FFMPEG command examples, CLI

Show video file information

#Show attached video input devices (cameras)
> ffmpeg -list_devices true -f dshow -i dummy

# Convert input video to output video limiting frame-rate (fps) to 30fps
>ffmpeg -i input-video-filename.mp4 -r 30 output-video-filename.mp4 

Cumulus example

# This is an example command found in the logs file of Cumulus self hosted video app. We note that the video is first uploaded to the server, before becoming processed. We also note that we have been uploading video (mp4) files in a relatively low resolution of 640x360 (or thereabouts).
#
# H.264 Encoding Command: /home/bdl/video.tamertemel.net/cc-core/system/bin/ffmpeg-64-bit/ffmpeg -i /home/bdl/video.tamertemel.net/cc-content/uploads/temp/6yTYjEi7MUobKQRvkX0f.mp4 -vcodec libx264 -vf "scale=min(640\,iw):trunc(ow/a/2)*2" -vb 800k -acodec aac -ab 96k -ar 44100 -f mp4 /home/bdl/video.tamertemel.net/cc-content/uploads/h264/6yTYjEi7MUobKQRvkX0f_temp.mp4 >> /home/bdl/video.tamertemel.net/cc-core/logs/6yTYjEi7MUobKQRvkX0f.log 2>&1
#
# excluding the (long) filename and location), that command becomes; 
# Note that the command includes a request to generate a LOG file.
#
# H.264 Encoding Command: 

ffmpeg -i 6yTYjEi7MUobKQRvkX0f.mp4 -vcodec libx264 -vf "scale=min(640\,iw):trunc(ow/a/2)*2" -vb 800k -acodec aac -ab 96k -ar 44100 -f mp4 6yTYjEi7MUobKQRvkX0f_temp.mp4 >> 6yTYjEi7MUobKQRvkX0f.log 2>&1

Convert format to High Definition

#convert to HD720
>ffmpeg -i VID_20240501_142950.mp4 -s hd720 -r 30 AylaDrivingLesson20240501.mp4

# get info about video
ffmpeg -i VIDEO-filename.mp4

#convert video file to HD1080 
>ffmpeg -i VID_20240501_142950.mp4 -s hd1080 -r 30 DrivingLesson20240501.mp4

Split a video

# Split video (ex. at 00:30:26 at 00 Hour, 36 Minutes and 26 Seconds
# Ref. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrLQQVL4aKE
>skeleton -i input-video-filename.mp4 -ss(time-of start-of-split) -t(time end of video in Seconds) output-video-filename.mp4

>ffmpeg -i video-to-be-split-filename.mp4 -ss 0 -t 1806 output-video-filename.mp4

