@example
@c man begin SYNOPSIS
-avconv [[infile options][@option{-i} @var{infile}]]... @{[outfile options] @var{outfile}@}...
+avconv [global options] [[infile options][@option{-i} @var{infile}]]... @{[outfile options] @var{outfile}@}...
@c man end
@end example
a live audio/video source. It can also convert between arbitrary sample
rates and resize video on the fly with a high quality polyphase filter.
-The command line interface is designed to be intuitive, in the sense
-that avconv tries to figure out all parameters that can possibly be
-derived automatically. You usually only have to specify the target
-bitrate you want.
-
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.
@itemize
@item
The format option may be needed for raw input files.
-By default avconv tries to convert as losslessly as possible: It
-uses the same audio and video parameters for the outputs as the one
-specified for the inputs.
-
@c man end DESCRIPTION
@chapter Stream selection
@c man begin STREAM SELECTION
-By default av tries to pick the "best" stream of each type present in input
+By default avconv tries to pick the "best" stream of each type present in input
files and add them to each output file. For video, this means the highest
resolution, for audio the highest channel count. For subtitle it's simply the
first subtitle stream.
@chapter Options
@c man begin OPTIONS
-@include fftools-common-opts.texi
+@include avtools-common-opts.texi
@section Main options
@table @option
-@item -f @var{fmt}
-Force format.
+@item -f @var{fmt} (@emph{input/output})
+Force input or output file format. The format is normally autodetected for input
+files and guessed from file extension for output files, so this option is not
+needed in most cases.
-@item -i @var{filename}
+@item -i @var{filename} (@emph{input})
input file name
-@item -y
-Overwrite output files.
+@item -y (@emph{global})
+Overwrite output files without asking.
-@item -c[:@var{stream_type}][:@var{stream_index}] @var{codec}
-@item -codec[:@var{stream_type}][:@var{stream_index}] @var{codec}
+@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 reencoded.
-@var{stream_type} may be 'v' for video, 'a' for audio, 's' for subtitle and 'd'
-for data streams. @var{stream_index} is a global zero-based stream index if
-@var{stream_type} isn't given, otherwise it counts only streams of the given
-type. If @var{stream_index} is omitted, this option applies to all streams of
-the given type or all streams of any type if @var{stream_type} is missing as
-well (note that this only makes sense when all streams are of the same type or
-@var{codec} is @code{copy}).
-
For example
@example
avconv -i INPUT -map 0 -c:v libx264 -c:a copy OUTPUT
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}
-Restrict the transcoded/captured video sequence
-to the duration specified in seconds.
-@code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} syntax is also supported.
+@item -t @var{duration} (@emph{output})
+Stop writing the output after its duration reaches @var{duration}.
+@var{duration} may be a number in seconds, or in @code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} form.
-@item -fs @var{limit_size}
+@item -fs @var{limit_size} (@emph{output})
Set the file size limit.
-@item -ss @var{position}
-Seek to given time position in seconds.
-@code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} syntax is also supported.
+@item -ss @var{position} (@emph{input/output})
+When used as an input option (before @code{-i}), seeks in this input file to
+@var{position}. When used as an output option (before an output filename),
+decodes but discards input until the timestamps reach @var{position}. This is
+slower, but more accurate.
+
+@var{position} may be either in seconds or in @code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} form.
-@item -itsoffset @var{offset}
+@item -itsoffset @var{offset} (@emph{input})
Set the input time offset in seconds.
@code{[-]hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} syntax is also supported.
-This option affects all the input files that follow it.
The offset is added to the timestamps of the input files.
Specifying a positive offset means that the corresponding
-streams are delayed by 'offset' seconds.
-
-@item -timestamp @var{time}
-Set the recording timestamp in the container.
-The syntax for @var{time} is:
-@example
-now|([(YYYY-MM-DD|YYYYMMDD)[T|t| ]]((HH[:MM[:SS[.m...]]])|(HH[MM[SS[.m...]]]))[Z|z])
-@end example
-If the value is "now" it takes the current time.
-Time is local time unless 'Z' or 'z' is appended, in which case it is
-interpreted as UTC.
