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For a prerecorded 1080p/30 lecture with audio, use FFmpeg’s input-side -stream_loop -1 to repeat the file indefinitely and -re to send it at real-time speed. The command below is a starting template: replace the destination with the stream URL and key for your event in YouTube Live Control Room, then check the preview and stream health before relying on it.
Starting FFmpeg command for a 1080p/30 lecture
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "lecture.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0?
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 5M -maxrate 5M -bufsize 10M
-pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmps.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY"Replace lecture.mp4 with the path to your recording. The destination shown is only a template endpoint: use the stream URL and key displayed for the specific event in YouTube Live Control Room. Treat the key like a password; do not share it in a public script, screenshot, or post.
-stream_loop -1 is an input option, so it belongs before -i; -1 means loop indefinitely. -re reads the file at its native rate to pace file input for live output. FFmpeg’s official protocol documentation shows the real-time file-to-RTMP pattern and describes RTMPS as RTMP over a secure SSL connection.
This template encodes H.264 video and AAC audio. It is not a tested or guaranteed result for every file or computer. Confirm that your FFmpeg build includes the required encoders and protocol support, and test your actual source in Live Control Room.
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Match the output to YouTube’s ingest guidance
YouTube currently recommends RTMPS and lists H.264, HEVC, and AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, and constant-bitrate (CBR) encoding as ingest options. Its encoder guidance recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. At 30 fps, -g 60 sets a 60-frame GOP, or two seconds. See YouTube’s live encoder settings.
Bitrate for H.264 at 1080p
YouTube’s current live-encoder table gives these figures; the retrieved page does not state a publication year, so these are current guidance accessed in 2026, not a claim about when the page was published.
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| Output | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
The command uses 5 Mbps, the listed minimum for H.264 at 1080p/30—not a universal ideal. Choose the table row for your actual resolution and frame rate, and allow upload headroom. YouTube advises testing upload capacity and monitoring stream health.
Audio settings
The command uses AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz. YouTube’s advanced settings recommend 128 kbps for stereo audio and list 44.1 kHz for stereo. The optional map -map 0:a:0? allows the command to proceed if the input has no audio stream; it does not establish whether a silent broadcast suits your audience or will behave as you intend, so verify the result.
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Set up, start, and verify the broadcast
- Get the event’s ingest details. In YouTube Studio, create or select the live stream and open its Live Control Room to obtain the stream URL and key. The key directs your encoder to the event and must be kept private. Follow YouTube’s live stream settings guidance.
- Insert the event details and start FFmpeg. Replace the sample file path and destination with your actual values. Keep the key out of material others can access.
- Check the Live Control Room preview and stream-health messages. Test with representative audio and video movement, not just a static frame. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring stream health during the event.
- Check event visibility and schedule. Confirm the public, unlisted, or private setting and the schedule in YouTube Studio. A running FFmpeg process alone does not prove YouTube is receiving or presenting a healthy stream.
- Verify the loop at the file boundary. Watch through the end of the recording to see whether it starts again as expected. The option is documented, but this particular file and setup have not been tested here.
Adjustments for other files and machines
Different frame rate or resolution
Use YouTube’s bitrate guidance for the output you plan to send. Set the GOP to approximately two seconds by multiplying the output frame rate by two: for example, 60 frames at 30 fps. The supplied command is specifically for 30 fps; do not carry its bitrate or GOP unchanged to a different output.
Encoding is too demanding
Software H.264 encoding uses local CPU. If the computer cannot encode in real time, try a faster x264 preset or a hardware encoder supported by your FFmpeg build, while preserving ingest-compatible output settings. The actual speed depends on the machine and file; no performance result is guaranteed.
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Copying instead of transcoding
-c:v copy -c:a copy can reduce CPU use when the source already matches the codec and parameters accepted by YouTube. Without inspecting your file, it is not possible to assume that stream copy will meet the selected bitrate, keyframe, codec, or audio requirements. Transcode and inspect the actual ingest if compatibility is uncertain.
RTMPS endpoint or protocol errors
Use the endpoint shown for the event, rather than assuming the template URL applies to every setup. Confirm that your FFmpeg build supports the selected protocol. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingest; FFmpeg documents RTMPS as its secure RTMP option.
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Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg says the protocol or encoder is unavailable | The installed build may lack RTMPS, libx264, or another required component. | Use a build with the required protocol and encoder support, or select a compatible encoder available in your build. |
| YouTube receives no stream | The event URL or key may be incorrect, or the wrong event may be selected. | Copy the URL and key from that event’s Live Control Room and check the stream-health messages. |
| Stream health is poor or the video stutters | The upload connection may not sustain the selected bitrate, or the encoder may not keep up. | Test upload capacity, leave headroom, and check whether the machine can encode in real time. Adjust output settings to match YouTube’s guidance for the chosen resolution and frame rate. |
| Lecture audio is missing | The file may have no audio stream, or the audio mapping and source may not match expectations. | Check the recording’s audio and confirm the preview and stream health. The optional audio map prevents a missing-track mapping error; it does not create audio. |
| The video does not restart at the end | The loop option may be in the wrong position or the input path may not be the intended file. | Keep -stream_loop -1 before -i, confirm the file path, and watch the transition in the actual broadcast. |
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Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Before looping a lecture publicly, make sure you have the rights to every element in it, including music, slides, clips, and other embedded media. Repeating a recording does not grant permission to rebroadcast it. Review YouTube’s current rules and any rights-holder restrictions for your content; the encoder settings cited here do not determine whether a lecture is eligible for a particular audience or monetization treatment.
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