ffmprovisr

Making FFmpeg Easier

FFmpeg is a powerful tool for manipulating audiovisual files. Unfortunately, it also has a steep learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with a command line interface. This app helps users through the command generation process so that more people can reap the benefits of FFmpeg.

Each button displays helpful information about how to perform a wide variety of tasks using FFmpeg. To use this site, click on the task you would like to perform. A new window will open up with a sample command and a description of how that command works. You can copy this command and understand how the command works with a breakdown of each of the flags.

For FFmpeg basics, check out the program’s official website.

For Bash and command line basics, try the Command Line Crash Course.

What do you want to do?

Select from the following.

Create GIF

Create high quality GIF

ffmpeg -ss HH:MM:SS -i input_file -filter_complex "fps=10,scale=500:-1:flags=lanczos,palettegen" -t 3 palette.png

ffmpeg -ss HH:MM:SS -i input_file -i palette.png -filter_complex "[0:v]fps=10,scale=500:-1:flags=lanczos[v],[v][1:v]paletteuse" -t 3 -loop 6 output_file

The first command will use the palettegen filter to create a custom palette, then the second command will create the GIF with the paletteuse filter. The result is a high quality GIF.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-ss HH:MM:SS: starting point of the gif. If a plain numerical value is used it will be interpreted as seconds
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-filter_complex "fps=frame rate,scale=width:height,palettegen": a complex filtergraph using the fps filter to set frame rate, the scale filter to resize, and the palettegen filter to generate the palette. The scale value of -1 preserves the aspect ratio
-t 3: duration in seconds (here 3; can be specified also with a full timestamp, i.e. here 00:00:03)
-loop 6: number of times to loop the gif. A value of -1 will disable looping. Omitting -loop will use the default which will loop infinitely
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Simpler GIF creation

ffmpeg -ss HH:MM:SS -i input_file -vf "fps=10,scale=500:-1" -t 3 -loop 6 output_file

This is a quick and easy method. Dithering is more apparent than the above method using the palette* filters, but the file size will be smaller. Perfect for that "legacy" GIF look.

WAV to MP3

ffmpeg -i input_file.wav -sample_fmt s16p -ar 44100 output_file.mp3

This will convert your WAV files to MP3s.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path and name of the input file
-sample_fmt s16p: sample format. This will give you 16 bit audio (To see a list of supported sample formats, type: ffmpeg -sample_fmts)
-ar 44100: Sets the audio sampling frequency to 44.1 kHz (CD quality). This can be omitted to use the same sampling frequency as the input
output_file: path and name of the output file

Create Bash Script named “Rewrap.MXF.sh” to do Batch FFmpeg Processing

for f in *.MXF; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -map 0 -c copy "${f%.MXF}.mov"; done

Re-wrap .MFX files in a specified directory to .mov files by using this code within a .sh file. The shell script (.sh file) and all MXF files must be contained in the same directory, and the script must be run from the directory itself (cd ~/Desktop/MXF_file_directory). Execute .sh file with the command sh Rewrap-MXF.sh

-map 0: select all input streams to map to output
-c copy: enable stream copy. This will re-mux wihout re-encoding, so quality is preserved

Modify the ffmpeg script as needed to perform different transcodes :)

Create MD5 checksums

ffmpeg -i input_file -f framemd5 -an output_file

This will create an MD5 checksum per video frame.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-f framemed5: library used to calculate the MD5 checksums
-an: ignores the audio stream (audio no)
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Transcode into a deinterlaced Apple ProRes LT

ffmpeg -i input_file -c:v prores -profile:v 1 -vf yadif -c:a pcm_s16le output_file.mov

This command transcodes an input file into a deinterlaced Apple ProRes 422 LT file with 16-bit linear PCM encoded audio. The file is deinterlaced using the yadif filter (Yet Another De-Interlacing Filter).

ffmpeg

starts the command

-i input_file

path, name and extension of the input file

-c:v prores

Tells ffmpeg to transcode the video stream into Apple ProRes 422

-profile:v 1

Declares profile of ProRes you want to use. The profiles are explained below:

0 = ProRes 422 (Proxy)
1 = ProRes 422 (LT)
2 = ProRes 422 (Standard)
3 = ProRes 422 (HQ)

-vf yadif

Runs a deinterlacing video filter (yet another deinterlacing filter) on the new file

-c:a pcm_s16le

Tells ffmpeg to encode the audio stream in 16-bit linear PCM

output_file

path, name and extension of the output file

One thumbnail

ffmpeg -i input_file -ss 00:00:20 -vframes 1 thumb.png

This command will grab a thumbnail 20 seconds into the video.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-ss 00:00:20: seeks video file to 20 seconds into the video
-vframes 1: sets the number of frames (in this example, one frame)
output file: path, name and extension of the output file

