1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
2681
2682
2683
2684
2685
2686
2687
2688
2689
2690
2691
2692
2693
2694
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
2707
2708
2709
2710
2711
2712
2713
2714
2715
2716
2717
2718
2719
2720
2721
2722
2723
2724
2725
2726
2727
2728
2729
2730
2731
2732
2733
2734
2735
2736
2737
2738
2739
2740
2741
2742
2743
2744
2745
2746
2747
2748
2749
2750
2751
2752
2753
2754
2755
2756
2757
2758
2759
2760
2761
2762
2763
2764
2765
2766
2767
2768
2769
2770
2771
2772
2773
2774
2775
2776
2777
2778
2779
2780
2781
2782
2783
2784
2785
2786
2787
2788
2789
2790
2791
2792
2793
2794
2795
2796
2797
2798
2799
2800
2801
2802
2803
2804
2805
2806
2807
2808
2809
2810
2811
2812
2813
2814
2815
2816
2817
2818
2819
2820
2821
2822
2823
2824
2825
2826
2827
2828
2829
2830
2831
2832
2833
2834
2835
2836
2837
2838
2839
2840
2841
2842
2843
2844
2845
2846
2847
2848
2849
2850
2851
2852
2853
2854
2855
2856
2857
2858
2859
2860
2861
2862
2863
2864
2865
2866
2867
2868
2869
2870
2871
2872
2873
2874
2875
2876
2877
2878
2879
2880
2881
2882
2883
2884
2885
2886
2887
2888
2889
2890
2891
2892
2893
2894
2895
2896
2897
2898
2899
2900
2901
2902
2903
2904
2905
2906
2907
2908
2909
2910
2911
2912
2913
2914
2915
2916
2917
2918
2919
2920
2921
2922
2923
2924
2925
2926
2927
|
\input texinfo @c -*- texinfo -*-
@documentencoding UTF-8
@settitle ffmpeg Documentation
@titlepage
@center @titlefont{ffmpeg Documentation}
@end titlepage
@top
@contents
@chapter Synopsis
ffmpeg [@var{global_options}] @{[@var{input_file_options}] -i @file{input_url}@} ... @{[@var{output_file_options}] @file{output_url}@} ...
@chapter Description
@c man begin DESCRIPTION
@command{ffmpeg} is a universal media converter. It can read a wide variety of
inputs - including live grabbing/recording devices - filter, and transcode them
into a plethora of output formats.
@command{ffmpeg} reads from an arbitrary number of input "files" (which can be regular
files, pipes, network streams, grabbing devices, etc.), specified by the
@code{-i} option, and writes to an arbitrary number of output "files", which are
specified by a plain output url. Anything found on the command line which
cannot be interpreted as an option is considered to be an output url.
Each input or output url can, in principle, contain any number of streams of
different types (video/audio/subtitle/attachment/data). The allowed number and/or
types of streams may be limited by the container format. Selecting which
streams from which inputs will go into which output is either done automatically
or with the @code{-map} option (see the Stream selection chapter).
To refer to input files in options, you must use their indices (0-based). E.g.
the first input file is @code{0}, the second is @code{1}, etc. Similarly, streams
within a file are referred to by their indices. E.g. @code{2:3} refers to the
fourth stream in the third input file. Also see the Stream specifiers chapter.
As a general rule, options are applied to the next specified
file. Therefore, order is important, and you can have the same
option on the command line multiple times. Each occurrence is
then applied to the next input or output file.
Exceptions from this rule are the global options (e.g. verbosity level),
which should be specified first.
Do not mix input and output files -- first specify all input files, then all
output files. Also do not mix options which belong to different files. All
options apply ONLY to the next input or output file and are reset between files.
Some simple examples follow.
@itemize
@item
Convert an input media file to a different format, by re-encoding media streams:
@example
ffmpeg -i input.avi output.mp4
@end example
@item
Set the video bitrate of the output file to 64 kbit/s:
@example
ffmpeg -i input.avi -b:v 64k -bufsize 64k output.mp4
@end example
@item
Force the frame rate of the output file to 24 fps:
@example
ffmpeg -i input.avi -r 24 output.mp4
@end example
@item
Force the frame rate of the input file (valid for raw formats only) to 1 fps and
the frame rate of the output file to 24 fps:
@example
ffmpeg -r 1 -i input.m2v -r 24 output.mp4
@end example
@end itemize
The format option may be needed for raw input files.
@c man end DESCRIPTION
@chapter Detailed description
@c man begin DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The transcoding process in @command{ffmpeg} for each output can be described by
the following diagram:
@verbatim
_______ ______________
| | | |
| input | demuxer | encoded data | decoder
| file | ---------> | packets | -----+
|_______| |______________| |
v
_________
| |
| decoded |
| frames |
|_________|
________ ______________ |
| | | | |
| output | <-------- | encoded data | <----+
| file | muxer | packets | encoder
|________| |______________|
@end verbatim
@command{ffmpeg} calls the libavformat library (containing demuxers) to read
input files and get packets containing encoded data from them. When there are
multiple input files, @command{ffmpeg} tries to keep them synchronized by
tracking lowest timestamp on any active input stream.
Encoded packets are then passed to the decoder (unless streamcopy is selected
for the stream, see further for a description). The decoder produces
uncompressed frames (raw video/PCM audio/...) which can be processed further by
filtering (see next section). After filtering, the frames are passed to the
encoder, which encodes them and outputs encoded packets. Finally, those are
passed to the muxer, which writes the encoded packets to the output file.
@section Filtering
Before encoding, @command{ffmpeg} can process raw audio and video frames using
filters from the libavfilter library. Several chained filters form a filter
graph. @command{ffmpeg} distinguishes between two types of filtergraphs:
simple and complex.
@subsection Simple filtergraphs
Simple filtergraphs are those that have exactly one input and output, both of
the same type. In the above diagram they can be represented by simply inserting
an additional step between decoding and encoding:
@verbatim
_________ ______________
| | | |
| decoded | | encoded data |
| frames |\ _ | packets |
|_________| \ /||______________|
\ __________ /
simple _\|| | / encoder
filtergraph | filtered |/
| frames |
|__________|
@end verbatim
Simple filtergraphs are configured with the per-stream @option{-filter} option
(with @option{-vf} and @option{-af} aliases for video and audio respectively).
A simple filtergraph for video can look for example like this:
@verbatim
_______ _____________ _______ ________
| | | | | | | |
| input | ---> | deinterlace | ---> | scale | ---> | output |
|_______| |_____________| |_______| |________|
@end verbatim
Note that some filters change frame properties but not frame contents. E.g. the
@code{fps} filter in the example above changes number of frames, but does not
touch the frame contents. Another example is the @code{setpts} filter, which
only sets timestamps and otherwise passes the frames unchanged.
@subsection Complex filtergraphs
Complex filtergraphs are those which cannot be described as simply a linear
processing chain applied to one stream. This is the case, for example, when the graph has
more than one input and/or output, or when output stream type is different from
input. They can be represented with the following diagram:
@verbatim
_________
| |
| input 0 |\ __________
|_________| \ | |
\ _________ /| output 0 |
\ | | / |__________|
_________ \| complex | /
| | | |/
| input 1 |---->| filter |\
|_________| | | \ __________
/| graph | \ | |
/ | | \| output 1 |
_________ / |_________| |__________|
| | /
| input 2 |/
|_________|
@end verbatim
Complex filtergraphs are configured with the @option{-filter_complex} option.
Note that this option is global, since a complex filtergraph, by its nature,
cannot be unambiguously associated with a single stream or file.
The @option{-lavfi} option is equivalent to @option{-filter_complex}.
A trivial example of a complex filtergraph is the @code{overlay} filter, which
has two video inputs and one video output, containing one video overlaid on top
of the other. Its audio counterpart is the @code{amix} filter.
@section Stream copy
Stream copy is a mode selected by supplying the @code{copy} parameter to the
@option{-codec} option. It makes @command{ffmpeg} omit the decoding and encoding
step for the specified stream, so it does only demuxing and muxing. It is useful
for changing the container format or modifying container-level metadata. The
diagram above will, in this case, simplify to this:
@verbatim
_______ ______________ ________
| | | | | |
| input | demuxer | encoded data | muxer | output |
| file | ---------> | packets | -------> | file |
|_______| |______________| |________|
@end verbatim
Since there is no decoding or encoding, it is very fast and there is no quality
loss. However, it might not work in some cases because of many factors. Applying
filters is obviously also impossible, since filters work on uncompressed data.
@section Loopback decoders
While decoders are normally associated with demuxer streams, it is also possible
to create "loopback" decoders that decode the output from some encoder and allow
it to be fed back to complex filtergraphs. This is done with the @code{-dec}
directive, which takes as a parameter the index of the output stream that should
be decoded. Every such directive creates a new loopback decoder, indexed with
successive integers starting at zero. These indices should then be used to refer
to loopback decoders in complex filtergraph link labels, as described in the
documentation for @option{-filter_complex}.
Decoding AVOptions can be passed to loopback decoders by placing them before
@code{-dec}, analogously to input/output options.
E.g. the following example:
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT \
-map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -crf 45 -f null - \
-threads 3 -dec 0:0 \
-filter_complex '[0:v][dec:0]hstack[stack]' \
-map '[stack]' -c:v ffv1 OUTPUT
@end example
reads an input video and
@itemize
@item
(line 2) encodes it with @code{libx264} at low quality;
@item
(line 3) decodes this encoded stream using 3 threads;
@item
(line 4) places decoded video side by side with the original input video;
@item
(line 5) combined video is then losslessly encoded and written into
@file{OUTPUT}.
@end itemize
@c man end DETAILED DESCRIPTION
@chapter Stream selection
@c man begin STREAM SELECTION
@command{ffmpeg} provides the @code{-map} option for manual control of stream selection in each
output file. Users can skip @code{-map} and let ffmpeg perform automatic stream selection as
described below. The @code{-vn / -an / -sn / -dn} options can be used to skip inclusion of
video, audio, subtitle and data streams respectively, whether manually mapped or automatically
selected, except for those streams which are outputs of complex filtergraphs.
@section Description
The sub-sections that follow describe the various rules that are involved in stream selection.
The examples that follow next show how these rules are applied in practice.
While every effort is made to accurately reflect the behavior of the program, FFmpeg is under
continuous development and the code may have changed since the time of this writing.
@subsection Automatic stream selection
In the absence of any map options for a particular output file, ffmpeg inspects the output
format to check which type of streams can be included in it, viz. video, audio and/or
subtitles. For each acceptable stream type, ffmpeg will pick one stream, when available,
from among all the inputs.
It will select that stream based upon the following criteria:
@itemize
@item
for video, it is the stream with the highest resolution,
@item
for audio, it is the stream with the most channels,
@item
for subtitles, it is the first subtitle stream found but there's a caveat.
The output format's default subtitle encoder can be either text-based or image-based,
and only a subtitle stream of the same type will be chosen.
@end itemize
In the case where several streams of the same type rate equally, the stream with the lowest
index is chosen.
Data or attachment streams are not automatically selected and can only be included
using @code{-map}.
@subsection Manual stream selection
When @code{-map} is used, only user-mapped streams are included in that output file,
with one possible exception for filtergraph outputs described below.
@subsection Complex filtergraphs
If there are any complex filtergraph output streams with unlabeled pads, they will be added
to the first output file. This will lead to a fatal error if the stream type is not supported
by the output format. In the absence of the map option, the inclusion of these streams leads
to the automatic stream selection of their types being skipped. If map options are present,
these filtergraph streams are included in addition to the mapped streams.
Complex filtergraph output streams with labeled pads must be mapped once and exactly once.
@subsection Stream handling
Stream handling is independent of stream selection, with an exception for subtitles described
below. Stream handling is set via the @code{-codec} option addressed to streams within a
specific @emph{output} file. In particular, codec options are applied by ffmpeg after the
stream selection process and thus do not influence the latter. If no @code{-codec} option is
specified for a stream type, ffmpeg will select the default encoder registered by the output
file muxer.
An exception exists for subtitles. If a subtitle encoder is specified for an output file, the
first subtitle stream found of any type, text or image, will be included. ffmpeg does not validate
if the specified encoder can convert the selected stream or if the converted stream is acceptable
within the output format. This applies generally as well: when the user sets an encoder manually,
the stream selection process cannot check if the encoded stream can be muxed into the output file.
If it cannot, ffmpeg will abort and @emph{all} output files will fail to be processed.
@section Examples
The following examples illustrate the behavior, quirks and limitations of ffmpeg's stream
selection methods.
They assume the following three input files.
