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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To skip mismatched videos in a playlist, use ffprobe to check each file’s actual video dimensions, then have the script that creates the playlist include only files that match your chosen target. For example, to keep only 1920×1080 videos, compare both width and height against those values. If you mean joining clips into one continuous video instead, normalize their dimensions with FFmpeg’s scale filter and use the concat filter.
First decide what “playlist” means
There are two different jobs: filtering a list of separate video files, or combining clips into one output. Filtering a playlist leaves the selected video files unchanged. Concatenating clips creates a new file and, when their dimensions differ, requires scaling and re-encoding to make a uniform output.
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The target resolution is up to you; the title does not specify one. Choose a width and height such as 1920x1080. If only height matters, use a height-only rule instead and accept that widths may differ.
Skip mismatched files in a playlist
Check the first video stream with ffprobe
Run this command for an individual file:
ffprobe -v error -select_streams V:0
-show_entries stream=width,height
-of csv=s=x:p=0 input.mp4For a typical file, the output is a compact dimension such as 1920x1080. The V:0 selector checks the first video stream while excluding attached-picture streams. Do not rely on filenames or labels such as “720p”; probe the stream itself. FFprobe’s documentation describes its machine-readable output and stream-selection options. The online documentation follows FFmpeg development, so check the documentation or help for your installed version if an option behaves differently.
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Filter when generating the playlist
- Set the match rule. For exact matching, require both width and height to equal your target. For a height-only rule, test height alone.
- Probe each candidate. Run
ffprobeonce per file and parse the returned dimensions. - Include only matches. Write matching paths to the playlist format expected by the player or demuxer that will consume it.
- Handle probe failures explicitly. Treat a failed probe or missing dimensions as a nonmatch, or report the file for review; do not silently count it as a match.
The command above demonstrates inspection of one file, not a complete playlist generator. The correct output syntax depends on the consumer: .m3u8, .ffconcat and player-specific lists do not all follow identical rules. Add the same probe-and-compare logic to the script or process that writes your particular format.
Multiple video streams and stream selection
If a file contains more than one video stream, decide which stream defines its resolution. -select_streams limits the streams reported by ffprobe; the example checks the first video stream. FFmpeg’s output stream selection and -map control which streams are used in an output, not which files a playlist-generation script should skip. A resolution-based file filter must inspect each file and apply your own rule. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation for stream selection and mapping.
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- 【FULL-HD VIDEO PLAYBACK】- Stunning HDMI video quality up to 1080p/60Hz with support for the latest video formats such as H.265/HEVC. Feeds digital surround sound to home theater receivers for a cinema-like movie experience. Includes analog AV output for connecting to an older TV or for sending audio to a stereo system.
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- 【TRIGGER SENSOR INPUT】- Ability to loop one video continuously and play a different video when triggered by an optional push-button or motion sensor. Build an interactive digital signage display, art gallery or museum on-demand video player, or a Halloween special effect in just a few steps. Push-button and motion sensors sold separately.
- 【MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT】 - Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, TS/TP, MOV, VOB, and M2TS files using H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, VC1, or MPEG2/4 codecs, up to 1920x1080p@60fps, 10-bit color, and 100mbps. Photos: JPG, JPEG, BMP, GIF (non-animated), PNG. Music: MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, AAC
Join clips into one video with uniform dimensions
If by “playlist” you mean one continuous output, filtering out files is not the same as making the remaining clips consistent. Normalize each input to a common frame size, then join the normalized streams with the concat filter. Scaling requires filtering and encoding; stream copy does not resize video.
Choose how mismatched aspect ratios should look
- Preserve the whole image: scale each clip to fit inside the target box, then pad the unused area. This can add bars.
- Fill the frame: crop after scaling to fill the target. This avoids bars but discards part of the image.
For a 1920×1080 target, a conceptual two-input filter chain that preserves the whole frame is:
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- PLAYS 2K QUAD-HD VIDEOS - Works with TVs old and new! Smoothly plays videos up to 2560x1440@60fps, upscaled to UHD 4K/60Hz HDMI output. Sharp and clear video and audio in pure digital format, compatible with 4K and 1080p TVs, projectors, and monitor displays. Composite AV output for use with analog TVs or for sending sound to a stereo system.
