FFmpeg is a very fast video and audio converter. It can also grab from
a live audio/video source.
-
+
The command line interface is designed to be intuitive, in the sense
-that ffmpeg tries to figure out all the parameters, when
-possible. You have usually to give only the target bitrate you want.
+that FFmpeg tries to figure out all parameters that can possibly be
+derived automatically. You usually only have to specify the target
+bitrate you want.
FFmpeg can also convert from any sample rate to any other, and resize
video on the fly with a high quality polyphase filter.
System audio source:
@example
-ffmpeg /tmp/out.mpg
+ffmpeg /tmp/out.mpg
@end example
Note that you must activate the right video source and channel before
-launching ffmpeg. You can use any TV viewer such as xawtv
-(@url{http://bytesex.org/xawtv/}) by Gerd Knorr which I find very
-good. You must also set correctly the audio recording levels with a
+launching FFmpeg with any TV viewer such as xawtv
+(@url{http://bytesex.org/xawtv/}) by Gerd Knorr. You also
+have to set the audio recording levels correctly with a
standard mixer.
+@section X11 grabbing
+
+FFmpeg can grab the X11 display.
+
+@example
+ffmpeg -f x11grab -vd x11:0.0 /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 -vd x11:0.0+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
-* ffmpeg can use any supported file format and protocol as input:
+* FFmpeg can use any supported file format and protocol as input:
Examples:
-* You can input from YUV files:
+* You can use YUV files as input:
@example
-ffmpeg -i /tmp/test%d.Y /tmp/out.mpg
+ffmpeg -i /tmp/test%d.Y /tmp/out.mpg
@end example
-It will use the files:
+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...
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.
+if FFmpeg cannot guess it.
-* You can input from a RAW YUV420P file:
+* You can input from a raw YUV420P file:
@example
ffmpeg -i /tmp/test.yuv /tmp/out.avi
@end example
-The RAW YUV420P is a file containing RAW YUV planar, for each frame first
-come the Y plane followed by U and V planes, which are half vertical and
+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.
-* You can output to a RAW YUV420P file:
+* You can output to a raw YUV420P file:
@example
-ffmpeg -i mydivx.avi -o hugefile.yuv
+ffmpeg -i mydivx.avi hugefile.yuv
@end example
* You can set several input files and output files:
ffmpeg -i /tmp/a.wav -s 640x480 -i /tmp/a.yuv /tmp/a.mpg
@end example
-Convert the audio file a.wav and the raw yuv video file a.yuv
-to mpeg file a.mpg
+Converts the audio file a.wav and the raw YUV video file a.yuv
+to MPEG file a.mpg.
* You can also do audio and video conversions at the same time:
ffmpeg -i /tmp/a.wav -ar 22050 /tmp/a.mp2
@end example
-Convert the sample rate of a.wav to 22050 Hz and encode it to MPEG audio.
+Converts a.wav to MPEG audio at 22050Hz sample rate.
* You can encode to several formats at the same time and define a
mapping from input stream to output streams:
ffmpeg -i /tmp/a.wav -ab 64 /tmp/a.mp2 -ab 128 /tmp/b.mp2 -map 0:0 -map 0:0
@end example
-Convert a.wav to a.mp2 at 64 kbits and b.mp2 at 128 kbits. '-map
-file:index' specify which input stream is used for each output
+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.
* You can transcode decrypted VOBs
@example
-ffmpeg -i snatch_1.vob -f avi -vcodec mpeg4 -b 800 -g 300 -bf 2 -acodec mp3 -ab 128 snatch.avi
+ffmpeg -i snatch_1.vob -f avi -vcodec mpeg4 -b 800k -g 300 -bf 2 -acodec mp3 -ab 128 snatch.avi
@end example
-This is a typical DVD ripper example, input from a VOB file, output
-to 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, GOP
-size is 300 that means an INTRA frame every 10 seconds for 29.97 fps
-input video. Also the audio stream is MP3 encoded so you need LAME
-support which is enabled using @code{--enable-mp3lame} when
-configuring. The mapping is particularly useful for DVD transcoding
+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-mp3lame} 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 -formats}.
+NOTE: To see the supported input formats, use @code{ffmpeg -formats}.
@c man end
@chapter Invocation
The generic syntax is:
-@example
+@example
@c man begin SYNOPSIS
ffmpeg [[infile options][@option{-i} @var{infile}]]... @{[outfile options] @var{outfile}@}...
@c man end
If no input file is given, audio/video grabbing is done.
As a general rule, options are applied to the next specified
-file. For example, if you give the @option{-b 64} option, it sets the video
-bitrate of the next file. Format option may be needed for raw input
-files.
+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.
+
+* To set the video bitrate of the output file to 64kbit/s:
+@example
+ffmpeg -i input.avi -b 64k output.avi
+@end example
-By default, ffmpeg tries to convert as losslessly as possible: it
-uses the same audio and video parameter for the outputs as the one
+* To force the frame rate of the input and output file to 24 fps:
+@example
+ffmpeg -r 24 -i input.avi output.avi
+@end example
+
+* To force the frame rate of the output file to 24 fps:
+@example
+ffmpeg -i input.avi -r 24 output.avi
+@end example
+
+* To force the frame rate of input file to 1 fps and the output file to 24 fps:
+@example
+ffmpeg -r 1 -i input.avi -r 24 output.avi
+@end example
+
+The format option may be needed for raw input files.