@verbatim
input file 'A.avi'
stream 0: video 640x360
stream 1: audio 2 channels
input file 'B.mp4'
stream 0: video 1920x1080
stream 1: audio 2 channels
stream 2: subtitles (text)
stream 3: audio 5.1 channels
stream 4: subtitles (text)
input file 'C.mkv'
stream 0: video 1280x720
stream 1: audio 2 channels
stream 2: subtitles (image)
@end verbatim
@subsubheading Example: automatic stream selection
@example
ffmpeg -i A.avi -i B.mp4 out1.mkv out2.wav -map 1:a -c:a copy out3.mov
@end example
There are three output files specified, and for the first two, no @code{-map} options
are set, so ffmpeg will select streams for these two files automatically.
@file{out1.mkv} is a Matroska container file and accepts video, audio and subtitle streams,
so ffmpeg will try to select one of each type.@*
For video, it will select @code{stream 0} from @file{B.mp4}, which has the highest
resolution among all the input video streams.@*
For audio, it will select @code{stream 3} from @file{B.mp4}, since it has the greatest
number of channels.@*
For subtitles, it will select @code{stream 2} from @file{B.mp4}, which is the first subtitle
stream from among @file{A.avi} and @file{B.mp4}.
@file{out2.wav} accepts only audio streams, so only @code{stream 3} from @file{B.mp4} is
selected.
For @file{out3.mov}, since a @code{-map} option is set, no automatic stream selection will
occur. The @code{-map 1:a} option will select all audio streams from the second input
@file{B.mp4}. No other streams will be included in this output file.
For the first two outputs, all included streams will be transcoded. The encoders chosen will
be the default ones registered by each output format, which may not match the codec of the
selected input streams.
For the third output, codec option for audio streams has been set
to @code{copy}, so no decoding-filtering-encoding operations will occur, or @emph{can} occur.
Packets of selected streams shall be conveyed from the input file and muxed within the output
file.
@subsubheading Example: automatic subtitles selection
@example
ffmpeg -i C.mkv out1.mkv -c:s dvdsub -an out2.mkv
@end example
Although @file{out1.mkv} is a Matroska container file which accepts subtitle streams, only a
video and audio stream shall be selected. The subtitle stream of @file{C.mkv} is image-based
and the default subtitle encoder of the Matroska muxer is text-based, so a transcode operation
for the subtitles is expected to fail and hence the stream isn't selected. However, in
@file{out2.mkv}, a subtitle encoder is specified in the command and so, the subtitle stream is
selected, in addition to the video stream. The presence of @code{-an} disables audio stream
selection for @file{out2.mkv}.
@subsubheading Example: unlabeled filtergraph outputs
@example
ffmpeg -i A.avi -i C.mkv -i B.mp4 -filter_complex "overlay" out1.mp4 out2.srt
@end example
A filtergraph is setup here using the @code{-filter_complex} option and consists of a single
video filter. The @code{overlay} filter requires exactly two video inputs, but none are
specified, so the first two available video streams are used, those of @file{A.avi} and
@file{C.mkv}. The output pad of the filter has no label and so is sent to the first output file
@file{out1.mp4}. Due to this, automatic selection of the video stream is skipped, which would
have selected the stream in @file{B.mp4}. The audio stream with most channels viz. @code{stream 3}
in @file{B.mp4}, is chosen automatically. No subtitle stream is chosen however, since the MP4
format has no default subtitle encoder registered, and the user hasn't specified a subtitle encoder.
The 2nd output file, @file{out2.srt}, only accepts text-based subtitle streams. So, even though
the first subtitle stream available belongs to @file{C.mkv}, it is image-based and hence skipped.
The selected stream, @code{stream 2} in @file{B.mp4}, is the first text-based subtitle stream.
@subsubheading Example: labeled filtergraph outputs
@example
ffmpeg -i A.avi -i B.mp4 -i C.mkv -filter_complex "[1:v]hue=s=0[outv];overlay;aresample" \
-map '[outv]' -an out1.mp4 \
out2.mkv \
-map '[outv]' -map 1:a:0 out3.mkv
@end example
The above command will fail, as the output pad labelled @code{[outv]} has been mapped twice.
None of the output files shall be processed.
@example
ffmpeg -i A.avi -i B.mp4 -i C.mkv -filter_complex "[1:v]hue=s=0[outv];overlay;aresample" \
-an out1.mp4 \
out2.mkv \
-map 1:a:0 out3.mkv
@end example
This command above will also fail as the hue filter output has a label, @code{[outv]},
and hasn't been mapped anywhere.
The command should be modified as follows,
@example
ffmpeg -i A.avi -i B.mp4 -i C.mkv -filter_complex "[1:v]hue=s=0,split=2[outv1][outv2];overlay;aresample" \
-map '[outv1]' -an out1.mp4 \
out2.mkv \
-map '[outv2]' -map 1:a:0 out3.mkv
@end example
The video stream from @file{B.mp4} is sent to the hue filter, whose output is cloned once using
the split filter, and both outputs labelled. Then a copy each is mapped to the first and third
output files.
The overlay filter, requiring two video inputs, uses the first two unused video streams. Those
are the streams from @file{A.avi} and @file{C.mkv}. The overlay output isn't labelled, so it is
sent to the first output file @file{out1.mp4}, regardless of the presence of the @code{-map} option.
The aresample filter is sent the first unused audio stream, that of @file{A.avi}. Since this filter
output is also unlabelled, it too is mapped to the first output file. The presence of @code{-an}
only suppresses automatic or manual stream selection of audio streams, not outputs sent from
filtergraphs. Both these mapped streams shall be ordered before the mapped stream in @file{out1.mp4}.
The video, audio and subtitle streams mapped to @code{out2.mkv} are entirely determined by
automatic stream selection.
@file{out3.mkv} consists of the cloned video output from the hue filter and the first audio
stream from @file{B.mp4}.
@*
@c man end STREAM SELECTION
@chapter Options
@c man begin OPTIONS
@include fftools-common-opts.texi
@section Main options
@table @option
@item -f @var{fmt} (@emph{input/output})
Force input or output file format. The format is normally auto detected for input
files and guessed from the file extension for output files, so this option is not
needed in most cases.
@item -i @var{url} (@emph{input})
input file url
@item -y (@emph{global})
Overwrite output files without asking.
@item -n (@emph{global})
Do not overwrite output files, and exit immediately if a specified
output file already exists.
@item -stream_loop @var{number} (@emph{input})
Set number of times input stream shall be looped. Loop 0 means no loop,
loop -1 means infinite loop.
@item -recast_media (@emph{global})
Allow forcing a decoder of a different media type than the one
detected or designated by the demuxer. Useful for decoding media
data muxed as data streams.
@item -c[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{codec} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
@itemx -codec[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{codec} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Select an encoder (when used before an output file) or a decoder (when used
before an input file) for one or more streams. @var{codec} is the name of a
decoder/encoder or a special value @code{copy} (output only) to indicate that
the stream is not to be re-encoded.
For example
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0 -c:v libx264 -c:a copy OUTPUT
@end example
encodes all video streams with libx264 and copies all audio streams.
For each stream, the last matching @code{c} option is applied, so
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0 -c copy -c:v:1 libx264 -c:a:137 libvorbis OUTPUT
@end example
will copy all the streams except the second video, which will be encoded with
libx264, and the 138th audio, which will be encoded with libvorbis.
@item -t @var{duration} (@emph{input/output})
When used as an input option (before @code{-i}), limit the @var{duration} of
data read from the input file.
When used as an output option (before an output url), stop writing the
output after its duration reaches @var{duration}.
@var{duration} must be a time duration specification,
see @ref{time duration syntax,,the Time duration section in the ffmpeg-utils(1) manual,ffmpeg-utils}.
-to and -t are mutually exclusive and -t has priority.
@item -to @var{position} (@emph{input/output})
Stop writing the output or reading the input at @var{position}.
@var{position} must be a time duration specification,
see @ref{time duration syntax,,the Time duration section in the ffmpeg-utils(1) manual,ffmpeg-utils}.
-to and -t are mutually exclusive and -t has priority.
@item -fs @var{limit_size} (@emph{output})
Set the file size limit, expressed in bytes. No further chunk of bytes is written
after the limit is exceeded. The size of the output file is slightly more than the
requested file size.
@item -ss @var{position} (@emph{input/output})
When used as an input option (before @code{-i}), seeks in this input file to
@var{position}. Note that in most formats it is not possible to seek exactly,
so @command{ffmpeg} will seek to the closest seek point before @var{position}.
When transcoding and @option{-accurate_seek} is enabled (the default), this
extra segment between the seek point and @var{position} will be decoded and
discarded. When doing stream copy or when @option{-noaccurate_seek} is used, it
will be preserved.
When used as an output option (before an output url), decodes but discards
input until the timestamps reach @var{position}.
@var{position} must be a time duration specification,
see @ref{time duration syntax,,the Time duration section in the ffmpeg-utils(1) manual,ffmpeg-utils}.
@item -sseof @var{position} (@emph{input})
Like the @code{-ss} option but relative to the "end of file". That is negative
values are earlier in the file, 0 is at EOF.
@item -isync @var{input_index} (@emph{input})
Assign an input as a sync source.
This will take the difference between the start times of the target and reference inputs and
offset the timestamps of the target file by that difference. The source timestamps of the two
inputs should derive from the same clock source for expected results. If @code{copyts} is set
then @code{start_at_zero} must also be set. If either of the inputs has no starting timestamp
then no sync adjustment is made.
Acceptable values are those that refer to a valid ffmpeg input index. If the sync reference is
the target index itself or @var{-1}, then no adjustment is made to target timestamps. A sync
reference may not itself be synced to any other input.
Default value is @var{-1}.
@item -itsoffset @var{offset} (@emph{input})
Set the input time offset.
@var{offset} must be a time duration specification,
see @ref{time duration syntax,,the Time duration section in the ffmpeg-utils(1) manual,ffmpeg-utils}.
The offset is added to the timestamps of the input files. Specifying
a positive offset means that the corresponding streams are delayed by
the time duration specified in @var{offset}.
@item -itsscale @var{scale} (@emph{input,per-stream})
Rescale input timestamps. @var{scale} should be a floating point number.
@item -timestamp @var{date} (@emph{output})
Set the recording timestamp in the container.
@var{date} must be a date specification,
see @ref{date syntax,,the Date section in the ffmpeg-utils(1) manual,ffmpeg-utils}.
@item -metadata[:metadata_specifier] @var{key}=@var{value} (@emph{output,per-metadata})
Set a metadata key/value pair.
An optional @var{metadata_specifier} may be given to set metadata
on streams, chapters or programs. See @code{-map_metadata}
documentation for details.
This option overrides metadata set with @code{-map_metadata}. It is
also possible to delete metadata by using an empty value.
For example, for setting the title in the output file:
@example
ffmpeg -i in.avi -metadata title="my title" out.flv
@end example
To set the language of the first audio stream:
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -metadata:s:a:0 language=eng OUTPUT
@end example
@item -disposition[:stream_specifier] @var{value} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Sets the disposition for a stream.
By default, the disposition is copied from the input stream, unless the output
stream this option applies to is fed by a complex filtergraph - in that case the
disposition is unset by default.
@var{value} is a sequence of items separated by '+' or '-'. The first item may
also be prefixed with '+' or '-', in which case this option modifies the default
value. Otherwise (the first item is not prefixed) this options overrides the
default value. A '+' prefix adds the given disposition, '-' removes it. It is
also possible to clear the disposition by setting it to 0.
If no @code{-disposition} options were specified for an output file, ffmpeg will
automatically set the 'default' disposition on the first stream of each type,
when there are multiple streams of this type in the output file and no stream of
that type is already marked as default.
The @code{-dispositions} option lists the known dispositions.
For example, to make the second audio stream the default stream:
@example
ffmpeg -i in.mkv -c copy -disposition:a:1 default out.mkv
@end example
To make the second subtitle stream the default stream and remove the default
disposition from the first subtitle stream:
@example
ffmpeg -i in.mkv -c copy -disposition:s:0 0 -disposition:s:1 default out.mkv
@end example
To add an embedded cover/thumbnail:
@example
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -i IMAGE -map 0 -map 1 -c copy -c:v:1 png -disposition:v:1 attached_pic out.mp4
@end example
Not all muxers support embedded thumbnails, and those who do, only support a few formats, like JPEG or PNG.
@item -program [title=@var{title}:][program_num=@var{program_num}:]st=@var{stream}[:st=@var{stream}...] (@emph{output})
Creates a program with the specified @var{title}, @var{program_num} and adds the specified
@var{stream}(s) to it.
@item -stream_group [map=@var{input_file_id}=@var{stream_group}][type=@var{type}:]st=@var{stream}[:st=@var{stream}][:stg=@var{stream_group}][:id=@var{stream_group_id}...] (@emph{output})
Creates a stream group of the specified @var{type} and @var{stream_group_id}, or by
@var{map}ping an input group, adding the specified @var{stream}(s) and/or previously
defined @var{stream_group}(s) to it.
