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Create the FFconcat manifest
Make a text file such as playlist.ffconcat. Its first line must be exactly ffconcat version 1.0, with no leading spaces or byte-order mark. Add one file directive per track, in the order you want them played:
ffconcat version 1.0
file '/srv/music/track-001.flac'
file '/srv/music/track-002.flac'
file '/srv/music/track-003.flac'The paths above are examples. Replace them with paths that exist on the machine running FFmpeg. The concat demuxer also supports directives such as duration, inpoint, and outpoint. Consult the FFmpeg Formats documentation for the syntax and path-safety rules.
Choose safe paths deliberately
By default, the concat demuxer uses safe mode. Safe paths are relative, do not use protocol syntax, and use a restricted portable character set. For a manifest in the same directory as the music, a portable layout might look like this:
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ffconcat version 1.0
file 'track-001.flac'
file 'track-002.flac'Keep the default safe mode when possible. If you need absolute paths or other paths that safe mode rejects, you can pass -safe 0, but only for a manifest you control and have checked. Correctly quote or escape paths containing whitespace or special characters; do not feed uncontrolled filenames into a manifest used with -safe 0.
Read the manifest with FFmpeg
For a basic local conversion test, the illustrative command below reads the manifest and encodes its audio to AAC:
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ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.ffconcat -map 0:a:0 -vn -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.aacThis command writes a finite output file, not a continuous live stream. The -safe 0 option is shown for manifests with paths that default safe mode would reject. If your manifest uses safe relative paths, omit that option and retain FFmpeg’s default. This example is illustrative, not a tested recipe; validate commands and transitions with the FFmpeg build and media files you will actually use.
Check compatibility and transitions
The concat demuxer virtually joins packet streams and adjusts timestamps so each file follows the preceding file. For reliable use, the inputs need the same streams, codecs, and time bases. Timestamp adjustment relies on file durations; inaccurate duration metadata, truncated files, or audio streams of unequal lengths can create gaps or artifacts. The duration directive can override duration information, but it does not replace checking the files and listening through transitions.
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- Confirm every listed path resolves on the target machine.
- Check that tracks have compatible stream layouts, codecs, and time bases.
- Verify file durations and listen for gaps, cutoffs, or unexpected silence at transitions.
- Test the exact ordering and playback behavior with the local FFmpeg build before using the list on air.
Make a finite playlist run continuously
An FFconcat manifest describes an ordered, finite input list. It is not an infinite-playlist setting, process supervisor, or fault-tolerant streaming design. A 24/7 deployment must separately decide how to repeat or regenerate the source list and how to restart the process after an error. FFmpeg’s cited documentation describes the media components; it does not prescribe one universally preferred service architecture.
Plan and test the operational pieces for your target system, including process supervision or scheduling, health monitoring, logs, storage checks, and a recovery procedure. A generated list can be maintained by scanning and sorting a controlled music directory, but validate filenames and every entry before passing a generated manifest to FFmpeg.
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Keep the source manifest separate from HLS output
An FFconcat file tells FFmpeg which source files to read. It is not an HLS playlist. If you choose HLS distribution, FFmpeg’s HLS muxer creates a client-facing playlist and media segments as a separate output-packaging stage. The muxer provides options for segment duration, playlist type, segment naming, and playlist windowing; see the FFmpeg all-options documentation. Whether to serve those generated assets from a particular host or origin is a separate deployment decision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the right FFmpeg concatenation method
The concat demuxer is one of three approaches documented by FFmpeg. Select based on input compatibility, whether you can re-encode, and whether the container supports file-level concatenation. The FFmpeg FAQ explains the distinctions:
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| Method | Use it when | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Concat demuxer | The inputs have compatible streams and you want FFmpeg to read them as a virtual sequence. | Inputs must have matching streams, codecs, and time bases; duration metadata affects timestamp adjustment. |
| Concat filter | You need to concatenate streams while re-encoding is acceptable or necessary. | It is a filtering and re-encoding workflow rather than virtual packet concatenation. |
| Concat protocol | The media format supports file-level concatenation. | Applicability depends on the format; it is not interchangeable with the demuxer for every input. |
Clear rights for the Indian music you stream
FFmpeg’s ability to play or stream audio does not grant permission to rebroadcast it. Before launch, verify permissions for the actual sound recordings and underlying compositions, and for the intended territory, platform, and mode of communication, with the relevant rights holders or qualified counsel. A consumer music subscription should not be assumed to authorize rebroadcast. The applicable Indian licensing requirements cannot be determined from the technical FFmpeg documentation cited here.
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