-If the year-month-day part is not specified it takes the current
-year-month-day.
+streams are delayed by @var{offset} seconds.
-@item -metadata @var{key}=@var{value}
+@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 or chapters. 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
avconv -i in.avi -metadata title="my title" out.flv
@end example
-@item -v @var{number}
-Set the logging verbosity level.
+To set the language of the second stream:
+@example
+avconv -i INPUT -metadata:s:1 language=eng OUTPUT
+@end example
-@item -target @var{type}
-Specify target file type ("vcd", "svcd", "dvd", "dv", "dv50", "pal-vcd",
-"ntsc-svcd", ... ). All the format options (bitrate, codecs,
-buffer sizes) are then set automatically. You can just type:
+@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
avconv -i myfile.avi -target vcd /tmp/vcd.mpg
avconv -i myfile.avi -target vcd -bf 2 /tmp/vcd.mpg
@end example
-@item -dframes @var{number}
-Set the number of data frames to record.
+@item -dframes @var{number} (@emph{output})
+Set the number of data frames to record. This is an alias for @code{-frames:d}.
-@item -slang @var{code}
-Set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current subtitle stream.
+@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} is
+codec-dependent.
+
+@item -filter[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{filter_graph} (@emph{output,per-stream})
+@var{filter_graph} is a description of the filter graph to apply to
+the stream. Use @code{-filters} to show all the available filters
+(including also sources and sinks).
+@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. On by default.
@end table
@section Video Options
@table @option
-@item -vframes @var{number}
-Set the number of video frames to record.
-@item -r @var{fps}
+@item -vframes @var{number} (@emph{output})
+Set the number of video frames to record. This is an alias for @code{-frames:v}.
+@item -r[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{fps} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set frame rate (Hz value, fraction or abbreviation), (default = 25).
-@item -s @var{size}
+@item -s[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{size} (@emph{input/output,per-stream})
Set frame size. The format is @samp{wxh} (avserver default = 160x128, avconv default = same as source).
The following abbreviations are recognized:
@table @samp
1920x1080
@end table
-@item -aspect @var{aspect}
+@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
numerator and denominator of the aspect ratio. For example "4:3",
"16:9", "1.3333", and "1.7777" are valid argument values.
-@item -croptop @var{size}
-@item -cropbottom @var{size}
-@item -cropleft @var{size}
-@item -cropright @var{size}
-All the crop options have been removed. Use -vf
-crop=width:height:x:y instead.
-
-@item -padtop @var{size}
-@item -padbottom @var{size}
-@item -padleft @var{size}
-@item -padright @var{size}
-@item -padcolor @var{hex_color}
-All the pad options have been removed. Use -vf
-pad=width:height:x:y:color instead.
-@item -vn
+@item -vn (@emph{output})
Disable video recording.
@item -bt @var{tolerance}
Set video bitrate tolerance (in bits, default 4000k).
It is of little use elsewise.
@item -bufsize @var{size}
Set video buffer verifier buffer size (in bits).
-@item -vcodec @var{codec}
+@item -vcodec @var{codec} (@emph{output})
Set the video codec. This is an alias for @code{-codec:v}.
-@item -sameq
+@item -same_quant
Use same quantizer as source (implies VBR).
+Note that this is NOT SAME QUALITY. Do not use this option unless you know you
+need it.
+
@item -pass @var{n}
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
avconv -i foo.mov -c:v libxvid -pass 1 -an -f rawvideo -y /dev/null
@end example
-@item -passlogfile @var{prefix}
+@item -passlogfile @var{prefix} (@emph{global})
Set two-pass log file name prefix to @var{prefix}, the default file name
prefix is ``av2pass''. The complete file name will be
@file{PREFIX-N.log}, where N is a number specific to the output
stream.
-@item -vlang @var{code}
-Set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current video stream.
-
-@item -vf @var{filter_graph}
+@item -vf @var{filter_graph} (@emph{output})
@var{filter_graph} is a description of the filter graph to apply to
the input video.
Use the option "-filters" to show all the available filters (including
-also sources and sinks).
+also sources and sinks). This is an alias for @code{-filter:v}.