@var{type} can be one of the following:
@table @option
@item iamf_audio_element
Groups @var{stream}s that belong to the same IAMF Audio Element
For this group @var{type}, the following options are available
@table @option
@item audio_element_type
The Audio Element type. The following values are supported:
@table @option
@item channel
Scalable channel audio representation
@item scene
Ambisonics representation
@end table
@item demixing
Demixing information used to reconstruct a scalable channel audio representation.
This option must be separated from the rest with a ',', and takes the following
key=value options
@table @option
@item parameter_id
An identifier parameters blocks in frames may refer to
@item dmixp_mode
A pre-defined combination of demixing parameters
@end table
@item recon_gain
Recon gain information used to reconstruct a scalable channel audio representation.
This option must be separated from the rest with a ',', and takes the following
key=value options
@table @option
@item parameter_id
An identifier parameters blocks in frames may refer to
@end table
@item layer
A layer defining a Channel Layout in the Audio Element.
This option must be separated from the rest with a ','. Several ',' separated entries
can be defined, and at least one must be set.
It takes the following ":"-separated key=value options
@table @option
@item ch_layout
The layer's channel layout
@item flags
The following flags are available:
@table @option
@item recon_gain
Wether to signal if recon_gain is present as metadata in parameter blocks within frames
@end table
@item output_gain
@item output_gain_flags
Which channels output_gain applies to. The following flags are available:
@table @option
@item FL
@item FR
@item BL
@item BR
@item TFL
@item TFR
@end table
@item ambisonics_mode
The ambisonics mode. This has no effect if audio_element_type is set to channel.
The following values are supported:
@table @option
@item mono
Each ambisonics channel is coded as an individual mono stream in the group
@end table
@end table
@item default_w
Default weight value
@end table
@item iamf_mix_presentation
Groups @var{stream}s that belong to all IAMF Audio Element the same
IAMF Mix Presentation references
For this group @var{type}, the following options are available
@table @option
@item submix
A sub-mix within the Mix Presentation.
This option must be separated from the rest with a ','. Several ',' separated entries
can be defined, and at least one must be set.
It takes the following ":"-separated key=value options
@table @option
@item parameter_id
An identifier parameters blocks in frames may refer to, for post-processing the mixed
audio signal to generate the audio signal for playback
@item parameter_rate
The sample rate duration fields in parameters blocks in frames that refer to this
@var{parameter_id} are expressed as
@item default_mix_gain
Default mix gain value to apply when there are no parameter blocks sharing the same
@var{parameter_id} for a given frame
@item element
References an Audio Element used in this Mix Presentation to generate the final output
audio signal for playback.
This option must be separated from the rest with a '|'. Several '|' separated entries
can be defined, and at least one must be set.
It takes the following ":"-separated key=value options:
@table @option
@item stg
The @var{stream_group_id} for an Audio Element which this sub-mix refers to
@item parameter_id
An identifier parameters blocks in frames may refer to, for applying any processing to
the referenced and rendered Audio Element before being summed with other processed Audio
Elements
@item parameter_rate
The sample rate duration fields in parameters blocks in frames that refer to this
@var{parameter_id} are expressed as
@item default_mix_gain
Default mix gain value to apply when there are no parameter blocks sharing the same
@var{parameter_id} for a given frame
@item annotations
A key=value string describing the sub-mix element where "key" is a string conforming to
BCP-47 that specifies the language for the "value" string. "key" must be the same as the
one in the mix's @var{annotations}
@item headphones_rendering_mode
Indicates whether the input channel-based Audio Element is rendered to stereo loudspeakers
or spatialized with a binaural renderer when played back on headphones.
This has no effect if the referenced Audio Element's @var{audio_element_type} is set to
channel.
The following values are supported:
@table @option
@item stereo
@item binaural
@end table
@end table
@item layout
Specifies the layouts for this sub-mix on which the loudness information was measured.
This option must be separated from the rest with a '|'. Several '|' separated entries
can be defined, and at least one must be set.
It takes the following ":"-separated key=value options:
@table @option
@item layout_type
@table @option
@item loudspeakers
The layout follows the loudspeaker sound system convention of ITU-2051-3.
@item binaural
The layout is binaural.
@end table
@item sound_system
Channel layout matching one of Sound Systems A to J of ITU-2051-3, plus 7.1.2 and 3.1.2
This has no effect if @var{layout_type} is set to binaural.
@item integrated_loudness
The program integrated loudness information, as defined in ITU-1770-4.
@item digital_peak
The digital (sampled) peak value of the audio signal, as defined in ITU-1770-4.
@item true_peak
The true peak of the audio signal, as defined in ITU-1770-4.
@item dialog_anchored_loudness
The Dialogue loudness information, as defined in ITU-1770-4.
@item album_anchored_loudness
The Album loudness information, as defined in ITU-1770-4.
@end table
@end table
@item annotations
A key=value string string describing the mix where "key" is a string conforming to BCP-47
that specifies the language for the "value" string. "key" must be the same as the ones in
all sub-mix element's @var{annotations}s
@end table
@end table
E.g. to create an scalable 5.1 IAMF file from several WAV input files
@example
ffmpeg -i front.wav -i back.wav -i center.wav -i lfe.wav
-map 0:0 -map 1:0 -map 2:0 -map 3:0 -c:a opus
-stream_group type=iamf_audio_element:id=1:st=0:st=1:st=2:st=3,
demixing=parameter_id=998,
recon_gain=parameter_id=101,
layer=ch_layout=stereo,
layer=ch_layout=5.1,
-stream_group type=iamf_mix_presentation:id=2:stg=0:annotations=en-us=Mix_Presentation,
submix=parameter_id=100:parameter_rate=48000|element=stg=0:parameter_id=100:annotations=en-us=Scalable_Submix|layout=sound_system=stereo|layout=sound_system=5.1
-streamid 0:0 -streamid 1:1 -streamid 2:2 -streamid 3:3 output.iamf
@end example
To copy the two stream groups (Audio Element and Mix Presentation) from an input IAMF file with four
streams into an mp4 output
@example
ffmpeg -i input.iamf -c:a copy -stream_group map=0=0:st=0:st=1:st=2:st=3 -stream_group map=0=1:stg=0
-streamid 0:0 -streamid 1:1 -streamid 2:2 -streamid 3:3 output.mp4
@end example
@item -target @var{type} (@emph{output})
Specify target file type (@code{vcd}, @code{svcd}, @code{dvd}, @code{dv},
@code{dv50}). @var{type} may be prefixed with @code{pal-}, @code{ntsc-} or
@code{film-} to use the corresponding standard. All the format options
(bitrate, codecs, buffer sizes) are then set automatically. You can just type:
@example
ffmpeg -i myfile.avi -target vcd /tmp/vcd.mpg
@end example
Nevertheless you can specify additional options as long as you know
they do not conflict with the standard, as in:
@example
ffmpeg -i myfile.avi -target vcd -bf 2 /tmp/vcd.mpg
@end example
The parameters set for each target are as follows.
@strong{VCD}
@example
@var{pal}:
-f vcd -muxrate 1411200 -muxpreload 0.44 -packetsize 2324
-s 352x288 -r 25
-codec:v mpeg1video -g 15 -b:v 1150k -maxrate:v 1150k -minrate:v 1150k -bufsize:v 327680
-ar 44100 -ac 2
-codec:a mp2 -b:a 224k
@var{ntsc}:
-f vcd -muxrate 1411200 -muxpreload 0.44 -packetsize 2324
-s 352x240 -r 30000/1001
-codec:v mpeg1video -g 18 -b:v 1150k -maxrate:v 1150k -minrate:v 1150k -bufsize:v 327680
-ar 44100 -ac 2
-codec:a mp2 -b:a 224k
@var{film}:
-f vcd -muxrate 1411200 -muxpreload 0.44 -packetsize 2324
-s 352x240 -r 24000/1001
-codec:v mpeg1video -g 18 -b:v 1150k -maxrate:v 1150k -minrate:v 1150k -bufsize:v 327680
-ar 44100 -ac 2
-codec:a mp2 -b:a 224k
@end example
@strong{SVCD}
@example
@var{pal}:
-f svcd -packetsize 2324
-s 480x576 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 25
-codec:v mpeg2video -g 15 -b:v 2040k -maxrate:v 2516k -minrate:v 0 -bufsize:v 1835008 -scan_offset 1
-ar 44100
-codec:a mp2 -b:a 224k
@var{ntsc}:
-f svcd -packetsize 2324
-s 480x480 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30000/1001
-codec:v mpeg2video -g 18 -b:v 2040k -maxrate:v 2516k -minrate:v 0 -bufsize:v 1835008 -scan_offset 1
-ar 44100
-codec:a mp2 -b:a 224k
@var{film}:
-f svcd -packetsize 2324
-s 480x480 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 24000/1001
-codec:v mpeg2video -g 18 -b:v 2040k -maxrate:v 2516k -minrate:v 0 -bufsize:v 1835008 -scan_offset 1
-ar 44100
-codec:a mp2 -b:a 224k
@end example
@strong{DVD}
@example
@var{pal}:
-f dvd -muxrate 10080k -packetsize 2048
-s 720x576 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 25
-codec:v mpeg2video -g 15 -b:v 6000k -maxrate:v 9000k -minrate:v 0 -bufsize:v 1835008
-ar 48000
-codec:a ac3 -b:a 448k
@var{ntsc}:
-f dvd -muxrate 10080k -packetsize 2048
-s 720x480 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30000/1001
-codec:v mpeg2video -g 18 -b:v 6000k -maxrate:v 9000k -minrate:v 0 -bufsize:v 1835008
-ar 48000
-codec:a ac3 -b:a 448k
@var{film}:
-f dvd -muxrate 10080k -packetsize 2048
-s 720x480 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 24000/1001
-codec:v mpeg2video -g 18 -b:v 6000k -maxrate:v 9000k -minrate:v 0 -bufsize:v 1835008
-ar 48000
-codec:a ac3 -b:a 448k
@end example
@strong{DV}
@example
@var{pal}:
-f dv
-s 720x576 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 25
-ar 48000 -ac 2
@var{ntsc}:
-f dv
-s 720x480 -pix_fmt yuv411p -r 30000/1001
-ar 48000 -ac 2
@var{film}:
-f dv
-s 720x480 -pix_fmt yuv411p -r 24000/1001
-ar 48000 -ac 2
@end example
The @code{dv50} target is identical to the @code{dv} target except that the pixel format set is @code{yuv422p} for all three standards.
Any user-set value for a parameter above will override the target preset value. In that case, the output may
not comply with the target standard.
@item -dn (@emph{input/output})
As an input option, blocks all data streams of a file from being filtered or
being automatically selected or mapped for any output. See @code{-discard}
option to disable streams individually.
As an output option, disables data recording i.e. automatic selection or
mapping of any data stream. For full manual control see the @code{-map}
option.
@item -dframes @var{number} (@emph{output})
Set the number of data frames to output. This is an obsolete alias for
@code{-frames:d}, which you should use instead.
@item -frames[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{framecount} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Stop writing to the stream after @var{framecount} frames.
@item -q[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{q} (@emph{output,per-stream})
@itemx -qscale[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{q} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Use fixed quality scale (VBR). The meaning of @var{q}/@var{qscale} is
codec-dependent.
If @var{qscale} is used without a @var{stream_specifier} then it applies only
to the video stream, this is to maintain compatibility with previous behavior
and as specifying the same codec specific value to 2 different codecs that is
audio and video generally is not what is intended when no stream_specifier is
used.
@anchor{filter_option}
@item -filter[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{filtergraph} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Create the filtergraph specified by @var{filtergraph} and use it to
filter the stream.
@var{filtergraph} is a description of the filtergraph to apply to
the stream, and must have a single input and a single output of the
same type of the stream. In the filtergraph, the input is associated
to the label @code{in}, and the output to the label @code{out}. See
the ffmpeg-filters manual for more information about the filtergraph
syntax.
See the @ref{filter_complex_option,,-filter_complex option} if you
want to create filtergraphs with multiple inputs and/or outputs.
@item -reinit_filter[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{integer} (@emph{input,per-stream})
This boolean option determines if the filtergraph(s) to which this stream is fed gets
reinitialized when input frame parameters change mid-stream. This option is enabled by
default as most video and all audio filters cannot handle deviation in input frame properties.
Upon reinitialization, existing filter state is lost, like e.g. the frame count @code{n}
reference available in some filters. Any frames buffered at time of reinitialization are lost.
The properties where a change triggers reinitialization are,
for video, frame resolution or pixel format;
for audio, sample format, sample rate, channel count or channel layout.
@item -filter_threads @var{nb_threads} (@emph{global})
Defines how many threads are used to process a filter pipeline. Each pipeline
will produce a thread pool with this many threads available for parallel processing.
The default is the number of available CPUs.
@item -pre[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{preset_name} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Specify the preset for matching stream(s).
@item -stats (@emph{global})
Print encoding progress/statistics. It is on by default, to explicitly
disable it you need to specify @code{-nostats}.
@item -stats_period @var{time} (@emph{global})
Set period at which encoding progress/statistics are updated. Default is 0.5 seconds.
