To play different videos one after another inside a single YouTube live broadcast, make an FFmpeg concat-demuxer list in the order you want and stream that list to the event’s YouTube server URL. This works best when the files have matching stream layouts, codecs and time bases. If by “schedule” you mean separate broadcasts at different times, schedule those in YouTube Live Control Room or manage them with the YouTube Live Streaming API; an FFmpeg playlist does not create a broadcast calendar.
Choose what you mean by “schedule”
- Play clips in sequence during one broadcast: FFmpeg reads a concat list from top to bottom. Use this when video A should be followed by video B in the same live event.
- Start separate live events at different times: create or schedule each event in YouTube Live Control Room, or use the Live Streaming API. The API supports reusing a liveStream resource when encoder settings recur, as well as creating a separate liveStream for each broadcast. Its documentation notes that only one event can be live at a time when reusing a stream resource. See YouTube’s explanation of broadcasts and streams.
The concat list is a fixed sequence for an FFmpeg input. It is not a timer, a YouTube event schedule, or a playlist editor that reliably updates a running FFmpeg process. The documentation cited here does not establish a dependable hot-reload procedure for changing the list mid-stream.
Prepare the videos and choose a join method
Use the concat demuxer for compatible files
The concat demuxer reads files one after another and adjusts timestamps so each follows the previous file. It can avoid re-encoding in suitable cases. FFmpeg’s documentation says: “All files must have the same streams (same codecs, same time base, etc.).” Check that the files have compatible stream layouts as well as matching codec and time-base characteristics; also verify their duration metadata. Incorrect duration information can cause artifacts at joins. Read the FFmpeg documentation’s concat demuxer section.
Use the concat filter when inputs need normalization
If the files do not meet the demuxer’s compatibility requirements, use a filter graph to decode, normalize and concatenate the audio and video, then encode the result. The filter approach is more flexible, but it requires choosing output properties that suit the actual inputs and YouTube encoder configuration. FFmpeg’s concatenation FAQ explains the distinction. There is no single safe command for every mix of resolutions, frame rates, audio tracks and codecs; inspect and test your source sequence before using it for a public event.
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Build the concat list
- Put the files in a known order. Use full paths or paths relative to the list file, and keep the names in the order you want them played.
- Create a UTF-8 text file such as
playlist.txtwith onefileentry per video. For example:file '/videos/intro.mp4' file '/videos/gameplay-part-1.mp4' file '/videos/gameplay-part-2.mp4' - Check path quoting. The examples use simple paths without embedded single quotes. If a path contains special characters, use FFmpeg’s documented quoting and escaping rules rather than assuming the example will work unchanged.
- Review the sequence and durations. A typo or inaccurate duration metadata can affect the transition timing. This list is static for the input being read; do not assume edits will change an already-running process.
Connect FFmpeg to a YouTube live event
- Create or schedule the event in YouTube Live Control Room. YouTube’s encoder livestream guide explains how to create an encoder stream and obtain its server URL and stream key.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it like a password: anyone who has it may be able to send video to your event. Do not publish it or include it in a public script or screenshot.
- Start FFmpeg with the concat list as input. For compatible files where packet-level concatenation is appropriate, a basic copy-to-RTMP pattern is:
ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt -c copy -f flv "SERVER_URL/STREAM_KEY"-rereads the input at its native rate rather than sending the file as fast as possible;-f concatselects the concat demuxer;-safe 0permits absolute paths in the list;-inames the list; and-c copypasses compatible encoded streams through without re-encoding. ReplaceSERVER_URL/STREAM_KEYwith the server URL and key YouTube supplies, following the endpoint format shown in the current YouTube interface. Do not share a real key. - Check the preview. For a scheduled stream, YouTube says to wait for the encoder preview and then click Go live in Live Control Room. Confirm picture, sound and the transition between clips before the public broadcast begins.
The command is a pattern, not a universal guarantee: input compatibility, FFmpeg version, audio presence and the supplied endpoint can change what is required. The FFmpeg documentation is rolling, so check the options supported by the version installed on your machine.
Test before the broadcast
- Run the complete sequence using the actual files and listen for audio gaps, abrupt changes in level, or unexpected silence at the joins.
- Watch the transitions for freezes, black frames, timestamp jumps or sync drift. If a join fails, first check stream compatibility and the files’ duration metadata.
- Confirm the YouTube preview appears and that the event is configured as intended. Use an appropriate private or unlisted setup if the event is not ready for a public audience.
- For files that need different output properties, switch to a normalization-and-filter workflow rather than relying on
-c copy. The required filter and encoding settings depend on the files; do not apply a generic command without validating its output.
Troubleshoot common problems
FFmpeg rejects the concat input or a join breaks
Check that the files have the same streams, codecs and time bases, and that duration metadata is accurate. The demuxer is intended for compatible inputs. If they differ, normalize and concatenate with the filter workflow described in the FFmpeg FAQ.
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The second video starts at the wrong time or shows artifacts
Incorrect duration metadata can affect timestamp adjustment. Inspect the source files and test the complete list; do not assume the listed order alone will correct bad timing information.
YouTube does not show a preview
Recheck the server URL and stream key copied from the event’s encoder setup, then confirm FFmpeg is running and sending to the intended endpoint. Keep the key private while troubleshooting.
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The stream is sending, but the scheduled event is not public
A scheduled event has a preview and a separate Go live action in Live Control Room. After confirming the preview, use that control to take the event live.
Changing the text list does not change what is playing
The concat list is not a documented hot-reload mechanism. Stop and configure the process with the desired sequence, then verify the behavior for your FFmpeg method and version before relying on a mid-broadcast change.
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Copyright and YouTube rules still apply
Being able to stream a file does not establish that you have the rights to broadcast it. Use videos and audio you own or are authorized to use, and review YouTube’s current rules and event settings before going live. YouTube’s encoder guide also states that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; because platform limits can change, verify the current guidance in YouTube’s live-streaming help page before planning around that limit.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps uploaded videos playing 24/7, StreamNeo is an alternative to maintaining an FFmpeg process on a computer. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not broadcast from a camera.
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