FFmpeg can play files in a chosen order, but it does not provide a built-in calendar that selects a different playlist each weekday. Create a concat manifest for each day, then use an external scheduler—such as cron on Linux—to select and run the right manifest. The steps below cover a daily file job and explain what changes when you need to replace a continuously running stream.
How the daily playlist setup works
Use the FFmpeg concat demuxer to sequence the media files listed in a text manifest. Keep a separate manifest for each day or schedule variant, and let a wrapper script or scheduler choose which one to use. The FFmpeg documentation describes the concat demuxer, not a built-in weekday playlist selector. FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation
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The example below creates an output file. A live broadcast needs a different output destination and platform-specific options; the FFmpeg sources cited here do not establish the ingest settings for any particular service.
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Make a directory for the manifests and list each day’s files in playback order. For example, save this as /srv/playlists/monday.ffconcat:
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ffconcat version 1.0
file /srv/media/clip-one.mp4
file /srv/media/clip-two.mp4Repeat the pattern for other days, changing the filename and order as needed. The exact header must be the first line, with no leading whitespace or byte-order mark, for FFmpeg to recognize the format automatically. The manifest uses one directive per line. If a path contains spaces or special characters, follow the concat documentation’s escaping rules rather than assuming ordinary shell quoting will work. FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation
Check compatibility before using stream copy
Stream copy avoids re-encoding, but the concat demuxer requires matching streams, codecs, and time bases across the listed files. If the inputs do not match, normalize them in advance or choose a re-encoding or filter workflow instead. The command below is an illustrative pattern, not a tested command:
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ffmpeg -f concat -i /srv/playlists/monday.ffconcat -c copy output.mp4Incorrect or unavailable media durations can also lead to timestamp artifacts because the demuxer uses durations to adjust timestamps. Where a duration is missing or inaccurate, the manifest’s duration directive can provide an override; consult the documentation for its syntax and behavior.
Schedule the right manifest on Linux
A wrapper can map the current weekday to a manifest and invoke FFmpeg. For example, a daily cron entry can run a wrapper at midnight:
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0 0 * * * /usr/local/bin/run-daily-playlist >> /var/log/daily-playlist.log 2>&1This example assumes the wrapper exists and has executable permissions; it does not itself choose a manifest. Configure the wrapper to determine the intended day in the schedule’s time zone, select the matching manifest, and use absolute paths for FFmpeg and media files. Cron runs jobs in a defined environment rather than an interactive login shell, so do not rely on shell settings or a PATH that is only available in your terminal. The cited crontab manual documents the CRON_TZ setting for specifying a crontab’s time zone. Linux crontab manual
One wrapper or separate weekday entries?
- One daily wrapper: Centralizes the weekday-to-manifest logic and runs at the same time each day. This is useful when selection rules should live in one place.
- Separate cron entries: Makes each scheduled run visible in the crontab, but requires maintaining the schedule and the matching manifest paths there.
Either approach still needs an explicit time zone and a plan for the cron job’s environment. Cron’s behavior is specific to Linux cron; other operating systems use different schedulers.
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If FFmpeg must keep running across midnight
A one-shot cron launch does not define how an already-running FFmpeg process should change playlists at midnight. Decide whether the existing process should stop and be replaced, whether a supervisor should restart it, or whether a long-running wrapper should manage the transition. Also plan what should happen after a failed launch or machine restart, and account for daylight-saving transitions if the schedule follows local time. These choices depend on whether FFmpeg is generating files or sending a continuous output; the appropriate live-output configuration depends on the destination platform.
Troubleshoot common problems
- FFmpeg does not recognize the manifest automatically: Check that
ffconcat version 1.0is exactly on the first line, with no leading spaces or byte-order mark. - A listed path is rejected: The concat demuxer’s
safeoption defaults to1and rejects unsafe paths. Setting it to0accepts any filename, so use that only with manifests you trust; prefer safe paths and documented escaping where possible. FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation - Stream copy fails or the output is unusable: Compare the input streams, codecs, and time bases. Normalize incompatible media or use a re-encoding/filter workflow.
- Timestamp gaps or artifacts appear: Check whether input durations are correct and use a
durationdirective where a duration is unavailable or inaccurate. - The wrong day’s playlist runs: Check the scheduler’s time zone, the wrapper’s weekday mapping, and whether cron’s environment differs from your login shell.
- The playlist does not change at midnight: A daily launch does not replace a still-running FFmpeg process. Add an explicit stop-and-relaunch or supervision strategy.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a continuously looping prerecorded-video stream on YouTube rather than a local FFmpeg job, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a camera feed. Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on; uploads stream as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot regardless of quality; and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. Start your free StreamNeo day.
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