Many thumbnails

ffmpeg -i input_file -vf fps=1/60 out%d.png

This will grab a thumbnail every minute and output sequential png files.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-ss 00:00:20: seeks video file to 20 seconds into the video
-vf fps=1/60: -vf is an alias for -filter:v, which creates a filtergraph to use for the streams. The rest of the command identifies filtering by frames per second, and sets the frames per second at 1/60 (which is one per minute). Omitting this will output all frames from the video
output file: path, name and extension of the output file. In the example out%d.png where %d is a regular expression that adds a number (d is for digit) and increments with each frame (out1.png, out2.png, out3.png…). You may also chose a regular expression like out%04d.png which gives 4 digits with leading 0 (out0001.png, out0002.png, out0003.png, …).

Generate thumbnails from a video at regular intervals

ffmpeg -i input_file -ss 00:12.235 -i "$f" -vframes 1 output_file

Create one thumbnail in JPEG format from a video file at a specific time. In this example: 0hours:0minutes:12sec.235msec

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-vframes 1: Tells ffmpeg to create a still image from file.
-ss 00:12.235: Specifies the specific point in input file where the still will be captured.
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Pull specs from video file

ffprobe -i input_file -show_format -show_streams -show_data -print_format xml

This command extracts technical metadata from a video file and displays it in xml.

ffmpeg documentation on ffprobe (full list of flags, commands, www.ffmpeg.org/ffprobe.html)

ffprobe: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-show_format: outputs file container informations
-show_streams: outputs audio and video codec informations
-show_data: adds a short “hexdump” to show_streams command output
-print_format: Set the output printing format (in this example “xml”; other formats include “json” and “flat”)

Join files together

ffmpeg -f concat -i mylist.txt -c copy output_file

This command takes two or more files of the same file type and joins them together to make a single file. All that the program needs is a text file with a list specifying the files that should be joined. However, it only works properly if the files to be combined have the exact same codec and technical specifications. Be careful, ffmpeg may appear to have successfully joined two video files with different codecs, but may only bring over the audio from the second file or have other weird behaviors. Don’t use this command for joining files with different codecs and technical specs and always preview your resulting video file!

ffmpeg documentation on concatenating files (full list of flags, commands, https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Concatenate)

ffmpeg

starts the command

-f concat

forces ffmpeg to concatenate the files and to keep the same file format

-i mylist.txt

path, name and extension of the input file. This text file contains the list of files to be concatenated and should be formatted as follows:

path_name_and_extension_to_the_first_file
path_name_and_extension_to_the_second_file
. . .
path_name_and_extension_to_the_last_file

-c copy

use stream copy mode to re-mux instead of re-encode

output_file

path, name and extension of the output file

Excerpt from beginning

ffmpeg -i input_file -t 5 -c copy output_file

This command captures a certain portion of a video file, starting from the beginning and continuing for the amount of time (in seconds) specified in the script. This can be used to create a preview file, or to remove unwanted content from the end of the file. To be more specific, use timecode, such as 00:00:05.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-t 5: Tells ffmpeg to stop copying from the input file after a certain time, and specifies the number of seconds after which to stop copying. In this case, 5 seconds is specified.
-c copy: use stream copy mode to re-mux instead of re-encode
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Excerpt from middle

ffmpeg -i input_file -ss 5 -t 10 -c copy output_file

This command captures a certain portion of a video file, starting from a designated point in the file and taking an excerpt as long as the amount of time (in seconds) specified in the script. This can be used to create a preview or clip out a desired segment. To be more specific, use timecode, such as 00:00:05.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-ss 5: Tells ffmpeg what timecode in the file to look for to start copying, and specifies the number of seconds into the video that ffmpeg should start copying. To be more specific, you can use timecode such as 00:00:05.
-t 10: Tells ffmpeg to stop copying from the input file after a certain time, and specifies the number of seconds after which to stop copying. In this case, 10 seconds is specified.
-c copy: use stream copy mode to re-mux instead of re-encode
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Excerpt to end

ffmpeg -i input_file -ss 5 -c copy output_file

This command copies a video file starting from a specified time, removing the first few seconds from the output. This can be used to create an excerpt, or remove unwanted content from the beginning of a video file.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-ss 5: Tells ffmpeg what timecode in the file to look for to start copying, and specifies the number of seconds into the video that ffmpeg should start copying. To be more specific, you can use timecode such as 00:00:05.
-c copy: use stream copy mode to re-mux instead of re-encode
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Split audio and video tracks

ffmpeg -i input_file -map 0:v video_output_file -map 0:a audio_output_file

This command splits the original input file into a video and audio stream. The -map command identifies which streams are mapped to which file. To ensure that you’re mapping the right streams to the right file, run ffprobe before writing the script to identify which streams are desired.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-map 0:v:0: grabs the first video stream and maps it into:
video_output_file: path, name and extension of the video output file
-map 0:a:0: grabs the first audio stream and maps it into:
audio_output_file: path, name and extension of the audio output file

