Change stream source on-the-fly without interrupting HLS output

[vW7JKDTWMGwhRA]

Question

I'd like some guidance on how to configure either mediamtx or ffmpeg, to allow for changing the video source from a .mp4 video to capture card (live video) mediamtx path, without causing the mediamtx HLS output to not be interrupted.

Ex: source #1 = ffmpeg pre-roll-video.mp4 in a loop, then source #2 = ffmpeg live camera capture card, where the destination path for both is the same mediamtx '/stream'. The time for the change from pre-roll to the live camera is not predictable.

Currently, when i kill the "ffmpeg -re -i pre-roll -loop -f rtsp rtsp://host/stream" and start the replcaement ffmpeg -re -i 'capture card' -f rtsp rtps://host/stream" , the HLS output stream immediately terminates. The result is that users have to manually refresh their web-pages; which disables some automations & background actions.

I seen a reference to someone using 'HLS' .m3u8 file to define a sequence of videos for ffmpeg. I've also seen the '-concat' option for ffmpeg. But neither seem applicable for change ffmpeg from a file input to capture card (live) input.

BTW, I'm using MediaMtx for an internal network 'live' video distribution, the RTSP into HSL conversion is just wonderful. (Thank You for your time and commitment to this software.)

[privatesam]

Something like this must be possible. When I use OBS I can change the source on the fly and the HLS stream I'm pumping to a website stays up and switches seamlessly. Hopefully someone will have an answer.

[aler9]

Hello, in my opinion there are two ways to solve the issue:

1. Use OBS Studio and change the stream source there
2. wait for Allow a publisher to reconnect without disconnecting readers #2214 to be implemented