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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11You can send a prerecorded video from Ubuntu to YouTube Live with FFmpeg: enable live streaming for your channel, create or schedule an event in YouTube Studio, then use its RTMPS ingest URL and stream key in an FFmpeg command. For a scheduled event, FFmpeg starting is not enough—wait for the preview and click Go live in Live Control Room. The local method requires the Ubuntu computer and its internet connection to remain available for the duration of the stream.
Before you start
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. Check the current eligibility and setup in YouTube’s live-streaming help.
- Have the video file on the Ubuntu computer and an internet connection with enough upload capacity for the chosen stream bitrate.
- Install an FFmpeg build that includes the needed video encoder, audio encoder, FLV muxer and RTMPS protocol support. Package builds vary, so check your installed build rather than assuming it has every component.
- Treat the stream key as a password. Do not expose it in screenshots, shared scripts, public logs or shell history; reset it in YouTube if it is compromised.
Create a YouTube Live event and copy its ingest details
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Create > Go live to open Live Control Room. Create an immediate stream or schedule an event.
- In the encoder or stream settings, copy the stream URL and the stream key for that event. Use the RTMPS address shown by YouTube, not a hostname copied from an example. YouTube explains that RTMPS encrypts the connection in its RTMPS setup instructions.
- Keep the URL and key private. The key must match the selected event; if it is exposed, reset it through YouTube’s stream settings.
For an immediate stream, configure FFmpeg and begin sending. For a scheduled stream, you will start FFmpeg first, then inspect the incoming preview and click Go live when ready.
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Choose encoding settings that fit the video and connection
YouTube’s current encoder recommendations list RTMP/RTMPS ingest, with RTMPS recommended; H.264, H.265/HEVC or AV1 video; frame rates up to 60 fps; and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. The source file, installed FFmpeg build and available upload capacity determine which settings are practical. These are ingest recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular file can be sent unchanged.
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| Setting | YouTube recommendation or consideration |
|---|---|
| Rate control | CBR |
| Keyframes | Two-second interval recommended; maximum interval four seconds |
| Audio codec | AAC or MP3; 5.1-channel audio over RTMP/RTMPS requires AAC |
| Audio sample rate | 44.1 kHz for stereo; 48 kHz for 5.1 |
| Audio bitrate | 128 Kbps recommended for stereo; 384 Kbps for 5.1 |
| SDR color | Rec. 709 |
| H.264 bitrate examples | 5–14 Mbps at 1080p30; 6–17 Mbps at 1080p60; 3–8 Mbps at 720p30 or 720p60 |
The bitrate ranges are YouTube’s published H.264 recommendations, accessed in 2026; consult its linked encoder page for the complete current table, including minimum and recommended values for other resolutions and codecs. Test with representative movement and audio, and make sure your sustained upload capacity can support the chosen bitrate.
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Check FFmpeg and prepare a safe command
First inspect the local build and the input file:
ffmpeg -versionshows the installed version and build configuration.ffmpeg -protocolslists protocols available in that build; confirm RTMPS support.ffmpeg -encodersandffmpeg -muxershelp confirm the video/audio encoders and FLV muxer are available.ffprobe -hide_banner -i input.mp4(if ffprobe is installed) reports the input’s video dimensions, frame rate and audio streams. Use the actual filename and inspect the output before choosing conversion settings.
The following is an illustrative pattern, not a tested command for every Ubuntu package, video or YouTube event. Replace the endpoint and key using the values in your Live Control Room; adapt resolution, frame rate, audio mapping and bitrate to the input and connection. Do not publish a command containing a real key.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 6000k -maxrate 6000k -bufsize 12000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://CURRENT_INGEST_URL/STREAM_KEY'At 30 fps, a GOP of 60 frames corresponds to a two-second keyframe interval. At a different frame rate, adjust -g and -keyint_min to keep the interval near two seconds. The sample’s 6000 Kbps video rate is an example value, not a universal setting; choose a value in line with YouTube’s current table and your upload capacity. The command encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC, so it will not preserve the original encoding unchanged.
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-stream_loop -1 repeats the input indefinitely. Remove it if you want one pass. With looping, the stream continues to send the file repeatedly until you stop FFmpeg or the connection ends. The single-input example assumes the file has suitable audio; if it has no audio, or multiple audio streams, inspect and configure stream mapping rather than assuming the example’s audio selection is right.
Keep credentials out of shell history and shared files. A safer approach is to restrict access to any configuration or script containing the key, avoid pasting it into public logs, and use the secret-handling method appropriate to your shell and setup. FFmpeg command-line credentials may still be visible to local users or process inspection, so avoid running them on a shared machine.
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Start the encoder, verify the preview and finish the event
- Start FFmpeg with the correct input, event URL and protected stream key. Watch its output for connection or encoding errors.
- In Live Control Room, wait for YouTube to receive the feed. Check the preview, stream health messages, picture and audio.
- For a scheduled event, click Go live in Live Control Room only when the preview is ready. Starting FFmpeg alone does not make the scheduled public event live.
- Check that the event is accessible on its watch page and, where relevant, from a mobile device. Continue monitoring audio and video quality during the broadcast.
- When finished, end the event in Live Control Room where applicable, then stop FFmpeg. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume the same archive behavior for longer streams.
YouTube recommends setting up encoders at least two hours before an event, starting them at least 15 minutes before its scheduled time, testing comparable motion and audio, and monitoring the stream. These are operational recommendations, not guarantees against network or service interruptions.
Troubleshooting FFmpeg to YouTube Live
- No connection or repeated timeout: Confirm you copied the RTMPS URL for the right event, including the correct scheme and server. Check that your FFmpeg build supports RTMPS and that the network allows the connection.
- TLS or SSL error: Verify that you are using the RTMPS address rather than RTMP. YouTube’s RTMPS guidance suggests trying port 443 if the URL otherwise appears correct; use the current account-provided endpoint and do not guess a hostname.
- No preview in Live Control Room: Check that FFmpeg is actively sending to the URL and key for the selected event. Read FFmpeg’s output and YouTube’s Live Control Room messages for connection or ingest errors.
- Buffering or unstable ingest: Check sustained upload capacity and test with representative content. Reduce resolution or bitrate to a level the connection can sustain, then verify the preview and stream health again.
- Missing or unsupported audio: Inspect the input’s audio streams and FFmpeg stream mapping. Use an ingest-supported audio codec and sample rate; YouTube currently lists AAC or MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS.
- FFmpeg appears to be running, but viewers cannot watch: A running process alone does not prove the event is live. Check YouTube’s preview and health status, click Go live for a scheduled stream, and verify the watch page and actual audio/video output.
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