To send an AAC internet radio feed to YouTube Live, use an encoder such as OBS Studio or FFmpeg to take the radio audio, add a video source such as a station image or looped visual, and send the resulting audiovisual stream to YouTube. Use the stream URL and key created for your broadcast; YouTube recommends RTMPS for a secure connection. Test the actual feed and monitor stream health before relying on it.
What you need before you start
- An AAC radio stream URL that your chosen encoder can access. Authentication, headers, and the stream’s exact transport can affect setup; confirm access details with the radio provider if necessary.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming available, plus a broadcast created or selected in YouTube Studio.
- An encoder: OBS Studio for a graphical workflow, or FFmpeg for a command-line or automated setup.
- A video source. YouTube receives an audiovisual encoder feed, so radio audio alone is not enough. A still station graphic, a looped video, or a restrained visualizer can provide the picture.
- Rights to retransmit the radio programming and use the visual material on YouTube in the relevant territories. Technical ability to relay a feed is not permission to rebroadcast it.
Choose OBS Studio or FFmpeg
| Need | Good starting point | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Manual operation with a graphical interface | OBS Studio | A practical choice for arranging sources and a visual scene; verify that the selected source method can open the exact AAC URL and stream type. |
| A simple image-plus-audio pipeline or automation | FFmpeg | It can combine a radio URL with a still image or looped video and send the output to YouTube, but you must configure and supervise the process. |
| Unattended operation | FFmpeg on a server with process supervision | A restart policy can restart an exited process, but cannot fix an unavailable radio feed, network outage, invalid key, or YouTube-side issue. |
| Custom scenes, overlays, or operator-driven visual changes | OBS Studio | Useful when you need to manage a scene visually; confirm the radio input works with your chosen OBS source or plugin. |
The exact input configuration depends on the station’s URL, access requirements, and whether the encoder can directly open its AAC stream. The cited practical workflow does not verify any particular station feed. If it will not play, confirm the URL and authentication with the provider, then check that your encoder build supports the stream’s input format.
Create the YouTube broadcast and retrieve its credentials
- Open YouTube Studio and create or select the live broadcast in the Live Control Room.
- Retrieve the ingest URL and stream key shown for that broadcast. Use the exact current values for your stream, not an example URL or key.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it as a credential: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your broadcast.
YouTube’s API distinguishes the incoming liveStream feed from the viewer-facing liveBroadcast. Its health information can report configuration problems. See the YouTube Live Streaming API documentation.
Set up the audio, video, and encoder output
Add a video source
In OBS, add the radio input and a visible video source to the scene, then check that both appear or register as active before starting the broadcast. In an FFmpeg workflow, configure the radio URL as an input and pair it with a still-image or looped-video input. Use artwork and footage that you are authorized to broadcast.
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Configure audio for YouTube
The incoming AAC feed and the outgoing YouTube audio are separate stages: the encoder may need to decode the radio source and encode an output YouTube accepts. For RTMP or RTMPS, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio. For stereo, its recommended starting point is 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps. These are outgoing encoder recommendations, not a claim about the bitrate or sample rate of your station’s source feed. YouTube’s current guidance also lists 48 kHz and 384 kbps for 5.1 audio; 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS is supported only for AAC. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
Choose video settings that fit your upload connection
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1, with frame rates up to 60 fps. It recommends constant bitrate encoding and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Its video bitrate recommendations vary by resolution and codec: for example, the listed H.264 recommendations include 4 Mbps for 720p at 30 or 60 fps and 5 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps. Check the current table for your chosen resolution, frame rate, and codec rather than treating those examples as universal settings. A static radio visual may not need a high resolution, but the output still needs a supported video stream. Test your upload capacity and choose settings it can sustain.
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Use RTMPS where supported
YouTube recommends RTMPS, its encrypted extension of RTMP. Use the exact RTMPS ingest URL supplied for your stream. YouTube’s developer guidance specifies a valid ingestion endpoint and path, TLS on port 443, and the correct host name for SNI authentication; an incorrect endpoint, port, or TLS setup can cause connection errors. See the RTMPS ingestion guide.
YouTube also documents RTMP, HLS, and DASH ingestion. RTMP is unencrypted; RTMPS is encrypted and suits ordinary streams that need normal, low, or ultra-low latency. HLS and DASH are encrypted and support additional codec options, but their segmented delivery typically has higher latency. For a standard radio relay, RTMPS is the straightforward default unless a specific codec or delivery requirement points to another protocol. See YouTube’s ingestion protocol comparison.
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Start with a preflight test, then monitor the stream
- Before a scheduled broadcast, test the actual radio URL, visual, encoder settings, and YouTube destination together.
- Confirm that YouTube receives both moving or still video and audible radio audio. A radio source by itself does not supply the required video component.
- Check the Live Control Room’s stream health and configuration indicators while the test is running. YouTube’s API health reporting includes audio-related issues such as
noAudioStream,audioCodec, and sample-rate warnings. - Make a short test recording or review the live output where practical so you can catch silence, clipping, a frozen visual, or an incorrect scene before leaving the relay unattended.
YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and video and monitoring stream health during the event. See its encoder guidance and the Live Streaming API health documentation.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely checks and fixes |
|---|---|
| YouTube shows no video or no signal | Confirm the encoder scene or FFmpeg pipeline includes a video source and is outputting continuously. An audio-only radio input does not create the audiovisual feed YouTube expects. |
| No audio or silence | Check that the radio URL is reachable from the encoder machine, that required authentication is correct, and that the selected input can decode the actual stream. Review YouTube’s health/configuration indicators where available. |
| Audio codec or sample-rate warning | For RTMP/RTMPS, set outgoing audio to AAC or MP3. For stereo, use 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps as YouTube’s recommended baseline, then inspect stream health. |
| RTMPS connection fails | Verify the exact current ingest URL, port 443, TLS configuration, and host/SNI handling. Do not substitute an example endpoint or stream key. |
| Video stutters or transmission is unstable | Test available upload capacity, then reduce resolution or bitrate if the connection cannot sustain the selected output. Check stream health while testing. |
| A long-running FFmpeg relay exits | Use a process supervisor or restart policy to relaunch an exited process, and separately investigate whether the radio feed, credentials, network, or YouTube ingest failed. A restart mechanism is not a guarantee of uninterrupted service. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded videos rather than relay a live AAC radio URL, StreamNeo is a different workflow: it runs uploaded videos or playlists from the cloud. It does not take a live radio URL or broadcast from a camera.
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- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded content from the cloud.
Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. The uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; there are no quality tiers or re-encode. StreamNeo can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, and the Monthly plan is $9.99 per month. For an AAC radio feed, use the encoder method above; StreamNeo is for uploaded videos on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send an AAC radio feed to YouTube Live without video?
No. The encoder feed must include video as well as audio; a still station image can provide the video component.
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Does the radio station’s AAC bitrate determine the YouTube audio bitrate?
No. The incoming source and outgoing YouTube encode are separate stages, and the encoder may need to decode and re-encode the source.
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