@item -progress @var{url} (@emph{global})
Send program-friendly progress information to @var{url}.
Progress information is written periodically and at the end of
the encoding process. It is made of "@var{key}=@var{value}" lines. @var{key}
consists of only alphanumeric characters. The last key of a sequence of
progress information is always "progress".
The update period is set using @code{-stats_period}.
@anchor{stdin option}
@item -stdin
Enable interaction on standard input. On by default unless standard input is
used as an input. To explicitly disable interaction you need to specify
@code{-nostdin}.
Disabling interaction on standard input is useful, for example, if
ffmpeg is in the background process group. Roughly the same result can
be achieved with @code{ffmpeg ... < /dev/null} but it requires a
shell.
@item -debug_ts (@emph{global})
Print timestamp/latency information. It is off by default. This option is
mostly useful for testing and debugging purposes, and the output
format may change from one version to another, so it should not be
employed by portable scripts.
See also the option @code{-fdebug ts}.
@item -attach @var{filename} (@emph{output})
Add an attachment to the output file. This is supported by a few formats
like Matroska for e.g. fonts used in rendering subtitles. Attachments
are implemented as a specific type of stream, so this option will add
a new stream to the file. It is then possible to use per-stream options
on this stream in the usual way. Attachment streams created with this
option will be created after all the other streams (i.e. those created
with @code{-map} or automatic mappings).
Note that for Matroska you also have to set the mimetype metadata tag:
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -attach DejaVuSans.ttf -metadata:s:2 mimetype=application/x-truetype-font out.mkv
@end example
(assuming that the attachment stream will be third in the output file).
@item -dump_attachment[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{filename} (@emph{input,per-stream})
Extract the matching attachment stream into a file named @var{filename}. If
@var{filename} is empty, then the value of the @code{filename} metadata tag
will be used.
E.g. to extract the first attachment to a file named 'out.ttf':
@example
ffmpeg -dump_attachment:t:0 out.ttf -i INPUT
@end example
To extract all attachments to files determined by the @code{filename} tag:
@example
ffmpeg -dump_attachment:t "" -i INPUT
@end example
Technical note -- attachments are implemented as codec extradata, so this
option can actually be used to extract extradata from any stream, not just
attachments.
@end table
@section Video Options
@table @option
@item -vframes @var{number} (@emph{output})
Set the number of video frames to output. This is an obsolete alias for
@code{-frames:v}, which you should use instead.
@item -r[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{fps} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set frame rate (Hz value, fraction or abbreviation).
As an input option, ignore any timestamps stored in the file and instead
generate timestamps assuming constant frame rate @var{fps}.
This is not the same as the @option{-framerate} option used for some input formats
like image2 or v4l2 (it used to be the same in older versions of FFmpeg).
If in doubt use @option{-framerate} instead of the input option @option{-r}.
As an output option:
@table @option
@item video encoding
Duplicate or drop frames right before encoding them to achieve constant output
frame rate @var{fps}.
@item video streamcopy
Indicate to the muxer that @var{fps} is the stream frame rate. No data is
dropped or duplicated in this case. This may produce invalid files if @var{fps}
does not match the actual stream frame rate as determined by packet timestamps.
See also the @code{setts} bitstream filter.
@end table
@item -fpsmax[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{fps} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Set maximum frame rate (Hz value, fraction or abbreviation).
Clamps output frame rate when output framerate is auto-set and is higher than this value.
Useful in batch processing or when input framerate is wrongly detected as very high.
It cannot be set together with @code{-r}. It is ignored during streamcopy.
@item -s[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{size} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set frame size.
As an input option, this is a shortcut for the @option{video_size} private
option, recognized by some demuxers for which the frame size is either not
stored in the file or is configurable -- e.g. raw video or video grabbers.
As an output option, this inserts the @code{scale} video filter to the
@emph{end} of the corresponding filtergraph. Please use the @code{scale} filter
directly to insert it at the beginning or some other place.
The format is @samp{wxh} (default - same as source).
@item -aspect[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{aspect} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Set the video display aspect ratio specified by @var{aspect}.
@var{aspect} can be a floating point number string, or a string of the
form @var{num}:@var{den}, where @var{num} and @var{den} are the
numerator and denominator of the aspect ratio. For example "4:3",
"16:9", "1.3333", and "1.7777" are valid argument values.
If used together with @option{-vcodec copy}, it will affect the aspect ratio
stored at container level, but not the aspect ratio stored in encoded
frames, if it exists.
@item -display_rotation[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{rotation} (@emph{input,per-stream})
Set video rotation metadata.
@var{rotation} is a decimal number specifying the amount in degree by
which the video should be rotated counter-clockwise before being
displayed.
This option overrides the rotation/display transform metadata stored in
the file, if any. When the video is being transcoded (rather than
copied) and @code{-autorotate} is enabled, the video will be rotated at
the filtering stage. Otherwise, the metadata will be written into the
output file if the muxer supports it.
If the @code{-display_hflip} and/or @code{-display_vflip} options are
given, they are applied after the rotation specified by this option.
@item -display_hflip[:@var{stream_specifier}] (@emph{input,per-stream})
Set whether on display the image should be horizontally flipped.
See the @code{-display_rotation} option for more details.
@item -display_vflip[:@var{stream_specifier}] (@emph{input,per-stream})
Set whether on display the image should be vertically flipped.
See the @code{-display_rotation} option for more details.
@item -vn (@emph{input/output})
As an input option, blocks all video streams of a file from being filtered or
being automatically selected or mapped for any output. See @code{-discard}
option to disable streams individually.
As an output option, disables video recording i.e. automatic selection or
mapping of any video stream. For full manual control see the @code{-map}
option.
@item -vcodec @var{codec} (@emph{output})
Set the video codec. This is an alias for @code{-codec:v}.
@item -pass[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{n} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Select the pass number (1 or 2). It is used to do two-pass
video encoding. The statistics of the video are recorded in the first
pass into a log file (see also the option -passlogfile),
and in the second pass that log file is used to generate the video
at the exact requested bitrate.
On pass 1, you may just deactivate audio and set output to null,
examples for Windows and Unix:
@example
ffmpeg -i foo.mov -c:v libxvid -pass 1 -an -f rawvideo -y NUL
ffmpeg -i foo.mov -c:v libxvid -pass 1 -an -f rawvideo -y /dev/null
@end example
@item -passlogfile[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{prefix} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Set two-pass log file name prefix to @var{prefix}, the default file name
prefix is ``ffmpeg2pass''. The complete file name will be
@file{PREFIX-N.log}, where N is a number specific to the output
stream
@item -vf @var{filtergraph} (@emph{output})
Create the filtergraph specified by @var{filtergraph} and use it to
filter the stream.
This is an alias for @code{-filter:v}, see the @ref{filter_option,,-filter option}.
@item -autorotate
Automatically rotate the video according to file metadata. Enabled by
default, use @option{-noautorotate} to disable it.
@item -autoscale
Automatically scale the video according to the resolution of first frame.
Enabled by default, use @option{-noautoscale} to disable it. When autoscale is
disabled, all output frames of filter graph might not be in the same resolution
and may be inadequate for some encoder/muxer. Therefore, it is not recommended
to disable it unless you really know what you are doing.
Disable autoscale at your own risk.
@end table
@section Advanced Video options
@table @option
@item -pix_fmt[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{format} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set pixel format. Use @code{-pix_fmts} to show all the supported
pixel formats.
If the selected pixel format can not be selected, ffmpeg will print a
warning and select the best pixel format supported by the encoder.
If @var{pix_fmt} is prefixed by a @code{+}, ffmpeg will exit with an error
if the requested pixel format can not be selected, and automatic conversions
inside filtergraphs are disabled.
If @var{pix_fmt} is a single @code{+}, ffmpeg selects the same pixel format
as the input (or graph output) and automatic conversions are disabled.
@item -sws_flags @var{flags} (@emph{input/output})
Set default flags for the libswscale library. These flags are used by
automatically inserted @code{scale} filters and those within simple
filtergraphs, if not overridden within the filtergraph definition.
See the @ref{scaler_options,,ffmpeg-scaler manual,ffmpeg-scaler} for a list
of scaler options.
@item -rc_override[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{override} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Rate control override for specific intervals, formatted as "int,int,int"
list separated with slashes. Two first values are the beginning and
end frame numbers, last one is quantizer to use if positive, or quality
factor if negative.
@item -vstats
Dump video coding statistics to @file{vstats_HHMMSS.log}. See the
@ref{vstats_file_format,,vstats file format} section for the format description.
@item -vstats_file @var{file}
Dump video coding statistics to @var{file}. See the
@ref{vstats_file_format,,vstats file format} section for the format description.
@item -vstats_version @var{file}
Specify which version of the vstats format to use. Default is @code{2}. See the
@ref{vstats_file_format,,vstats file format} section for the format description.
@item -vtag @var{fourcc/tag} (@emph{output})
Force video tag/fourcc. This is an alias for @code{-tag:v}.
@item -force_key_frames[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{time}[,@var{time}...] (@emph{output,per-stream})
@item -force_key_frames[:@var{stream_specifier}] expr:@var{expr} (@emph{output,per-stream})
@item -force_key_frames[:@var{stream_specifier}] source (@emph{output,per-stream})
@var{force_key_frames} can take arguments of the following form:
@table @option
@item @var{time}[,@var{time}...]
If the argument consists of timestamps, ffmpeg will round the specified times to the nearest
output timestamp as per the encoder time base and force a keyframe at the first frame having
timestamp equal or greater than the computed timestamp. Note that if the encoder time base is too
coarse, then the keyframes may be forced on frames with timestamps lower than the specified time.
The default encoder time base is the inverse of the output framerate but may be set otherwise
via @code{-enc_time_base}.
If one of the times is "@code{chapters}[@var{delta}]", it is expanded into
the time of the beginning of all chapters in the file, shifted by
@var{delta}, expressed as a time in seconds.
This option can be useful to ensure that a seek point is present at a
chapter mark or any other designated place in the output file.
For example, to insert a key frame at 5 minutes, plus key frames 0.1 second
before the beginning of every chapter:
@example
-force_key_frames 0:05:00,chapters-0.1
@end example
@item expr:@var{expr}
If the argument is prefixed with @code{expr:}, the string @var{expr}
is interpreted like an expression and is evaluated for each frame. A
key frame is forced in case the evaluation is non-zero.
The expression in @var{expr} can contain the following constants:
@table @option
@item n
the number of current processed frame, starting from 0
@item n_forced
the number of forced frames
@item prev_forced_n
the number of the previous forced frame, it is @code{NAN} when no
keyframe was forced yet
@item prev_forced_t
the time of the previous forced frame, it is @code{NAN} when no
keyframe was forced yet
@item t
the time of the current processed frame
@end table
For example to force a key frame every 5 seconds, you can specify:
@example
-force_key_frames expr:gte(t,n_forced*5)
@end example
To force a key frame 5 seconds after the time of the last forced one,
starting from second 13:
@example
-force_key_frames expr:if(isnan(prev_forced_t),gte(t,13),gte(t,prev_forced_t+5))
@end example
@item source
If the argument is @code{source}, ffmpeg will force a key frame if
the current frame being encoded is marked as a key frame in its source.
In cases where this particular source frame has to be dropped,
enforce the next available frame to become a key frame instead.
@end table
Note that forcing too many keyframes is very harmful for the lookahead
algorithms of certain encoders: using fixed-GOP options or similar
would be more efficient.
@item -apply_cropping[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{source} (@emph{input,per-stream})
Automatically crop the video after decoding according to file metadata.
Default is @emph{all}.
@table @option
@item none (0)
Don't apply any cropping metadata.
@item all (1)
Apply both codec and container level croppping. This is the default mode.
@item codec (2)
Apply codec level croppping.
@item container (3)
Apply container level croppping.
@end table
@item -copyinkf[:@var{stream_specifier}] (@emph{output,per-stream})
When doing stream copy, copy also non-key frames found at the
beginning.
@item -init_hw_device @var{type}[=@var{name}][:@var{device}[,@var{key=value}...]]
Initialise a new hardware device of type @var{type} called @var{name}, using the
given device parameters.
If no name is specified it will receive a default name of the form "@var{type}%d".
The meaning of @var{device} and the following arguments depends on the
device type:
@table @option
@item cuda
@var{device} is the number of the CUDA device.
The following options are recognized:
@table @option
@item primary_ctx
If set to 1, uses the primary device context instead of creating a new one.
@end table
Examples:
@table @emph
@item -init_hw_device cuda:1
Choose the second device on the system.
@item -init_hw_device cuda:0,primary_ctx=1
Choose the first device and use the primary device context.
@end table
@item dxva2
@var{device} is the number of the Direct3D 9 display adapter.
@item d3d11va
@var{device} is the number of the Direct3D 11 display adapter.
