Ffmpeg
Contents
FFmpeg
FFmpeg is a free and open-source software suite for handling multimedia data. It is widely used for recording, converting, streaming, and processing audio and video content. FFmpeg supports a vast range of codecs, formats, and filters, making it one of the most powerful and versatile tools in multimedia production and post-processing.
The project was started in 2000 by Fabrice Bellard and is actively maintained by a global community of developers. FFmpeg is available on most major platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.
Features
- **Format conversion** – Convert between nearly all audio and video formats (e.g., MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, MP3, FLAC, etc.).
- **Codec support** – Built-in support for popular video/audio codecs like H.264, H.265 (HEVC), VP9, AV1, AAC, MP3, Opus, and more.
- **Streaming** – Transmit live audio and video over protocols like RTMP, RTP, HTTP, HLS, and DASH.
- **Transcoding** – Compress or re-encode media to reduce file size or match device requirements.
- **Filtering** – Apply visual filters, effects, cropping, scaling, subtitles, watermarks, and more.
- **Recording** – Capture video from webcams, screens, or network streams.
- **Metadata editing** – View and modify media file metadata.
- **Batch processing** – Automate media processing tasks via scripts or cron jobs.
Command-Line Syntax
FFmpeg operates via the command line. A basic conversion command:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.avi </syntaxhighlight>
This command converts an MP4 video to AVI format using default codecs.
Extract audio from a video:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vn -acodec copy audio.aac </syntaxhighlight>
Resize a video:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1280:720" output.mp4 </syntaxhighlight>
Convert video to H.265 with CRF quality control:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx265 -crf 28 output.mp4 </syntaxhighlight>
Use Cases
- Encoding media for streaming platforms
- Compressing large video files
- Converting between file types
- Editing or trimming media content
- Embedding subtitles or watermarks
- Processing surveillance or dashcam footage
- Automating media workflows in seedboxes and servers
Integration
FFmpeg is often integrated into other software and platforms, including:
- OBS Studio (for live streaming)
- VLC media player (internal decoding/encoding)
- HandBrake (video conversion GUI)
- Media servers like Jellyfin, Plex, and Emby
- Server automation and seedboxes (e.g., for transcoding, preview generation)
Licensing
FFmpeg is primarily licensed under the LGPLv2.1 or GPLv2, depending on compilation options and external libraries included.
