FFmpeg Streaming & Live Video

FFmpeg Streaming & Live Video

Complete guide to HLS/DASH streaming, live streaming platforms, and adaptive bitrate encoding.

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)

Basic HLS Stream

Generate playlist for on-demand streaming.

# Simple HLS with default settings
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -c:a aac \
  -f hls -hls_time 6 -hls_playlist_type vod \
  -hls_segment_filename "segment_%03d.ts" \
  playlist.m3u8

Key parameters:

• -hls_time - Segment duration (seconds, default 2)
• -hls_playlist_type - vod (on-demand) or event (live)
• -hls_segment_filename - Naming pattern for segments

Optimized HLS

Better quality and compatibility.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 22 \
  -g 48 -sc_threshold 0 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f hls -hls_time 6 -hls_playlist_type vod \
  -hls_segment_filename "segment_%03d.ts" \
  playlist.m3u8

Parameters explained:

• -g 48 - Keyframe every 48 frames (2s @ 24fps)
• -sc_threshold 0 - Disable scene detection (consistent segments)

Multi-Bitrate HLS (Adaptive)

Create multiple quality levels for adaptive streaming.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -map 0:v -map 0:a -map 0:v -map 0:a -map 0:v -map 0:a \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -b:v:0 800k  -s:v:0 640x360   -maxrate:v:0 856k  -bufsize:v:0 1200k \
  -b:v:1 1400k -s:v:1 842x480   -maxrate:v:1 1498k -bufsize:v:1 2100k \
  -b:v:2 2800k -s:v:2 1280x720  -maxrate:v:2 2996k -bufsize:v:2 4200k \
  -var_stream_map "v:0,a:0 v:1,a:1 v:2,a:2" \
  -master_pl_name master.m3u8 \
  -f hls -hls_time 6 -hls_list_size 0 \
  -hls_segment_filename "stream_%v/segment_%03d.ts" \
  stream_%v/playlist.m3u8

Creates:

• master.m3u8 - Master playlist (entry point)
• stream_0/playlist.m3u8 - 360p stream
• stream_1/playlist.m3u8 - 480p stream
• stream_2/playlist.m3u8 - 720p stream

HLS with Encryption

Protect content with AES-128 encryption.

# Generate encryption key
openssl rand 16 > enc.key
echo "enc.key" > enc.keyinfo
echo "enc.key" >> enc.keyinfo
openssl rand -hex 16 >> enc.keyinfo

# Encode with encryption
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -c:a aac \
  -f hls -hls_time 6 \
  -hls_key_info_file enc.keyinfo \
  -hls_segment_filename "segment_%03d.ts" \
  playlist.m3u8

DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming)

Basic DASH

MPEG-DASH format for adaptive streaming.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -c:a aac \
  -f dash -seg_duration 6 \
  -use_template 1 -use_timeline 1 \
  manifest.mpd

Multi-Bitrate DASH

Multiple quality levels.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -map 0:v -map 0:a -map 0:v -map 0:a \
  -c:v libx264 -c:a aac \
  -b:v:0 800k  -s:v:0 640x360 \
  -b:v:1 1400k -s:v:1 1280x720 \
  -b:a:0 128k -b:a:1 128k \
  -f dash -seg_duration 6 \
  -use_template 1 -use_timeline 1 \
  manifest.mpd

RTMP Live Streaming

Stream to Twitch

ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -maxrate 3000k -bufsize 6000k \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -g 50 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

Stream to YouTube

ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -maxrate 2500k -bufsize 5000k \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60 -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY

Stream to Facebook

ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -maxrate 4000k -bufsize 8000k \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60 -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmps://live-api-s.facebook.com:443/rtmp/STREAM_KEY

Custom RTMP Server

ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency \
  -maxrate 2500k -bufsize 5000k \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -g 50 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -f flv rtmp://your-server.com/live/stream-key

Screen Capture + Stream

Linux (X11)

ffmpeg -f x11grab -s 1920x1080 -framerate 30 -i :0.0 \
  -f pulse -ac 2 -i default \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency \
  -maxrate 2500k -bufsize 5000k -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

macOS (AVFoundation)

# List devices
ffmpeg -f avfoundation -list_devices true -i ""

# Capture and stream
ffmpeg -f avfoundation -framerate 30 -i "1:0" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency \
  -maxrate 2500k -bufsize 5000k -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

Windows (DirectShow)

ffmpeg -f dshow -i video="screen-capture-recorder":audio="Stereo Mix" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -tune zerolatency \
  -maxrate 750k -bufsize 3000k \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

Thumbnail Generation

Single Thumbnail

Extract frame at specific time.