@end table
@section Advanced Video Options
@table @option
-@item -pix_fmt @var{format}
-Set pixel format. Use 'list' as parameter to show all the supported
+@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.
-@item -sws_flags @var{flags}
+@item -sws_flags @var{flags} (@emph{input/output})
Set SwScaler flags.
@item -g @var{gop_size}
Set the group of pictures size.
-@item -intra
-Use only intra frames.
@item -vdt @var{n}
Discard threshold.
-@item -qscale @var{q}
-Use fixed video quantizer scale (VBR).
@item -qmin @var{q}
minimum video quantizer scale (VBR)
@item -qmax @var{q}
@item avgTex
@end table
-@item -rc_override @var{override}
+@item -rc_override[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{override} (@emph{output,per-stream})
rate control override for specific intervals
@item -me_method @var{method}
Set motion estimation method to @var{method}.
exhaustive search (slow and marginally better than epzs)
@end table
-@item -dct_algo @var{algo}
-Set DCT algorithm to @var{algo}. Available values are:
-@table @samp
-@item 0
-FF_DCT_AUTO (default)
-@item 1
-FF_DCT_FASTINT
-@item 2
-FF_DCT_INT
-@item 3
-FF_DCT_MMX
-@item 4
-FF_DCT_MLIB
-@item 5
-FF_DCT_ALTIVEC
-@end table
-
-@item -idct_algo @var{algo}
-Set IDCT algorithm to @var{algo}. Available values are:
-@table @samp
-@item 0
-FF_IDCT_AUTO (default)
-@item 1
-FF_IDCT_INT
-@item 2
-FF_IDCT_SIMPLE
-@item 3
-FF_IDCT_SIMPLEMMX
-@item 4
-FF_IDCT_LIBMPEG2MMX
-@item 5
-FF_IDCT_PS2
-@item 6
-FF_IDCT_MLIB
-@item 7
-FF_IDCT_ARM
-@item 8
-FF_IDCT_ALTIVEC
-@item 9
-FF_IDCT_SH4
-@item 10
-FF_IDCT_SIMPLEARM
-@end table
-
@item -er @var{n}
Set error resilience to @var{n}.
@table @samp
FF_MB_DECISION_RD: rate distortion
@end table
-@item -4mv
-Use four motion vector by macroblock (MPEG-4 only).
-@item -part
-Use data partitioning (MPEG-4 only).
@item -bug @var{param}
Work around encoder bugs that are not auto-detected.
@item -strict @var{strictness}
How strictly to follow the standards.
-@item -aic
-Enable Advanced intra coding (h263+).
-@item -umv
-Enable Unlimited Motion Vector (h263+)
@item -deinterlace
Deinterlace pictures.
-@item -ilme
-Force interlacing support in encoder (MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 only).
-Use this option if your input file is interlaced and you want
-to keep the interlaced format for minimum losses.
-The alternative is to deinterlace the input stream with
-@option{-deinterlace}, but deinterlacing introduces losses.
-@item -psnr
-Calculate PSNR of compressed frames.
@item -vstats
Dump video coding statistics to @file{vstats_HHMMSS.log}.
@item -vstats_file @var{file}
Dump video coding statistics to @var{file}.
-@item -top @var{n}
+@item -top[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{n} (@emph{output,per-stream})
top=1/bottom=0/auto=-1 field first
@item -dc @var{precision}
Intra_dc_precision.
-@item -vtag @var{fourcc/tag}
-Force video tag/fourcc.
-@item -qphist
+@item -vtag @var{fourcc/tag} (@emph{output})
+Force video tag/fourcc. This is an alias for @code{-tag:v}.
+@item -qphist (@emph{global})
Show QP histogram.
-@item -vbsf @var{bitstream_filter}
-Bitstream filters available are "dump_extra", "remove_extra", "noise", "h264_mp4toannexb", "imxdump", "mjpegadump", "mjpeg2jpeg".
-@example
-avconv -i h264.mp4 -c:v copy -vbsf h264_mp4toannexb -an out.h264
-@end example
-@item -force_key_frames @var{time}[,@var{time}...]
