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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf FFmpeg plays the first clip and then stops or fails to move through your playlist, first check where -stream_loop appears. It is an input option: it affects the input that follows it, not every -i in the command. For multiple local clips that should play in order and repeat as one playlist, the usual fix is to make them one concat-demuxer input and loop that input.
The exact cause depends on your command, FFmpeg version, files, and YouTube ingest method. The examples below are templates, not a verified recipe for every setup. Redact your stream key before sharing a command.
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Check how your inputs are arranged
Separate inputs need separate loop options
FFmpeg documents -stream_loop as an input option: -1 means loop indefinitely and 0 means no looping. Input options apply to the input they precede. So if a command has several -i inputs, an option before the first input does not automatically loop later inputs. Inspect the whole command before concluding this is the cause.
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If you intend each input to loop independently, put -stream_loop -1 before each corresponding -i. Also inspect output mapping (-map), -shortest, and any duration options: these can affect which streams are sent and when output ends.
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Use one playlist input for clips that should play in order
For local clips that should play sequentially and repeat together, the concat demuxer can present the list as one input. Create a text file such as playlist.txt:
ffconcat version 1.0
file '/path/to/clip-01.mp4'
file '/path/to/clip-02.mp4'
file '/path/to/clip-03.mp4'The optional signature must be exactly ffconcat version 1.0 at the beginning of the first line, with no leading whitespace or byte-order mark, for automatic format recognition. Include one file directive for each clip in the order you want it played. Quote or escape paths containing spaces or special characters.
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Then use the playlist as the single input and place the loop option before it:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv 'rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY'Replace the paths, codecs, and destination with values appropriate to your files and YouTube setup. Never publish or share a real stream key. The example uses an RTMP-style output; confirm the current ingest endpoint and protocol for your own YouTube stream.
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Check the playlist files and their compatibility
Compare streams, codecs, time bases, and durations
The concat demuxer expects the files to have matching stream layouts, codecs, and time bases. It adjusts timestamps using each file’s duration, so inaccurate duration metadata or a truncated clip can produce glitches at boundaries or unexpected timing. If the files are incompatible, stream-copying them does not make their formats match; transcode them to common stream parameters where necessary.
When a clip’s duration metadata is inaccurate, the concat script’s duration directive can override it. First confirm the reported input streams and durations, then adjust the playlist or normalize the files. Do not assume the same command will work unchanged across different source formats.
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Use -re only for file playback
In the example, -re reads the input at its native frame rate (equivalent to -readrate 1). FFmpeg cautions against using it on an actual capture device or live stream because it can cause packet loss. It is included for file-based playback, not as a universal setting for every input.
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Separate local looping from direct HLS ingestion
If FFmpeg sends a continuous output stream to YouTube, investigate local input looping, stream selection, encoding, and muxing. If your workflow uploads HLS segments directly, the relevant playlist is an HLS media playlist—not the local concat script above. YouTube’s HLS ingest documentation says it supports media playlists and ignores master playlists; the media playlist communicates the media segments and their order. YouTube also specifies sequence-number and outstanding-segment requirements. Check its current HLS requirements and server acknowledgments for that workflow. Do not apply HLS playlist rules to a continuous RTMP output unless you are actually using HLS.
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Diagnose why the stream stops after the first file
- Capture the setup: note the full FFmpeg command, with the stream key redacted; the output of
ffmpeg -version; the source file formats; and whether the destination uses RTMP or direct HLS. - Check option placement: find every
-stream_loopand verify it comes before the-iit should affect. Remember that each input option is scoped to its input. - Verify playlist order and input detection: if using concat, check the script’s signature, file paths, and order, then inspect FFmpeg’s input stream report.
- Investigate boundaries: compare the clips’ stream layouts, codecs, time bases, and duration metadata. Normalize incompatible files and correct inaccurate durations if needed.
- Inspect termination and selection: review
-map,-shortest, and duration limits to see whether output selection or an ending condition explains the behavior. - For HLS only: inspect the generated media playlist, segment names and order, sequence numbers, and server acknowledgments against YouTube’s current requirements.
Without the command and source details, no single cause can be confirmed. Treat the example commands as starting points and verify the behavior with your own inputs and ingest path.
Choose the approach that fits your inputs
| Approach | Best fit | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|
Separate -i inputs with a loop option before each |
Inputs that should repeat independently | Each input needs its own correctly placed input option; check mapping and output termination settings. |
| Concat-demuxer playlist as one input | Local clips that should play in order and repeat as a sequence | Files need compatible streams, codecs, and time bases; duration metadata affects timestamp adjustment. |
| Continuous RTMP-style output | FFmpeg sending a continuous encoded/muxed stream | Diagnose local input looping and output encoding/muxing; confirm the endpoint and settings for your setup. |
| Direct HLS segment upload | A workflow that publishes HLS segments rather than one continuous RTMP output | Follow YouTube’s media-playlist and segment requirements; concat input looping is a separate concern. |
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