You can use SRS on Ubuntu to receive a prerecorded video loop, but the documented SRS example only publishes the video to SRS—it does not, by itself, send it on to YouTube. The simplest complete route is FFmpeg directly to YouTube Live. Use SRS as an intermediate server only when you also have a separately configured outbound relay to YouTube.
What SRS does—and where YouTube fits
SRS (Simple Realtime Server) is a media server that can receive and serve streams. FFmpeg reads and publishes your video file; Docker is the upstream-recommended way to run SRS; YouTube Live is the destination for viewers. SRS’s repository identifies version 8.0 and lists support for RTMP, WebRTC, HLS, HTTP-FLV, SRT, MPEG-DASH and GB28181. The separate SRS v7 RTMP guide is marked unstable, so do not treat its version label as a stable production recommendation.
The key architectural distinction is the connection destination: an FFmpeg command publishing to SRS is not publishing to YouTube. The SRS getting-started example documents local ingest and playback, while YouTube documents an encoder connecting to YouTube. The cited setup guides do not establish a version-specific SRS configuration that relays an incoming stream to YouTube.
Choose an architecture before installing
| Path | What it does | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Direct FFmpeg to YouTube | FFmpeg reads the looped file and connects to YouTube using the Live Control Room server URL and stream key. SRS is not needed. | You want the fewest components and do not need an SRS-local stream. |
| FFmpeg to SRS, then onward to YouTube | FFmpeg publishes to SRS. A separately configured SRS outbound relay must then push to YouTube. | You specifically need SRS as an intermediate server or need its local playback outputs. The SRS-to-YouTube relay details are not established by the cited setup examples. |
For a self-hosted loop, consider whether SRS local playback is useful, whether the host’s upload connection can carry the chosen stream, whether the media codecs suit YouTube ingest, and whether you can configure and verify the outbound relay. If you do not need SRS, use the direct path below rather than assuming the basic SRS example completes the YouTube connection.
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Run SRS on Ubuntu with Docker
The SRS getting-started guide gives this sample server command:
docker run --rm -it -p 1935:1935 -p 1985:1985 -p 8080:8080 ossrs/srs:5This is an upstream example, not a guarantee that the image tag is current or appropriate for every deployment. The SRS repository README shows a different image tag and additional UDP ports. Verify the tag and configuration you choose against the upstream documentation before relying on them.
Plan the host and ports
- Port 1935 is used by the example RTMP listener; 1985 and 8080 are also published by the sample command.
- Do not expose management or playback ports publicly unless your setup requires them. Configure the host firewall and Docker port publishing deliberately.
- The sample uses
--rmand interactive mode; it is a getting-started command, not a durable restart policy. For a continuing service, plan restart behavior and persistent configuration as needed. - For a command running on the same host,
127.0.0.1refers to that host. Inside a container,localhostrefers to that container’s network context. Use an address reachable from the publishing process, accounting for Docker networking.
Check the local SRS web endpoint
With the sample ports published, the getting-started guide’s lightweight check is to open http://localhost:8080/ on the machine running SRS. The guide also gives these example playback paths after a stream is available:
- HLS:
http://localhost:8080/live/livestream.m3u8 - HTTP-FLV:
http://localhost:8080/live/livestream.flv
For remote access, substitute an address reachable from the client and ensure the relevant port is intentionally exposed. Docker networking and firewall rules vary by host; a local success does not prove remote reachability.
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Loop a video into SRS with FFmpeg
The SRS guide’s Docker-based example uses FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 option to repeat a file indefinitely:
docker run --rm -it ossrs/srs:encoder ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i doc/source.flv
-c copy -f flv rtmp://host.docker.internal/live/livestreamdoc/source.flv is a sample file from the SRS source repository; replace it with a file readable by FFmpeg. The hostname host.docker.internal is environment-dependent and is not guaranteed to work on every Linux installation. Make sure the encoder container can reach the SRS listener using your Docker networking setup.
