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To keep a prerecorded feed live on YouTube from a Hetzner VPS, run FFmpeg on the server and send its output to the ingest URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. The VPS must stay powered on and connected, and FFmpeg needs a reliable restart and monitoring plan. Choose server resources by testing your actual media and settings: copying a compatible encoded file is much lighter on CPU than transcoding it in real time.
How the stream works
Your video or prepared feed goes into FFmpeg on the VPS. FFmpeg packages and sends it over RTMP or RTMPS to YouTube; viewers watch the broadcast from YouTube, not from the VPS. The VPS supplies compute, storage and outbound network traffic. It does not make the broadcast immune to process, server, network or YouTube-side interruptions.
YouTube recommends RTMPS, the encrypted extension of RTMP. Its current encoder guidance also recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval, with four seconds as the maximum. Use the settings shown for your stream in Live Control Room if they differ from a generic example. YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance
Choose the source and encoding approach
Looping a file or playlist
Decide whether you are sending one looping file, a playlist, a live input from another source, or generated content. FFmpeg options depend on the input type and the installed build. Check that the binary supports the input demuxer, codecs and output protocol you need; a command intended for a local file is not automatically appropriate for a playlist or remote feed.
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Stream-copy or transcode
| Approach | What it does | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Stream-copy | Passes through an already encoded stream without decoding and encoding it again. | Use when the source’s codecs, resolution, frame rate, bitrate and format are compatible with YouTube ingest. It reduces encoding CPU work, but does not let you change those video properties. |
| Transcode | Decodes the source and encodes a new output. | Use when you need to change codec, resolution, frame rate or bitrate, or when the source is not suitable as-is. Real-time encoding can be CPU-intensive. |
Do not select a Hetzner size based on a universal FFmpeg vCPU/RAM rule: none is established here. Test the exact source and FFmpeg options on the intended server, observe CPU and memory under sustained load, and leave headroom for the operating system and supervision. Hetzner offers shared-resource and dedicated-resource Cloud Server classes; its documentation positions dedicated CPU for CPU-intensive workloads, but testing remains necessary. Hetzner Cloud server overview
Get YouTube ingest credentials safely
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Create > Go live to open Live Control Room. Select or create the stream you intend to use.
- Copy the current stream URL and stream key from the encoder setup. FFmpeg needs both to send the feed. Follow YouTube’s current encoder setup flow: Set up your encoder for live streaming.
- Treat the key like a password. Do not publish it in a script repository, screenshot, shared shell history, or public log. Restrict access to the server and configuration, and rotate the key in Live Control Room if it may have been exposed.
Provision the Hetzner VPS and install FFmpeg
- Create a Hetzner Cloud Server in the location and with the resource class you plan to use. Choose an operating system you can maintain, and ensure the server has outbound network access to YouTube. Check whether you need a public IPv4 address; public IP selection and charges are a separate consideration in Hetzner’s documentation.
- Before purchase, check the current price, traffic allowance and IP charges for the exact product and location. Hetzner’s included traffic differs by location and plan.
- Install FFmpeg using the package source appropriate to your operating system, then inspect the installed build and verify the required codecs, input support and RTMP-family protocol support. Consult FFmpeg’s official protocol documentation; available flags and behavior depend on the version and build.
- Keep the system updated and limit administrative access. Store the stream key in a protected configuration mechanism rather than embedding it in a command that could be exposed through process listings or shell history.
Set bitrate, resolution and keyframes
YouTube’s current encoder settings table gives these H.264 examples. They are video bitrate figures, not a total including audio or transport overhead.
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| Output mode | H.264 minimum video bitrate | H.264 recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These figures apply to the H.264 column; YouTube lists different values for AV1 and H.265. Choose a resolution and frame rate your source and encoding capacity can sustain. For transcoding, configure CBR and a two-second keyframe interval where supported; do not exceed YouTube’s four-second maximum. Prefer RTMPS when your FFmpeg build and ingest endpoint support it. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings.
