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How to Loop Multiple Videos with FFmpeg and Nginx RTMP

Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to join an ordered playlist, loop it with -stream_loop -1, pace it with -re, and publish to an Nginx RTMP application.
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To loop several videos into a continuous RTMP stream, put their paths in an FFmpeg concat playlist, loop that playlist with -stream_loop -1, pace file reading with -re, and publish the result to an Nginx RTMP application. The files need compatible stream layouts, codecs, and time bases; if they do not, normalize or transcode them first.

What you need

  • FFmpeg installed with the required input support and, if transcoding, an encoder suitable for your files.
  • Nginx built with the nginx-rtmp-module.
  • Local video files that FFmpeg can read. For concat-demuxer use, all files must have the same streams, including compatible codecs and time bases.

The example below assumes FFmpeg and Nginx run on the same host, Nginx listens on port 1935, and the RTMP application is named live. It is an adaptable command pattern, not a universally tested recipe: confirm your installed FFmpeg build, source files, and server configuration.

Create the ordered playlist

In the directory containing the videos, create playlist.txt with one file per line, in the order to play them:

ffconcat version 1.0
file 'video1.mp4'
file 'video2.mp4'
file 'video3.mp4'

The header must be the first line exactly as shown for automatic format recognition. Relative paths are easiest to manage when they are relative to the playlist’s directory. Quote or escape paths that contain spaces or special characters.

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The concat demuxer joins the listed files as one virtual input and adjusts timestamps between them. Its key compatibility rule is that all files must have the same streams. Differences in stream layout, codec, or time base can cause failure or playback artifacts. Normalize or transcode incompatible sources rather than assuming any mixture of files will work seamlessly.

Configure an Nginx RTMP application

Add an RTMP server and application to the Nginx configuration, adapting the following shape from the module’s example:

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rtmp {
    server {
        listen 1935;
        application live {
            live on;
            allow publish 127.0.0.1;
            deny publish all;
        }
    }
}

The application name in the configuration is live, so the publish URL uses /live/. The access rules permit publishing from localhost and deny other publishers. Keep that restriction if FFmpeg runs on the same host. If FFmpeg is on another host, change the address and publishing policy deliberately; do not expose publishing access more broadly than needed. The module’s documented setup adds the module to Nginx source at configure time, so an existing Nginx installation may need to be built with the module before this configuration is available.

Loop and publish the playlist

With Nginx running and the playlist ready, run this command from the playlist directory:

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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt 
  -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv 
  rtmp://127.0.0.1:1935/live/playlist
  • -re reads the file input at its native rate, avoiding a file being sent to the server as fast as the machine can process it.
  • -stream_loop -1 repeats the input indefinitely.
  • -f concat selects the concat demuxer for the playlist.
  • -safe 0 permits paths the concat demuxer’s default safe-path policy rejects. Use it only with a playlist you trust.
  • -i playlist.txt supplies the virtual input.
  • -c:v libx264 -c:a aac are example encoding choices, not requirements for every source or FFmpeg build.
  • -f flv selects the output container used for this RTMP publishing pattern.
  • rtmp://127.0.0.1:1935/live/playlist points to the local server, the configured live application, and the stream name playlist.

FFmpeg options are order-sensitive and generally apply to the next input or output. Keep the input options before -i playlist.txt, as shown. The concat demuxer’s default is -safe 1, which rejects paths outside its portable safe format, including some absolute or protocol paths. Prefer safe relative paths where practical; do not use -safe 0 with an untrusted playlist because it permits arbitrary file names.

Choose stream copy or transcoding

Approach Example Use it when Trade-off
Stream copy -c copy The source streams are compatible across files and suitable for the RTMP/FLV output. Avoids re-encoding work, but offers no conversion to resolve incompatible codecs or stream properties.
Transcoding -c:v libx264 -c:a aac You need to convert streams into formats compatible with the output or standardize varied inputs. Requires an available encoder and additional processing; settings must suit the machine and source media.

To try stream copy, replace the two codec options in the example with -c copy. Do not assume it will work for every set of files: concat inputs must still have matching streams, and the copied streams must be usable in the output format and by the downstream server or player. For transcoding, check the encoders available in your FFmpeg build and choose compatible codecs. The example does not prescribe bitrate, resolution, or frame rate because those depend on your sources and the receiving service’s requirements.

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Troubleshoot common failures

Playlist is not recognized

  • Confirm ffconcat version 1.0 is exactly the first line, with no blank line or other text before it.
  • Check each filename and its location relative to the playlist directory. Quote or escape paths containing spaces or special characters.

Concat reports unsafe paths or cannot open a file

  • Use safe relative paths when possible. The default safe-path policy rejects some absolute paths and paths containing protocols.
  • If the playlist is trusted, -safe 0 can allow those paths. Do not accept an untrusted playlist with this option enabled.

Files fail at transitions or show artifacts

  • Check that every file has the same streams and compatible codecs and time bases, as required by the concat demuxer. Normalize or transcode files that differ.
  • Duration estimates can affect timestamp adjustment. If a file’s stored or detected duration is unavailable or inaccurate, add an appropriate duration directive to the playlist for that file and verify the value against the media.

FFmpeg cannot encode the selected codecs

The sample uses libx264 and AAC as placeholders. Check the encoders in your installed FFmpeg build and select available codecs supported by your sources and destination. If the source streams already fit the output and are compatible with each other, test -c copy instead.

RTMP publishing fails

  • Check that Nginx is running with the RTMP module, listens on port 1935, and has an application whose name matches the URL’s /live/ component.
  • Check the host and port in the URL. The example’s 127.0.0.1 works only when FFmpeg and Nginx run on the same host.
  • Check the Nginx publish access rules. The example allows localhost only, so a publisher on another host will be denied unless the policy is adjusted.

Keep the stream available around the clock

A local FFmpeg process depends on the host staying on and connected. For continuous use, account for the host, network, process supervision, and recovery if the server or publishing connection stops. Nginx RTMP provides the receiving application in this setup; it does not by itself remove the need to keep FFmpeg running.

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