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Run FFmpeg on the VPS with one input for the video playlist and another for the audio playlist, map the video stream from the first and the audio stream from the second, then publish the combined output to YouTube over RTMPS. Before leaving it unattended, verify that the files are compatible, decide how the two playlists should repeat, and test transitions and recovery. The example below is a starting point, not a guarantee that every media combination or FFmpeg build will work unchanged.
What you need before starting
- A VPS able to access your media files and run FFmpeg. There is no universal CPU, memory, or storage size: requirements depend on whether you copy or transcode, the media resolution and bitrate, disk use, and your provider’s limits.
- FFmpeg built with the required input and output support. Check the installed build and its documentation; supported options and protocols can vary.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming available, plus its current RTMPS ingestion address and stream key from YouTube Live Control Room or the LiveStreams API.
- Video and audio files prepared as two playlists. YouTube receives one combined stream, so FFmpeg must select and map one video stream and one audio stream into its output.
YouTube describes RTMPS as a secure extension to RTMP. Its documented RTMPS connection uses port 443; obtain the active endpoint and stream key for your own broadcast rather than relying on a static sample. See YouTube’s RTMPS guidance, the LiveStreams API, and YouTube’s RTMPS ingestion documentation.
Inspect and prepare the playlists
Check what the files contain
Inventory each file’s container, video and audio codecs, dimensions, frame rate, sample rate, and duration. The exact file mix matters: a concat list that works for one set of files may fail or produce a bad transition with another. Use FFmpeg’s probing tools and test representative files before building a long-running stream.
Use the concat demuxer when files are compatible
For files that can be concatenated without conversion, create a text file for each playlist. For example, video-list.txt might contain:
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file '/media/video-02.mp4'And audio-list.txt might contain:
file '/media/audio-01.mp3'
file '/media/audio-02.mp3'Use paths that exist on the VPS, and ensure the FFmpeg process can read them. The concat demuxer is the no-re-encoding route when input formats permit it. If files differ in ways that prevent clean concatenation, normalize them first or use an FFmpeg filter workflow that re-encodes as needed. FFmpeg explains these alternatives in its concatenation FAQ.
Decide whether the playlists are independent or paired
If video and audio are separate shows that may repeat independently, each input can loop on its own. Their total durations determine when each starts over, so they will not remain synchronized just because both loop. If particular audio belongs with particular video, define a paired schedule deliberately—such as matching item order and durations—and test the boundaries. A single independent loop command cannot infer the intended pairing.
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Combine the inputs and send them to YouTube
This schematic command loops the two concat inputs independently, maps video from the first input and audio from the second, and sends a FLV-muxed output to an RTMPS address:
ffmpeg
-stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i /media/video-list.txt
-stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i /media/audio-list.txt
-map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0
-c:v copy -c:a copy
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_CURRENT_INGEST_ENDPOINT/YOUR_APPLICATION/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"Replace the example address with the active RTMPS endpoint and stream key shown for your broadcast. Do not publish the key in a public script, screenshot, log, or article. Treat it like a password; restrict access to any file or service that stores it.
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-c:v copy and -c:a copy request stream copy rather than re-encoding. They are appropriate only when the source streams and transitions are acceptable for the output and the installed FFmpeg build and YouTube ingest accept them. If not, remove the copy options and configure suitable encoders and filters for your actual files. There is no single safe set of codec, bitrate, resolution, or frame-rate values for unknown input media; check the current guidance for the chosen YouTube ingest mode and verify the preview.
FFmpeg documents RTMPS among its RTMP protocol variants and shows RTMP output with the FLV muxer. Confirm that your FFmpeg build supports the protocol and options you use in the protocol documentation, formats documentation, and FFmpeg documentation. Option order and behavior can depend on the installed version and the selected input and output formats, so validate the command on the VPS before relying on it for continuous playback.
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Test the stream before leaving it unattended
- Start a test broadcast and check YouTube’s live preview. Confirm that the picture and sound are both present and that the intended streams are mapped.
- Watch transitions at the end of each file and playlist. Look for gaps, abrupt changes, missing audio, or an input that stops instead of advancing.
- Observe what happens when one playlist reaches its end before the other. Independent loops repeat on their own timelines; use a paired schedule if the content must stay synchronized.
- Restart FFmpeg during a test. Verify that the process obtains the intended files and credentials and resumes a sensible playlist position.
- Check the VPS’s CPU, memory, disk activity, network use, and provider limits under the actual workload. Transcoding can require substantially different resources from stream copying, so choose capacity from measurement rather than a generic VPS-size rule.
Keep the process supervised and plan for failures
A shell session alone is not an operations plan for a 24/7 stream. Run FFmpeg under a process supervisor appropriate to your VPS, configure how it restarts after a crash or reboot, and monitor both the process and the YouTube broadcast. Decide how credentials are supplied after a restart and how to avoid repeatedly publishing an unintended playlist position.
FFmpeg documents an RTMP FIFO muxer configuration that attempts recovery after temporary failures. It can be considered as one part of a recovery design, but it does not guarantee uninterrupted delivery or YouTube availability. See the FFmpeg formats documentation and test failure and restart behavior in your own setup.
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RTMPS or HLS?
| Ingest option | What it means for this setup |
|---|---|
| RTMPS | RTMP over TLS/SSL; YouTube documents port 443 and provides RTMPS ingestion addresses. It is the straightforward choice for the FFmpeg workflow above. |
| HLS | A segment-based alternative with different setup requirements. YouTube requires muxed audio and video for HLS and describes it as generally higher latency than RTMP-based ingestion. It is not interchangeable with the RTMPS command above; consult YouTube’s HLS setup guidance for supported requirements and use cases. |
Copyright and channel-policy checks
Having the technical ability to loop files does not establish that you have the rights to stream them. Confirm permission for every audio and video track and review YouTube’s current live-streaming rules before broadcasting. Repeated playback also does not make reused material original or resolve rights questions. Keep records of licenses and permissions, and do not use the stream key to broadcast material you are not authorized to use.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want to operate a VPS and supervise FFmpeg, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed.
Quick Recap
- Nothing has to stay on at home: the stream runs from the cloud, so your computer can be off.
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