To loop a study playlist into a live stream with FFmpeg, put compatible video files in a concat-demuxer playlist, then use -stream_loop -1 on that playlist as the input. Send the output to the destination’s current ingest endpoint using its supported protocol. This makes the media repeat; it does not by itself keep the computer, network, FFmpeg process, or platform connection running reliably around the clock.
What you need before starting
- FFmpeg installed on a computer that can stay on and connected to the internet.
- The video and audio files you have the right to stream, stored where FFmpeg can read them.
- A live destination that permits your intended broadcast and provides an ingest URL and stream key.
- A private place to store the stream key. Do not expose it in a public command, screenshot, or log.
Confirm the destination’s current live-stream eligibility and content policies before broadcasting. The technical instructions here do not establish whether a platform permits every 24/7 pre-recorded study stream. Copyright rules and any rules about repetitive or reused content are destination-specific; use material you own or are licensed to broadcast, and check the platform’s current terms.
Build the FFmpeg playlist
Create the concat script
Create a plain-text file named playlist.ffconcat in the directory containing your videos. Its first line can be ffconcat version 1.0; if included, it must be exact and first for FFmpeg’s automatic format recognition. Add one file line for each video, in the order you want it to play:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'study-video-01.mp4'
file 'study-video-02.mp4'
file 'study-video-03.mp4'For paths with spaces or special characters, quote or escape them using the concat script’s syntax. If the files are elsewhere, use their paths. FFmpeg’s concat demuxer reads the listed files and demuxes them one after another, as though their packets had been muxed together. See the FFmpeg Formats Documentation for script syntax and path handling.
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Check that the files are compatible
The concat demuxer expects every file to have the same streams, including codecs and time bases. If the stream layouts do not match, concatenation may fail or produce problems. FFmpeg adjusts timestamps globally, but files with different stream lengths can create gaps. Incorrect or unavailable duration metadata can also cause artifacts; the concat script supports a duration directive to override a duration when needed. Consult the concat demuxer documentation before adding overrides.
If the files are not compatible or need normalization, use the concat filter and re-encode rather than assuming the demuxer will make them match. FFmpeg’s FAQ distinguishes the concat filter, demuxer, and protocol; the protocol is a narrower file-level approach, not the playlist script described here. See the FFmpeg FAQ.
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Loop the playlist and send it live
Use the destination’s ingest details
The endpoint and credentials come from your live-stream destination; there is no universal ingest URL or stream key. FFmpeg documents RTMP publishing with FLV output. RTMPS is RTMP carried over an encrypted SSL connection. Use the exact endpoint and key supplied by the destination, and follow its current ingest requirements. FFmpeg’s protocol documentation describes RTMP URL structure and RTMPS.
Illustrative RTMP-family command
This is a starting structure, not a tested universal preset. Replace the placeholder URL with the actual destination endpoint and stream key, and choose encoder settings that the destination accepts:
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.ffconcat
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv "rtmps://INGEST_HOST/APP/STREAM_KEY"-stream_loop -1 requests infinite looping of the input, so it belongs before the corresponding -i. -re reads the input at its native rate for real-time output. The example re-encodes video with H.264 and audio with AAC; whether those encoders are present in your FFmpeg build and whether the destination accepts those settings depends on your setup. FFmpeg documents looping and input/output option placement in its command-line documentation, and real-time RTMP publishing in its protocol documentation.
A stream-copy variant may avoid re-encoding when all inputs and the destination are compatible, but it does not fix mismatched media. Re-encoding can normalize inputs, at the cost of CPU resources and possible quality loss. Do not assume one bitrate, resolution, profile, or keyframe interval will suit every ingest service; use its current specifications.
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If the destination requires YouTube HLS
Do not reuse the RTMP/FLV example unchanged. YouTube’s HLS setup requires MPEG-TS segments, segment durations from 1 to 4 seconds, HTTPS POST/PUT, and a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments. YouTube says HLS has higher latency than RTMP because it sends segments rather than a continuous stream. Follow the current YouTube HLS setup instructions for the complete configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Test the stream before leaving it unattended
- Start with a short private or unlisted trial, if the destination offers those options.
- Watch the destination’s preview and confirm the video reaches it and the audio is present.
- Observe transitions between playlist files for gaps, missing audio, or playback artifacts.
- Check that the connection remains stable and that FFmpeg continues running; a loop alone does not supervise or restart a failed process.
For continuous operation, account separately for computer uptime, power, network stability, FFmpeg process supervision, reconnect behavior, and the platform’s handling of interruptions. The FFmpeg mechanisms above do not guarantee any of these, and a universal restart strategy is not established here.
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Troubleshooting common problems
- FFmpeg rejects a playlist entry: check each path, filename, quotation, and escaping; use the concat script syntax for spaces or special characters.
- Playback breaks at a file boundary: verify that the files have matching stream layouts, codecs, and time bases. Check duration metadata and use a duration directive only when you have the correct duration.
- Audio or video is missing: compare the streams in each input and verify that your chosen output codecs and destination ingest settings support them.
- The destination rejects the connection: confirm the current ingest protocol, URL, stream key, and required output format. Keep the key private and replace it if it has been exposed.
- The stream stops after a connection or host failure: looping only repeats media while FFmpeg is running and connected. You need a separate approach for process recovery and host/network availability.
- HLS ingest fails: check that the setup follows YouTube’s HLS-specific requirements rather than the RTMP/FLV example.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube stream from uploaded videos without keeping a computer on at home, StreamNeo runs the loop in the cloud. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed, and it streams to YouTube only.
- Nothing has to stay on at home; StreamNeo continues from the cloud.
- Each slot streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
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Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, then start your free day.
Quick Recap
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