If not specified, it will attempt to use the default Direct3D 11 display adapter
or the first Direct3D 11 display adapter whose hardware VendorId is specified
by @samp{vendor_id}.
Examples:
@table @emph
@item -init_hw_device d3d11va
Create a d3d11va device on the default Direct3D 11 display adapter.
@item -init_hw_device d3d11va:1
Create a d3d11va device on the Direct3D 11 display adapter specified by index 1.
@item -init_hw_device d3d11va:,vendor_id=0x8086
Create a d3d11va device on the first Direct3D 11 display adapter whose hardware VendorId is 0x8086.
@end table
@item vaapi
@var{device} is either an X11 display name, a DRM render node or a DirectX adapter index.
If not specified, it will attempt to open the default X11 display (@emph{$DISPLAY})
and then the first DRM render node (@emph{/dev/dri/renderD128}), or the default
DirectX adapter on Windows.
The following options are recognized:
@table @option
@item kernel_driver
When @var{device} is not specified, use this option to specify the name of the kernel
driver associated with the desired device. This option is available only when
the hardware acceleration method @emph{drm} and @emph{vaapi} are enabled.
@item vendor_id
When @var{device} and @var{kernel_driver} are not specified, use this option to specify
the vendor id associated with the desired device. This option is available only when the
hardware acceleration method @emph{drm} and @emph{vaapi} are enabled and @emph{kernel_driver}
is not specified.
@end table
Examples:
@table @emph
@item -init_hw_device vaapi
Create a vaapi device on the default device.
@item -init_hw_device vaapi:/dev/dri/renderD129
Create a vaapi device on DRM render node @file{/dev/dri/renderD129}.
@item -init_hw_device vaapi:1
Create a vaapi device on DirectX adapter 1.
@item -init_hw_device vaapi:,kernel_driver=i915
Create a vaapi device on a device associated with kernel driver @samp{i915}.
@item -init_hw_device vaapi:,vendor_id=0x8086
Create a vaapi device on a device associated with vendor id @samp{0x8086}.
@end table
@item vdpau
@var{device} is an X11 display name.
If not specified, it will attempt to open the default X11 display (@emph{$DISPLAY}).
@item qsv
@var{device} selects a value in @samp{MFX_IMPL_*}. Allowed values are:
@table @option
@item auto
@item sw
@item hw
@item auto_any
@item hw_any
@item hw2
@item hw3
@item hw4
@end table
If not specified, @samp{auto_any} is used.
(Note that it may be easier to achieve the desired result for QSV by creating the
platform-appropriate subdevice (@samp{dxva2} or @samp{d3d11va} or @samp{vaapi}) and then deriving a
QSV device from that.)
The following options are recognized:
@table @option
@item child_device
Specify a DRM render node on Linux or DirectX adapter on Windows.
@item child_device_type
Choose platform-appropriate subdevice type. On Windows @samp{d3d11va} is used
as default subdevice type when @code{--enable-libvpl} is specified at configuration time,
@samp{dxva2} is used as default subdevice type when @code{--enable-libmfx} is specified at
configuration time. On Linux user can use @samp{vaapi} only as subdevice type.
@end table
Examples:
@table @emph
@item -init_hw_device qsv:hw,child_device=/dev/dri/renderD129
Create a QSV device with @samp{MFX_IMPL_HARDWARE} on DRM render node @file{/dev/dri/renderD129}.
@item -init_hw_device qsv:hw,child_device=1
Create a QSV device with @samp{MFX_IMPL_HARDWARE} on DirectX adapter 1.
@item -init_hw_device qsv:hw,child_device_type=d3d11va
Choose the GPU subdevice with type @samp{d3d11va} and create QSV device with @samp{MFX_IMPL_HARDWARE}.
@item -init_hw_device qsv:hw,child_device_type=dxva2
Choose the GPU subdevice with type @samp{dxva2} and create QSV device with @samp{MFX_IMPL_HARDWARE}.
@item -init_hw_device qsv:hw,child_device=1,child_device_type=d3d11va
Create a QSV device with @samp{MFX_IMPL_HARDWARE} on DirectX adapter 1 with subdevice type @samp{d3d11va}.
@item -init_hw_device vaapi=va:/dev/dri/renderD129 -init_hw_device qsv=hw1@@@var{va}
Create a VAAPI device called @samp{va} on @file{/dev/dri/renderD129}, then derive a QSV device called @samp{hw1}
from device @samp{va}.
@end table
@item opencl
@var{device} selects the platform and device as @emph{platform_index.device_index}.
The set of devices can also be filtered using the key-value pairs to find only
devices matching particular platform or device strings.
The strings usable as filters are:
@table @option
@item platform_profile
@item platform_version
@item platform_name
@item platform_vendor
@item platform_extensions
@item device_name
@item device_vendor
@item driver_version
@item device_version
@item device_profile
@item device_extensions
@item device_type
@end table
The indices and filters must together uniquely select a device.
Examples:
@table @emph
@item -init_hw_device opencl:0.1
Choose the second device on the first platform.
@item -init_hw_device opencl:,device_name=Foo9000
Choose the device with a name containing the string @emph{Foo9000}.
@item -init_hw_device opencl:1,device_type=gpu,device_extensions=cl_khr_fp16
Choose the GPU device on the second platform supporting the @emph{cl_khr_fp16}
extension.
@end table
@item vulkan
If @var{device} is an integer, it selects the device by its index in a
system-dependent list of devices. If @var{device} is any other string, it
selects the first device with a name containing that string as a substring.
The following options are recognized:
@table @option
@item debug
If set to 1, enables the validation layer, if installed.
@item linear_images
If set to 1, images allocated by the hwcontext will be linear and locally mappable.
@item instance_extensions
A plus separated list of additional instance extensions to enable.
@item device_extensions
A plus separated list of additional device extensions to enable.
@end table
Examples:
@table @emph
@item -init_hw_device vulkan:1
Choose the second device on the system.
@item -init_hw_device vulkan:RADV
Choose the first device with a name containing the string @emph{RADV}.
@item -init_hw_device vulkan:0,instance_extensions=VK_KHR_wayland_surface+VK_KHR_xcb_surface
Choose the first device and enable the Wayland and XCB instance extensions.
@end table
@end table
@item -init_hw_device @var{type}[=@var{name}]@@@var{source}
Initialise a new hardware device of type @var{type} called @var{name},
deriving it from the existing device with the name @var{source}.
@item -init_hw_device list
List all hardware device types supported in this build of ffmpeg.
@item -filter_hw_device @var{name}
Pass the hardware device called @var{name} to all filters in any filter graph.
This can be used to set the device to upload to with the @code{hwupload} filter,
or the device to map to with the @code{hwmap} filter. Other filters may also
make use of this parameter when they require a hardware device. Note that this
is typically only required when the input is not already in hardware frames -
when it is, filters will derive the device they require from the context of the
frames they receive as input.
This is a global setting, so all filters will receive the same device.
@item -hwaccel[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{hwaccel} (@emph{input,per-stream})
Use hardware acceleration to decode the matching stream(s). The allowed values
of @var{hwaccel} are:
@table @option
@item none
Do not use any hardware acceleration (the default).
@item auto
Automatically select the hardware acceleration method.
@item vdpau
Use VDPAU (Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix) hardware acceleration.
@item dxva2
Use DXVA2 (DirectX Video Acceleration) hardware acceleration.
@item d3d11va
Use D3D11VA (DirectX Video Acceleration) hardware acceleration.
@item vaapi
Use VAAPI (Video Acceleration API) hardware acceleration.
@item qsv
Use the Intel QuickSync Video acceleration for video transcoding.
Unlike most other values, this option does not enable accelerated decoding (that
is used automatically whenever a qsv decoder is selected), but accelerated
transcoding, without copying the frames into the system memory.
For it to work, both the decoder and the encoder must support QSV acceleration
and no filters must be used.
@end table
This option has no effect if the selected hwaccel is not available or not
supported by the chosen decoder.
Note that most acceleration methods are intended for playback and will not be
faster than software decoding on modern CPUs. Additionally, @command{ffmpeg}
will usually need to copy the decoded frames from the GPU memory into the system
memory, resulting in further performance loss. This option is thus mainly
useful for testing.
@item -hwaccel_device[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{hwaccel_device} (@emph{input,per-stream})
Select a device to use for hardware acceleration.
This option only makes sense when the @option{-hwaccel} option is also specified.
It can either refer to an existing device created with @option{-init_hw_device}
by name, or it can create a new device as if
@samp{-init_hw_device} @var{type}:@var{hwaccel_device}
were called immediately before.
@item -hwaccels
List all hardware acceleration components enabled in this build of ffmpeg.
Actual runtime availability depends on the hardware and its suitable driver
being installed.
@item -fix_sub_duration_heartbeat[:@var{stream_specifier}]
Set a specific output video stream as the heartbeat stream according to which
to split and push through currently in-progress subtitle upon receipt of a
random access packet.
This lowers the latency of subtitles for which the end packet or the following
subtitle has not yet been received. As a drawback, this will most likely lead
to duplication of subtitle events in order to cover the full duration, so
when dealing with use cases where latency of when the subtitle event is passed
on to output is not relevant this option should not be utilized.
Requires @option{-fix_sub_duration} to be set for the relevant input subtitle
stream for this to have any effect, as well as for the input subtitle stream
having to be directly mapped to the same output in which the heartbeat stream
resides.
@end table
@section Audio Options
@table @option
@item -aframes @var{number} (@emph{output})
Set the number of audio frames to output. This is an obsolete alias for
@code{-frames:a}, which you should use instead.
@item -ar[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{freq} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set the audio sampling frequency. For output streams it is set by
default to the frequency of the corresponding input stream. For input
streams this option only makes sense for audio grabbing devices and raw
demuxers and is mapped to the corresponding demuxer options.
@item -aq @var{q} (@emph{output})
Set the audio quality (codec-specific, VBR). This is an alias for -q:a.
@item -ac[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{channels} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set the number of audio channels. For output streams it is set by
default to the number of input audio channels. For input streams
this option only makes sense for audio grabbing devices and raw demuxers
and is mapped to the corresponding demuxer options.
@item -an (@emph{input/output})
As an input option, blocks all audio streams of a file from being filtered or
being automatically selected or mapped for any output. See @code{-discard}
option to disable streams individually.
As an output option, disables audio recording i.e. automatic selection or
mapping of any audio stream. For full manual control see the @code{-map}
option.
@item -acodec @var{codec} (@emph{input/output})
Set the audio codec. This is an alias for @code{-codec:a}.
@item -sample_fmt[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{sample_fmt} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Set the audio sample format. Use @code{-sample_fmts} to get a list
of supported sample formats.
@item -af @var{filtergraph} (@emph{output})
Create the filtergraph specified by @var{filtergraph} and use it to
filter the stream.
This is an alias for @code{-filter:a}, see the @ref{filter_option,,-filter option}.
@end table
@section Advanced Audio options
@table @option
@item -atag @var{fourcc/tag} (@emph{output})
Force audio tag/fourcc. This is an alias for @code{-tag:a}.
@item -ch_layout[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{layout} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Alias for @code{-channel_layout}.
@item -channel_layout[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{layout} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set the audio channel layout. For output streams it is set by default to the
input channel layout. For input streams it overrides the channel layout of the
input. Not all decoders respect the overridden channel layout. This option
also sets the channel layout for audio grabbing devices and raw demuxers
and is mapped to the corresponding demuxer option.
@item -guess_layout_max @var{channels} (@emph{input,per-stream})
If some input channel layout is not known, try to guess only if it
corresponds to at most the specified number of channels. For example, 2
tells to @command{ffmpeg} to recognize 1 channel as mono and 2 channels as
stereo but not 6 channels as 5.1. The default is to always try to guess. Use
0 to disable all guessing. Using the @code{-channel_layout} option to
explicitly specify an input layout also disables guessing.
@end table
@section Subtitle options
@table @option
@item -scodec @var{codec} (@emph{input/output})
Set the subtitle codec. This is an alias for @code{-codec:s}.
@item -sn (@emph{input/output})
As an input option, blocks all subtitle streams of a file from being filtered or
being automatically selected or mapped for any output. See @code{-discard}
option to disable streams individually.
As an output option, disables subtitle recording i.e. automatic selection or
mapping of any subtitle stream. For full manual control see the @code{-map}
option.
@end table
@section Advanced Subtitle options
@table @option
@item -fix_sub_duration
Fix subtitles durations. For each subtitle, wait for the next packet in the
same stream and adjust the duration of the first to avoid overlap. This is
necessary with some subtitles codecs, especially DVB subtitles, because the
duration in the original packet is only a rough estimate and the end is
actually marked by an empty subtitle frame. Failing to use this option when
necessary can result in exaggerated durations or muxing failures due to
non-monotonic timestamps.
Note that this option will delay the output of all data until the next
subtitle packet is decoded: it may increase memory consumption and latency a
lot.
