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For an HTTP sleep-sounds stream, put FFmpeg’s reconnect options before the source URL’s -i. A practical starting point is -reconnect 1 -reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_at_eof 1; add network-error or HTTP-status retries only when they fit the source. These settings help FFmpeg recover from certain input failures, but they do not guarantee uninterrupted playback or apply to every protocol.
Start with the right HTTP input options
Use this as a starting point when the source is delivered over HTTP and may disconnect, be non-seekable, or close at EOF:
ffmpeg
-reconnect 1
-reconnect_streamed 1
-reconnect_at_eof 1
-reconnect_on_network_error 1
-reconnect_on_http_error 5xx
-reconnect_delay_max 30
-i 'SOURCE_URL'
...OUTPUT_OPTIONS...Replace SOURCE_URL with the actual source URL and ...OUTPUT_OPTIONS... with your chosen output configuration. The 30-second delay cap is an illustrative choice, not a universal recommendation or verified ideal for sleep-sounds services. Test with the real source and output.
FFmpeg’s HTTP protocol documentation defines these options and their behavior: HTTP protocol options. Input options belong before the relevant -i; putting them after it does not configure that input.
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Choose options for the failure you need to handle
Disconnects and end-of-file
-reconnect 1enables automatic reconnection after a disconnection before EOF.-reconnect_streamed 1permits reconnects on streamed or non-seekable inputs.-reconnect_at_eof 1treats EOF as an error and reconnects. FFmpeg describes this as useful for live or endless streams.
For a source intended to keep running, EOF can be a relevant failure even when the connection did not report an ordinary disconnect. Whether reconnecting produces continuous listener playback depends on the source, timing, and output path; the options alone do not promise a seamless result.
Network errors and HTTP status codes
-reconnect_on_network_error 1requests retries for TCP or TLS errors during connection.-reconnect_on_http_error 5xxrequests retries for selected HTTP status codes. The option accepts individual codes and groups such as4xxor5xx.
Retrying every 4xx response can waste attempts: many such responses indicate a persistent request or authorization problem rather than a transient outage. Select status codes that make sense for the source service instead of enabling broad retries by default.
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Delay and retry bounds
-reconnect_delay_max Nsets the maximum reconnect delay before giving up.-reconnect_max_retries Ncaps the number of attempts; FFmpeg’s documentation says the default is unset.-reconnect_delay_total_max Nbounds the total reconnect delay.-respect_retry_after 1tells FFmpeg to respect a server’sRetry-Afterheader when encountered; the documentation notes its relevance to responses such as 429 and 503.
These controls serve different purposes: a per-delay cap is not a retry-count limit, and neither alone sets a total delay budget. Choose bounds that reflect how long a source may reasonably be unavailable and how you want the process to behave if recovery takes longer. Do not treat example values as an FFmpeg recommendation.
Confirm the protocol and your FFmpeg build
The options above are for HTTP input handling. Do not assume they control RTSP, a local-file loop, or every HLS demuxing case in the same way. First identify how the source is actually opened, then inspect the installed build’s HTTP protocol help:
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ffmpeg -h protocol=httpIf FFmpeg rejects an option or behavior differs from expectations, check the help from that exact installed build and confirm that the source uses HTTP. Upstream option declarations include defaults such as a 120-second reconnect_delay_max and a 256-second reconnect_delay_total_max, but the moving upstream branch is not a substitute for checking the released build you are running. See FFmpeg’s HTTP option declarations.
Keep a 24/7 process observable
HTTP reconnect options address specified input failures; they do not cover every reason FFmpeg can exit. A long-running stream therefore needs monitoring, and if the process exits for a reason outside the HTTP reconnect path, an outer process supervisor may be needed to start it again. Neither monitoring nor process supervision is an HTTP reconnect setting, and these options do not establish any particular hosting provider or output platform.
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