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Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to play local audio files in order, then set -stream_loop -1 on that playlist input to repeat it indefinitely. Put the loop option before the matching -i. For a real-time radio output, -re can pace reads from the local files; the destination, authentication and output format must match your streaming server.
Build a playlist and loop it
Create a text file named playlist.txt beside the audio files. List one file per line in the order you want them played:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'track-01.mp3'
file 'track-02.mp3'
file 'track-03.mp3'Then use the concat demuxer as the input and loop that input:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-vn -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 128k -f mp3 OUTPUTOUTPUT is a placeholder, not a literal server address: replace it with the endpoint and output settings required by your radio server. The example shows the playlist and looping pattern, but does not guarantee that a particular server accepts MP3 in this form.
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What the options do
-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so place it before the-ithat readsplaylist.txt.-f concatselects FFmpeg’s concat demuxer, which reads the text script and presents its files sequentially.-safe 0allows paths the demuxer’s default safe mode would reject, such as absolute paths. Use it only with a playlist you control and trust. If you use simple, safe relative paths, omit it and leave safe mode enabled.-rereads local input at its native rate (equivalent to-readrate 1). It is useful when sending file-based audio to a real-time output; it does not perform looping or reconnecting.-vndisables video output.-c:a libmp3lame -b:a 128k -f mp3is an example audio encoding and container choice, not a universal requirement.
Make sure the audio files are compatible
The concat demuxer is intended for files with matching stream layouts and compatible parameters. FFmpeg’s documentation states: “All files must have the same streams (same codecs, same time base, etc.).” If tracks differ in stream count, codec or timing parameters, the demuxer may reject them or transitions may behave badly. Normalize or transcode the files to a consistent format before using this approach.
If re-encoding is needed to join incompatible inputs, FFmpeg’s concat filter is designed for that workflow. The concat protocol is a separate file-level option, and is suitable only for formats that support it; it is not a replacement for the demuxer in every case.
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Set up the radio output separately
The playlist command’s output side depends on the service you use: its endpoint or mount, authentication method, accepted container and codec, and the capabilities of your FFmpeg build. Configure those details for your actual server. The playlist fixes local sequencing and repetition; it does not establish a connection to a particular radio service.
-re is appropriate when local files need to be read in real time for a live output. It does not solve an interrupted network connection. FFmpeg has protocol reconnect options, including reconnect and reconnect_at_eof for supported network inputs, but those address network-source failures; they do not restart a finite local playlist.
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Troubleshoot a playlist that stops or breaks
- FFmpeg stops after one pass: Confirm
-stream_loop -1appears before the playlist’s-i, and that the option is applied to that input. - A playlist entry cannot be opened: Check each path, spelling, permissions and working directory. Use safe relative paths where possible; use
-safe 0only for a trusted playlist if safe mode rejects a path. - A file is rejected or a transition is faulty: Check that every item has the same stream count and compatible codecs and time bases. Normalize or transcode mismatched files.
- There is a gap or artifact at a transition: The demuxer uses each file’s duration to set timestamps for the next one. Inspect the reported or stored durations; where a duration is incorrect or unknown, the concat script’s
durationdirective can override it. - The local playlist loops but the radio disconnects: Treat this as an output or network problem, not a local end-of-file problem. Check the server endpoint, credentials and accepted format; use protocol reconnect controls only where they apply to the network input or protocol involved.
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