@item -canvas_size @var{size}
Set the size of the canvas used to render subtitles.
@end table
@section Advanced options
@table @option
@item -map [-]@var{input_file_id}[:@var{stream_specifier}][?] | @var{[linklabel]} (@emph{output})
Create one or more streams in the output file. This option has two forms for
specifying the data source(s): the first selects one or more streams from some
input file (specified with @code{-i}), the second takes an output from some
complex filtergraph (specified with @code{-filter_complex}).
In the first form, an output stream is created for every stream from the input
file with the index @var{input_file_id}. If @var{stream_specifier} is given,
only those streams that match the specifier are used (see the
@ref{Stream specifiers} section for the @var{stream_specifier} syntax).
A @code{-} character before the stream identifier creates a "negative" mapping.
It disables matching streams from already created mappings.
A trailing @code{?} after the stream index will allow the map to be
optional: if the map matches no streams the map will be ignored instead
of failing. Note the map will still fail if an invalid input file index
is used; such as if the map refers to a non-existent input.
An alternative @var{[linklabel]} form will map outputs from complex filter
graphs (see the @option{-filter_complex} option) to the output file.
@var{linklabel} must correspond to a defined output link label in the graph.
This option may be specified multiple times, each adding more streams to the
output file. Any given input stream may also be mapped any number of times as a
source for different output streams, e.g. in order to use different encoding
options and/or filters. The streams are created in the output in the same order
in which the @code{-map} options are given on the commandline.
Using this option disables the default mappings for this output file.
Examples:
@table @emph
@item map everything
To map ALL streams from the first input file to output
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0 output
@end example
@item select specific stream
If you have two audio streams in the first input file, these streams are
identified by @var{0:0} and @var{0:1}. You can use @code{-map} to select which
streams to place in an output file. For example:
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0:1 out.wav
@end example
will map the second input stream in @file{INPUT} to the (single) output stream
in @file{out.wav}.
@item create multiple streams
To select the stream with index 2 from input file @file{a.mov} (specified by the
identifier @var{0:2}), and stream with index 6 from input @file{b.mov}
(specified by the identifier @var{1:6}), and copy them to the output file
@file{out.mov}:
@example
ffmpeg -i a.mov -i b.mov -c copy -map 0:2 -map 1:6 out.mov
@end example
@item create multiple streams 2
To select all video and the third audio stream from an input file:
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0:v -map 0:a:2 OUTPUT
@end example
@item negative map
To map all the streams except the second audio, use negative mappings
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0 -map -0:a:1 OUTPUT
@end example
@item optional map
To map the video and audio streams from the first input, and using the
trailing @code{?}, ignore the audio mapping if no audio streams exist in
the first input:
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0:v -map 0:a? OUTPUT
@end example
@item map by language
To pick the English audio stream:
@example
ffmpeg -i INPUT -map 0:m:language:eng OUTPUT
@end example
@end table
@item -ignore_unknown
Ignore input streams with unknown type instead of failing if copying
such streams is attempted.
@item -copy_unknown
Allow input streams with unknown type to be copied instead of failing if copying
such streams is attempted.
@item -map_metadata[:@var{metadata_spec_out}] @var{infile}[:@var{metadata_spec_in}] (@emph{output,per-metadata})
Set metadata information of the next output file from @var{infile}. Note that
those are file indices (zero-based), not filenames.
Optional @var{metadata_spec_in/out} parameters specify, which metadata to copy.
A metadata specifier can have the following forms:
@table @option
@item @var{g}
global metadata, i.e. metadata that applies to the whole file
@item @var{s}[:@var{stream_spec}]
per-stream metadata. @var{stream_spec} is a stream specifier as described
in the @ref{Stream specifiers} chapter. In an input metadata specifier, the first
matching stream is copied from. In an output metadata specifier, all matching
streams are copied to.
@item @var{c}:@var{chapter_index}
per-chapter metadata. @var{chapter_index} is the zero-based chapter index.
@item @var{p}:@var{program_index}
per-program metadata. @var{program_index} is the zero-based program index.
@end table
If metadata specifier is omitted, it defaults to global.
By default, global metadata is copied from the first input file,
per-stream and per-chapter metadata is copied along with streams/chapters. These
default mappings are disabled by creating any mapping of the relevant type. A negative
file index can be used to create a dummy mapping that just disables automatic copying.
For example to copy metadata from the first stream of the input file to global metadata
of the output file:
@example
ffmpeg -i in.ogg -map_metadata 0:s:0 out.mp3
@end example
To do the reverse, i.e. copy global metadata to all audio streams:
@example
ffmpeg -i in.mkv -map_metadata:s:a 0:g out.mkv
@end example
Note that simple @code{0} would work as well in this example, since global
metadata is assumed by default.
@item -map_chapters @var{input_file_index} (@emph{output})
Copy chapters from input file with index @var{input_file_index} to the next
output file. If no chapter mapping is specified, then chapters are copied from
the first input file with at least one chapter. Use a negative file index to
disable any chapter copying.
@item -benchmark (@emph{global})
Show benchmarking information at the end of an encode.
Shows real, system and user time used and maximum memory consumption.
Maximum memory consumption is not supported on all systems,
it will usually display as 0 if not supported.
@item -benchmark_all (@emph{global})
Show benchmarking information during the encode.
Shows real, system and user time used in various steps (audio/video encode/decode).
@item -timelimit @var{duration} (@emph{global})
Exit after ffmpeg has been running for @var{duration} seconds in CPU user time.
@item -dump (@emph{global})
Dump each input packet to stderr.
@item -hex (@emph{global})
When dumping packets, also dump the payload.
@item -readrate @var{speed} (@emph{input})
Limit input read speed.
Its value is a floating-point positive number which represents the maximum duration of
media, in seconds, that should be ingested in one second of wallclock time.
Default value is zero and represents no imposed limitation on speed of ingestion.
Value @code{1} represents real-time speed and is equivalent to @code{-re}.
Mainly used to simulate a capture device or live input stream (e.g. when reading from a file).
Should not be used with a low value when input is an actual capture device or live stream as
it may cause packet loss.
It is useful for when flow speed of output packets is important, such as live streaming.
@item -re (@emph{input})
Read input at native frame rate. This is equivalent to setting @code{-readrate 1}.
@item -readrate_initial_burst @var{seconds}
Set an initial read burst time, in seconds, after which @option{-re/-readrate}
will be enforced.
@item -vsync @var{parameter} (@emph{global})
@itemx -fps_mode[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{parameter} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Set video sync method / framerate mode. vsync is applied to all output video streams
but can be overridden for a stream by setting fps_mode. vsync is deprecated and will be
removed in the future.
For compatibility reasons some of the values for vsync can be specified as numbers (shown
in parentheses in the following table).
@table @option
@item passthrough (0)
Each frame is passed with its timestamp from the demuxer to the muxer.
@item cfr (1)
Frames will be duplicated and dropped to achieve exactly the requested
constant frame rate.
@item vfr (2)
Frames are passed through with their timestamp or dropped so as to
prevent 2 frames from having the same timestamp.
@item auto (-1)
Chooses between cfr and vfr depending on muxer capabilities. This is the
default method.
@end table
Note that the timestamps may be further modified by the muxer, after this.
For example, in the case that the format option @option{avoid_negative_ts}
is enabled.
With -map you can select from which stream the timestamps should be
taken. You can leave either video or audio unchanged and sync the
remaining stream(s) to the unchanged one.
@item -frame_drop_threshold @var{parameter}
Frame drop threshold, which specifies how much behind video frames can
be before they are dropped. In frame rate units, so 1.0 is one frame.
The default is -1.1. One possible usecase is to avoid framedrops in case
of noisy timestamps or to increase frame drop precision in case of exact
timestamps.
@item -apad @var{parameters} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Pad the output audio stream(s). This is the same as applying @code{-af apad}.
Argument is a string of filter parameters composed the same as with the @code{apad} filter.
@code{-shortest} must be set for this output for the option to take effect.
@item -copyts
Do not process input timestamps, but keep their values without trying
to sanitize them. In particular, do not remove the initial start time
offset value.
Note that, depending on the @option{vsync} option or on specific muxer
processing (e.g. in case the format option @option{avoid_negative_ts}
is enabled) the output timestamps may mismatch with the input
timestamps even when this option is selected.
@item -start_at_zero
When used with @option{copyts}, shift input timestamps so they start at zero.
This means that using e.g. @code{-ss 50} will make output timestamps start at
50 seconds, regardless of what timestamp the input file started at.
@item -copytb @var{mode}
Specify how to set the encoder timebase when stream copying. @var{mode} is an
integer numeric value, and can assume one of the following values:
@table @option
@item 1
Use the demuxer timebase.
The time base is copied to the output encoder from the corresponding input
demuxer. This is sometimes required to avoid non monotonically increasing
timestamps when copying video streams with variable frame rate.
@item 0
Use the decoder timebase.
The time base is copied to the output encoder from the corresponding input
decoder.
@item -1
Try to make the choice automatically, in order to generate a sane output.
@end table
Default value is -1.
@item -enc_time_base[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{timebase} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Set the encoder timebase. @var{timebase} can assume one of the following values:
@table @option
@item 0
Assign a default value according to the media type.
For video - use 1/framerate, for audio - use 1/samplerate.
@item demux
Use the timebase from the demuxer.
@item filter
Use the timebase from the filtergraph.
@item a positive number
Use the provided number as the timebase.
This field can be provided as a ratio of two integers (e.g. 1:24, 1:48000)
or as a decimal number (e.g. 0.04166, 2.0833e-5)
@end table
Default value is 0.
@item -bitexact (@emph{input/output})
Enable bitexact mode for (de)muxer and (de/en)coder
@item -shortest (@emph{output})
Finish encoding when the shortest output stream ends.
Note that this option may require buffering frames, which introduces extra
latency. The maximum amount of this latency may be controlled with the
@code{-shortest_buf_duration} option.
@item -shortest_buf_duration @var{duration} (@emph{output})
The @code{-shortest} option may require buffering potentially large amounts
of data when at least one of the streams is "sparse" (i.e. has large gaps
between frames – this is typically the case for subtitles).
This option controls the maximum duration of buffered frames in seconds.
Larger values may allow the @code{-shortest} option to produce more accurate
results, but increase memory use and latency.
The default value is 10 seconds.
@item -dts_delta_threshold @var{threshold}
Timestamp discontinuity delta threshold, expressed as a decimal number
of seconds.
The timestamp discontinuity correction enabled by this option is only
applied to input formats accepting timestamp discontinuity (for which
the @code{AVFMT_TS_DISCONT} flag is enabled), e.g. MPEG-TS and HLS, and
is automatically disabled when employing the @code{-copyts} option
(unless wrapping is detected).
If a timestamp discontinuity is detected whose absolute value is
greater than @var{threshold}, ffmpeg will remove the discontinuity by
decreasing/increasing the current DTS and PTS by the corresponding
delta value.
The default value is 10.
@item -dts_error_threshold @var{threshold}
Timestamp error delta threshold, expressed as a decimal number of
seconds.
The timestamp correction enabled by this option is only applied to
input formats not accepting timestamp discontinuity (for which the
@code{AVFMT_TS_DISCONT} flag is not enabled).
If a timestamp discontinuity is detected whose absolute value is
greater than @var{threshold}, ffmpeg will drop the PTS/DTS timestamp
value.
The default value is @code{3600*30} (30 hours), which is arbitrarily
picked and quite conservative.
@item -muxdelay @var{seconds} (@emph{output})
Set the maximum demux-decode delay.
@item -muxpreload @var{seconds} (@emph{output})
Set the initial demux-decode delay.
@item -streamid @var{output-stream-index}:@var{new-value} (@emph{output})
Assign a new stream-id value to an output stream. This option should be
specified prior to the output filename to which it applies.
For the situation where multiple output files exist, a streamid
may be reassigned to a different value.
For example, to set the stream 0 PID to 33 and the stream 1 PID to 36 for
an output mpegts file:
@example
ffmpeg -i inurl -streamid 0:33 -streamid 1:36 out.ts
@end example
@item -bsf[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{bitstream_filters} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Apply bitstream filters to matching streams. The filters are applied to each
packet as it is received from the demuxer (when used as an input option) or
before it is sent to the muxer (when used as an output option).
@var{bitstream_filters} is a comma-separated list of bitstream filter
specifications, each of the form
@example
@var{filter}[=@var{optname0}=@var{optval0}:@var{optname1}=@var{optval1}:...]
@end example
Any of the ',=:' characters that are to be a part of an option value need to be
escaped with a backslash.
Use the @code{-bsfs} option to get the list of bitstream filters.
E.g.
@example
ffmpeg -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -i h264.mp4 -c:v copy -an out.h264
@end example
applies the @code{h264_mp4toannexb} bitstream filter (which converts
MP4-encapsulated H.264 stream to Annex B) to the @emph{input} video stream.
