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Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to play a folder’s videos in a deliberate order and send them to YouTube Live. Create a text file listing compatible clips, then run FFmpeg with YouTube’s ingest URL and stream key from Live Control Room. The files must have matching streams, codecs and time bases for direct concatenation; mixed files may need to be normalized first.
Before you start
- Install FFmpeg and make sure its
ffmpegcommand is available in your terminal or command prompt. - Have the video files you want to stream and a stable upload connection capable of sustaining the chosen output bitrate.
- In YouTube Studio, confirm your channel is eligible to livestream. YouTube’s current eligibility page says channels need verification, no live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days, and a user who is at least 16. Check YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements for current account-specific rules.
- Use only video and audio you have the rights to stream. A live broadcast can still receive copyright claims or be interrupted; a looping format does not exempt it from YouTube’s policies.
Check that the videos can be concatenated directly
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer joins media at the packet level; it does not convert files to make them match. FFmpeg requires the inputs to have the same streams, codecs and time bases. If the files differ, direct concatenation may fail or produce broken playback. Compare their media properties first; if they do not match, normalize or transcode them to a consistent format before using this method. The appropriate conversion settings depend on the actual files and the output you need.
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Create an ordered concat list
Make a plain-text file named videos.ffconcat in the folder containing the clips. Put the optional header on its exact first line, then list each file in the order it should play:
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file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'Use simple relative filenames where possible. The list—not the folder’s display order—determines playback order. If you generate the list automatically, sort filenames deterministically and escape paths using FFmpeg’s concat-script syntax; ordinary alphabetical sorting may not match your intended sequence.
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Paths, special characters and safe mode
By default, the concat demuxer uses safe mode and rejects unsafe paths or directives. Relative filenames with portable characters are the simplest option. Spaces, quotes and other special characters require correct quoting or escaping. Avoid absolute paths where a relative list will work. If you must use absolute or unusual paths, understand that disabling safe mode allows paths and directives that the default rejects; only do so with a list you trust.
Duration and timestamps
The demuxer places each file using the preceding file’s duration. If a duration estimate is missing or inaccurate, the transition can contain gaps or timestamp artifacts. When you know the correct duration, a duration directive in the list can override the estimate. Do not add guessed durations: use a verified value for the media.
Get YouTube’s stream URL and key
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Live Control Room. Create or select the live stream you intend to use.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown in the encoder setup. Prefer the RTMPS URL if your FFmpeg build and configuration support it; RTMPS is RTMP over TLS/SSL.
- Keep the key private. YouTube says, “Stream keys are like your YouTube stream’s password and address.” Do not put it in a public script, screenshot, repository or example command. If you think it has been exposed, reset it in Live Control Room.
For the Live Control Room workflow, see YouTube’s encoder setup instructions and instructions for managing live stream settings.
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Choose output settings and start FFmpeg
Choose a video size, frame rate, codec and bitrate that fit both the source material and your sustained upload capacity. YouTube’s encoder guidance, checked on 2026-10-03, recommends H.264 video at 10 Mbps for 1080p30 and 4 Mbps for 720p30. It also provides separate bitrate ranges for AV1 and H.265/HEVC. These are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular input or connection will work. The same guidance recommends CBR and keyframes every 2 seconds, not exceeding 4 seconds; supported codecs depend on the ingestion protocol and YouTube’s current settings.
For a compatible H.264 source, a basic command pattern is:
ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 1 -i videos.ffconcat
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 10M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 -r 30
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"Replace the final quoted value with the URL and key from Live Control Room; never publish a real key. The example targets 1080p30 H.264 at YouTube’s current 10 Mbps recommendation, with a 2-second GOP at 30 fps. It assumes your input is suitable for this output. If the source is not 1080p30, audio is absent, or your upload cannot sustain the bitrate, adjust the profile rather than blindly copying it. The command encodes the video as it streams; using different output codecs or settings may require corresponding changes to the command and YouTube’s current guidance.
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To use RTMPS, substitute the RTMPS ingest URL supplied by YouTube, if supported by your FFmpeg setup. YouTube’s RTMPS troubleshooting notes that some encoders may not support that protocol; confirm the URL uses RTMPS and verify encoder support if the connection fails. See YouTube’s RTMPS troubleshooting guidance.
Preview, go live and end the broadcast
- Run the command and watch Live Control Room for the encoder preview and stream-health information.
- For a scheduled broadcast, wait for the preview and select Go live in Live Control Room when ready.
- Monitor stream health during the broadcast. YouTube recommends testing the upload bitrate and testing the stream before going live, ideally with representative movement and audio.
- When finished, stop FFmpeg from sending content and complete the end-stream workflow in Live Control Room as applicable.
Troubleshooting
FFmpeg says the streams do not match, or playback is broken
Compare the files’ stream count, codecs and time bases. The concat demuxer needs these properties to match for direct concatenation. Normalize mixed sources to a common profile before concatenating; there is no single conversion command that is correct for every folder.
There is a gap or a timestamp glitch at a clip boundary
Check the preceding clip’s duration estimate. The demuxer uses it to calculate the next file’s timestamps. If the estimate is known to be wrong or missing, set a verified duration value in the concat list.
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The list is rejected because of a path
Keep the list beside the clips and use simple relative filenames. Safe mode is enabled by default and rejects unsafe paths. Use -safe 0 only when the list and paths are trusted and you specifically need to allow paths safe mode rejects.
YouTube has no preview or FFmpeg cannot connect
Check that you copied the current ingest URL and stream key from the intended Live Control Room stream, and confirm the selected protocol matches what FFmpeg supports. For RTMPS, confirm the URL uses the RTMPS protocol and that your encoder supports it.
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YouTube reports poor stream health
Check the sustained upload capacity against the chosen bitrate, verify the output settings and test with representative motion and audio before the broadcast. Follow the current YouTube encoder settings and bitrate guidance, then monitor stream health while live.
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