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For a prerecorded MP4 with video and audio, use FFmpeg’s input options -stream_loop -1 to repeat the file indefinitely and -re to read it at its native rate. This H.264/AAC RTMPS command is a practical starting point; adjust its bitrate and keyframe interval to match your video and connection, then test the actual stream before relying on it.
Starting FFmpeg command for a looping ASMR stream
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 10M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"Replace input.mp4 with the path to your video and replace the example RTMPS URL with the ingest address and stream key shown in your channel’s YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private: anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your channel.
In FFmpeg, -stream_loop is an input option; -1 means loop indefinitely. -re reads the input at its native rate, which is useful when output packet timing matters for live streaming. Both options appear before -i so they apply to the file. The example does not force a resolution or frame rate, so its output follows the source unless you add conversion options.
Set bitrate and keyframes for your video
The example’s 10 Mbps video target is a starting point, not a universal setting. YouTube’s encoder guidance gives the following H.264 ingest figures; they are recommendations for input settings, not a guarantee of the resulting picture quality.
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| Output and codec | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 H.264 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 H.264 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p30 H.265/AV1 | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
These figures are from YouTube Help’s encoder guidance, accessed in 2026; no formal publication year is stated on the consulted page. Pick a bitrate for the resolution, frame rate, codec, and stable upload capacity you can actually sustain. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR). The example sets -b:v and -maxrate to the same target as a practical approximation, but verify rate-control behavior with your FFmpeg build and encoder.
Make the GOP match the actual frame rate
YouTube recommends a keyframe interval of two seconds and says it must not exceed four seconds. In FFmpeg, -g is measured in frames: -g 60 is about two seconds at 30 fps, while -g 50 is about two seconds at 25 fps. The example’s -g 60 and -keyint_min 60 therefore suit a 30 fps output, not every source. Check the actual frame rate and stream configuration; if you change the output frame rate, change the GOP values accordingly. -sc_threshold 0 disables scene-cut-driven keyframe insertion in libx264, helping keep keyframe spacing consistent.
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Audio and encoder choices
The command encodes audio as stereo AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz, matching YouTube’s advanced-settings recommendation. Re-encoding to AAC avoids relying on the source audio codec being accepted unchanged. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS encoder settings, but this example uses H.264 as a straightforward baseline. The installed FFmpeg build must include libx264; if it does not, or encoding cannot keep up, choose a compatible encoder and confirm its bitrate and keyframe controls rather than assuming equivalent settings.
Configure YouTube Live and start the broadcast
- Prepare the file. Confirm that the input path is correct and that the video and audio play as intended. Listen to the start and end, including the transition that will repeat.
- Get the ingest details. In YouTube Live Control Room, use the RTMPS ingest address and stream key supplied for your channel. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP. Use the exact address shown in the Control Room rather than publishing or reusing a key copied from elsewhere.
- Check the settings. Match the bitrate to the intended resolution and frame rate, set the GOP to about two seconds in frames, and ensure your upload connection can sustain the chosen rate. Leave resolution and frame rate native unless you have a reason to convert them.
- Run FFmpeg. Replace the input filename and stream key in the command, then run it in a terminal where FFmpeg is installed. Watch the console for file, encoder, connection, or authentication errors.
- Verify the incoming stream. Check YouTube Live Control Room for stream health and warnings. YouTube advises testing with similar video movement and audio before an event, and monitoring stream health and messages while live.
- Confirm the loop boundary. Let playback reach the end and repeat. Check for an audio click, abrupt ambience change, image jump, timestamp problem, or decoding issue specific to the file.
What looping does—and does not—handle
-stream_loop -1 repeats the input; it does not guarantee a seamless perceptual transition for every recording. A long ASMR ambience track can still have a noticeable change in room tone, a sharp audio edge, or a visual jump at the boundary, so inspect the actual file and revise its edit if needed.
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The command also does not supervise its own process. If FFmpeg crashes or the network connection fails, the loop option alone will not restart the encoder or restore the broadcast. For a stream that must remain available, use process supervision and monitor the actual YouTube ingest; no software setup can be inferred to provide uninterrupted service solely from this command.
Common problems and fixes
- FFmpeg says the encoder is unavailable. The installed build may not include
libx264. Use a build with that encoder or select an available compatible encoder, then verify the resulting rate control and GOP behavior. - The stream is unstable or YouTube reports poor health. The upload may not reliably sustain the chosen bitrate, or the encoder may not be producing the intended settings. Test upload capacity, lower the target if necessary, and check the Control Room’s health messages.
- Video or audio settings do not match expectations. The sample command leaves resolution and frame rate unforced and uses the file’s properties. Inspect the incoming stream in Live Control Room; add explicit conversion only when you need it and recalculate the GOP for the output frame rate.
- The stream stops when FFmpeg exits. Infinite input looping applies only while FFmpeg is running. It does not restart a process after a crash or a network outage; add supervision and monitor the ingest if recovery matters.
- The repeated video has a click or obvious jump. The loop option repeats the file as encoded; it does not crossfade or repair its start and end. Edit the source to make its boundary suitable for repetition and test it in the live output.
- The key is rejected or the wrong channel goes live. Recheck the current ingest URL and key in the channel’s Live Control Room. Treat the key as a password and do not post it in a command screenshot, public log, or shared configuration.
When HLS is relevant
For this FFmpeg file-to-live workflow, RTMPS is the direct fit for the sample FLV output. YouTube also documents HLS ingestion, but its workflow requires M2TS segments, playlists, muxed audio and video, HTTPS, and specified codecs. It is not a drop-in replacement URL for this command. Choose a protocol based on encoder support, the ingest configuration YouTube supplies, and the workflow you can operate reliably.
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