On the other hand,
@example
ffmpeg -i file.mov -an -vn -bsf:s mov2textsub -c:s copy -f rawvideo sub.txt
@end example
applies the @code{mov2textsub} bitstream filter (which extracts text from MOV
subtitles) to the @emph{output} subtitle stream. Note, however, that since both
examples use @code{-c copy}, it matters little whether the filters are applied
on input or output - that would change if transcoding was happening.
@item -tag[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{codec_tag} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Force a tag/fourcc for matching streams.
@item -timecode @var{hh}:@var{mm}:@var{ss}SEP@var{ff}
Specify Timecode for writing. @var{SEP} is ':' for non drop timecode and ';'
(or '.') for drop.
@example
ffmpeg -i input.mpg -timecode 01:02:03.04 -r 30000/1001 -s ntsc output.mpg
@end example
@anchor{filter_complex_option}
@item -filter_complex @var{filtergraph} (@emph{global})
Define a complex filtergraph, i.e. one with arbitrary number of inputs and/or
outputs. For simple graphs -- those with one input and one output of the same
type -- see the @option{-filter} options. @var{filtergraph} is a description of
the filtergraph, as described in the ``Filtergraph syntax'' section of the
ffmpeg-filters manual. This option may be specified multiple times - each use
creates a new complex filtergraph.
Inputs to a complex filtergraph may come from different source types,
distinguished by the format of the corresponding link label:
@itemize
@item
To connect an input stream, use @code{[file_index:stream_specifier]} (i.e. the
same syntax as @option{-map}). If @var{stream_specifier} matches multiple
streams, the first one will be used.
@item
To connect a loopback decoder use [dec:@var{dec_idx}], where @var{dec_idx} is
the index of the loopback decoder to be connected to given input.
@item
To connect an output from another complex filtergraph, use its link label. E.g
the following example:
@example
ffmpeg -i input.mkv \
-filter_complex '[0:v]scale=size=hd1080,split=outputs=2[for_enc][orig_scaled]' \
-c:v libx264 -map '[for_enc]' output.mkv \
-dec 0:0 \
-filter_complex '[dec:0][orig_scaled]hstack[stacked]' \
-map '[stacked]' -c:v ffv1 comparison.mkv
@end example
reads an input video and
@itemize
@item
(line 2) uses a complex filtergraph with one input and two outputs
to scale the video to 1920x1080 and duplicate the result to both
outputs;
@item
(line 3) encodes one scaled output with @code{libx264} and writes the result to
@file{output.mkv};
@item
(line 4) decodes this encoded stream with a loopback decoder;
@item
(line 5) places the output of the loopback decoder (i.e. the
@code{libx264}-encoded video) side by side with the scaled original input;
@item
(line 6) combined video is then losslessly encoded and written into
@file{comparison.mkv}.
@end itemize
Note that the two filtergraphs cannot be combined into one, because then there
would be a cycle in the transcoding pipeline (filtergraph output goes to
encoding, from there to decoding, then back to the same graph), and such cycles
are not allowed.
@end itemize
An unlabeled input will be connected to the first unused input stream of the
matching type.
Output link labels are referred to with @option{-map}. Unlabeled outputs are
added to the first output file.
Note that with this option it is possible to use only lavfi sources without
normal input files.
For example, to overlay an image over video
@example
ffmpeg -i video.mkv -i image.png -filter_complex '[0:v][1:v]overlay[out]' -map
'[out]' out.mkv
@end example
Here @code{[0:v]} refers to the first video stream in the first input file,
which is linked to the first (main) input of the overlay filter. Similarly the
first video stream in the second input is linked to the second (overlay) input
of overlay.
Assuming there is only one video stream in each input file, we can omit input
labels, so the above is equivalent to
@example
ffmpeg -i video.mkv -i image.png -filter_complex 'overlay[out]' -map
'[out]' out.mkv
@end example
Furthermore we can omit the output label and the single output from the filter
graph will be added to the output file automatically, so we can simply write
@example
ffmpeg -i video.mkv -i image.png -filter_complex 'overlay' out.mkv
@end example
As a special exception, you can use a bitmap subtitle stream as input: it
will be converted into a video with the same size as the largest video in
the file, or 720x576 if no video is present. Note that this is an
experimental and temporary solution. It will be removed once libavfilter has
proper support for subtitles.
For example, to hardcode subtitles on top of a DVB-T recording stored in
MPEG-TS format, delaying the subtitles by 1 second:
@example
ffmpeg -i input.ts -filter_complex \
'[#0x2ef] setpts=PTS+1/TB [sub] ; [#0x2d0] [sub] overlay' \
-sn -map '#0x2dc' output.mkv
@end example
(0x2d0, 0x2dc and 0x2ef are the MPEG-TS PIDs of respectively the video,
audio and subtitles streams; 0:0, 0:3 and 0:7 would have worked too)
To generate 5 seconds of pure red video using lavfi @code{color} source:
@example
ffmpeg -filter_complex 'color=c=red' -t 5 out.mkv
@end example
@item -filter_complex_threads @var{nb_threads} (@emph{global})
Defines how many threads are used to process a filter_complex graph.
Similar to filter_threads but used for @code{-filter_complex} graphs only.
The default is the number of available CPUs.
@item -lavfi @var{filtergraph} (@emph{global})
Define a complex filtergraph, i.e. one with arbitrary number of inputs and/or
outputs. Equivalent to @option{-filter_complex}.
@item -accurate_seek (@emph{input})
This option enables or disables accurate seeking in input files with the
@option{-ss} option. It is enabled by default, so seeking is accurate when
transcoding. Use @option{-noaccurate_seek} to disable it, which may be useful
e.g. when copying some streams and transcoding the others.
@item -seek_timestamp (@emph{input})
This option enables or disables seeking by timestamp in input files with the
@option{-ss} option. It is disabled by default. If enabled, the argument
to the @option{-ss} option is considered an actual timestamp, and is not
offset by the start time of the file. This matters only for files which do
not start from timestamp 0, such as transport streams.
@item -thread_queue_size @var{size} (@emph{input/output})
For input, this option sets the maximum number of queued packets when reading
from the file or device. With low latency / high rate live streams, packets may
be discarded if they are not read in a timely manner; setting this value can
force ffmpeg to use a separate input thread and read packets as soon as they
arrive. By default ffmpeg only does this if multiple inputs are specified.
For output, this option specified the maximum number of packets that may be
queued to each muxing thread.
@item -sdp_file @var{file} (@emph{global})
Print sdp information for an output stream to @var{file}.
This allows dumping sdp information when at least one output isn't an
rtp stream. (Requires at least one of the output formats to be rtp).
@item -discard (@emph{input})
Allows discarding specific streams or frames from streams.
Any input stream can be fully discarded, using value @code{all} whereas
selective discarding of frames from a stream occurs at the demuxer
and is not supported by all demuxers.
@table @option
@item none
Discard no frame.
@item default
Default, which discards no frames.
@item noref
Discard all non-reference frames.
@item bidir
Discard all bidirectional frames.
@item nokey
Discard all frames excepts keyframes.
@item all
Discard all frames.
@end table
@item -abort_on @var{flags} (@emph{global})
Stop and abort on various conditions. The following flags are available:
@table @option
@item empty_output
No packets were passed to the muxer, the output is empty.
@item empty_output_stream
No packets were passed to the muxer in some of the output streams.
@end table
@item -max_error_rate (@emph{global})
Set fraction of decoding frame failures across all inputs which when crossed
ffmpeg will return exit code 69. Crossing this threshold does not terminate
processing. Range is a floating-point number between 0 to 1. Default is 2/3.
@item -xerror (@emph{global})
Stop and exit on error
@item -max_muxing_queue_size @var{packets} (@emph{output,per-stream})
When transcoding audio and/or video streams, ffmpeg will not begin writing into
the output until it has one packet for each such stream. While waiting for that
to happen, packets for other streams are buffered. This option sets the size of
this buffer, in packets, for the matching output stream.
The default value of this option should be high enough for most uses, so only
touch this option if you are sure that you need it.
@item -muxing_queue_data_threshold @var{bytes} (@emph{output,per-stream})
This is a minimum threshold until which the muxing queue size is not taken into
account. Defaults to 50 megabytes per stream, and is based on the overall size
of packets passed to the muxer.
@item -auto_conversion_filters (@emph{global})
Enable automatically inserting format conversion filters in all filter
graphs, including those defined by @option{-vf}, @option{-af},
@option{-filter_complex} and @option{-lavfi}. If filter format negotiation
requires a conversion, the initialization of the filters will fail.
Conversions can still be performed by inserting the relevant conversion
filter (scale, aresample) in the graph.
On by default, to explicitly disable it you need to specify
@code{-noauto_conversion_filters}.
@item -bits_per_raw_sample[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{value} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Declare the number of bits per raw sample in the given output stream to be
@var{value}. Note that this option sets the information provided to the
encoder/muxer, it does not change the stream to conform to this value. Setting
values that do not match the stream properties may result in encoding failures
or invalid output files.
@anchor{stats_enc_options}
@item -stats_enc_pre[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{path} (@emph{output,per-stream})
@item -stats_enc_post[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{path} (@emph{output,per-stream})
@item -stats_mux_pre[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{path} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Write per-frame encoding information about the matching streams into the file
given by @var{path}.
@option{-stats_enc_pre} writes information about raw video or audio frames right
before they are sent for encoding, while @option{-stats_enc_post} writes
information about encoded packets as they are received from the encoder.
@option{-stats_mux_pre} writes information about packets just as they are about to
be sent to the muxer. Every frame or packet produces one line in the specified
file. The format of this line is controlled by @option{-stats_enc_pre_fmt} /
@option{-stats_enc_post_fmt} / @option{-stats_mux_pre_fmt}.
When stats for multiple streams are written into a single file, the lines
corresponding to different streams will be interleaved. The precise order of
this interleaving is not specified and not guaranteed to remain stable between
different invocations of the program, even with the same options.
@item -stats_enc_pre_fmt[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{format_spec} (@emph{output,per-stream})
@item -stats_enc_post_fmt[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{format_spec} (@emph{output,per-stream})
@item -stats_mux_pre_fmt[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{format_spec} (@emph{output,per-stream})
Specify the format for the lines written with @option{-stats_enc_pre} /
@option{-stats_enc_post} / @option{-stats_mux_pre}.
@var{format_spec} is a string that may contain directives of the form
@var{@{fmt@}}. @var{format_spec} is backslash-escaped --- use \@{, \@}, and \\
to write a literal @{, @}, or \, respectively, into the output.
The directives given with @var{fmt} may be one of the following:
@table @option
@item fidx
Index of the output file.
@item sidx
Index of the output stream in the file.
@item n
Frame number. Pre-encoding: number of frames sent to the encoder so far.
Post-encoding: number of packets received from the encoder so far.
Muxing: number of packets submitted to the muxer for this stream so far.
@item ni
Input frame number. Index of the input frame (i.e. output by a decoder) that
corresponds to this output frame or packet. -1 if unavailable.
@item tb
Timebase in which this frame/packet's timestamps are expressed, as a rational
number @var{num/den}. Note that encoder and muxer may use different timebases.
@item tbi
Timebase for @var{ptsi}, as a rational number @var{num/den}. Available when
@var{ptsi} is available, @var{0/1} otherwise.
@item pts
Presentation timestamp of the frame or packet, as an integer. Should be
multiplied by the timebase to compute presentation time.
@item ptsi
Presentation timestamp of the input frame (see @var{ni}), as an integer. Should
be multiplied by @var{tbi} to compute presentation time. Printed as
(2^63 - 1 = 9223372036854775807) when not available.
@item t
Presentation time of the frame or packet, as a decimal number. Equal to
@var{pts} multiplied by @var{tb}.
@item ti
Presentation time of the input frame (see @var{ni}), as a decimal number. Equal
to @var{ptsi} multiplied by @var{tbi}. Printed as inf when not available.
@item dts (@emph{packet})
Decoding timestamp of the packet, as an integer. Should be multiplied by the
timebase to compute presentation time.
@item dt (@emph{packet})
Decoding time of the frame or packet, as a decimal number. Equal to
@var{dts} multiplied by @var{tb}.
@item sn (@emph{frame,audio})
Number of audio samples sent to the encoder so far.
@item samp (@emph{frame,audio})
Number of audio samples in the frame.
@item size (@emph{packet})
Size of the encoded packet in bytes.
@item br (@emph{packet})
Current bitrate in bits per second.
@item abr (@emph{packet})
Average bitrate for the whole stream so far, in bits per second, -1 if it cannot
be determined at this point.
@item key (@emph{packet})
Character 'K' if the packet contains a keyframe, character 'N' otherwise.
@end table
Directives tagged with @emph{packet} may only be used with
@option{-stats_enc_post_fmt} and @option{-stats_mux_pre_fmt}.
Directives tagged with @emph{frame} may only be used with
@option{-stats_enc_pre_fmt}.
