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Set the output resolution and frame rate first, then choose the matching H.264 video bitrate from YouTube’s recommendations. In FFmpeg, pass that target to -b:v in bits per second. Choose an x264 preset your VPS can sustain in real time: start faster if encoding falls behind, and try slower presets only if the server has CPU headroom.
Choose resolution, frame rate, and bitrate
YouTube’s recommended H.264 video bitrate depends on the incoming resolution and frame rate. These are recommendations, not guarantees of available upload bandwidth or proof that a VPS can encode at that rate. Check YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate table when configuring a stream, since platform guidance can change.
| Output format | YouTube-recommended H.264 video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p or lower, 30 fps | 4 Mbps |
| 720p, 60 fps | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p, 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 12 Mbps |
| 1440p, 30 fps | 15 Mbps |
| 1440p, 60 fps | 24 Mbps |
| 2160p, 30 fps | 30 Mbps |
| 2160p, 60 fps | 35 Mbps |
For example, for 1080p30, a target of 10 Mbps is expressed in FFmpeg as -b:v 10000000. FFmpeg’s -b:v value is in bits per second; x264’s own bitrate parameter uses kilobits per second. See the FFmpeg documentation and its codec documentation.
Pick an x264 preset the VPS can sustain
The -preset option sets an encoding speed-versus-compression-efficiency trade-off. Faster presets generally require less processing, while slower ones require more time and can encode more efficiently. No single preset is established as suitable for every VPS, resolution, frame rate, or video.
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- Begin with a faster preset such as
veryfastas an illustrative starting point, not a guaranteed optimum. - Run the stream with representative content and monitor FFmpeg’s reported processing speed and dropped frames over a sustained period.
- If the encoder cannot keep pace with real time, move to a faster preset or reduce the output workload. If it keeps pace with CPU headroom, you can test a slower preset.
- Keep the choice that remains stable for the actual workload; do not infer capacity from a short run or a VPS label alone.
The available official guidance does not prescribe a VPS size or establish that a named preset will sustain a particular format on a given instance. Validate on the VPS you intend to use.
Build the FFmpeg command
This template streams an existing input file over RTMPS. Replace the example bitrate with YouTube’s H.264 recommendation for your chosen output, and replace the endpoint and key with the values from YouTube Studio.
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ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 10000000
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "rtmps://INGEST_ENDPOINT/STREAM_KEY"-rereads the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible.-i input.mp4identifies the source file.-c:v libx264selects the x264 video encoder.-preset veryfastis an example preset; assess it on the target VPS.-b:v 10000000sets a 10 Mbps video target, matching YouTube’s recommendation for 1080p30.-c:a aac -b:a 128kselects AAC audio and an example audio bitrate; the cited YouTube bitrate figures above concern video.-f flvselects the container used for this RTMP/RTMPS output.
This is a command skeleton, not a tested universal configuration. Protect the stream key as a credential and do not share or publish it. FFmpeg’s documentation describes its command options and units.
Use YouTube’s ingest settings
YouTube recommends RTMPS for encoder ingest. It can detect resolution and frame rate automatically; manual settings are also available through a custom stream key. The YouTube Live Streaming API documentation describes the stream settings. Match the encoder output to the configuration selected for your YouTube stream.
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Diagnose an unstable stream
- FFmpeg falls behind real time: the VPS is not sustaining the current encoding workload. Try a faster preset and check again with representative footage.
- Frames are dropped: monitor whether encoding keeps pace during a sustained run; reduce the workload or use a faster preset if it does not.
- Video quality or buffering is poor: verify that the selected bitrate corresponds to the intended incoming resolution and frame rate, then check whether the server’s upload connection can sustain that output. YouTube’s target is a recommendation, not a bandwidth guarantee.
- YouTube does not accept the stream: check the RTMPS endpoint and stream key copied from YouTube, and confirm that the key’s automatic or manual resolution and frame-rate settings match the encoder output.
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