First identify whether MediaLive lost its source input or YouTube lost the output: they are different failure points and require different fixes. If the channel fails at startup, check input probing and source configuration; if it was already streaming, inspect input health, configured loss handling, and failover. Then check YouTube Live Control Room for separate ingest errors.
Find where the stream is failing
Trace the stream in order: upstream source or encoder, network path into MediaLive, MediaLive input and channel, MediaLive output, then YouTube ingest. A YouTube error does not by itself prove that MediaLive lost its input, and a healthy MediaLive input does not prove that YouTube is receiving a valid output. Compare MediaLive metrics with the timestamped messages in YouTube Live Control Room.
- Channel fails while starting: investigate input probing and source detection.
- Channel was running, then lost video: investigate source health, network path, input-loss handling, and any configured failover.
- MediaLive input appears healthy but YouTube reports an error: investigate the output destination, stream key, format, codecs, and keyframes.
If the channel fails at startup
MediaLive probes the first input at startup to detect the input and its sources. If detection fails, the input and channel can fail immediately; the running channel’s replacement-content settings do not necessarily recover a channel that never acquired a valid input. AWS identifies possible causes including an absent input (particularly with RTMP), a source outside the channel’s specifications, or incorrect input settings. Correct the source or input configuration, then restart the channel. AWS: Handling loss of video input.
If a running channel loses its input
Check the source and path into MediaLive
- Confirm that the upstream encoder is still publishing and sending the expected source.
- Check that the source format is compatible with the channel configuration.
- Compare the source’s status with MediaLive input metrics over multiple time windows. AWS identifies
InputVideoFrameRateas an input-health indicator; unstable values warrant investigation of the source or network. - For supported RTP or MediaConnect inputs, inspect
InputLossSeconds. Consistent zero indicates health; repeated maximum values indicate an unhealthy input; values that rise and return to zero can indicate recovery. For automatic failover, use the active-input dimension to interpret which input is carrying the channel.
Metrics help locate a fault boundary; they do not, on their own, identify whether the source, encoder, or network is responsible. See AWS: Monitoring inputs.
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Understand replacement content
For a running channel, MediaLive can repeat the last valid frame for 1,000 ms, encode black frames for 1,000 ms, then send a black slate indefinitely. Operators can customize the repeat and black-frame intervals and choose a slate image or color. AWS documents slate images in 32-bit BMP, PNG, or TGA formats. The channel may continue encoding even while source video is missing. AWS: Handling loss of video input.
Replacement-content delivery depends on the output group. For HLS, Microsoft Smooth, RTMP, and UDP/TS output groups, operators can choose whether replacement content is delivered or discarded. MediaPackage pauses delivery; other output group types always deliver replacement content. Check the affected channel’s output-group settings before changing them.
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Separate input-loss response from failover timing
Input-loss handling and automatic input failover serve different purposes. AWS describes replacement behavior as potentially beginning after a missed expected frame; at 60 frames per second, that is about 17 milliseconds. A separate AWS example describes 1,000 milliseconds as a typical configurable failover trigger. These are not competing settings: one concerns replacement content, the other a configurable failover condition. Verify the actual channel configuration rather than assuming either value is set.
Set up or diagnose automatic input failover
Automatic failover only protects an eligible input when a valid alternate source is configured. For RTMP or RTP, AWS calls for identical content—including video, audio, captions, and metadata—arriving over different network paths. If both inputs share the failed encoder or network route, the backup may fail at the same time. A single-input channel needs two sources for the pair; a standard channel needs four, two for each input. AWS: Setting up automatic input failover with RTMP and RTP inputs.
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AWS startup guidance for the described failover configuration says the active input switches after it is unhealthy for 3 seconds and a recovered input is marked healthy after it has remained healthy for more than 30 seconds. Failback depends on input preference: equal preference can leave the channel on the secondary, while primary preference can switch it back. Treat these as documented behavior for that configuration, not a guarantee for every channel setup. AWS: Automatic input failover startup behavior.
Check MediaLive output and YouTube ingest
Read YouTube’s stream health messages
Open YouTube Live Control Room and inspect the health indicator and timestamped errors. YouTube marks critical errors red and moderate errors yellow; messages remain until the issue is fixed. Its troubleshooting guidance covers stream format, audio and video codecs, number of video streams, interlacing, frame rate, and keyframe frequency. Follow the specific message shown for the event. YouTube: Troubleshoot your live stream.
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Verify the destination and stream key
Confirm that the MediaLive output destination uses the intended YouTube stream URL and current stream key. YouTube describes the key as the encoder’s stream credentials and address information. If you reset a compromised or outdated key, update the MediaLive output configuration to use the new key. YouTube: Create and manage stream keys and YouTube: Set up your encoder for live streaming.
Compare encoder settings with YouTube guidance
YouTube’s published guidance recommends RTMP or RTMPS, H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, constant bitrate (CBR), and keyframes every 2 seconds, not more than 4 seconds apart. For H.264 at 1080p30, YouTube lists a 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended. These figures apply to that codec, resolution, and frame rate; do not apply them blindly to other formats. Use the relevant setting guidance and the exact Live Control Room error, then test with representative movement and audio and monitor stream health during the event. YouTube: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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Choose the right resilience mechanism
| Mechanism | What it addresses | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Input-loss handling | Missing input video; controls replacement content such as repeated frames, black frames, or a slate. | Configured intervals, slate, and whether the output group delivers or discards replacement content. |
| Automatic input failover | Failure of a specific eligible input or its source-to-MediaLive path. | A valid independent backup source and path, matching content, and input preference/failback behavior. |
| Pipeline redundancy | MediaLive pipeline failure; it is distinct from input failover. | Downstream handling must be able to accept and switch between two outputs for this resilience design. AWS: Pipeline redundancy. |
Choose protection for the failure boundary you need. A second input on the same encoder or network route is not independent protection, and pipeline redundancy does not replace source failover.
Common symptoms and fixes
| Symptom | Likely boundary to investigate | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Channel fails as soon as it starts | Input probe or source detection | Check that the input is present, correctly configured, and within channel specifications; correct it and restart. |
| Input frame rate is unstable | Source or network into MediaLive | Check upstream publishing and the network path; compare metric behavior across multiple windows. |
| Input loss repeats or does not recover | Source, path, or backup independence | Check input-loss metrics and whether the alternate source uses an independent path. |
| MediaLive appears to be outputting but YouTube shows errors | MediaLive-to-YouTube output or ingest | Read timestamped Live Control Room errors; verify URL/key and adjust the specifically flagged format or encoding setting. |
| YouTube stopped receiving after a key reset | Output credentials | Update MediaLive with the current stream key and verify the destination. |
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