#complete process example
#
C:\SeaTemp>ffmpeg -i VID_20240501_141403.mp4 -r 30 AylaCollectingHerFirstCar20240501.mp4
ffmpeg version N-115847-gab8f7030bc-20240617 Copyright (c) 2000-2024 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 13.2.0 (crosstool-NG 1.26.0.65_ecc5e41)
  configuration: --prefix=/ffbuild/prefix --pkg-config-flags=--static --pkg-config=pkg-config --cross-prefix=x86_64-w64-mingw32- --arch=x86_64 --target-os=mingw32 --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-debug --disable-w32threads --enable-pthreads --enable-iconv --enable-libxml2 --enable-zlib --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-gmp --enable-fontconfig --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-libvorbis --enable-opencl --disable-libpulse --enable-libvmaf --disable-libxcb --disable-xlib --enable-amf --enable-libaom --enable-libaribb24 --enable-avisynth --enable-chromaprint --enable-libdav1d --enable-libdavs2 --enable-libdvdread --enable-libdvdnav --disable-libfdk-aac --enable-ffnvcodec --enable-cuda-llvm --enable-frei0r --enable-libgme --enable-libkvazaar --enable-libaribcaption --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libjxl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-librist --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libvpx --enable-libwebp --enable-lv2 --enable-libvpl --enable-openal --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenh264 --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-librav1e --enable-librubberband --enable-schannel --enable-sdl2 --enable-libsoxr --enable-libsrt --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-libtwolame --enable-libuavs3d --disable-libdrm --enable-vaapi --enable-libvidstab --enable-vulkan --enable-libshaderc --enable-libplacebo --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzimg --enable-libzvbi --extra-cflags=-DLIBTWOLAME_STATIC --extra-cxxflags= --extra-libs=-lgomp --extra-ldflags=-pthread --extra-ldexeflags= --cc=x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc --cxx=x86_64-w64-mingw32-g++ --ar=x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc-ar --ranlib=x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc-ranlib --nm=x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc-nm --extra-version=20240617
  libavutil      59. 22.100 / 59. 22.100
  libavcodec     61.  8.100 / 61.  8.100
  libavformat    61.  3.104 / 61.  3.104
  libavdevice    61.  2.100 / 61.  2.100
  libavfilter    10.  2.102 / 10.  2.102
  libswscale      8.  2.100 /  8.  2.100
  libswresample   5.  2.100 /  5.  2.100
  libpostproc    58.  2.100 / 58.  2.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'VID_20240501_141403.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : mp42
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: isommp42
    creation_time   : 2024-05-01T13:15:20.000000Z
    location        : +41.0645+028.8073/
    location-eng    : +41.0645+028.8073/
    com.android.version: 14
  Duration: 00:01:13.77, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 32959 kb/s
  Stream #0:0[0x1](eng): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuvj420p(pc, bt470bg/bt470bg/smpte170m, progressive), 1920x1080, 32986 kb/s, 30.04 fps, 30 tbr, 90k tbn (default)
      Metadata:
        creation_time   : 2024-05-01T13:15:20.000000Z
        handler_name    : VideoHandle
        vendor_id       : [0][0][0][0]
      Side data:
        displaymatrix: rotation of -90.00 degrees
  Stream #0:1[0x2](eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, mono, fltp, 96 kb/s (default)
      Metadata:
        creation_time   : 2024-05-01T13:15:20.000000Z
        handler_name    : SoundHandle
        vendor_id       : [0][0][0][0]
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (aac (native) -> aac (native))
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX FMA3 BMI2 AVX2
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] profile High, level 4.0, 4:2:0, 8-bit
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] 264 - core 164 - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2024 - http://www.videolan.org/x264.html - options: cabac=1 ref=3 deblock=1:0:0 analyse=0x3:0x113 me=hex subme=7 psy=1 psy_rd=1.00:0.00 mixed_ref=1 me_range=16 chroma_me=1 trellis=1 8x8dct=1 cqm=0 deadzone=21,11 fast_pskip=1 chroma_qp_offset=-2 threads=30 lookahead_threads=5 sliced_threads=0 nr=0 decimate=1 interlaced=0 bluray_compat=0 constrained_intra=0 bframes=3 b_pyramid=2 b_adapt=1 b_bias=0 direct=1 weightb=1 open_gop=0 weightp=2 keyint=250 keyint_min=25 scenecut=40 intra_refresh=0 rc_lookahead=40 rc=crf mbtree=1 crf=23.0 qcomp=0.60 qpmin=0 qpmax=69 qpstep=4 ip_ratio=1.40 aq=1:1.00
Output #0, mp4, to 'AylaCollectingHerFirstCar20240501.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : mp42
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: isommp42
    com.android.version: 14
    location        : +41.0645+028.8073/
    location-eng    : +41.0645+028.8073/
    encoder         : Lavf61.3.104
  Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuvj420p(pc, bt470bg/bt470bg/smpte170m, progressive), 1080x1920, q=2-31, 30 fps, 15360 tbn (default)
      Metadata:
        creation_time   : 2024-05-01T13:15:20.000000Z
        handler_name    : VideoHandle
        vendor_id       : [0][0][0][0]
        encoder         : Lavc61.8.100 libx264
      Side data:
        cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 0/0/0 buffer size: 0 vbv_delay: N/A
  Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, mono, fltp, 69 kb/s (default)
      Metadata:
        creation_time   : 2024-05-01T13:15:20.000000Z
        handler_name    : SoundHandle
        vendor_id       : [0][0][0][0]
        encoder         : Lavc61.8.100 aac
