Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to read a playlist, then add -stream_loop -1 before its input to repeat it indefinitely. Send the output to the ingestion URL and stream name configured for your YouTube live stream. The command below is a starting point: confirm that your files are compatible, choose settings for your target quality and upload capacity, and test before broadcasting.
Build and loop a playlist with FFmpeg
The concat demuxer reads a text file containing media-file entries. The -stream_loop -1 input option tells FFmpeg to repeat that input without a set limit. Put input options before the corresponding -i.
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1. Create the playlist file
In a working directory, create playlist.txt with one entry per clip:
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file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'Use paths relative to the playlist when practical. The concat demuxer’s safe option defaults to 1, which permits safe relative paths; avoid setting safe=0 casually, because it allows any filename. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
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2. Start the live output
Set the output to the ingestion URL and stream name supplied in YouTube Studio or your live-stream settings. The following command uses H.264 video, AAC audio and FLV output, a common RTMP-style pattern:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-r 30 -g 60 -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_NAME"This is an illustrative starting point, not a tested command or universal bitrate prescription. Replace the placeholders with the actual values and output form your encoder interface requires; some interfaces accept the stream name separately rather than appended to the URL. YouTube’s API describes the ingestion address and stream name as distinct values: see LiveStreams | YouTube Live Streaming API.
-re paces file input at its native rate for live output. Test the behavior with your installed FFmpeg build before relying on it. The -g 60 setting means a 60-frame GOP, which is two seconds only at 30 fps. Adjust the GOP for your actual frame rate.
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3. Keep the stream credential private
Treat the stream name/key as a secret: do not publish it in a script, screenshot or shared terminal history. Use environment variables or another private configuration method, and rotate the key in YouTube if it is exposed.
Check whether the playlist can be concatenated directly
The concat demuxer can avoid re-encoding when the inputs are compatible. Before the full broadcast, check that clips have compatible stream layouts and consistent dimensions, frame rates and codecs. Compatibility can depend on the files and FFmpeg build, so verify the transitions in a test.
If the clips need normalization or have incompatible streams, use FFmpeg’s concat filter and re-encode rather than assuming the demuxer can join them cleanly. FFmpeg’s FAQ on concatenating video files recommends the concat filter when re-encoding is needed.
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Choose YouTube ingest and encoder settings
Use the protocol and encoder configuration shown for your YouTube live stream. YouTube’s current guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS settings and also documents HLS for supported workflows; the example above uses FLV output for an RTMP-style connection. The guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 video, and AAC or MP3 audio. Check the current YouTube encoder settings, bitrates and resolutions before going live.
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Match bitrate to output and connection
YouTube’s encoder table gives recommendations, not guaranteed results. Examples in the guidance are:
| Output example | H.264 recommended bitrate | AV1 or H.265 recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
These are YouTube Help recommendations; its reviewed page does not identify a publication year. Select the row for your codec, resolution and frame rate, and make sure your sustained upload capacity can support the video bitrate plus audio and network overhead. Do not treat the example command’s 4500k as a setting for every resolution.
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Set keyframes and rate control
YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it should not exceed four seconds; its encoder guidance also recommends constant bitrate (CBR). Set the GOP length to about twice the frame rate for a two-second interval—for example, 60 frames at 30 fps—and configure rate control to match your encoder’s CBR behavior. Recheck these values if you change frame rate or codec.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Preflight the broadcast
- Run a short test with representative movement and audio. YouTube’s guidance says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
- In YouTube’s live control room, confirm that data arrives and that the detected resolution and frame rate are what you expect. A custom stream key may require manual resolution settings.
- Watch stream health and YouTube’s messages during the test and broadcast. The Live Streaming API exposes health status and configuration issues for API clients.
- Check playlist transitions for gaps, freezes, timestamp problems, audio discontinuities or missing audio/video streams.
- Confirm that you have the rights to stream every clip and its audio. A loop does not grant permission to use copyrighted material, and repeated or reused material should comply with YouTube’s applicable copyright and monetization policies.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not receive the stream | Wrong ingestion URL, stream name/key, output form or protocol | Copy the current values from the live-stream settings, check whether the encoder expects the name separately, and inspect FFmpeg’s connection error. |
| Video appears at the wrong resolution or frame rate | Input properties, encoder output settings or a custom stream key’s manual settings do not match | Check FFmpeg’s output configuration and the live control room’s detected or configured values. |
| Playback breaks at a clip boundary | Incompatible codecs, dimensions, frame rates, stream layouts or timestamps | Test each transition; normalize and re-encode with the concat filter if direct demuxer concatenation is unsuitable. |
| Audio is absent or discontinuous | One or more clips lack audio or use incompatible audio streams | Inspect the playlist’s audio streams and test a representative transition; normalize the clips if needed. |
| Stream health reports a configuration problem | Encoder settings do not match the selected ingest configuration or YouTube guidance | Review the control-room message, protocol, codec, bitrate, keyframe interval and available upload capacity. |
| Playlist paths fail to load | Entries are not valid safe paths from the FFmpeg working directory | Use correct relative paths and filenames; only consider safe=0 if you understand the security implications of allowing arbitrary paths. |
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