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To schedule MP4 files in AWS Elemental MediaLive for YouTube, attach each file as an input—or configure one dynamic input for files in Amazon S3 or AWS Elemental MediaStore—then create channel schedule actions that switch between those inputs. MediaLive does not automatically advance through attached inputs: as AWS puts it, “There is no implicit switching.” You also need to configure the YouTube destination separately with the stream URL and key from YouTube Live Control Room.
Choose how MediaLive will access the MP4 files
MediaLive schedules switches between channel inputs; it is not a playlist uploader that rotates through every file you attach. Pick an input model before building the schedule.
One static input per file
For a small, stable set of MP4s, create an MP4 input for each file and attach each input to the channel. Every schedule switch then identifies the attachment for the next clip. This is straightforward to reason about, but the input list and action sequence grow with the playlist.
One dynamic input for changing S3 or MediaStore files
For a larger or changing collection, AWS supports dynamic file inputs for MP4 or TS objects in S3 and MediaStore. Configure a URL template containing $urlPath$, then supply the object path in each schedule action. For example, an S3 template can be s3ssl://$urlPath$, with an action path such as amzn-s3-demo-bucket/my-movie.mp4. The bucket and object path go in the action; S3 itself is not a playlist, and the documented dynamic-file locations are S3 and MediaStore, not arbitrary public URLs. AWS: Dynamic inputs.
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When creating an MP4 input, AWS distinguishes standard-class inputs, which use two source URLs, from single-class inputs, which use one. Choose the class to suit your input resilience design; it does not change schedule timing. See AWS: MP4 input setup.
Plan the order and transition timing
Each schedule action names an input attachment and a start type. Write down the desired sequence, attachment (and dynamic object path, if applicable), and timing before creating actions. The schedule belongs to the channel, and AWS recommends using it as the single place that controls the initial ingest order. A multi-input channel does not automatically return to a default input when a clip ends.
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| Start type | Use it when | Important behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | The next clip must begin at a specific UTC wall-clock time. | AWS documents a creation horizon of at least 15 seconds and no more than 14 days ahead. Confirm the current service/API behavior for your deployment. AWS: Input switch timing. |
| Follow | The next clip should begin after a preceding file action ends. | The action must reference a prior input-switch action, and the preceding input’s source-end behavior must be Continue. Every next file still needs its own action; Follow is not automatic playlist advancement. AWS: Input switch timing. |
| Immediate | A switch should take effect now. | For a standard two-pipeline channel, AWS describes an internal 10-second offset used to synchronize the switch. Create the channel’s first switch as immediate and before starting the channel. AWS: Input switch timing. |
Input-switch actions can include input clipping with start and stop timecodes when only part of a source file should play. For an example of a follow switch and clip range, see AWS: Input switch action payload.
Attach inputs and create the schedule
- Create the inputs. Make one MP4 input per file for a small fixed set, or configure a dynamic MP4 input with a
$urlPath$template for S3 or MediaStore objects. - Create or edit the MediaLive channel and attach the inputs. Every static input targeted by an action must be attached. Attach the dynamic input once if reusing it for multiple object paths.
- Create the initial action. Add an immediate switch to the first input before starting the channel. For dynamic input, include the relevant object path.
- Add subsequent actions in playback order. Choose fixed UTC timing for clock-driven starts, or Follow with a reference to the preceding file action for end-driven starts. Include each dynamic object’s path in its switch action.
- Start the channel and verify playback. Check the MediaLive channel and YouTube preview as described below. You can add or revise future actions while the channel is running; stopping the channel is not required to extend the schedule. AWS: Multiple-input channels and the schedule.
Configure YouTube as the output destination
In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create or select the live stream and copy its stream URL and stream key into the MediaLive output configuration. Use the RTMPS URL if the Control Room offers it and your chosen configuration supports it. The stream key authenticates the encoder feed for acceptance; treat it as a secret. Do not put it in screenshots, logs, examples, or public documentation.
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The exact MediaLive output-group fields depend on your channel configuration. Use the current URL and key shown for your YouTube stream and the settings available in your MediaLive channel rather than relying on a guessed endpoint. YouTube’s setup guidance is at YouTube: Set up your encoder for live streaming.
Match the output to YouTube and test the schedule
MP4 source properties do not determine a universal output profile. Choose the ingestion protocol, video and audio codecs, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval using YouTube’s current encoder recommendations and the capabilities of the MediaLive channel. YouTube’s recommendations vary by resolution, frame rate, codec, and protocol, and can change; consult its current table rather than treating one bitrate as suitable for every stream: YouTube: Live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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- Test with representative audio and visual motion, not only a static or silent clip.
- Confirm that YouTube Live Control Room receives the feed and displays a preview before relying on the scheduled start.
- Inspect YouTube’s stream health during the event and compare any warnings with the chosen encoder settings.
- Check the action order, target attachments, Follow references, and dynamic object paths if the wrong clip appears or a transition does not occur.
Common scheduling and playback problems
The channel stays on one file
Attaching inputs does not make MediaLive rotate among them. Add a schedule action for every intended switch and confirm each action targets an attached input. AWS explains this in Multiple-input channels and the schedule.
A Follow action does not start the next file
Check that it references a prior input-switch action and that the preceding input’s source-end behavior is Continue. Also confirm the prior file action actually reaches its end; an action that is fixed to a different time is not interchangeable with an end-following transition.
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A dynamic switch cannot find its object
Verify the input URL template contains $urlPath$, the action supplies the correct bucket/object path, and the file is an MP4 or TS object in S3 or MediaStore. Dynamic file input support does not establish eligibility for arbitrary URLs. See AWS: Dynamic inputs.
The scheduled start is rejected
For a fixed action, check that its UTC start time falls within the documented creation horizon: at least 15 seconds and no more than 14 days ahead. Confirm current limits in the service interface or API before planning a deployment. AWS: Input switch timing.
YouTube shows no preview or reports stream-health warnings
Confirm the output uses the current YouTube stream URL and matching key, then review the preview and health indicators in Live Control Room. Check protocol, codec, frame rate, resolution, keyframe interval, and bitrate against YouTube’s current encoder table: YouTube encoder settings.
Or let it run in the cloud
MediaLive gives you schedule control over a channel workflow; if your goal is simply to keep prerecorded videos looping as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a simpler alternative. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo runs from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; it plays uploads rather than going live from a camera.
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