Live streaming error messages

The Live Dashboard and Live Control Room checks for errors in the stream you're sending to YouTube. The messages are displayed next to the Health Indicator at the top of the Live Control Room.

There's a timestamp next to each error indicating when it was seen. If the error isn't fixed, it will continue to pop up. Errors in red are critical and may inhibit your event from starting or cause users to have problems. Errors in yellow are moderate and may cause degraded quality in your event.

The complete list of errors is below:

Daily live stream limit achieved:

To help make YouTube safer for everyone, we limit how many live streams a channel can create in a 24 hour period. To increase your daily limit, see this article.

Incorrect stream format

Your encoder is set to something other than H.264 video and AAC audio. Change to H.264 video and AAC audio for the stream to be properly ingested.

  • Please change the container format for the video. The current container format isn't right for this configuration.
  • The audio stream is encoded with an unsupported codec. Please set the audio codec for the stream to a supported codec (AAC, MP3).
  • Please set the video codec for the stream to H.264. The video is encoded with the wrong codec.
  • Please correct the video codec profile for the stream. The video is encoded with the wrong codec profile.

Incorrect bitrates

If you aren't using a variable resolution entrypoint, you must use the exact bitrate for the resolution you chose on the Ingestion Settings page. If you don't have enough bandwidth for the resolution you chose, consider lowering your chosen resolution. The correct bitrates for each resolution are listed in the encoder settings. Correct the error messages to make sure your video is transcoded and delivered properly.

  • We recommend you use an audio stream bitrate value of 128Kbps. The current bitrate for the audio stream is higher than the recommended bitrate.
  • We recommend you use an audio stream bitrate value of 128Kbps. The current bitrate for the audio stream is lower than the recommended bitrate.
  • Please correct the sample rate for audio in the stream to 44.1KHz. The current sample rate is incorrect.
  • We recommend you use a stream bitrate value of X. The current bitrate value for the stream is higher than the recommended bitrate.
  • We recommend you use a stream bitrate value of X. The current bitrate value for the stream is lower than the recommended bitrate.

Incorrect audio settings

Your encoder is sending incorrect audio settings. Correct the error messages to make sure your audio is delivered properly.

  • Please provide one audio stream. The ingestion stream contains no audio stream.
    • Your encoder is sending no audio. On some encoders there's a checkbox to turn on audio. YouTube's pipeline requires audio on all videos.
  • Please provide only one audio stream. The ingestion stream contains multiple audio streams.
    • Multiple audio streams will cause ingestion problems.
  • Please correct the number of audio channels. The audio has more than 2 channels. Only 1 (mono) or 2 (stereo) are supported.

Incorrect video settings

Your encoder is sending incorrect video settings. Correct the error messages to make sure your video is delivered properly.

  • Please provide one video stream. The ingestion stream contains no video stream.
  • Please provide only one video stream. The ingestion stream contains multiple video streams.
  • The current video is interlaced, but interlaced video is not supported.
    • Make sure your video is progressive. Otherwise you will see artifacts on the video which severely impact the quality.
  • The current frame rate is too high.  Please set the frame rate to X fps or less. 
    • Remember that your frame rate and keyframe frequency are linked. If you change your frame rate, you'll also need to change your keyframe frequency so that keyframes are delivered every 2 seconds.

Incorrect video keyframe frequency

Your encoder is sending keyframes too often or not often enough. Change so keyframes are sent every 2 seconds. At 30fps, that is every 60 frames.

  • Please use a keyframe frequency of four seconds or less. Currently, keyframes are not being sent often enough, which can cause buffering. The current keyframe frequency is X seconds. Note that ingestion errors can cause incorrect GOP (group of pictures) sizes.
  • The GOP (group of pictures) size is small, which can reduce image quality. The recommended keyframe frequency is four seconds. The current keyframe frequency is X seconds. Note that ingestion errors can cause incorrect GOP sizes.
    • Some encoders allow you to change the "GOP" to Open (variable) or Closed (fixed). YouTube's pipeline requires a Closed GOP for optimal transcoding.

Incorrect video size (resolution)

Your video must be the height and width of the resolution you chose on the Ingestion Settings page. The correct sizes for each resolution are listed in the encoder settings as "width x height".

  • Please check the video resolution. The current resolution is X, which is not optimal.
  • You need to change the video resolution. The current resolution is X, which is not supported for this configuration. The expected video resolution is X.

Mismatched primary and backup streams

Your primary and backup streams must have the exact same settings for failover to work properly. Correct the error messages to make sure your primary and backup streams are matched.

  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same resolution. The streams have different resolutions in the current configuration.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same video codecs. The streams have different video codecs in the current configuration.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same interlacing. The streams have different interlacing in the current configuration.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same profile. The streams have different profiles in the current configuration.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same bitrate. The streams have different bitrates in the current configuration.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same framerate. The streams have different framerates in the current configuration.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same keyframe frequency. The streams have different keyframe frequencies in the current configuration.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same audio sample rate. The streams have different audio sample rates in the current configuration.
  • In the current configuration, the video's primary and backup streams use different audio channels. You need to configure the streams to have the same audio channel.
  • Please configure the primary stream and backup stream of the video to have the same audio codecs. The streams have different audio codecs in the current configuration.
  • Please configure both primary and backup streams correctly. The comparison of the streams failed because one of the streams has invalid configuration.

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