To loop prerecorded product demos into one continuous YouTube Live broadcast, put the files in an FFmpeg concat-demuxer playlist, read that playlist at real-time speed, loop it indefinitely, and send the encoded output to the RTMPS ingest URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. The command below is a starting point, not a universal preset: first make sure the files are compatible, then match the output settings to your video and upload connection.
Prepare compatible demo videos
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer reads a text manifest and plays the listed files in sequence. Its requirements are strict: the files should have matching streams, codecs, and time bases. If your demos differ in codec, stream layout, or timing, normalize them to a consistent format before relying on the playlist. Incorrect duration metadata can also cause timestamp artifacts or gaps.
In the directory containing the demo files, create playlist.txt:
file 'demo-01.mp4'
file 'demo-02.mp4'
file 'demo-03.mp4'Use paths relative to the playlist or otherwise valid paths, and test the manifest locally. If filenames contain spaces or special characters, use concat-demuxer quoting that is valid for those paths. The command below uses -safe 0, which relaxes path safety restrictions; use it only with a playlist you control, not a manifest containing untrusted paths. FFmpeg’s concat demuxer documentation describes the manifest and compatibility rules.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Connect FFmpeg to YouTube Live
- Get the ingest details. In YouTube Live Control Room, create or open the live stream and copy the server URL and stream key shown for it. Use RTMPS where available. YouTube recommends RTMPS as the secure extension to RTMP. Treat the stream key like a password: do not publish it, commit it to source control, or share it. If it is compromised, reset it in Live Control Room.
- Run FFmpeg on the playlist. Replace the placeholder ingest address below with the server URL and stream key from YouTube. Keep the input options
-reand-stream_loop -1before-i.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY'-re reads the input at its native rate rather than sending a file as fast as the computer can process it. -stream_loop -1 loops the input indefinitely. The example encodes H.264 video and AAC audio into an FLV output for RTMP/RTMPS ingest. The example’s 14 Mbps video bitrate and 60-frame GOP are illustrative for a 1080p30 starting point, not settings to copy for every source or frame rate. FFmpeg documents these input options in its command-line documentation.
Choose YouTube-compatible output settings
YouTube’s rolling encoder guidance, accessed October 3, 2026, lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; CBR encoding; and frame rates up to 60 fps for RTMP/RTMPS. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. With the sample command’s -g 60, the GOP is 60 frames: that corresponds to two seconds at 30 fps, but not at other frame rates. Set the GOP to match your chosen frame rate and keyframe interval.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
For H.264, YouTube recommends 14 Mbps at 1080p30 and 8 Mbps at 720p30. These are YouTube’s recommendations, not guarantees of quality; choose resolution and bitrate to suit the source, desired output, and encoder capacity. YouTube recommends keeping total stream bitrate below available upload capacity, with 20% headroom. That includes audio as well as video. See YouTube’s encoder settings guidance for its current recommendations.
Test the stream before leaving it live
- Start FFmpeg and open the Live Control Room preview. Confirm that YouTube receives the stream and that video and audio play correctly.
- Test with representative motion and audio from the actual playlist. Watch for visual artifacts, gaps between files, missing audio, or a stream-health warning.
- Monitor stream health and warnings during transmission. A running FFmpeg process by itself does not prove that YouTube is receiving a healthy stream.
YouTube advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Its encoder settings guidance also recommends testing before going live.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Know what continuous streaming does—and does not—cover
YouTube describes continuous live streams from an existing content library. Its automatic archive statement applies to streams under 12 hours; do not assume a longer broadcast will be automatically archived. Plan separately for broadcast continuity and for keeping a replay or recording. See YouTube’s live-stream archiving guidance.
The concat loop repeats the playlist while the FFmpeg process and its connection keep working. It is not, by itself, an automatic recovery setup for a process crash, network interruption, or YouTube disconnect. Test the complete arrangement on your FFmpeg build, media, network, and YouTube configuration before relying on it unattended.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Use HLS only when the ingest format calls for it
RTMP/RTMPS is the straightforward choice for a typical SDR product-demo stream using supported codecs. YouTube’s HLS ingest is a different path, useful for HDR or codecs not supported over RTMP. HLS has higher latency because it sends segments rather than one continuous stream. Its requirements include TS segments, 1–4 second segment duration, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, and HTTPS POST/PUT. An ordinary FLV/RTMP command is not an HLS command; the output format and protocol settings must match the selected ingest path. Check YouTube’s encoder guidance before choosing an ingest protocol.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the playlist to keep running without a computer and home connection staying on, StreamNeo is a cloud option for uploaded videos on YouTube. Upload the demos, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops from the cloud, supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallBest Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Start StreamNeo’s free first day or learn more at StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