+@item -force_key_frames[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{time}[,@var{time}...] (@emph{output,per-stream})
Force key frames at the specified timestamps, more precisely at the first
frames after each specified time.
This option can be useful to ensure that a seek point is present at a
@section Audio Options
@table @option
-@item -aframes @var{number}
-Set the number of audio frames to record.
-@item -ar @var{freq}
+@item -aframes @var{number} (@emph{output})
+Set the number of audio frames to record. This is an alias for @code{-frames:a}.
+@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}
-Set the audio quality (codec-specific, VBR).
-@item -ac @var{channels}
+@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
+@item -an (@emph{output})
Disable audio recording.
-@item -acodec @var{codec}
+@item -acodec @var{codec} (@emph{input/output})
Set the audio codec. This is an alias for @code{-codec:a}.
-@item -alang @var{code}
-Set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current audio stream.
+@item -sample_fmt[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{sample_fmt} (@emph{output,per-stream})
+Set the audio sample format. Use @code{-help sample_fmts} to get a list
+of supported sample formats.
@end table
@section Advanced Audio options:
@table @option
-@item -atag @var{fourcc/tag}
-Force audio tag/fourcc.
+@item -atag @var{fourcc/tag} (@emph{output})
+Force audio tag/fourcc. This is an alias for @code{-tag:a}.
@item -audio_service_type @var{type}
Set the type of service that the audio stream contains.
@table @option
@item ka
Karaoke
@end table
-@item -absf @var{bitstream_filter}
-Bitstream filters available are "dump_extra", "remove_extra", "noise", "mp3comp", "mp3decomp".
@end table
@section Subtitle options:
@table @option
-@item -scodec @var{codec}
+@item -scodec @var{codec} (@emph{input/output})
Set the subtitle codec. This is an alias for @code{-codec:s}.
-@item -slang @var{code}
-Set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current subtitle stream.
-@item -sn
+@item -sn (@emph{output})
Disable subtitle recording.
-@item -sbsf @var{bitstream_filter}
-Bitstream filters available are "mov2textsub", "text2movsub".
-@example
-avconv -i file.mov -an -vn -sbsf mov2textsub -c:s copy -f rawvideo sub.txt
-@end example
@end table
@section Audio/Video grab options
@table @option
-@item -isync
+@item -isync (@emph{global})
Synchronize read on input.
@end table
@section Advanced options
@table @option
-@item -map [-]@var{input_file_id}[:@var{input_stream_type}][:@var{input_stream_id}][,@var{sync_file_id}[:@var{sync_stream_type}][:@var{sync_stream_id}]]
+@item -map [-]@var{input_file_id}[:@var{stream_specifier}][,@var{sync_file_id}[:@var{stream_specifier}]] (@emph{output})
Designate one or more input streams as a source for the output file. Each input
stream is identified by the input file index @var{input_file_id} and
the input stream index @var{input_stream_id} within the input
file. Both indices start at 0. If specified,
-@var{sync_file_id}:@var{sync_stream_id} sets which input stream
+@var{sync_file_id}:@var{stream_specifier} sets which input stream
is used as a presentation sync reference.
-If @var{input_stream_type} is specified -- 'v' for video, 'a' for audio, 's' for
-subtitle and 'd' for data -- then @var{input_stream_id} counts only the streams
-of this type. Same for @var{sync_stream_type}.
-
-@var{input_stream_id} may be omitted, in which case all streams of the given
-type are mapped (or all streams in the file, if no type is specified).
-
The first @code{-map} option on the command line specifies the
source for output stream 0, the second @code{-map} option specifies
the source for output stream 1, etc.
For example, to map ALL streams from the first input file to output
@example
-av -i INPUT -map 0 output
+avconv -i INPUT -map 0 output
@end example
For example, if you have two audio streams in the first input file,
Note that using this option disables the default mappings for this output file.
-@item -map_metadata[:@var{metadata_type}][:@var{index}] @var{infile}[:@var{metadata_type}][:@var{index}]
+@item -map_metadata[:@var{metadata_type}][:@var{index}] @var{infile}[:@var{metadata_type}][:@var{index}] (@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_type} parameters specify, which metadata to copy - (g)lobal
@example
avconv -i in.ogg -map_metadata 0:s:0 out.mp3
@end example
-@item -map_chapters @var{input_file_index}
+@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 -debug
Print specific debug info.