Transcode to H.264

ffmpeg -i input_file -c:v libx264 -c:a copy output_file

This command takes an input file and transcodes it to H.264 with an .mp4 wrapper, keeping the audio the same codec as the original. The libx264 codec defaults to a “medium” preset for compression quality and a CRF of 23. CRF stands for constant rate factor and determines the quality and file size of the resulting H.264 video. A low CRF means high quality and large file size; a high CRF means the opposite.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-c:v libx264: tells ffmpeg to change the video codec of the file to H.264
-c:a copy: tells ffmpeg not to change the audio codec
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

In order to use the same basic command to make a higher quality file, you can add some of these presets:

ffmpeg -i input_file -c:v libx264 -preset veryslow -crf 18 -c:a copy output_file

-preset veryslow: This option tells ffmpeg to use the slowest preset possible for the best compression quality.
-crf 18: Specifying a lower CRF will make a larger file with better visual quality. 18 is often considered a “visually lossless” compression.

libx264 will use a chroma subsampling scheme that is the closest match to that of the input. This can result in YUV 4:2:0, 4:2:2, or 4:4:4 chroma subsampling. QuickTime and most other non-FFmpeg based players can’t decode H.264 files that are not 4:2:0. In order to allow the video to play in all players, you can specify 4:2:0 chroma subsampling:

ffmpeg -i input_file -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset veryslow -crf 18 -c:a copy output_file

-pix_fmt yuv420p: Specifies a pixel format of YUV 4:2:0 to allow the file to play in a standard QuickTime player.

H.264 from DCP

ffmpeg -i input_video_file.mxf -i input_audio_file.mxf -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a copy output_file

This will transcode mxf wrapped video and audio files to an H.264 encoded .mp4 file. Please note this only works for non-encrypted DCPs.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_video_file: path and name of the video input file. This extension must be .mxf
-i input_audio_file: path and name of the audio input file. This extension must be .mxf
-c:v libx264: transcodes video to H.264
-pix_fmt yuv420p: sets pixel format to yuv420p
-c:a copy: use stream copy mode to re-mux instead of re-encode
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Create ISO files for DVD access

Create an ISO file that can be used to burn a DVD. Please note, you will have to install dvdauthor. To install dvd author using Homebrew run: brew install dvdauthor

ffmpeg -i input_file -aspect 4:3 -target ntsc-dvd output_file.mpg

This command will take any file and create an MPEG file that dvdauthor can use to create an ISO.

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-aspect 4:3: declares the aspect ratio of the resulting video file. You can also use 16:9.
-target ntsc-dvd: specifies the region for your DVD. This could be also pal-dvd.
output_file.mpg: path and name of the output file. The extension must be .mpg

Upscaled, Pillar-boxed HD H.264 Access Files from SD NTSC source

ffmpeg -i input_file -c:v libx264 -filter:v "yadif,scale=1440:1080:flags=lanczos,pad=1920:1080:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2,format=yuv420p" output_file

ffmpeg: Calls the program ffmpeg
-i: for input video file and audio file
-c:v libx264: encodes video stream with libx264 (h264)
-filter:v: calls an option to apply filtering to the video stream. yadif deinterlaces. scale and pad do the math! resizes the video frame then pads the area around the 4:3 aspect to complete 16:9. flags=lanczos uses the Lanczos scaling algorithm which is slower but better than the default bilinear. Finally, format specifies a pixel format of YUV 4:2:0. The very same scaling filter also downscales a bigger image size into HD.
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Transform 4:3 aspect ratio into 16:9 with pillarbox

Transform a video file with 4:3 aspect ratio into a video file with 16:9 aspect ration by correct pillarboxing.

ffmpeg -i input_file -filter:v "pad=ih*16/9:ih:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2" -c:a copy output_file

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-filter:v "pad=ih*16/9:ih:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2": video padding
This resolution independent formula is actually padding any aspect ratio into 16:9 by pillarboxing, because the video filter uses relative values for input width (iw), input height (ih), output width (ow) and output height (oh).
-c:a copy: re-encodes using the same audio codec
For silent videos you can replace -c:a copy by -an.
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Transform 16:9 aspect ratio video into 4:3 with letterbox

Transform a video file with 16:9 aspect ratio into a video file with 4:3 aspect ration by correct letterboxing.

ffmpeg -i input_file -filter:v "pad=iw:iw*3/4:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2" -c:a copy output_file

