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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To loop a sequence of prerecorded videos to YouTube Live from a Hetzner server, put their paths in an FFmpeg concat playlist and pass -stream_loop -1 before that playlist’s -i option. The example below uses stream copy, so it works only when the files have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases. You also need the event’s current YouTube ingest URL and stream key, enough sustained outbound bandwidth, and a way to restart FFmpeg if it exits.
How do I loop an FFmpeg concat playlist forever?
Create a plain-text playlist file such as playlist.ffconcat. Put the format marker on the first line, exactly as shown, followed by one file directive per video in playback order:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'Save the playlist alongside the videos, or use paths that resolve correctly from the directory where FFmpeg will run. The concat demuxer is line-oriented. Paths containing spaces or special characters need correct quoting or escaping; test the playlist with the exact paths and working directory you will use in production. The ffconcat version 1.0 marker must be the first line for automatic format recognition. This command explicitly selects the concat demuxer with -f concat. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.
Use this command shape
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.ffconcat
-c copy -f flv 'rtmps://<youtube-ingest-endpoint>/<stream-key>'This is a command pattern, not a tested recipe. Replace the placeholder output with the exact RTMPS server URL and stream key shown for your YouTube Live event. Keep -stream_loop -1 among the input options before the -i playlist.ffconcat it applies to: FFmpeg options are order-sensitive. A value of -1 means loop indefinitely. The -re input option reads media at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible. The -c copy option copies encoded streams without re-encoding; it does not make incompatible files compatible.
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The example uses -safe 0 so the concat demuxer accepts paths that its default safety rules might reject. Use it only when you trust the playlist and every referenced path. If you can use paths accepted by the default rules, omit -safe 0. Check the installed FFmpeg build and output compatibility, then test privately or with an unlisted event before relying on it for a public stream. FFmpeg’s documentation describes its options and command-line behavior.
Will stream copy work with my videos?
Only if the files are compatible for concatenation. FFmpeg’s concat demuxer requires the files to have the same streams, codecs, and time bases. As the FFmpeg project puts it, “All files must have the same streams (same codecs, same time base, etc.).” Stream copy saves encoding work, but it cannot reconcile differing formats or stream layouts.
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Check these properties before going live
- Use the same stream layout across files—for example, do not assume a playlist containing a video-only clip and clips with audio will join cleanly.
- Check that codecs and time bases match across the playlist. Normalize files in advance if they differ.
- Check duration metadata. The demuxer adjusts timestamps globally so each file begins where the preceding one ends; if stream durations do not align, gaps can result. Incorrect duration metadata can cause artifacts. A
durationdirective can override a file’s stored duration when needed. - Test transitions between every pair of files, not only playback of each file by itself. A playlist that plays individually may still have timestamp or stream-layout problems at joins.
If the files are not compatible, prepare normalized copies before streaming or use an appropriate re-encoding and filtering workflow. That takes additional preparation and, if encoding during the live run, CPU capacity. Do not expect -c copy to smooth out mismatched media.
How do I stream prerecorded videos continuously to YouTube Live?
- Create or select the event. In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select the live event. Obtain that event’s stream URL and stream key. YouTube’s live stream settings guide explains the settings, while its RTMPS guide covers the encrypted connection.
- Protect the stream key. Treat it like a password. Do not publish it, commit it to a public repository, or leave it in logs or an openly accessible configuration file. YouTube recommends RTMPS to encrypt the connection from your encoder to YouTube.
- Choose encoder settings for the actual output. YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video options; AAC or MP3 audio; constant bitrate (CBR); frame rates up to 60 fps; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Its bitrate recommendations vary by codec, resolution, and frame rate. Use the row for your intended combination rather than treating one bitrate as universal.
- Match the media and output configuration. With
-c copy, FFmpeg sends the source streams as they are. Confirm those streams suit the selected YouTube settings; a copy command cannot change codec, frame rate, resolution, bitrate, or keyframe interval. If they do not match, prepare suitable normalized files or use a conversion workflow. - Preview and monitor the event. Start FFmpeg before relying on the public event. Inspect YouTube’s preview, confirm representative audio and motion, and watch for stream-health alerts during transmission. Resolve warnings before treating the feed as stable.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume an uninterrupted archive for longer broadcasts. If an archive matters, plan the event duration and archive needs accordingly. See YouTube’s encoder live-stream guide.
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Can I run FFmpeg nonstop on a Hetzner server?
Potentially, but a Hetzner server is not automatically suitable just because FFmpeg can read the files. Suitability depends on your chosen location and plan, media workload, stream bitrate, sustained outbound capacity, and operating costs. Verify current Hetzner specifications and policies for the server you intend to use; no particular Hetzner plan or regional availability is established here.
Plan bandwidth and process recovery
- Measure outbound capacity. YouTube recommends 20% upload-bandwidth headroom over the stream bitrate. Check actual sustained outbound capacity from your chosen host and allow for other traffic. YouTube notes, “The total bitrate you’re streaming cannot exceed the amount of upload bandwidth available.”
- Account for the media workload. Stream copy usually avoids video re-encoding work, but the host still needs to read the media reliably and sustain the outgoing stream. If you normalize or re-encode during transmission, include the added CPU workload in your sizing and test.
- Supervise FFmpeg. A single process stops when it exits. Use an appropriate process supervisor or service manager so a failure can trigger a restart, and alert on FFmpeg exit, encoder disconnects, low disk space, and YouTube stream-health warnings. A restart can restore the encoder connection, but monitor YouTube as well to confirm the event is receiving the feed again.
- Test the complete failure path. Confirm you can identify a stopped process, restart it, and check that the correct event and stream key are still in use. Keep secrets out of public scripts and routine logs.
Troubleshooting common interruptions
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg rejects a file or fails at a playlist boundary | Incompatible streams, codecs, time bases, path syntax, or duration metadata | Check every source file and path; compare stream layouts and timing. Correct quoting or escaping, adjust duration metadata where appropriate, or normalize the files before using stream copy. |
| The stream stops after one pass | The loop option is missing, has a different value, or applies to the wrong input | Place -stream_loop -1 before the concat input’s -i option. Verify the command line FFmpeg actually receives. |
| YouTube does not receive the encoder feed | Wrong event URL or key, a key exposure or rotation, connection trouble, or unsupported output | Check the exact URL and key in the Live Control Room, keep the key private, use the event’s current RTMPS endpoint, and inspect FFmpeg output and YouTube’s preview and stream-health alerts. |
| Health warnings or dropped frames appear | Insufficient or variable outbound capacity, or output settings that do not fit the stream | Compare actual bitrate and sustained host upload capacity; YouTube recommends 20% headroom. Check the relevant codec, resolution, and frame-rate row in YouTube’s current encoder guidance. |
| FFmpeg exits and the channel goes offline | The process ended without a restart mechanism | Inspect the exit reason and logs, fix the underlying fault, and run FFmpeg under a supervisor configured to restart it. Alert on exits and verify the YouTube feed after recovery. |
| The live event has no complete archive | The stream lasted longer than YouTube’s stated automatic-archive window | Plan around YouTube’s automatic archiving for streams under 12 hours; do not assume a longer broadcast will be archived uninterrupted. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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