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To loop a playlist of local clips on YouTube Live, put their filenames in an ffconcat file, then have FFmpeg read that list with the concat demuxer and repeat it using -stream_loop -1. This works best when every clip has matching streams, codecs and time bases; the demuxer joins compatible packet streams but does not normalize mismatched files or add transitions.
Build the concat playlist
Create a plain-text file named playlist.ffconcat. Its first line must be exactly ffconcat version 1.0, with no leading blank line, extra spaces or byte-order mark. Add one file directive for each clip, in the order you want it played:
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ffconcat version 1.0
file 'clip1.mp4'
file 'clip2.mp4'
file 'clip3.mp4'Save it as UTF-8 or ASCII-compatible text. Relative paths are simplest: FFmpeg resolves them from the working directory where you run the command. The concat demuxer applies a safe-path check by default and accepts simple relative filenames. For trusted absolute paths or other paths rejected by that check, use -safe 0 as an input option before -i. Only use it with a playlist you control. A concat file has its own quoting and escaping syntax; it is not a shell command, so filenames with spaces or special characters need to be written accordingly. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
FFmpeg describes the demuxer as reading files and directives from a text file and demuxing them one after another as though their packets had been muxed together. It does not render transitions between clips.
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Run the repeating YouTube Live feed
Replace the ingest URL and stream key below with the values YouTube provides for your broadcast. This is an illustrative starting command, not a universal preset or a tested live-stream result:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.ffconcat
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-r 30 -g 60 -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "$INGEST_URL/$STREAM_KEY"- Set the destination. Copy the current ingest URL and stream key from YouTube’s Live Control Room and substitute them for
$INGEST_URLand$STREAM_KEY. Keep the key private; anyone who obtains it may be able to send video to your stream. - Keep file playback at real-time speed.
-repaces this file-based input at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as storage permits. - Repeat the playlist.
-stream_loop -1loops the concat input indefinitely. - Choose output settings for your clips and connection. The sample encodes H.264 video at 30 fps with a 60-frame GOP, and AAC stereo-compatible audio settings. Its 4500 kbps video rate is only an example: choose resolution, frame rate and bitrate for the source and check YouTube’s current recommendations for the codec you use. Your upload connection must sustain the outgoing bitrate reliably.
The sample’s -safe 0 is appropriate only for a trusted playlist; remove it for ordinary simple relative paths if you want the default safe-path check. The -g 60 setting is a two-second keyframe interval at 30 fps. At a different frame rate, set the GOP length to match the desired interval.
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Account for audio
The command assumes the input clips provide audio streams compatible with the concat demuxer. If your clips have no audio, this command will not create silence automatically. Add a deliberate silent-audio source or choose another output audio plan that matches your intended stream.
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The concat demuxer is the efficient choice when the clips already fit together. FFmpeg requires matching streams (such as corresponding video and audio streams), codecs and time bases. If the clips differ, first normalize or re-encode them to a common format, or use a filter-based workflow. The FFmpeg FAQ distinguishes the demuxer approach, which can avoid re-encoding, from the concat filter, which is the choice when re-encoding is needed.
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- Use the demuxer when the clips’ stream layouts, codecs and time bases match and you do not need transitions or per-file processing.
- Use a filter workflow when clips need normalization, re-encoding or transitions. It gives you more control, but requires processing the media rather than simply joining compatible packet streams.
Duration metadata matters at clip boundaries. The demuxer schedules each next file using the preceding file’s duration. Incorrect duration metadata, truncated files or audio and video tracks of different lengths can lead to gaps or artifacts. If you know a file’s correct duration, a duration directive can override the reported value. Consult the demuxer documentation for directive syntax and behavior.
Verify YouTube Live encoder settings
YouTube’s live encoder settings page currently describes RTMP and RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265 and AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, and constant bitrate (CBR). It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds; its advanced stereo guidance lists 44.1 kHz audio at 128 kbps. Codec-specific video bitrate recommendations vary by resolution and frame rate, so check the live settings page when configuring the stream rather than treating the sample command’s bitrate as a rule. YouTube recommends RTMPS for an encrypted connection.
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Before broadcasting, test with audio and motion representative of the actual stream, then monitor the stream health and any messages YouTube displays. The YouTube Live Streaming API documentation describes stream states such as active, ready, inactive and error, along with health states including good, ok, bad and noData.
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Troubleshoot common failures
- FFmpeg does not recognize the playlist. Check that the first line is precisely
ffconcat version 1.0, with no preceding blank line, extra spaces or byte-order mark. Confirm that the file is saved as plain text. - A filename cannot be opened. Check the working directory and each path. Use simple relative paths where possible. If a trusted absolute path is required, add
-safe 0before-i; do not use that option with an untrusted playlist. Make sure spaces and special characters are escaped using concat-file syntax. - FFmpeg reports a stream or timestamp mismatch, or output breaks at a boundary. Compare the clips’ stream layout, codecs and time bases. Normalize or re-encode incompatible clips, and inspect duration metadata and audio/video track lengths. Use a known-correct
durationdirective when appropriate. - YouTube does not receive a healthy feed. Recheck the ingest URL and stream key in Live Control Room, confirm the chosen output settings against YouTube’s current encoder guidance, and inspect its health messages. Do not expose the stream key while troubleshooting.
- The output plays too quickly or YouTube reports an ingest issue. For a file-based live feed, retain real-time pacing with
-re. Confirm that your connection can sustain the selected bitrate and that the keyframe interval follows YouTube’s guidance for your output frame rate.
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