# At 5 seconds
ffmpeg -ss 00:00:05 -i input.mp4 -vframes 1 -vf scale=320:-1 thumb.jpg

# At 10% duration
ffmpeg -ss $(ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration \
  -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4 | \
  awk '{print $1*0.1}') -i input.mp4 -vframes 1 thumb.jpg

Multiple Thumbnails

Generate thumbnails at intervals.

# One per minute
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf fps=1/60,scale=320:-1 thumb_%03d.jpg

# One per 10 seconds
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf fps=1/10,scale=320:-1 thumb_%03d.jpg

# First 10 frames
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vframes 10 -vf scale=320:-1 thumb_%02d.jpg

Thumbnail Sprite Sheet

Create single image with multiple thumbnails.

# Generate frames
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf fps=1/10,scale=160:90 frames/thumb_%03d.jpg

# Combine into sprite (requires ImageMagick)
montage frames/thumb_*.jpg -tile 5x -geometry +0+0 sprite.jpg

Preview Generation

Video Preview (Trailer)

Extract multiple short clips.

# Extract 3 segments
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -ss 00:00:30 -t 00:00:10 -c copy segment1.mp4
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -ss 00:05:00 -t 00:00:10 -c copy segment2.mp4
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -ss 00:10:00 -t 00:00:10 -c copy segment3.mp4

# Concatenate segments
echo "file 'segment1.mp4'" > concat.txt
echo "file 'segment2.mp4'" >> concat.txt
echo "file 'segment3.mp4'" >> concat.txt
ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i concat.txt -c copy preview.mp4

Fast Preview (Low Quality)

Quick preview for review.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf scale=640:-1 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -crf 28 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 64k \
  preview.mp4

Streaming Parameters

Important RTMP Parameters

Real-time reading:

• -re - Read input at native frame rate

Low latency:

• -tune zerolatency - Optimize for minimal latency
• -preset ultrafast or veryfast - Fast encoding

Keyframes:

• -g 50 - Keyframe interval (GOP size)
• Recommended: 2 seconds (fps * 2)

Rate control:

• -maxrate - Maximum bitrate (e.g., 3000k)
• -bufsize - Buffer size (typically 2x maxrate)

Compatibility:

• -pix_fmt yuv420p - Compatible pixel format

Bitrate Recommendations

1080p 60fps:

• 4500-6000 kbps video
• 160 kbps audio

1080p 30fps:

• 3000-4500 kbps video
• 128 kbps audio

720p 60fps:

• 2500-4000 kbps video
• 128 kbps audio

720p 30fps:

• 1500-2500 kbps video
• 128 kbps audio

480p:

• 500-1000 kbps video
• 128 kbps audio

UDP/RTP Streaming

UDP Stream

Simple network streaming.

# Sender
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -c copy -f mpegts udp://192.168.1.100:1234

# Receiver
ffplay udp://192.168.1.100:1234

RTP Stream

Real-Time Protocol for low latency.

# Audio only
ffmpeg -re -i audio.mp3 -c:a libopus -f rtp rtp://192.168.1.100:5004

# Video + audio
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast \
  -c:a aac -f rtp rtp://192.168.1.100:5004

Multicast Stream

Stream to multiple receivers.

# Sender (multicast address)
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -c copy -f mpegts udp://239.255.0.1:1234

# Receiver
ffplay udp://239.255.0.1:1234

Advanced Streaming

Hardware-Accelerated Streaming

Use GPU for faster encoding.

# NVIDIA NVENC
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v h264_nvenc -preset fast -maxrate 3000k -bufsize 6000k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

# Intel QSV
ffmpeg -re -hwaccel qsv -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v h264_qsv -preset fast -maxrate 3000k -bufsize 6000k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

Stream with Overlay

Add graphics during stream.

ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -i logo.png \
  -filter_complex "[0:v][1:v]overlay=10:10" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -maxrate 3000k \
  -c:a copy \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

Loop Stream

Continuously loop video for 24/7 stream.

ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -maxrate 2500k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/STREAM_KEY

Troubleshooting

Buffering Issues

# Reduce buffer size
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -maxrate 2000k -bufsize 2000k -c:v libx264 -f flv rtmp://...

# Use faster preset
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -preset ultrafast -c:v libx264 -f flv rtmp://...

Audio/Video Desync

# Force constant frame rate
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -r 30 -c:v libx264 -f flv rtmp://...

# Use -vsync 1
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -vsync 1 -c:v libx264 -f flv rtmp://...

Connection Drops

# Increase timeout
ffmpeg -timeout 5000000 -re -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -f flv rtmp://...

# Reconnect on failure (use wrapper script)
while true; do
  ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -f flv rtmp://...
  sleep 5
done