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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from a DigitalOcean Droplet, create a YouTube live event, then run FFmpeg on the Droplet with -re to pace playback in real time and -stream_loop -1 to repeat the input indefinitely. Send the output to the event’s current YouTube RTMPS address and stream key. The command can keep sending a loop, but it does not itself start a scheduled YouTube event, recover every failure, or guarantee an indefinite YouTube archive.
What you need before you start
- A YouTube channel with access to live streaming, and a live event created or scheduled in YouTube Studio.
- A Linux DigitalOcean Droplet with FFmpeg installed and enough CPU capacity for the chosen encoding settings.
- A prerecorded video available on the Droplet, with audio and video you are entitled to stream.
- The event-specific YouTube ingestion address and stream key. Treat the key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to send video to that event.
A Droplet is the Linux virtual machine that runs FFmpeg; it is not a special YouTube relay server. DigitalOcean also offers a separate SRS Marketplace image with streaming-server and FFmpeg features, but that additional stack is not required for direct file-to-YouTube streaming. See DigitalOcean Droplets and the SRS Marketplace listing; the listing’s software details should not be assumed current without checking.
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Create the YouTube Live event and get its connection details
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live.
- Choose the Stream tab for a new event, or use Manage to schedule one.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for that event. Do not use a sample key or assume an address copied from another event is still valid.
- Keep the event open in Live Control Room. After FFmpeg connects, check its preview and stream health. For a scheduled event, YouTube may require you to select Go live in Live Control Room; an encoder connection alone does not necessarily start the public event.
YouTube recommends RTMPS. Use the exact current URL YouTube provides, including its hostname and path, and use the matching event key. YouTube’s live streaming setup instructions describe creating streams and connecting an encoder; its ingestion protocol guide specifies RTMPS requirements, including port 443 and the correct hostname for TLS SNI.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCheck the video and choose output settings
Before a long broadcast, test the input and output with a short private or unlisted event. YouTube recommends a test that includes movement and audio representative of the real stream. Confirm the resolution, frame rate, bitrate, codecs, and keyframe interval against its current encoder settings.
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- Video codec: YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 among supported codecs. The example below re-encodes to H.264 for a broadly controllable starting point.
- Frame rate: YouTube’s guide lists support up to 60 fps. Match the source and the bitrate guidance for the chosen resolution and frame rate.
- Bitrate: Use the value recommended by YouTube for your selected resolution and frame rate. Do not copy a bitrate without checking that table; the Droplet must also have sufficient CPU and outbound network capacity.
- Rate control: YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR).
- Keyframes: YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. For a two-second GOP, set the GOP frame count to twice the frame rate—for example, 60 frames at 30 fps.
- Audio: AAC or MP3 is supported for RTMP/RTMPS. The command uses AAC at 128 kb/s.
These are YouTube’s ingest recommendations, not a promise that a particular Droplet size can encode a particular workload. No minimum Droplet size is established here; test the chosen resolution, frame rate, and encoding load on your actual server.
Run FFmpeg in a real-time infinite loop
Install FFmpeg using a method appropriate to the Droplet’s Linux distribution, and verify the installed build supports the codecs and RTMPS protocol you plan to use. DigitalOcean’s tutorial documents the loop option -stream_loop -1; FFmpeg’s own documentation explains its protocol support and options. The loop option belongs before the input it applies to.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "/path/to/video.mp4" \
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v VIDEO_BITRATE -maxrate VIDEO_BITRATE -bufsize BUFFER_SIZE \
-g GOP_FRAMES -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
-f flv "rtmps://YOUTUBE_INGEST_HOST/YOUTUBE_PATH/STREAM_KEY"This is a command template, not a tested command. Replace every uppercase placeholder with the values for your event: set VIDEO_BITRATE and BUFFER_SIZE according to the selected YouTube settings, GOP_FRAMES to the two-second interval for your frame rate, and the RTMPS URL and key to the current values from Live Control Room. Keep the key private, including in shell history and logs. The -re option reads the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as storage permits; -stream_loop -1 repeats the input without a fixed loop count.
Re-encoding with libx264 and AAC gives you control over output settings but consumes Droplet CPU. If the source already uses compatible codecs and timestamps, stream-copying may reduce encoding work, but it can be less predictable across source files and ingest conditions. Test that approach rather than relying on it for a long broadcast.
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See the DigitalOcean FFmpeg looping tutorial for the documented loop pattern, and the FFmpeg protocol documentation for RTMPS terminology. YouTube’s ingestion guide takes precedence if an older example conflicts with the current event details.
Start the stream and monitor it
- Run the command in a terminal on the Droplet. Watch FFmpeg output for connection failures, timestamp errors, encoder overload, or a nonzero exit.
- In YouTube Live Control Room, wait for the preview and check stream health and encoder warnings.
- If the event is scheduled and the interface prompts you, select Go live to start the event.
- Observe the video and audio at the file boundary. Repeating a file does not remove a hard cut, fix a silent gap, or create a seamless audio transition.
- Keep monitoring the Droplet and Live Control Room. A running FFmpeg process is not proof that YouTube is receiving a healthy stream.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not establish an unlimited event duration or guarantee an archive for a longer broadcast. For a planned run beyond that window, check YouTube’s current behavior and design a session restart strategy rather than assuming one event will continue and archive indefinitely.
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Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot connect | Wrong or stale ingestion URL/key, incorrect RTMPS path, or network/TLS issue. | Copy the current event URL and key again from Live Control Room; confirm the RTMPS hostname and path are intact and outbound port 443 is available. |
| FFmpeg connects, but no public live event appears | The event may be scheduled and awaiting a manual start. | Check the preview and event status in Live Control Room, then select Go live if the interface requires it. |
| Stream health reports warnings or video stutters | Bitrate, frame rate, or resolution may not match YouTube guidance; the encoder may be overloaded; or the Droplet’s network path may be inadequate. | Compare the output to YouTube’s current settings table, inspect FFmpeg logs and CPU load, and run a representative test at the intended settings. |
| Audio or video fails to play correctly | The source codec, timestamps, or stream settings may be incompatible or malformed. | Inspect the source and test a short event; when compatibility is uncertain, use a controlled H.264/AAC re-encode and verify preview and sound. |
| The process stops or the stream drops | FFmpeg exited, the Droplet or network interrupted, or YouTube ended/dropped the ingest. | Check the process exit status, server and network logs, and Live Control Room. Restarting FFmpeg may require reconnecting to the event; do not assume the command automatically recovers every interruption. |
| The loop has an audible or visible jump | The source file’s start and end do not form a seamless transition. | Edit or choose a file with a more suitable boundary, then test the transition. -stream_loop repeats content; it does not crossfade it. |
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Copyright and YouTube policy still apply
Looping a file does not grant permission to broadcast it. Use video and audio you own or have permission to stream, and review YouTube’s copyright and monetization policies before running a repetitive or extended broadcast. A stream that is technically valid can still receive a claim, restriction, or other platform action based on its content or rights. Check YouTube’s current rules for your channel and content rather than treating an FFmpeg command as policy approval.
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