For a prerecorded 1080p30 video, a practical FFmpeg starting point for YouTube Live is H.264 at 14 Mbps, AAC stereo at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz, constant-bitrate-oriented rate control, and a two-second keyframe interval. For a 30 fps source, that means a 60-frame GOP. These are YouTube recommendations and an illustrative configuration—not a universal preset: match the settings to your source, encoder, upload capacity, and stream duration.
Start with the source and YouTube’s ingest requirements
Choose the ingest codec, resolution, and frame rate before setting bitrate or GOP size. YouTube’s current encoder recommendations vary by those factors; do not apply a 1080p30 bitrate to a different format without checking its encoder settings and bitrate table. YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers.
| H.264 source format | YouTube recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 8 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published ingest recommendations, not guaranteed minimum connection speeds or independent performance-test results. Check the official table for its minimum values and recommendations for other codecs and formats. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, up to 60 fps, and recommends RTMPS. H.264 is used in the example below because it is a straightforward illustrative choice; the encoder must be available in your FFmpeg build.
Use this illustrative FFmpeg command for a file input
Replace the input filename and the ingest URL and stream key with the values from YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the stream key private: anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your stream.
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ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M
-pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2
-f flv "rtmps://YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"This is an output-option sketch, not a tested command or a promise that a particular computer can encode the video in real time. The example’s 14 Mbps video and 128 kbps stereo audio correspond to YouTube’s recommendations for H.264 1080p30 and stereo audio. The 28 Mbps buffer size is an example, not a YouTube requirement. Check how your selected encoder implements rate control and confirm your FFmpeg build supports the encoder and RTMPS protocol.
Why the file uses -re
-re paces a file input in real time instead of letting FFmpeg read and send it as fast as possible. Omit it for a real-time capture device; applying file pacing unnecessarily to a live capture input can interfere with the input’s timing. FFmpeg documents input pacing and its command options at ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html.
Why these GOP and rate-control options are only a starting point
YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds. For a fixed 30 fps stream, two seconds is 60 frames, hence -g 60; -keyint_min 60 and -sc_threshold 0 are included to illustrate a fixed interval with x264. Verify actual keyframe output for your encoder and source. YouTube specifies CBR, but a target bitrate alone does not prove that an encoder is producing strict constant bitrate. Bitrate, maximum rate, buffer size, and encoder-specific controls work together.
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Set audio and picture properties to match the stream
YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio. For stereo, its recommendation is 128 kbps at 44.1 kHz; for 5.1 audio, it recommends 384 kbps at 48 kHz and requires AAC over RTMP/RTMPS. Do not use the example’s stereo settings if the actual program requires 5.1.
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Choose an encoder preset your machine can sustain
The example uses x264’s veryfast preset, but no single preset is best for every CPU, resolution, or frame rate. A slower preset may use more processing time; a faster one may trade compression efficiency for speed. Test a representative section at the intended output settings and watch FFmpeg’s encoding progress for speed below real time, encoding lag, or dropped frames. Hardware encoders have their own options and rate-control behavior, so do not assume x264 flags translate directly.
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Plan bandwidth and test before relying on a continuous run
YouTube recommends keeping total outgoing stream bitrate within upload capacity and leaving 20% headroom. Include audio and any other outgoing traffic when planning capacity; shared connections can leave less bandwidth for FFmpeg than a speed-test result suggests. Advertised download speed does not establish sustainable upload capacity. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
- Measure the available upload bandwidth on the connection and at the time the stream will run.
- Set the output bitrate for the actual codec, resolution, and frame rate, leaving the recommended headroom.
- Run a test with representative movement and audio. Check FFmpeg’s output and YouTube Live Control Room’s stream health and messages.
- Monitor the stream during operation; a successful initial connection does not establish that the network or encoder will remain healthy indefinitely.
Improve recovery, while understanding its limits
FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer documentation includes an RTMP example using -attempt_recovery 1 and -recovery_wait_time 1 to attempt recovery after certain temporary output failures. It is not protection against every network outage, input failure, crashed process, invalid credential, or YouTube-side interruption. Consult the FFmpeg full documentation and test recovery behavior with your output and FFmpeg build before depending on it.
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Account for archives and long runs
YouTube’s encoder setup instructions state that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement describes automatic archiving for streams below that duration; it does not establish a general maximum live-stream duration. If you need a recording from a longer run, keep a separate local recording or confirm YouTube’s current archive behavior and requirements. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
When RTMPS or HLS fits
RTMPS is YouTube’s recommended transport for the example workflow. YouTube also documents HLS ingestion for use cases including HDR and alternate-codec workflows. HLS sends segmented media and therefore has higher latency. Choose it only when its codec or workflow support matters more than that latency trade-off, and follow YouTube’s HLS setup guidance.
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| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
FFmpeg cannot find libx264 or cannot open RTMPS output |
The FFmpeg build may lack the selected encoder or protocol support. | Check the build’s available encoders and protocols; use a supported encoder or build before changing bitrate settings. |
| Video arrives but stream health reports unstable bitrate | Available upload capacity may be insufficient or shared, or the encoder may not be behaving as intended under rate control. | Measure sustained upload capacity, leave headroom, reduce output demands if needed, and inspect the encoder’s rate-control behavior. |
| Encoding falls behind or frames are dropped | The machine may not encode the chosen resolution and frame rate in real time. | Test the actual workload; select a faster sustainable preset, a supported hardware encoder, or a lower output format. |
| Keyframe warnings or irregular seeking/stream behavior | Actual keyframe cadence may differ from the intended GOP settings. | Verify keyframes from the chosen encoder and source. For fixed frame rates, calculate a two-second GOP as frame rate multiplied by two. |
| Stream stops and does not resume | The issue may be an input failure, process crash, credential problem, or interruption beyond FIFO’s supported recovery cases. | Inspect logs and input health, validate the key and ingest URL, supervise the process, and test recovery and alerting in advance. |
| File finishes before the intended stream time | -re paces playback but does not loop the input. |
Use an input or playlist workflow designed to repeat the material, and test transitions and duration before leaving it unattended. |
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Copyright and YouTube policy still apply
FFmpeg settings do not grant rights to the video or music you stream. Use material you own or are authorized to broadcast, and review YouTube’s current copyright rules and live-stream requirements before scheduling a continuous stream. A technically valid stream can still be interrupted or restricted for policy or rights reasons.
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