If FFmpeg runs directly on Ubuntu and SRS is listening on the same host at port 1935, this adapted command publishes to the SRS RTMP input:
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i /path/to/video.mp4 -c copy -f flv rtmp://127.0.0.1:1935/live/livestreamReplace /path/to/video.mp4 with the actual file path. The -c copy option copies the input streams without re-encoding; it works only when the source codecs and stream format are compatible with the destination ingest. If YouTube or the receiving service rejects the media, inspect FFmpeg’s output and the platform’s stream-health information. The cited sources do not establish a tested transcoding command for an arbitrary input file.
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Connect an encoder to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, create or schedule a live stream and open Live Control Room.
- Under Stream settings, copy the server URL and stream key provided for that stream. YouTube recommends RTMPS. To reveal its RTMPS URL, use the lock icon under Stream settings; YouTube says RTMPS adds TLS/SSL encryption to RTMP.
- Enter both the server URL and key in the encoder that will actually publish to YouTube. Treat the key as a password: do not paste it into public logs, screenshots or shared configuration.
- Start the encoder and check the Live Control Room preview and stream-health indicators before relying on the broadcast.
YouTube’s instructions describe an encoder connecting to YouTube. They do not turn the SRS-local publishing command above into a YouTube relay. To use SRS in between, configure and validate a separate outbound push to the exact RTMPS endpoint and key from Live Control Room; the sources cited here do not provide that version-specific SRS configuration. Do not copy the local SRS command and assume the video will appear on YouTube.
Set YouTube encoder quality appropriately
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265/HEVC or AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, and CBR bitrate encoding. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. It recommends RTMPS for secure ingest.
The following are examples from YouTube’s recommended bitrate table; the page does not state a publication year. These are platform recommendations, not measured audience outcomes:
| Output | Video codec | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | AV1 or H.265 | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | H.264 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
Choose a bitrate for the actual resolution, frame rate and codec rather than applying one example to every stream. YouTube recommends testing upload bitrate and testing with representative audio and video motion. Leave headroom on the host’s upload connection for network variation and any other traffic, then monitor stream health while testing.
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Troubleshoot the connection and loop
YouTube does not show the video
- Confirm where FFmpeg is publishing. A destination such as
rtmp://127.0.0.1:1935/live/livestreamis the SRS listener, not YouTube. - If using SRS as an intermediary, verify that a separate outbound relay is configured and that it uses the current YouTube RTMPS URL and stream key. The basic SRS example does not establish that relay.
- If publishing directly, check the server URL and key against Live Control Room, then review the preview and stream-health status.
RTMPS reports an SSL or connection problem
Check that the configured server uses the RTMPS URL revealed in Live Control Room rather than assuming a default RTMP address. YouTube says to try port 443 if needed and compatible with the provided URL.
The stream works locally but not from another machine
Check that the client is using the Ubuntu host’s reachable address, that Docker publishes the required port, and that firewall rules permit the intended traffic. A container’s localhost is not automatically the Ubuntu host. Do not assume host.docker.internal resolves on every Linux setup.
The loop starts but playback or ingest fails
Inspect FFmpeg’s output for file-reading, timestamp or muxing errors, and check YouTube’s stream health if the encoder reaches YouTube. With -c copy, incompatible input codecs or stream details are not corrected. Test with the intended file and representative content; the cited documentation does not verify every file or encoding combination.
The stream stops after a host or process interruption
The sample Docker and FFmpeg commands demonstrate how to start services and loop media; they do not establish a production restart or recovery policy. For self-hosting, define how both processes start after reboot, how failures are detected, and how you will confirm the YouTube broadcast has resumed.
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Copyright and YouTube live eligibility
Only loop video and audio you own or are licensed to use for this kind of public, continuous stream. A prerecorded file being technically streamable does not grant rights to its music, footage or other included material. Review YouTube’s current live-stream rules and the rights for every component before broadcasting; reused or unlicensed material can create platform and rights-holder problems. A continuous loop is not a workaround for copyright or monetization requirements.
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