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FFmpeg can play files in a playlist order, but it does not provide a built-in calendar selector for choosing a different playlist each day. Make one concat manifest for each day, then use a scheduler such as Linux cron and a wrapper script to select the right manifest and start FFmpeg.
How the daily playlist setup works
Separate the job into two parts: FFmpeg reads and sequences the media listed in a manifest; an external scheduler decides when to run a command, and a wrapper can select which manifest to use. The FFmpeg documentation describes the concat demuxer, not a weekday-based playlist scheduler. FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation
This pattern can produce a file or serve as part of a streaming setup. Those are different output designs: for a live broadcast, you must add the correct output URL and options for the destination platform. The setup below does not establish any platform’s ingest requirements.
Create a concat manifest for each day
Make a text manifest for every weekday or schedule variant, listing media in the order you want it played. 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.mp4The ffconcat version 1.0 marker must be the first line, with no leading whitespace or byte-order mark, for FFmpeg to recognize the format automatically. Use one directive per line. Follow FFmpeg’s documented escaping and quoting rules for paths containing spaces or special characters. The concat demuxer’s safe option defaults to 1, which rejects unsafe paths; setting it to 0 permits any filename, so use that only with manifests you trust. FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation
Repeat the process for other days, such as tuesday.ffconcat, with each day’s files in its desired order.
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Check media compatibility before using stream copy
The concat demuxer requires inputs to have matching streams, codecs, and time bases. If files differ, normalize them in advance or use a re-encoding or filtering workflow instead of assuming stream copy will work. FFmpeg states: “All files must have the same streams (same codecs, same time base, etc.).” FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation
Durations matter because the demuxer uses them to adjust timestamps. An unavailable or inaccurate duration can cause timestamp artifacts; the manifest’s duration directive can override a duration that is missing or wrong.
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Use cron to select and run the daily manifest
On Linux, a cron entry can launch a wrapper once a day. This illustrative entry runs at midnight and appends standard output and errors to a log:
0 0 * * * /usr/local/bin/run-daily-playlist >> /var/log/daily-playlist.log 2>&1The wrapper should identify the intended day in the schedule’s time zone, map it to a manifest, and invoke FFmpeg using absolute executable and media paths. Cron runs jobs in a defined environment rather than an interactive login shell, so do not rely on settings or paths that exist only in your terminal session. The cited crontab manual documents CRON_TZ for setting a crontab’s time zone; use an explicit zone when midnight must mean a particular local midnight. Linux crontab manual
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For example, a wrapper can map the weekday to a manifest and run a command shaped like this:
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Choose a schedule design that matches the job
| Design | How it works | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| One daily wrapper | A single scheduled entry runs each day; the wrapper chooses the manifest. | Centralized selection logic and a consistent daily trigger. |
| Separate cron entries | Each day has a visible scheduled command or wrapper argument in the crontab. | Schedules you want to inspect directly in the crontab. |
| Supervisor or long-running wrapper | A process manager or wrapper handles continuous output and replaces the running FFmpeg process when the playlist changes. | Output that must remain continuously active across the day boundary. |
A one-shot cron launch does not, by itself, replace an FFmpeg process that is already running when the date changes. For continuous output, design explicitly for stopping the old invocation and starting the next one, as well as failures, restarts, and daylight-saving transitions. Cron scheduling details here apply to Linux cron; other operating systems use different schedulers.
Troubleshoot common failures
- The manifest is not recognized: Check that
ffconcat version 1.0is exactly the first line, without a byte-order mark or leading whitespace. - FFmpeg rejects a path: Apply the documented escaping and quoting rules. Check whether the default
safe=1behavior is rejecting it; only setsafe=0for a manifest you trust. - Concat reports incompatible streams: Compare the files’ streams, codecs, and time bases. Normalize the inputs or use a re-encoding/filter workflow if they do not match.
- Playback has timestamp artifacts: Check whether file durations are missing or inaccurate, and use the manifest’s
durationdirective where an override is needed. - The wrong day’s playlist runs: Make the intended time zone explicit and ensure the wrapper selects the day according to that same zone. Remember that cron does not inherit your interactive shell environment.
- The old playlist keeps running after midnight: A daily cron entry starts a job; it does not define how an existing process is stopped or replaced. Add process supervision or explicit replacement logic.
- A live destination rejects the output: Confirm the platform’s current ingest URL, encoding, and stream settings. The concat workflow alone does not verify those requirements.
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