Automated Live Stream Recording On Firefox ⭐

Tutorials & Methods
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Automated Live Stream Recording On Firefox :star:

Looking to record live streams automatically in Firefox even when you’re away? Here’s a streamlined, effective method pulled together from user experiences and technical discussions.

Here’s a fully automated method to record live streams on Firefox—even when you’re away from your computer. This approach combines scheduled automation tools, lightweight screen recorders, and session persistence to ensure uninterrupted capturing of browser-based streams.

:puzzle_piece: Step-by-step setup:

  1. Install OBS Studio or Streamlink + ffmpeg:

    • OBS Studio is a robust, GUI-based screen recorder.
    • Streamlink (paired with ffmpeg) is ideal for headless, scriptable stream downloading.

  2. Set Up Streamlink for Specific Streams:

    • Run in terminal with:

      streamlink --hls-live-restart <stream_url> best -o output.ts

    • This records the highest quality version while skipping ads and auto-handling HLS streams.

  3. For GUI Streams (non-HLS), use OBS:

    • Set Firefox to open the stream in full screen.
    • Use the Display Capture or Window Capture feature.
    • Use OBS Scheduler Plugins like Advanced Scene Switcher or Windows Task Scheduler to trigger recordings at specific times.

  4. Keep the Session Active with Firefox Auto-Restore:

    • Enable Firefox’s “Open tabs from last time” to relaunch into the right stream page after restarts.

  5. Automate Firefox Opening the Stream:

    • Create a .bat or shell script:

      start firefox --kiosk "https://example.com/livestream"

    • Schedule it via Windows Task Scheduler or cron on Linux.

  6. Prevent Screen Timeout:

    • Windows: Use Don’t Sleep.
    • Linux/macOS: Use caffeine or a no-sleep shell command (caffeinate on macOS).

  7. Optionally, record only audio:

    • Use Audacity or ffmpeg with:

      ffmpeg -i <stream_url> -vn -acodec copy audio.aac

:locked: Tips for reliability:

  • Test your setup before relying on it.

  • Always check for stream protections like DRM; this method won’t work for DRM-protected services.

  • Save output in timestamped filenames to prevent overwriting:

    streamlink <url> best -o "$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M).ts"

:unlocked: This technique offers a powerful, low-maintenance solution to record live browser streams on Firefox without supervision—leveraging open-source tools and simple scripting for full automation."

Automated Live Stream Recording on Firefox (While You’re Away)"

:hammer_and_wrench: Essential Tools

:brain: Method Overview

The idea is to use OBS Studio for recording and automate stream launching via Firefox + Task Scheduler or scripts. The method relies on timed automation, headless Firefox, and OBS’s Scene Switcher.

:gear: Step-by-Step Setup

1. Install OBS & Scene Switcher

2. Set Up Firefox to Auto-Open the Stream

  • Use a batch script or Windows Task Scheduler to launch Firefox at the stream’s scheduled time.
  • Use a command like:
start firefox.exe "https://example.com/livestream"

Or in Task Scheduler:

  • Trigger: Specific time
  • Action: Start program → firefox.exe
  • Add argument: the livestream URL

3. OBS Scene Switcher Config

Configure OBS’s Scene Switcher:

  • Add a rule to detect the livestream window by title or URL.

  • Example:

    • If window title contains “Live Now”, switch to recording scene.

Set:

  • Start recording when the stream is live.
  • Stop recording or switch scenes based on inactivity or window close.

:light_bulb: Extra Tips from the Community

  • AutoHotKey: Combine with AHK for more refined control over mouse/keyboard if needed.
  • Use window capture or browser source in OBS.
  • Optional Plugin for auto-start recording: OBSAutoStart

:white_check_mark: Final Touches

  • Test the setup before leaving it unattended.
  • Make sure your PC stays awake (disable sleep).
  • Optionally log actions via OBS log file.

With this system, you can automatically record any scheduled livestream, fully hands-off.

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