FFmpeg Command to Loop a 4K 60fps Video on YouTube Live

To loop a prerecorded video as a 4K, 60 fps YouTube Live stream, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 to repeat the input and -re to pace file playback in real time. The command below is an adaptable SDR H.264 template; replace the filename, YouTube event ingest URL and stream key, then test the stream in Live Control Room before relying on it.

Example FFmpeg command for 4K/60 streaming

This template assumes a local video with an audio track, an FFmpeg build that includes libx264, and an SDR output. It scales the image to fit inside a 3840×2160 frame without changing its aspect ratio, then pads any unused area.

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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4" 
  -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0? 
  -vf "scale=3840:2160:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=3840:2160:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2" 
  -r 60 -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset veryfast 
  -b:v 50M -maxrate 50M -bufsize 100M -x264-params "nal-hrd=cbr" 
  -g 120 -keyint_min 120 -sc_threshold 0 
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 
  -f flv "<YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL>/<STREAM_KEY>"

The sample’s 50 Mbps video bitrate follows the English YouTube Help page’s recommendation for H.264 at 2160p/60 when accessed on 2026-10-03. It is not a guarantee that your network or machine can sustain the stream. Confirm the bitrate and settings shown for your event in Live Control Room, since localized YouTube Help variants have shown a different 4K/60 H.264 range.

Replace the placeholders safely

1. Set input.mp4 to the local path of your video. Keep the stream key private; do not paste a real key into a public command example, post, or screenshot.
2. In YouTube Live Control Room, use the ingest URL and stream key assigned to the specific event. The YouTube API describes the combined form as STREAM_URL/STREAM_NAME; use the RTMPS ingest URL supplied for the event if your FFmpeg build and FLV workflow support it. Test that endpoint combination rather than assuming it will work in every setup.
3. Run the command in a terminal on the machine that has the file and FFmpeg installed. Watch FFmpeg’s output for real-time speed and check the event’s stream health in Live Control Room.

What the important options do

• -stream_loop -1 repeats the input indefinitely. It must precede the input it applies to.
• -re paces file input for live output. Looping and real-time pacing are separate: repeating a file alone does not make it arrive at YouTube at a live rate.
• -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0? selects the first video stream and the first audio stream if present. The question mark makes the audio mapping optional at the command-line stage; it does not make an audio-free YouTube stream valid.
• The scale-and-pad filter fits the picture into 3840×2160 while preserving its aspect ratio. Depending on the source, the result may have bars. Inspect the framing and decide whether that is preferable to cropping.
• -r 60 sets the output frame rate to 60 fps. If the source has a different frame rate, FFmpeg may duplicate or convert frames; check that this is acceptable for the content.
• -c:v libx264 selects H.264 encoding; -pix_fmt yuv420p selects 8-bit 4:2:0 output; and -preset veryfast trades some compression efficiency for a lighter encoding workload. The machine still has to encode in real time.
• -b:v and -maxrate set the video target and cap, while -bufsize sets the rate-control buffer. nal-hrd=cbr requests CBR-style signaling. YouTube recommends CBR for live ingestion.
• -g 120 -keyint_min 120 -sc_threshold 0 sets a 120-frame keyframe interval at 60 fps, or two seconds, and disables scene-cut keyframes. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and sets four seconds as the maximum.
• -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 encodes stereo audio as AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz, matching YouTube’s listed stereo recommendations. Check channel layout if your source is not stereo.
• -f flv selects the output container commonly used for RTMP-style ingest. YouTube lists RTMP and RTMPS as supported protocols.

Check YouTube’s 4K/60 requirements before going live

YouTube’s English Help page, current when accessed on 2026-10-03, lists H.264, H.265 and AV1, up to 60 fps, CBR, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval with a four-second maximum. Its listed bitrate recommendations are:

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These are YouTube’s recommendations on that English Help page, not a measured guarantee of picture quality or a required setting for every stream. Search results for localized versions showed different 4K/60 H.264 figures, so check the current settings for your event rather than combining figures from different page variants. YouTube also advises testing with representative movement and audio and monitoring stream health. Its Help page says the low-latency improvement option is unavailable for 4K, which uses normal latency.

Codec and HDR considerations

The command uses SDR H.264, not HDR. YouTube’s page recommends Rec. 709 and 8-bit video for SDR; it recommends H.265 for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. Although H.265 and AV1 have lower listed 4K/60 bitrate recommendations on that page, use one only if your FFmpeg build, encoder hardware, event settings and ingest workflow support it. This template does not configure HDR.

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Prepare the file, encoder and connection

• Inspect the file’s streams before running the command. Confirm it has the intended video and audio, and that your FFmpeg build contains the selected encoder. If there is no audio track, add a suitable audio input or deliberately configure a supported audio stream; YouTube’s API reports an error for missing audio.
• Check whether the source’s frame rate and aspect ratio suit a 60 fps, 16:9 output. The command can convert frame rate and pad the image, but those choices may not match your intended presentation.
• Run an upload-speed test. The connection must reliably sustain the selected video bitrate plus audio and transport overhead; the reviewed YouTube material does not specify an exact overhead margin.
• Confirm the machine can encode at 4K/60 without falling behind. If encoding speed drops below real time, try a faster supported encoder or preset, reduce the output settings, or use more capable hardware. A command that works on one machine is not proof another can sustain it.
• Keep a separate copy of the event’s ingest URL and stream key somewhere private so you can verify them without exposing the key.

Test the stream and diagnose problems

1. Start with a private or otherwise appropriate test event in Live Control Room. YouTube specifically advises testing before starting a live stream; include motion and audio similar to the planned broadcast.
2. While FFmpeg runs, check that it reports real-time speed and that the stream appears at the intended resolution and frame rate in Live Control Room.
3. Review YouTube’s stream-health messages. A running FFmpeg process alone does not prove YouTube is receiving a valid stream.

For a stream that must run 24/7

A local FFmpeg command depends on the computer, file access and internet connection staying available, and on the encoder keeping up. If a local setup stops, you need to diagnose and restart it. YouTube recommends monitoring stream health; do not treat a looping command as proof of uninterrupted delivery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does this command make an HDR stream?

No. It is an SDR H.264 template and does not configure HDR.

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Can I use this command if the source file has no audio?

Not as written for a valid YouTube stream: the optional mapping can leave the output without audio. Provide a suitable audio stream and test it.

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