Raspberry Pi Camera: Stream to YouTube Live in Python

Video Tutorial (Optional)

Watch first if you want to see the full Raspberry Pi camera to YouTube Live setup end to end.

Learn how to stream video from your Raspberry Pi to YouTube Live in Python in a few simple steps. By the end, you will have a publicly viewable live stream with a simple hardware setup.

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Project Overview

Raspberry Pi + Raspberry Pi Camera: In this project, you stream live video from a Raspberry Pi Camera to YouTube Live using Python so your stream is publicly viewable with a simple setup.

Time: 10 to 20 minutes (plus YouTube Live setup time)
Skill level: Beginner
What you will build: A Raspberry Pi camera live stream to YouTube Live using Python and FFmpeg

Parts List

From ShillehTek

No ShillehTek product links were included in the original post.

External

Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi Camera module
Internet connection (for YouTube Live)
YouTube account with Live streaming enabled
Software packages: python3-picamera and ffmpeg

Note: You will need a YouTube Live stream key from the YouTube Live setup page to paste into the Python script.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1 - Library setup

Goal: Install the required Raspberry Pi packages for camera capture and streaming.

What to do: Run the following command in a terminal on your Raspberry Pi:

sudo apt install python3-picamera ffmpeg

Expected result: The packages install successfully and your Pi is ready for the Python streaming script.

Step 2 - Code setup

Goal: Create your Python file using the provided streaming script.

What to do: Create a Python file on your Raspberry Pi and substitute the code from this repository link:

https://github.com/shillehbean/youtube-p2/blob/main/stream_yt.py

Expected result: You have a Python file saved locally on your Raspberry Pi containing the streaming script.

Step 3 - Add your YouTube Live stream key

Goal: Configure the script so it can publish your stream to your YouTube Live event.

What to do: Substitute your streaming key in the script. You can get the key from YouTube when you start a live stream.

YouTube Live setup screen showing where to find the stream key for a Raspberry Pi camera live stream

Expected result: Your script contains your YouTube Live stream key and is ready to start streaming.

Conclusion

You set up a Raspberry Pi with a Raspberry Pi Camera to stream video to YouTube Live using Python, with the required packages installed and your stream key added to the script. This gives you a simple way to create a publicly viewable live stream.

Want parts and accessories for your next build? Grab what you need from ShillehTek.com. If you want help tailoring a Raspberry Pi streaming setup for your project or product, check out our IoT consulting services.