There is no single command that safely fits every input, FFmpeg build and key-management setup. Construct the command for the actual media and current YouTube ingest URL, validate its options against the installed FFmpeg version, and avoid printing the secret key in logs.
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Test in Live Control Room before relying on the VPS
- Start with representative content, including its normal motion and audio; a static test image will not expose every encoding or audio problem.
- Watch the Live Control Room preview and stream-health messages. Confirm both picture and sound before considering the service deployed.
- Check the server’s outbound bandwidth and resource use while the stream runs. YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and movement and monitoring stream health. YouTube live streaming tips
- Test failure recovery deliberately: stop and restart FFmpeg, confirm the stream returns, and document who receives alerts and how to respond.
Keep FFmpeg running and recover from failures
A shell command left in a terminal is not a 24/7 operating plan. Run FFmpeg under a process supervisor or service manager configured to restart it after an unexpected exit. Preserve useful logs, monitor whether output has stopped, and arrange notifications so a failed restart does not go unnoticed. Test the recovery path rather than assuming it works.
FFmpeg protocol reconnect options, where supported, can help with some network interruptions, but they do not replace supervision of the whole process. Behavior varies by FFmpeg version and protocol, so check the installed build’s documentation and test against the failure you expect. FFmpeg protocol documentation
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Plan separately for maintenance or server-level outages. Hetzner’s Cloud and vServer agreement describes a commercially reasonable effort toward 99.9% monthly availability for an individual Cloud Server; that is not a guarantee that FFmpeg or a YouTube broadcast will remain uninterrupted. Hetzner Cloud and vServer service agreement
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Estimate outbound traffic and cost
A continuous stream sends data out of the VPS for as long as it runs. At YouTube’s recommended H.264 video bitrate of 14 Mbps for 1080p30, the video alone uses about 4.54 decimal TB over 30 days: 14 megabits per second × 2,592,000 seconds ÷ 8. Audio, protocol overhead and other server traffic increase the total. This is an arithmetic estimate, not a Hetzner usage figure.
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Hetzner’s traffic page lists 20 TB included for EU CX, CPX and CAX Cloud Servers, while US and Singapore allowances vary by plan. The billing FAQ says outgoing traffic is billed; when included traffic is exceeded, overage is billed in 100 MB blocks. Its 75% and 100% notifications are warnings, not automatic traffic caps. Verify the current allowance and terms for your exact product and location before estimating cost. Hetzner traffic information · Hetzner Cloud billing FAQ
Plan for YouTube rules and archives
Only stream content you have the rights to use, including music and other material in a loop or playlist. Check YouTube’s current live-stream and copyright requirements before going live; a stream key does not grant rights to the content. Reused content and copyright are separate concerns: permission to use media does not by itself establish eligibility for monetization under YouTube’s policies.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not count on one complete automatic archive for an uninterrupted 24/7 broadcast. If you need a full record, plan a separate recording or segmentation workflow and verify YouTube’s current behavior. YouTube encoder setup and archive information
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely checks and fixes |
|---|---|
| YouTube does not receive the stream | Recheck the current ingest URL and key in Live Control Room, confirm outbound connectivity, and inspect FFmpeg’s error output without exposing the key. Rotate the key if it may have leaked. |
| Stream connects but has poor health or drops frames | Check the selected bitrate against actual outbound capacity, inspect CPU load if transcoding, and verify resolution, frame rate, CBR and keyframe interval against YouTube’s current settings. |
| Video works but audio is missing or wrong | Test the actual audio stream and FFmpeg input mapping with representative media; confirm the Live Control Room preview includes sound before leaving the broadcast unattended. |
| FFmpeg exits and the stream stays offline | Check service-manager status and logs, fix the underlying error, and confirm automatic restart is enabled and tested. Add an alert for stopped output. |
| The bill or traffic use is higher than expected | Recalculate using total video plus audio and overhead, include other outbound traffic, and confirm the current allowance and overage terms for the server’s location and plan. |
| The archive is incomplete | Do not assume an uninterrupted 24/7 stream will appear as one complete automatic archive; use a separate recording or segmentation plan. |
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