filtering so its 60-frame GOP corresponds to two seconds. If you remove or change the frame-rate filter, recalculate the GOP length; setting -g 60 by itself does not guarantee a two-second keyframe interval.
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Can you stream-copy instead of re-encoding?
Possibly, if the source already has compatible codecs and its properties meet the selected YouTube ingest profile. FFmpeg’s -c copy avoids re-encoding and can reduce CPU use, but it cannot change the source resolution, frame rate, bitrate, keyframe cadence, or unsupported codec details. Check the file and YouTube requirements first; stream copy is not a safe default merely because the file plays locally.
Check upload capacity and test before going live
YouTube’s encoder guidance says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Its streaming tips say to allow approximately 20% upload headroom above total streaming bitrate. Use measured outbound upload capacity, not download speed. Shared Wi-Fi, office traffic, or other streams can reduce the bandwidth available to this encoder. If you send primary and backup streams, include both in the bandwidth calculation.
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- Prepare the live event in advance and start FFmpeg early enough to inspect the incoming preview.
- Test a representative section with the same motion and audio characteristics as the real program. Check the Live Control Room preview, stream health, and any warnings.
- Confirm the broadcast appears on the intended channel/watch page and that audio and video are synchronized and intelligible.
- For a long-running setup, monitor both YouTube stream health and FFmpeg process/log output. If recording a local archive too, verify that the archive file continues to grow.
- If the production has a configured backup encoder or failover path, test it deliberately. YouTube suggests stopping the primary encoder or disconnecting its Ethernet connection to test configured failover behavior; that validates the backup setup, not automatic recovery by a single FFmpeg command.
Plan for unattended operation
-stream_loop -1 repeats the input only while FFmpeg keeps running and can read the file. A dropped connection, terminated process, full disk, changed key, or ended/misconfigured live event can still interrupt the broadcast. The FFmpeg options above do not supply a universal reconnect, restart, monitoring, or alerting policy.
- Keep the source file at a stable path and ensure the account running FFmpeg can read it.
- Use a stable wired connection where practical; Ethernet may avoid some Wi-Fi variability, but it does not guarantee sufficient upload capacity or an uninterrupted route.
- For unattended use, configure a supervisor or restart policy and alerts appropriate to your operating system and deployment. Test what happens after a process exit and a network interruption rather than assuming it recovers.
- Keep a private copy of the event’s destination details and a safe method to update them if you rotate the stream key.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not show an incoming preview | Wrong event URL or key, FFmpeg output error, or connection failure | Confirm the selected event, copy its current URL and key again, inspect FFmpeg’s error output, and verify outbound connectivity. Do not share the key while asking for help. |
| Stream health warns about bitrate or unstable connection | Insufficient upload headroom, competing network traffic, or an inconsistent route | Measure upload bandwidth during realistic use, account for all concurrent streams, reduce the chosen output bitrate or resolution if needed, and test on the intended network. |
| Video is black, stretched, or the wrong size | Source dimensions/aspect ratio do not match the target or the filter is unsuitable | Inspect the source properties and adjust scale/pad behavior while preserving aspect ratio. Confirm the chosen output dimensions and frame rate in the preview. |
| Keyframes are too far apart | GOP frame count does not match the output frame rate | Use a GOP of 2 × the frame rate: 60 frames at 30 fps or 120 at 60 fps, and confirm the output frame rate is what you intended. |
| Audio is missing, distorted, or out of sync | Unsupported source audio, unsuitable audio settings, or a file-specific timing issue | Check the input audio stream and FFmpeg logs, use a supported AAC or MP3 output profile, and test a representative segment in the YouTube preview before the public start. |
| Broadcast stops when the file reaches its end | Loop option is absent, misplaced, or the input is not the expected file | Put -stream_loop -1 before the relevant -i, confirm the path is correct, and verify the command continues reading after one full pass. |
| Broadcast stops after a process or network failure | Looping does not restart an exited process or restore the network | Inspect the process and logs, restore the connection or event destination as needed, then restart using a tested supervisor/failover procedure. Do not assume the sample command reconnects automatically. |
Copyright and channel policy still apply
Encoding a file does not grant permission to broadcast it. Use content you own or are authorized to stream, including its music and other embedded material, and check YouTube’s live-stream rules and any restrictions that apply to your channel. Repeating a video does not by itself establish that a channel complies with YouTube monetization or reused-content policies; assess the content and applicable policy separately.
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