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Loop the whole video and encode at a steady rate
This example makes a one-hour MP4 from an input with video and audio, looping the input as needed. It targets 30 fps; replace that with the source’s intended rate and change the duration to the desired number of seconds.
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 -map 0:v:0 -map '0:a?' -t 3600
-c:v libx264 -r 30 -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -movflags +faststart output.mp4-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so place it before-i input.mp4.-map 0:v:0selects the first video stream.-map '0:a?'selects audio if present, but allows the command to continue if there is none.-t 3600sets the output duration to 3,600 seconds, or one hour.-c:v libx264re-encodes the video;-r 30asks for a 30 fps output rate.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a widely supported pixel format.-c:a aacencodes audio as AAC, and-movflags +faststartmoves MP4 metadata to the beginning of the file.
This is a starting command, not a guarantee that every source will join cleanly or produce the desired playback. Inspect the input streams and review the output, especially if the source has variable frame rate, unusual timestamps, multiple tracks, or an audible or visible seam where it loops.
Choose the right frame-rate behavior
Preserve the source’s intended rate for YouTube
YouTube says, “Content should be encoded and uploaded in the same frame rate it was recorded.” Its help page lists 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 fps as common frame rates, while noting that other rates are acceptable. Use the actual source rate when possible; for a rate such as 29.97 fps, specify its rational form, 30000/1001, rather than rounding it to 30.
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For example, if the source was recorded at 29.97 fps, change the output option to -r 30000/1001. Do not choose a different rate just because it seems like a YouTube requirement. Converting to another rate can duplicate or drop frames; it does not create genuinely new motion.
Use CFR mode when you want to state the sync behavior explicitly
When re-encoding, FFmpeg’s output -r duplicates or drops frames as needed to reach the requested output rate. You can make the constant-frame-rate behavior explicit with -fps_mode cfr, for example:
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ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 -map 0:v:0 -map '0:a?' -t 3600
-c:v libx264 -r 30 -fps_mode cfr -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -movflags +faststart output.mp4Replace 30 with the intended target rate. CFR conversion can regularize frame timing, but a target different from the source rate may visibly repeat or omit frames.
Stream copy does not convert the frame cadence
Adding -r while copying video is not equivalent to re-encoding at a constant frame rate. With video stream copy, FFmpeg does not duplicate or drop frames; the rate is only signaled to the muxer. If that signaled rate conflicts with packet timestamps, the result may be invalid. Use stream copy only when you want to preserve the existing encoded frames and timing, not to perform a CFR conversion.
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Repeat a whole input or loop selected frames
- Whole-input loop: use
-stream_loopbefore-i.-stream_loop 0means no repetition, a positive value requests that many repetitions, and-1repeats indefinitely. This is the direct choice for repeating an entire file. - Frame-level loop: the video
loopfilter repeats selected frames. Use it when you need a short section or specific frames to loop as an effect, rather than repeating the full input file.
For an output with a fixed duration, pair the loop with -t, as in the example above. Without a duration limit, an infinite input loop can keep generating output indefinitely.
Use YouTube’s upload settings as a separate checklist
Looping and frame-rate conversion do not by themselves determine all upload-encoding choices. YouTube’s recommended upload settings include the following for video:
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- MP4 container with H.264 video, progressive scan, and High Profile.
- Two consecutive B-frames, CABAC, and a closed GOP with a GOP length of half the frame rate.
- 4:2:0 chroma subsampling; BT.709 is the recommended standard-definition color space for SDR.
These are platform recommendations, not mandatory settings for every workflow. YouTube’s SDR bitrate recommendations vary by resolution and frame-rate group: for example, 1080p is listed at 8 Mbps for standard frame rates and 12 Mbps for high frame rates; 2160p/4K is listed at 35–45 Mbps and 53–68 Mbps, respectively. Treat these as recommendations, not a guaranteed quality level or a universal fixed bitrate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common problems
The output rate does not change
Check whether you used -c:v copy. Stream copy preserves the encoded frames and does not duplicate or drop them to reach a requested rate. Re-encode with -c:v libx264 and an output -r, optionally adding -fps_mode cfr.
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The video stutters after conversion
Confirm that the target matches the source’s intended rate, including fractional rates such as 30000/1001. A different target can require frame duplication or dropping. If the source is variable-frame-rate or has unusual timestamps, inspect it and review the encoded output rather than assuming a nominal rate describes every source frame.
The loop ends too soon or does not end
For an indefinite input repeat, put -stream_loop -1 before -i and use -t to bound the output duration. For a finite repeat, replace -1 with the desired loop count; use 0 for no repetition.
The loop seam has a click or visible jump
Check the source’s start and end frames and audio waveform. A loop repeats the input; it does not blend the ending into the beginning. If a seamless join matters, prepare a source whose endpoints match or edit the seam before encoding.
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