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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo send a Liquidsoap radio stream to YouTube Live, combine the radio audio with a video source, encode both with FFmpeg, then send the output to the ingest URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. A still image is the simplest visual. Use YouTube’s RTMPS URL when your Liquidsoap/FFmpeg setup supports it; the exact URL and key come from your current stream settings.
What you need before starting
- A Liquidsoap installation with the FFmpeg output support needed by the configuration below. Exact capabilities vary by build.
- A Liquidsoap audio source, such as a playlist.
- A video source: a still image or a video file.
- A YouTube channel able to create live streams, plus the current ingest URL and stream key from Live Control Room.
- Enough upload bandwidth for the combined audio and video output.
A radio-only source needs a video component for this YouTube video-stream workflow. Liquidsoap’s official book demonstrates adding an image with source.mux.video; it also describes using a video file instead. Liquidsoap’s official book provides the configuration pattern below.
Create a YouTube stream and protect its key
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select a stream. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
- In the stream settings, copy the current stream URL and stream key. If Live Control Room provides an RTMPS URL, use that when your encoder supports it; YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingestion. See YouTube’s RTMPS guidance.
- Treat the key as a password. Do not publish it in a script repository, share it, or expose it in logs. Store it in a separate file readable only by the account running Liquidsoap. YouTube describes managing and resetting the key in its stream settings guidance.
The book’s example reads the key from a file and trims whitespace with string.trim, avoiding a hard-coded secret in the script.
Build the Liquidsoap audio-and-video output
This is the book’s illustrative RTMP configuration pattern. It assumes a playlist at ~/Music, an image named image.jpg, and a key stored in youtube-key. Replace paths and source definitions for your setup:
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radio = playlist("~/Music")
video = single("image.jpg")
radio = source.mux.video(video=video, radio)
ykey = string.trim(file.contents("youtube-key"))
url = "rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/#{ykey}"
enc = %ffmpeg(format="flv",
%video(codec="libx264", pixel_format="yuv420p",
b="300k", preset="superfast", r=25, g=50),
%audio(codec="libmp3lame", samplerate=44100, b="160k"))
output.url(fallible=true, url=url, enc, radio)
The example adds the image to the radio source, then uses FFmpeg to produce FLV with H.264 video and MP3 audio. A video file can replace the still image, but a moving visual adds video-source and bandwidth demands. The values are examples, not a universal YouTube preset. The book explicitly calls 300k video bitrate deliberately low and suggests around 2000k on a fast connection for better video quality; tune to your content, connection and encoder output.
Choose output settings that YouTube accepts
| Setting | Practical choice | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Ingest protocol | RTMPS when supported; otherwise configure the exact endpoint YouTube supplies. | The book shows RTMP. YouTube recommends RTMPS, but compatibility depends on the configured Liquidsoap/FFmpeg build and endpoint. |
| Container and video | The book illustrates FLV with H.264 video and yuv420p. |
Validate the actual encoder output and current YouTube stream settings. |
| Audio codec and sample rate | YouTube lists MP3 or AAC; for stereo, its settings specify 44.1 kHz. The book example uses MP3 at 44.1 kHz. | Use a codec supported by your output build and verify the resulting stream. |
| Keyframe interval | Target two seconds; do not exceed four seconds. | This is YouTube’s encoder-settings recommendation, not a guarantee of compatibility for every configuration. |
| Video bitrate | Start from a value appropriate to your resolution and motion, then test and adjust. | The book’s 300 kbps is deliberately low; its roughly 2,000 kbps suggestion is illustrative guidance for a fast connection, not a universal requirement. |
See YouTube’s encoder settings for its current supported settings and recommendations. Test with representative audio and visual motion, and check stream health in Live Control Room before relying on the setup.
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Send the stream and confirm it is live
- Replace the example RTMP URL with the exact current ingest URL from Live Control Room. If using RTMPS, configure the exact RTMPS URL and confirm your encoder supports it.
- Make sure the saved key file contains only the current key; the example trims surrounding spaces and newlines.
- Start Liquidsoap and check its logs for output or connection errors.
- In Live Control Room, wait for the encoder preview and review stream health. For a scheduled stream, you may still need to click Go live after the preview appears, depending on its settings.
- When finished, end the broadcast in YouTube as appropriate. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume a longer stream will be archived.
Common problems and fixes
- YouTube receives no signal: Copy the current URL and key again from Live Control Room, check that the key file is readable and has no stale value, and verify that the configured protocol matches the endpoint.
- RTMPS certificate or timeout errors: Confirm the exact RTMPS URL and that the configured encoder supports it. YouTube’s RTMPS guidance describes trying port 443 where needed.
- The key may have leaked: Reset it in Live Control Room, then replace the value in the separate key file and restart the output.
- The stream connects but looks poor: Inspect bitrate, resolution and encoder settings; the book’s low example video bitrate needs tuning. Test with representative motion and monitor YouTube’s stream-health feedback.
- The preview appears but viewers cannot see the scheduled stream: Check whether the stream requires you to click Go live after the encoder preview appears.
- Liquidsoap rejects the output configuration: Check that your installed Liquidsoap/FFmpeg build supports the selected output and codecs, and validate syntax against the documentation for that installed version. The example is a documented pattern, not a tested configuration for every build.
Keep the broadcast running
Liquidsoap can generate and send the stream, but a self-hosted setup still depends on the machine and network running it. For a machine you administer, supervise the process, monitor connectivity and make sure the host does not sleep or shut down. A VPS is one possible always-on host, but it is not required by the documented Liquidsoap workflow.
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