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To make FFmpeg retry an internet radio stream when its HTTP connection drops or ends unexpectedly, put the HTTP reconnect options before the input’s -i. A useful starting pattern is -reconnect 1 -reconnect_at_eof 1 -reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_delay_max 30. These settings apply to reading the radio source; they do not restart FFmpeg if it exits or guarantee recovery of the separate YouTube connection.
Start with the reconnect options on the radio input
Use this as a pattern for an endless HTTP radio feed:
ffmpeg
-reconnect 1
-reconnect_at_eof 1
-reconnect_streamed 1
-reconnect_delay_max 30
-i "$RADIO_URL"
...output options...
"$YOUTUBE_RTMP_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY"This illustrates option placement and intent; it has not been tested against a particular station, FFmpeg build, audio format, or YouTube event. Replace the input placeholder with the station’s HTTP stream URL and the output placeholders with the ingest address and stream key shown for your YouTube Live event. Keep the key private: YouTube describes it as the information that tells an encoder where to send a feed and lets YouTube accept it (Manage live stream settings).
FFmpeg options are associated with inputs or outputs according to their position. Put HTTP protocol options before the -i they configure; placing them after the input may not configure the radio connection as intended. Check your installed build’s available options with ffmpeg -h protocol=http. FFmpeg’s official protocol documentation defines the HTTP options, but support and defaults can vary with version and build configuration.
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What each HTTP retry option does
| Option | Purpose | When it may help |
|---|---|---|
-reconnect 1 |
Reconnect after a disconnect that occurs before EOF. | When the source connection drops unexpectedly. |
-reconnect_at_eof 1 |
Treat EOF as an error and reconnect. FFmpeg describes this as useful for live or endless streams. | When a radio feed expected to continue indefinitely closes or reports EOF during an interruption. |
-reconnect_streamed 1 |
Allow reconnect attempts for streamed, non-seekable inputs. | When the station supplies a continuous stream rather than a seekable file. |
-reconnect_on_network_error 1 |
Reconnect on TCP/TLS errors during connection establishment. | Add it if connection-establishment errors are part of the observed problem and the installed FFmpeg build exposes the option. |
-reconnect_on_http_error 503,5xx |
Retry selected HTTP status codes; FFmpeg accepts explicit codes and classes such as 4xx or 5xx. |
Use a narrow selection appropriate to the station. A 4xx response can indicate an access, authentication, or malformed-request problem that retries will not correct. |
-reconnect_delay_max 30 |
Sets the maximum reconnect delay in seconds in this example. | Choose a bound suited to how long you want FFmpeg to keep retrying before another recovery layer intervenes. The example’s 30 seconds is not a universal recommendation. |
-respect_retry_after 1 |
Honor a server’s Retry-After header when present rather than relying only on exponential backoff. |
Potentially useful for responses such as 429 or 503 when the server supplies that header. |
Current FFmpeg documentation also lists maximum retry-count and total-delay options. Check ffmpeg -h protocol=http for the exact options your build supports, and set retry bounds deliberately. The flags request particular retry behavior; they cannot make an unavailable station or a rejected request recover.
Build the YouTube output separately
The HTTP reconnect flags configure the radio input, not the YouTube encoder output. Your complete command must also provide an output YouTube can ingest. The exact command depends on the station’s audio format, whether you add a still image or other video, any filters, and the current event settings. For an audio-led broadcast with a static image, the image and its video stream need their own input and output configuration; reconnecting radio audio does not create or repair that visual stream.
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YouTube’s current encoder help lists RTMP and RTMPS ingestion; video codecs including H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1; frame rates up to 60 fps; CBR; and AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Use the settings appropriate to your visual treatment and event, and prefer RTMPS where your workflow supports it. These destination settings do not change how FFmpeg reconnects to the radio source. See Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the current guidance.
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Diagnose which part of the path failed
- Check the FFmpeg process and logs. Determine whether FFmpeg is still running and whether messages point to the radio input, an HTTP response, or the YouTube output. Input reconnect flags address documented HTTP input behavior only.
- Inspect the source response. When possible, note the HTTP status code. A repeated 4xx response may mean the URL, credentials, access permissions, or station request needs fixing rather than more retries.
- Verify the station URL and format independently. Confirm that the URL is current and that the stream’s format, redirects, and any authentication requirements work with your setup. A station-specific command cannot be determined without those details.
- If FFmpeg exited, add a separate process-recovery layer. Reconnect flags cannot revive a stopped process. A process supervisor or service manager can relaunch it, but that is distinct from the HTTP input retry behavior.
- Check the YouTube event. Confirm the stream key and ingest destination, then review the event preview and stream-health messages. A working radio input does not prove that the publishing connection is healthy.
- Check outbound capacity and stability. YouTube recommends leaving 20% bandwidth headroom above the total sent bitrate and notes that connectivity disruption can break a stream. Its streaming tips cover testing and network considerations.
Keep the content and channel eligible
Technical retries do not grant rights to rebroadcast a station. Make sure you have permission to transmit the radio programming and any accompanying visuals, and check YouTube’s live-stream policies and channel requirements before scheduling. Reconnect options solve a transport problem; they do not resolve copyright claims, access restrictions, or other content-policy issues.
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