To stream a prerecorded yoga nidra video continuously on YouTube Live, create an encoder stream in YouTube Studio, then send the video to YouTube with FFmpeg using -stream_loop -1. That option repeats the input indefinitely. The command below is a practical H.264/AAC starting point; choose a bitrate that fits your video and reliable upload speed, and check the preview and stream health before sharing the event.
Before you start
- An eligible YouTube channel: live streaming must be enabled. YouTube says the channel must be verified and have had no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. See YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
- FFmpeg: available on the computer that will send the stream.
- A prepared source video: confirm it plays from beginning to end, has the intended audio, and is a file you have the rights to broadcast.
- A stable upload connection: it must sustain the stream’s video and audio bitrate. Test the actual setup rather than relying only on a speed-test result.
A continuous live broadcast is still subject to YouTube’s policies. Having permission to use the video and audio matters; looping a recording does not itself establish that you have those rights or that the content qualifies for monetization.
Create the YouTube Live event and get its stream details
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Live Control Room. Create or schedule a live stream and select the encoder workflow.
- Set the event title, visibility, and other details. For a first run, use an unlisted test event where appropriate so you can check the feed before sharing it.
- In the stream settings, copy the stream URL and stream key. YouTube describes the key as similar to a password: keep it private, and do not put it in a public post, screenshot, or shared command history.
- Note how the encoder expects the URL and key. Some encoder fields accept them separately; for FFmpeg, use the RTMPS endpoint and key in the output address in the format YouTube supplies. Do not assume a generic endpoint or reuse a key you have not verified in Studio. YouTube’s setup guidance explains entering the URL and key; its LiveStreams API documentation describes ingestion address and stream-name fields.
Prepare the video and choose stream settings
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS transport, H.264/H.265/AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, CBR bitrate encoding, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval (with four seconds as the maximum). YouTube recommends RTMPS for encryption. Choose settings that match the source and connection, then check the current YouTube encoder settings and bitrate guidance.
The example below encodes a 30 fps H.264 video with AAC audio. It uses a 60-frame GOP, which is a two-second keyframe interval at 30 fps, and sets stereo audio to 128 Kbps. Set -b:v to an appropriate bitrate for your chosen resolution: YouTube’s published H.264 recommendations include 10 Mbps for 1080p30 and 6 Mbps for 720p30. Those are recommendations, not guarantees that every connection can sustain them.
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Run FFmpeg in an endless loop
Replace yoga-nidra.mp4 with your file path. Replace the example output address with the RTMPS URL and stream key YouTube provides. Keep the final URL in quotes, especially if it contains special characters.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i yoga-nidra.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency
-pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-b:v 6M -maxrate 6M -bufsize 12M
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://INGESTION_URL/STREAM_KEY'-stream_loop -1 is an input option, so it appears before -i. FFmpeg’s -re option reads the file at real-time pace instead of sending it as fast as the computer can process it. The command uses 6 Mbps as an example video bitrate appropriate to YouTube’s published 720p30 H.264 recommendation; adjust it for your actual resolution and connection. The -maxrate and -bufsize options constrain rate variation around that target, but do not make an insufficient upload connection reliable. FFmpeg’s option syntax and loop behavior are documented in the FFmpeg documentation.
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Adjust the command for your source
- Resolution: the example does not force a particular output size. For a source with a different resolution or frame rate, choose an output that YouTube supports and that your connection can sustain; do not simply raise bitrate without testing.
- Frame rate and keyframes: this example encodes at 30 fps and sets a 60-frame GOP. If you change
-r, adjust-gand-keyint_minto keep the keyframe interval at about two seconds. Keep within YouTube’s four-second maximum. - Video bitrate: replace
6Mwith the target for the selected resolution and codec from YouTube’s current table. Use CBR-style settings and leave enough headroom in the upload connection for stable delivery. - Audio: the example encodes AAC at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. Confirm the source contains the intended audio; if it is silent by design, check the result in the preview before going live publicly.
- Copying instead of encoding: stream-copy options can reduce CPU use only if the existing codecs, timestamps, and keyframe structure are suitable for YouTube’s live ingest. Because that depends on the particular file, the encode-based example is the more controllable starting point.
Check the preview, then keep the stream running
- Start the FFmpeg command and watch its output for connection or encoding errors.
- In YouTube Live Control Room, wait for the incoming feed and inspect the preview, audio, and stream-health messages. Check that movement and sound look and feel as intended, not just a static opening frame.
- If the test is clean, proceed with the event’s intended visibility or share the public event. Keep FFmpeg and the computer running for as long as this do-it-yourself broadcast needs to continue.
- When you are finished, stop FFmpeg. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; its guidance does not establish the same archive outcome for longer broadcasts.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | What to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No preview or no incoming stream | The RTMPS URL and stream key may be wrong, incomplete, or no longer current. | Copy the current details from YouTube Studio and verify how the endpoint and key should be combined. If a key may have been exposed, a channel owner or manager can reset it in YouTube Studio. |
| Buffering or poor stream health | The selected bitrate may exceed what the upload connection can sustain. | Test the connection and a short stream. Lower the resolution or bitrate, then test again while watching YouTube’s health indicators. |
| Video loops, but audio is missing or wrong | The source may have no audio stream, the wrong audio may be selected, or the file may behave differently during looping than expected. | Play the file locally and verify its audio before streaming. Test the exact file in an unlisted event; this command is not a guarantee against every source-specific audio or timestamp issue. |
| FFmpeg connects but the stream is unstable | Check encoder output, source compatibility, and whether the configured frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval match the actual output. | Use a compatible encoding configuration, reduce load or bitrate as needed, and repeat a test while monitoring stream health. |
| Broadcast runs longer than 12 hours | YouTube’s automatic-archive guidance applies to streams under 12 hours. | Do not assume a longer stream will be archived automatically; plan how to preserve any recording you need. |
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