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- SIMPLE DIGITAL SIGNAGE - Automatic video playback with endless repeat and looping, and the ability to resume from the last stopping point. Configurable 90/180/270 degree video output rotation. Great for digital signage applications such as restaurant menu boards, lobby welcome videos, art and museum installations.
- MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT - Videos: MKV, MP4/M4V, AVI, MOV, MPG, VOB, M2TS, TS files encoded with H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC1, up to 2560x1440, 60fps, 100mbps. Subtitles: SRT, PGS, IDX+SUB. Music: MP3, WAV, FLAC. Photos: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG
[0:v]scale=1920:1080:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1920:1080:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2[v0];
[1:v]scale=1920:1080:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1920:1080:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2[v1];
[v0][0:a][v1][1:a]concat=n=2:v=1:a=1[outv][outa]This illustrates the filter layout; it is not a universal complete command. It assumes two inputs and an audio stream in each. Adapt stream labels and mappings if a file has no audio, has multiple audio streams or uses a different stream layout. The target dimensions and padding color are choices for your output. The FFmpeg filters documentation explains scale sizing and aspect-ratio options.
Encode the filtered output
The concat-filter route re-encodes. Build the full command with output video and audio codecs and quality settings that suit your delivery needs; the filter chain alone does not specify them. Do not expect stream copy to resize clips. FFmpeg’s FAQ distinguishes the concat filter, concat demuxer and concat protocol, and recommends the filter approach when re-encoding is needed. The demuxer may avoid re-encoding in compatible circumstances, but it does not scale inputs; compatibility depends on the files and their streams.
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- 【4K/UHD VIDEO PLAYBACK】- Stunning HDMI video quality up to 2160p/60Hz with support for the latest video formats such as H.265/HEVC. Feeds digital surround sound to home theater receivers for a cinema-like movie experience. Includes analog AV output for connecting to an older TV or for sending audio to a stereo system.
- 【READS USB DRIVES AND SD CARDS】- Reads USB flash drives and hard drives up to 8TB and SD cards up to 1TB. Supports FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS file systems. Automatic playback, continuous looping and repeat, and the ability to resume video playback from the last stop point.
- 【TRIGGER SENSOR INPUT】- Ability to loop one video continuously and play a different video when triggered by an optional push-button or motion sensor. Build an interactive digital signage display, art gallery or museum on-demand video player, or a Halloween special effect in just a few steps. Push-button and motion sensors sold separately.
- 【MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT】 - Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, TS/TP, MOV, VOB, and M2TS files using H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, VC1, or MPEG2/4 codecs, up to 4096x2304p@30fps, 10-bit color, and 200mbps. Photos: JPG, JPEG, BMP, GIF (non-animated), PNG. Music: MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, AAC
Which approach should you use?
| Goal | Approach | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Keep separate playable files and omit mismatches | Probe dimensions, then filter entries while generating the playlist | Requires a playlist-generation step; selected files are not modified. |
| Create one continuous file with uniform dimensions | Scale and normalize inputs, then use the concat filter | Requires re-encoding; padding or cropping changes how mismatched aspect ratios appear. |
| Join compatible inputs without re-encoding | Consider the concat demuxer after checking format and stream compatibility | Does not resize clips; whether it works depends on the inputs. |
Troubleshooting
- The probe prints nothing or exits with an error: the file may be unreadable, invalid, or lack a selected video stream. Check the filename and probe error; report or exclude files without usable dimensions.
- A file is included despite a different size: verify that your script compares both width and height for an exact match and parses the probe result correctly. A height-only rule intentionally permits different widths.
- A file has several video streams: confirm that
V:0is the stream you intend to test. Select a different stream or inspect the available streams when the first is not the relevant picture. - The playlist will not open: check that its syntax and path conventions match the specific player or demuxer. A file list valid for one consumer is not automatically valid for another.
- The concat filter rejects the inputs: check that every input has the streams referenced by the filter and adapt the labels for missing or additional audio/video streams. Normalize dimensions before concatenating.
- The joined video has bars or loses image edges: this is the aspect-ratio choice. Padding preserves the full picture; cropping fills the frame but removes image area.
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