Directives tagged with @emph{audio} may only be used with audio streams.
The default format strings are:
@table @option
@item pre-encoding
@{fidx@} @{sidx@} @{n@} @{t@}
@item post-encoding
@{fidx@} @{sidx@} @{n@} @{t@}
@end table
In the future, new items may be added to the end of the default formatting
strings. Users who depend on the format staying exactly the same, should
prescribe it manually.
Note that stats for different streams written into the same file may have
different formats.
@end table
@section Preset files
A preset file contains a sequence of @var{option}=@var{value} pairs,
one for each line, specifying a sequence of options which would be
awkward to specify on the command line. Lines starting with the hash
('#') character are ignored and are used to provide comments. Check
the @file{presets} directory in the FFmpeg source tree for examples.
There are two types of preset files: ffpreset and avpreset files.
@subsection ffpreset files
ffpreset files are specified with the @code{vpre}, @code{apre},
@code{spre}, and @code{fpre} options. The @code{fpre} option takes the
filename of the preset instead of a preset name as input and can be
used for any kind of codec. For the @code{vpre}, @code{apre}, and
@code{spre} options, the options specified in a preset file are
applied to the currently selected codec of the same type as the preset
option.
The argument passed to the @code{vpre}, @code{apre}, and @code{spre}
preset options identifies the preset file to use according to the
following rules:
First ffmpeg searches for a file named @var{arg}.ffpreset in the
directories @file{$FFMPEG_DATADIR} (if set), and @file{$HOME/.ffmpeg}, and in
the datadir defined at configuration time (usually @file{PREFIX/share/ffmpeg})
or in a @file{ffpresets} folder along the executable on win32,
in that order. For example, if the argument is @code{libvpx-1080p}, it will
search for the file @file{libvpx-1080p.ffpreset}.
If no such file is found, then ffmpeg will search for a file named
@var{codec_name}-@var{arg}.ffpreset in the above-mentioned
directories, where @var{codec_name} is the name of the codec to which
the preset file options will be applied. For example, if you select
the video codec with @code{-vcodec libvpx} and use @code{-vpre 1080p},
then it will search for the file @file{libvpx-1080p.ffpreset}.
@subsection avpreset files
avpreset files are specified with the @code{pre} option. They work similar to
ffpreset files, but they only allow encoder- specific options. Therefore, an
@var{option}=@var{value} pair specifying an encoder cannot be used.
When the @code{pre} option is specified, ffmpeg will look for files with the
suffix .avpreset in the directories @file{$AVCONV_DATADIR} (if set), and
@file{$HOME/.avconv}, and in the datadir defined at configuration time (usually
@file{PREFIX/share/ffmpeg}), in that order.
First ffmpeg searches for a file named @var{codec_name}-@var{arg}.avpreset in
the above-mentioned directories, where @var{codec_name} is the name of the codec
to which the preset file options will be applied. For example, if you select the
video codec with @code{-vcodec libvpx} and use @code{-pre 1080p}, then it will
search for the file @file{libvpx-1080p.avpreset}.
If no such file is found, then ffmpeg will search for a file named
@var{arg}.avpreset in the same directories.
@anchor{vstats_file_format}
@section vstats file format
The @code{-vstats} and @code{-vstats_file} options enable generation of a file
containing statistics about the generated video outputs.
The @code{-vstats_version} option controls the format version of the generated
file.
With version @code{1} the format is:
@example
frame= @var{FRAME} q= @var{FRAME_QUALITY} PSNR= @var{PSNR} f_size= @var{FRAME_SIZE} s_size= @var{STREAM_SIZE}kB time= @var{TIMESTAMP} br= @var{BITRATE}kbits/s avg_br= @var{AVERAGE_BITRATE}kbits/s
@end example
With version @code{2} the format is:
@example
out= @var{OUT_FILE_INDEX} st= @var{OUT_FILE_STREAM_INDEX} frame= @var{FRAME_NUMBER} q= @var{FRAME_QUALITY}f PSNR= @var{PSNR} f_size= @var{FRAME_SIZE} s_size= @var{STREAM_SIZE}kB time= @var{TIMESTAMP} br= @var{BITRATE}kbits/s avg_br= @var{AVERAGE_BITRATE}kbits/s
@end example
The value corresponding to each key is described below:
@table @option
@item avg_br
average bitrate expressed in Kbits/s
@item br
bitrate expressed in Kbits/s
@item frame
number of encoded frame
@item out
out file index
@item PSNR
Peak Signal to Noise Ratio
@item q
quality of the frame
@item f_size
encoded packet size expressed as number of bytes
@item s_size
stream size expressed in KiB
@item st
out file stream index
@item time
time of the packet
@item type
picture type
@end table
See also the @ref{stats_enc_options,,-stats_enc options} for an alternative way
to show encoding statistics.
@c man end OPTIONS
@chapter Examples
@c man begin EXAMPLES
@section Video and Audio grabbing
If you specify the input format and device then ffmpeg can grab video
and audio directly.
@example
ffmpeg -f oss -i /dev/dsp -f video4linux2 -i /dev/video0 /tmp/out.mpg
@end example
Or with an ALSA audio source (mono input, card id 1) instead of OSS:
@example
ffmpeg -f alsa -ac 1 -i hw:1 -f video4linux2 -i /dev/video0 /tmp/out.mpg
@end example
Note that you must activate the right video source and channel before
launching ffmpeg with any TV viewer such as
@uref{http://linux.bytesex.org/xawtv/, xawtv} by Gerd Knorr. You also
have to set the audio recording levels correctly with a
standard mixer.
@section X11 grabbing
Grab the X11 display with ffmpeg via
@example
ffmpeg -f x11grab -video_size cif -framerate 25 -i :0.0 /tmp/out.mpg
@end example
0.0 is display.screen number of your X11 server, same as
the DISPLAY environment variable.
@example
ffmpeg -f x11grab -video_size cif -framerate 25 -i :0.0+10,20 /tmp/out.mpg
@end example
0.0 is display.screen number of your X11 server, same as the DISPLAY environment
variable. 10 is the x-offset and 20 the y-offset for the grabbing.
@section Video and Audio file format conversion
Any supported file format and protocol can serve as input to ffmpeg:
Examples:
@itemize
@item
You can use YUV files as input:
@example
ffmpeg -i /tmp/test%d.Y /tmp/out.mpg
@end example
It will use the files:
@example
/tmp/test0.Y, /tmp/test0.U, /tmp/test0.V,
/tmp/test1.Y, /tmp/test1.U, /tmp/test1.V, etc...
@end example
The Y files use twice the resolution of the U and V files. They are
raw files, without header. They can be generated by all decent video
decoders. You must specify the size of the image with the @option{-s} option
if ffmpeg cannot guess it.
@item
You can input from a raw YUV420P file:
@example
ffmpeg -i /tmp/test.yuv /tmp/out.avi
@end example
test.yuv is a file containing raw YUV planar data. Each frame is composed
of the Y plane followed by the U and V planes at half vertical and
horizontal resolution.
@item
You can output to a raw YUV420P file:
@example
ffmpeg -i mydivx.avi hugefile.yuv
@end example
@item
You can set several input files and output files:
@example
ffmpeg -i /tmp/a.wav -s 640x480 -i /tmp/a.yuv /tmp/a.mpg
@end example
Converts the audio file a.wav and the raw YUV video file a.yuv
to MPEG file a.mpg.
@item
You can also do audio and video conversions at the same time:
@example
ffmpeg -i /tmp/a.wav -ar 22050 /tmp/a.mp2
@end example
Converts a.wav to MPEG audio at 22050 Hz sample rate.
@item
You can encode to several formats at the same time and define a
mapping from input stream to output streams:
@example
ffmpeg -i /tmp/a.wav -map 0:a -b:a 64k /tmp/a.mp2 -map 0:a -b:a 128k /tmp/b.mp2
@end example
Converts a.wav to a.mp2 at 64 kbits and to b.mp2 at 128 kbits. '-map
file:index' specifies which input stream is used for each output
stream, in the order of the definition of output streams.
@item
You can transcode decrypted VOBs:
@example
ffmpeg -i snatch_1.vob -f avi -c:v mpeg4 -b:v 800k -g 300 -bf 2 -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 128k snatch.avi
@end example
This is a typical DVD ripping example; the input is a VOB file, the
output an AVI file with MPEG-4 video and MP3 audio. Note that in this
command we use B-frames so the MPEG-4 stream is DivX5 compatible, and
GOP size is 300 which means one intra frame every 10 seconds for 29.97fps
input video. Furthermore, the audio stream is MP3-encoded so you need
to enable LAME support by passing @code{--enable-libmp3lame} to configure.
The mapping is particularly useful for DVD transcoding
to get the desired audio language.
NOTE: To see the supported input formats, use @code{ffmpeg -demuxers}.
@item
You can extract images from a video, or create a video from many images:
For extracting images from a video:
@example
ffmpeg -i foo.avi -r 1 -s WxH -f image2 foo-%03d.jpeg
@end example
This will extract one video frame per second from the video and will
output them in files named @file{foo-001.jpeg}, @file{foo-002.jpeg},
etc. Images will be rescaled to fit the new WxH values.
If you want to extract just a limited number of frames, you can use the
above command in combination with the @code{-frames:v} or @code{-t} option,
or in combination with -ss to start extracting from a certain point in time.
For creating a video from many images:
@example
ffmpeg -f image2 -framerate 12 -i foo-%03d.jpeg -s WxH foo.avi
@end example
The syntax @code{foo-%03d.jpeg} specifies to use a decimal number
composed of three digits padded with zeroes to express the sequence
number. It is the same syntax supported by the C printf function, but
only formats accepting a normal integer are suitable.
When importing an image sequence, -i also supports expanding
shell-like wildcard patterns (globbing) internally, by selecting the
image2-specific @code{-pattern_type glob} option.
For example, for creating a video from filenames matching the glob pattern
@code{foo-*.jpeg}:
@example
ffmpeg -f image2 -pattern_type glob -framerate 12 -i 'foo-*.jpeg' -s WxH foo.avi
@end example
@item
You can put many streams of the same type in the output:
@example
ffmpeg -i test1.avi -i test2.avi -map 1:1 -map 1:0 -map 0:1 -map 0:0 -c copy -y test12.nut
@end example
The resulting output file @file{test12.nut} will contain the first four streams
from the input files in reverse order.
@item
To force CBR video output:
@example
ffmpeg -i myfile.avi -b 4000k -minrate 4000k -maxrate 4000k -bufsize 1835k out.m2v
@end example
@item
The four options lmin, lmax, mblmin and mblmax use 'lambda' units,
but you may use the QP2LAMBDA constant to easily convert from 'q' units:
@example
ffmpeg -i src.ext -lmax 21*QP2LAMBDA dst.ext
@end example
@end itemize
@c man end EXAMPLES
@include config.texi
@ifset config-all
@ifset config-avutil
@include utils.texi
@end ifset
@ifset config-avcodec
@include codecs.texi
@include bitstream_filters.texi
@end ifset
@ifset config-avformat
@include formats.texi
@include protocols.texi
@end ifset
@ifset config-avdevice
@include devices.texi
@end ifset
@ifset config-swresample
@include resampler.texi
@end ifset
@ifset config-swscale
@include scaler.texi
@end ifset
@ifset config-avfilter
@include filters.texi
@end ifset
@include general_contents.texi
@end ifset
@chapter See Also
@ifhtml
@ifset config-all
@url{ffmpeg.html,ffmpeg}
@end ifset
@ifset config-not-all
@url{ffmpeg-all.html,ffmpeg-all},
@end ifset
@url{ffplay.html,ffplay}, @url{ffprobe.html,ffprobe},
@url{ffmpeg-utils.html,ffmpeg-utils},
@url{ffmpeg-scaler.html,ffmpeg-scaler},
@url{ffmpeg-resampler.html,ffmpeg-resampler},
@url{ffmpeg-codecs.html,ffmpeg-codecs},
@url{ffmpeg-bitstream-filters.html,ffmpeg-bitstream-filters},
@url{ffmpeg-formats.html,ffmpeg-formats},
@url{ffmpeg-devices.html,ffmpeg-devices},
@url{ffmpeg-protocols.html,ffmpeg-protocols},
@url{ffmpeg-filters.html,ffmpeg-filters}
@end ifhtml
@ifnothtml
@ifset config-all
ffmpeg(1),
@end ifset
@ifset config-not-all
ffmpeg-all(1),
@end ifset
ffplay(1), ffprobe(1),
ffmpeg-utils(1), ffmpeg-scaler(1), ffmpeg-resampler(1),
ffmpeg-codecs(1), ffmpeg-bitstream-filters(1), ffmpeg-formats(1),
ffmpeg-devices(1), ffmpeg-protocols(1), ffmpeg-filters(1)
@end ifnothtml
@include authors.texi
@ignore
@setfilename ffmpeg
@settitle ffmpeg media converter
@end ignore
@bye
|