FFmpeg and HLS Streaming: A Foundational Introduction

I find the tool really interesting for two reasons. First, M3u8 index file based on screen size and available bandwidth. FFmpeg is a multimedia framework with the ability to encode, decode, transcode, stream, and manipulate multimedia files. The streams are mapped to the client in real time using an adaptive bitrate technology called HLS (HTTP Live Streaming).

HLS streaming is a technology that allows for multiple files to be created for different bandwidths and different resolutions (screen sizes). This means that when video is encoded to HLS, multiple files are created, each with its own characteristics. These files are then packaged via the RTMP protocol and sent to a media server which in turn unpacks the RTMP stream and repackages it as an HLS playlist to be sent to a CDN, cached for faster distribution to players anywhere.

The individual files that make up an HLS stream are typically in the form of TS (transport stream) files. These files contain H.264 encoded video and AAC encoded audio, both compressed by an encoder. HLS was developed by Apple and has become the most widely used streaming protocol for playback today.

As someone who has had several experiences working with HLS streams and FFmpeg, I thought it would be useful to share how I was able to download and combine chunks of media segments from a variant of an HLS stream. This article aims to introduce the concept of HLS streaming and FFmpeg at a foundational level, providing a solid understanding of the technology and its applications.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you need any further assistance.

Ffmpeg h264 input hls output