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-filter:v "pad=iw:iw*3/4:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2": video padding
This resolution independent formula is actually padding any aspect ratio into 4:3 by letterboxing, because the video filter uses relative values for input width (iw), input height (ih), output width (ow) and output height (oh).
-c:a copy: re-encodes using the same audio codec
For silent videos you can replace -c:a copy by -an.
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Flip the video image horizontally and/or vertically

ffmpeg -i input_file -filter:v "hflip,vflip" -c:a copy output_file

ffmpeg: starts the command
-i input_file: path, name and extension of the input file
-filter:v "hflip,vflip": flips the image horizontally and vertically
By using only one of the parameters hflip or vflip for filtering the image is flipped on that axis only. The quote marks are not mandatory.
-c:a copy: re-encodes using the same audio codec
For silent videos you can replace -c:a copy by -an.
output_file: path, name and extension of the output file

Modify image and sound speed

E.g. for converting 24fps to 25fps with audio pitch compensation for PAL access copies. (Thanks @kieranjol!)

ffmpeg -i input_file -filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=input_fps/output_fps*PTS[v]; [0:a]atempo=output_fps/input_fps[a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" output_file

ffmpeg

starts the command

-i input_file

path, name and extension of the input file

-filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=input_fps/output_fps*PTS[v]; [0:a]atempo=output_fps/input_fps[a]"

A complex filter is needed here, in order to handle video stream and the audio stream separately. The setpts video filter modifies the PTS (presentation time stamp) of the video stream, and the atempo audio filter modifies the speed of the audio stream while keeping the same sound pitch. Note that the parameter’s order for the image and for the sound are inverted:

In the video filter setpts the numerator input_fps sets the input speed and the denominator output_fps sets the output speed; both values are given in frames per second.
In the sound filter atempo the numerator output_fps sets the output speed and the denominator input_fps sets the input speed; both values are given in frames per second.

The different filters in a complex filter can be divided either by comma or semicolon. The quotation marks allow to insert a space between the filters for readability.

-map "[v]"

maps the video stream and:

-map "[a]"

maps the audio stream together into:

output_file

path, name and extension of the output file

Create centered, transparent text watermark

E.g For creating access copies with your institutions name

ffmpeg -i input_file -vf drawtext="fontfile=font_path:fontsize=font_size:text=watermark_text:fontcolor=font_colour:alpha=0.4:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2" output_file

ffmpeg

starts the command

-i input_file

path, name and extension of the input file

-vf drawtext=

This calls the drawtext filters with the following options:

fontfile=font_path: Set path to font. For example in OSX: fontfile=/Library/Fonts/AppleGothic.ttf
fontsize=font_size: Set font size. 35 is a good starting point for SD. Ideally this value is proportional to video size, for example use ffprobe to acquire video height and divide by 14.
text=watermark_text: Set the content of your watermark text. For example: text='FFMPROVISR HACK DAY NEVAR ENDS'
fontcolor=font_colour: Set colour of font. Can be a text string such as fontcolor=white or a hexadecimal value such as fontcolor=0xFFFFFF
alpha=0.4: Set transparency value.
x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2: Sets x and y coordinates for the watermark. These relative values will centre your watermark regardless of video dimensions.

-vf is a shortcut for -filter:v.

output_file

path, name and extension of the output file.

Create a burnt in timecode on your image

ffmpeg -i input_file -vf drawtext="fontfile=font_path:fontsize=font_size:timecode=starting_timecode:fontcolor=font_colour:box=1 :boxcolor=box_colour:rate=timecode_rate:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=h/1.2" output_file

ffmpeg

starts the command

-i input_file

path, name and extension of the input file

-vf drawtext=

This calls the drawtext filter with the following options:

fontfile=font_path: Set path to font. For example in OSX: fontfile=/Library/Fonts/AppleGothic.ttf
fontsize=font_size: Set font size. 35 is a good starting point for SD. Ideally this value is proportional to video size, for example use ffprobe to acquire video height and divide by 14.
timecode=starting_timecode: Set the timecode to be displayed for the first frame. Timecode is to be represented as hh:mm:ss[:;.]ff. Colon escaping is determined by O.S, for example in Ubuntu timecode='09\\:50\\:01\\:23'. Ideally, this value would be generated from the file itself using ffprobe.
fontcolor=font_colour: Set colour of font. Can be a text string such as fontcolor=white or a hexadecimal value such as fontcolor=0xFFFFFF
box=1: Enable box around timecode
boxcolor=box_colour: Set colour of box. Can be a text string such as fontcolor=black or a hexadecimal value such as fontcolor=0x000000
rate=timecode_rate: Framerate of video. For example 25/1
x=(w-text_w)/2:y=h/1.2: Sets x and y coordinates for the timecode. These relative values will horizontally centre your timecode in the bottom third regardless of video dimensions.

-vf is a shotrcut for -filter:v.

output_file

path, name and extension of the output file.

➺ ffmprovisr ❥

Making FFmpeg Easier

What do you want to do?

Select from the following.