-@item -benchmark
+@item -benchmark (@emph{global})
Show benchmarking information at the end of an encode.
Shows CPU 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 -dump
-Dump each input packet.
-@item -hex
+@item -timelimit @var{duration} (@emph{global})
+Exit after avconv has been running for @var{duration} seconds.
+@item -dump (@emph{global})
+Dump each input packet to stderr.
+@item -hex (@emph{global})
When dumping packets, also dump the payload.
-@item -bitexact
-Only use bit exact algorithms (for codec testing).
@item -ps @var{size}
Set RTP payload size in bytes.
-@item -re
+@item -re (@emph{input})
Read input at native frame rate. Mainly used to simulate a grab device.
@item -threads @var{count}
Thread count.
Finish encoding when the shortest input stream ends.
@item -dts_delta_threshold
Timestamp discontinuity delta threshold.
-@item -muxdelay @var{seconds}
+@item -muxdelay @var{seconds} (@emph{input})
Set the maximum demux-decode delay.
-@item -muxpreload @var{seconds}
+@item -muxpreload @var{seconds} (@emph{input})
Set the initial demux-decode delay.
-@item -streamid @var{output-stream-index}:@var{new-value}
+@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
@example
avconv -i infile -streamid 0:33 -streamid 1:36 out.ts
@end example
+
+@item -bsf[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{bitstream_filters} (@emph{output,per-stream})
+Set bitstream filters for matching streams. @var{bistream_filters} is
+a comma-separated list of bitstream filters. Use the @code{-bsfs} option
+to get the list of bitstream filters.
+@example
+avconv -i h264.mp4 -c:v copy -vbsf h264_mp4toannexb -an out.h264
+@end example
+@example
+avconv -i file.mov -an -vn -sbsf mov2textsub -c:s copy -f rawvideo sub.txt
+@end example
+
+@item -tag[:@var{stream_specifier}] @var{codec_tag} (@emph{output,per-stream})
+Force a tag/fourcc for matching streams.
@end table
+@c man end OPTIONS
@chapter Tips
@c man begin TIPS
'-qscale n' when 'n' is between 1 (excellent quality) and 31 (worst
quality).
-@item
-When converting video files, you can use the '-sameq' option which
-uses the same quality factor in the encoder as in the decoder.
-It allows almost lossless encoding.
-
@end itemize
@c man end TIPS
@chapter Examples
@c man begin EXAMPLES
+@section Preset files
+
+A preset file contains a sequence of @var{option=value} pairs, one for
+each line, specifying a sequence of options which can be specified also on
+the command line. Lines starting with the hash ('#') character are ignored and
+are used to provide comments. Empty lines are also ignored. Check the
+@file{presets} directory in the Libav source tree for examples.
+
+Preset files are specified with the @code{pre} option, this option takes a
+preset name as input. Avconv searches for a file named @var{preset_name}.avpreset in
+the directories @file{$AVCONV_DATADIR} (if set), and @file{$HOME/.avconv}, and in
+the data directory defined at configuration time (usually @file{$PREFIX/share/avconv})
+in that order. For example, if the argument is @code{libx264-max}, it will
+search for the file @file{libx264-max.avpreset}.
+
@section Video and Audio grabbing
If you specify the input format and device then avconv can grab video
mapping from input stream to output streams:
@example
-avconv -i /tmp/a.wav -map 0:a -ab 64k /tmp/a.mp2 -map 0:a -ab 128k /tmp/b.mp2
+avconv -i /tmp/a.wav -map 0:a -b 64k /tmp/a.mp2 -map 0:a -b 128k /tmp/b.mp2
@end example
Converts a.wav to a.mp2 at 64 kbits and to b.mp2 at 128 kbits. '-map
You can transcode decrypted VOBs:
@example
-avconv -i snatch_1.vob -f avi -c:v mpeg4 -b 800k -g 300 -bf 2 -c:a libmp3lame -ab 128k snatch.avi
+avconv -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
projects / ffmpeg / blobdiff