frame=   10 fps=9.8 q=29.0 size=     512KiB time=00:00:00.26 bitrate=15730.1kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed=0.261x  frame=   41 fps= 27 q=29.0 size=    1792KiB time=00:00:01.30 bitrate=11292.7kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed=0.845x  frame=   75 fps= 37 q=29.0 size=    3072KiB time=00:00:02.43 bitrate=10342.3kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed=1.18x   frame=  110 fps= 43 q=29.0 size=    4096KiB time=00:00:03.60 bitrate=9320.8kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed= 1.4x    frame=  146 fps= 47 q=29.0 size=    5376KiB time=00:00:04.80 bitrate=9175.1kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed=1.56x    frame=  185 fps= 51 q=29.0 size=    6400KiB time=00:00:06.10 bitrate=8594.9kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed=1.69x    frame=  212 fps= 51 q=29.0 size=    7424KiB time=00:00:07.00 bitrate=8688.3kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed= 1.7x    frame=  239 fps= 52 q=29.0 size=    8704KiB time=00:00:07.90 bitrate=9025.8kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed= 1.7x    frame=  271 fps= 52 q=29.0 size=   10496KiB time=00:00:08.96 bitrate=9589.3kbits/s dup=3 drop=0 speed=1.74x    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frame= 1361 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   59136KiB time=00:00:45.30 bitrate=10694.1kbits/s dup=3 drop=1 speed=1.86x   frame= 1386 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   60672KiB time=00:00:46.13 bitrate=10773.7kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.86x   frame= 1413 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   61696KiB time=00:00:47.03 bitrate=10745.9kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.85x   frame= 1436 fps= 55 q=26.0 size=   63232KiB time=00:00:47.80 bitrate=10836.8kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.85x   frame= 1460 fps= 55 q=29.0 size=   64512KiB time=00:00:48.60 bitrate=10874.1kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.84x   frame= 1492 fps= 55 q=29.0 size=   66048KiB time=00:00:49.66 bitrate=10893.9kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.85x   frame= 1534 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   67328KiB time=00:00:51.06 bitrate=10800.6kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.86x   frame= 1571 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   67840KiB time=00:00:52.30 bitrate=10626.1kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.87x   frame= 1599 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   68864KiB time=00:00:53.23 bitrate=10597.4kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.87x   frame= 1635 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   69888KiB time=00:00:54.43 bitrate=10517.9kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.88x   frame= 1665 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   71168KiB time=00:00:55.43 bitrate=10517.3kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.88x   frame= 1692 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   72448KiB time=00:00:56.33 bitrate=10535.4kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.88x   frame= 1716 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   73472KiB time=00:00:57.13 bitrate=10534.7kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.87x   frame= 1746 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   75264KiB time=00:00:58.13 bitrate=10606.0kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.87x   frame= 1772 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   76288KiB time=00:00:59.00 bitrate=10592.4kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.87x   frame= 1799 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   77568KiB time=00:00:59.90 bitrate=10608.3kbits/s dup=3 drop=2 speed=1.87x   frame= 1828 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   79360KiB time=00:01:00.86 bitrate=10681.0kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.87x   frame= 1860 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   80640KiB time=00:01:01.83 bitrate=10683.6kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.87x   frame= 1885 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   81664KiB time=00:01:02.76 bitrate=10658.4kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.87x   frame= 1921 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   82944KiB time=00:01:03.96 bitrate=10622.4kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.87x   frame= 1949 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   83968KiB time=00:01:04.90 bitrate=10598.9kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.87x   frame= 1983 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   85248KiB time=00:01:06.03 bitrate=10575.7kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.88x   frame= 2012 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   86272KiB time=00:01:07.00 bitrate=10548.4kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.88x   frame= 2046 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   87296KiB time=00:01:08.13 bitrate=10496.0kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.88x   frame= 2073 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   88320KiB time=00:01:09.00 bitrate=10485.8kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.88x   frame= 2105 fps= 56 q=29.0 size=   89344KiB time=00:01:10.10 bitrate=10440.9kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed=1.88x   [out#0/mp4 @ 00000222ced24840] video:94139KiB audio:627KiB subtitle:0KiB other streams:0KiB global headers:0KiB muxing overhead: 0.080032%
frame= 2205 fps= 57 q=-1.0 Lsize=   94842KiB time=00:01:13.43 bitrate=10580.3kbits/s dup=3 drop=3 speed= 1.9x  
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] frame I:24    Avg QP:23.24  size:126932
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] frame P:1099  Avg QP:25.80  size: 58074
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] frame B:1082  Avg QP:26.93  size: 27290
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] consecutive B-frames: 29.2% 12.5% 10.7% 47.5%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] mb I  I16..4: 11.2% 75.5% 13.4%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] mb P  I16..4:  7.7% 23.7%  2.8%  P16..4: 33.8% 14.6%  8.0%  0.0%  0.0%    skip: 9.4%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] mb B  I16..4:  1.5%  6.0%  0.6%  B16..8: 38.7%  7.0%  1.6%  direct: 7.4%  skip:37.2%  L0:44.8% L1:43.8% BI:11.4%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] 8x8 transform intra:70.5% inter:68.4%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 52.8% 45.9% 5.1% inter: 28.6% 23.9% 0.4%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] i16 v,h,dc,p: 21% 37% 10% 33%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] i8 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 20% 18% 28%  6%  5%  5%  5%  7%  6%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 22% 20% 14%  7%  8%  7%  7%  8%  6%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] i8c dc,h,v,p: 64% 18% 16%  2%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] Weighted P-Frames: Y:28.8% UV:12.6%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] ref P L0: 67.9% 20.2%  9.2%  2.3%  0.4%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] ref B L0: 94.7%  4.3%  1.0%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] ref B L1: 98.6%  1.4%
[libx264 @ 00000222ced5aa00] kb/s:10492.31
[aac @ 00000222d0d65500] Qavg: 290.498