+
+By default, FFmpeg 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
@table @option
@item -L
-show license
+Show license.
@item -h
-show help
+Show help.
+
+@item -version
+Show version.
@item -formats
-show available formats, codecs, protocols, ...
+Show available formats, codecs, protocols, ...
+
+@item -f fmt
+Force format.
-@item -f fmt
-force format
+@item -i filename
+input filename
-@item -i filename
-input file name
+@item -y
+Overwrite output files.
-@item -y
-overwrite output files
+@item -t duration
+Set the recording time in seconds.
+@code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} syntax is also supported.
-@item -t duration
-set the recording time in seconds. @code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} syntax is also
-supported.
+@item -fs limit_size
+Set the file size limit.
@item -ss position
-seek to given time position. @code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} syntax is also
-supported.
+Seek to given time position in seconds.
+@code{hh:mm:ss[.xxx]} syntax is also supported.
+
+@item -itsoffset offset
+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 -title string
+Set the title.
+
+@item -timestamp time
+Set the timestamp.
+
+@item -author string
+Set the author.
+
+@item -copyright string
+Set the copyright.
-@item -title string
-set the title
+@item -comment string
+Set the comment.
-@item -author string
-set the author
+@item -album string
+Set the album.
-@item -copyright string
-set the copyright
+@item -track number
+Set the track.
-@item -comment string
-set the comment
+@item -year number
+Set the year.
+
+@item -v verbose
+Control amount of logging.
@item -target type
-specify target file type ("vcd", "svcd", "dvd", "dv", "pal-vcd", "ntsc-svcd", ... ). All the format
-options (bitrate, codecs, buffer sizes) are automatically set by this
-option. You can just 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:
@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 compromise the
-standard, as in:
+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
-@item -hq
-activate high quality settings
+@item -dframes number
+Set the number of data frames to record.
-@item -itsoffset offset
-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 input files' timestamps;
-specifying a positive offset means that the corresponding streams are
-delayed by 'offset' seconds.
+@item -scodec codec
+Force subtitle codec ('copy' to copy stream).
+
+@item -newsubtitle
+Add a new subtitle stream to the current output stream.
+
+@item -slang code
+Set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current subtitle stream.
@end table
@table @option
@item -b bitrate
-set the video bitrate in kbit/s (default = 200 kb/s)
-@item -r fps
-set frame rate (default = 25)
-@item -s size
-set frame size. The format is @samp{WxH} (default 160x128). The
-following abbreviations are recognized:
+Set the video bitrate in bit/s (default = 200 kb/s).
+@item -vframes number
+Set the number of video frames to record.
+@item -r fps
+Set frame rate (Hz value, fraction or abbreviation), (default = 25).
+@item -s size
+Set frame size. The format is @samp{wxh} (ffserver default = 160x128, ffmpeg default = same as source).
+The following abbreviations are recognized:
@table @samp
@item sqcif
128x96
@end table
@item -aspect aspect
-set aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9 or 1.3333, 1.7777)
+Set aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9 or 1.3333, 1.7777).
@item -croptop size
-set top crop band size (in pixels)
+Set top crop band size (in pixels).
@item -cropbottom size
-set bottom crop band size (in pixels)
+Set bottom crop band size (in pixels).
@item -cropleft size
-set left crop band size (in pixels)
+Set left crop band size (in pixels).
@item -cropright size
-set right crop band size (in pixels)
+Set right crop band size (in pixels).
@item -padtop size
-set top pad band size (in pixels)
+Set top pad band size (in pixels).
@item -padbottom size
-set bottom pad band size (in pixels)
+Set bottom pad band size (in pixels).
@item -padleft size
-set left pad band size (in pixels)
+Set left pad band size (in pixels).
@item -padright size
-set right pad band size (in pixels)
+Set right pad band size (in pixels).
@item -padcolor (hex color)
-set color of padded bands. The value for pad color is expressed
-as a six digit hexidecimal number where the first two digits represent red,
-middle two digits green and last two digits blue. Defaults to 000000 (black)
+Set color of padded bands. The value for padcolor is expressed
+as a six digit hexadecimal number where the first two digits
+represent red, the middle two digits green and last two digits
+blue (default = 000000 (black)).
@item -vn
-disable video recording
-@item -bt tolerance
-set video bitrate tolerance (in kbit/s)
+Disable video recording.
+@item -bt tolerance
+Set video bitrate tolerance (in bit/s).
@item -maxrate bitrate
-set max video bitrate tolerance (in kbit/s)
+Set max video bitrate tolerance (in bit/s).
@item -minrate bitrate
-set min video bitrate tolerance (in kbit/s)
+Set min video bitrate tolerance (in bit/s).
@item -bufsize size
-set ratecontrol buffere size (in kbit)
-@item -vcodec codec
-force video codec to @var{codec}. Use the @code{copy} special value to
+Set rate control buffer size (in bits).
+@item -vcodec codec
+Force video codec to @var{codec}. Use the @code{copy} special value to
tell that the raw codec data must be copied as is.
@item -sameq
-use same video quality as source (implies VBR)
+Use same video quality as source (implies VBR).
+
+@item -pass n
+Select the pass number (1 or 2). It is useful to do two pass
+encoding. The statistics of the video are recorded in the first
+pass and the video is generated at the exact requested bitrate
+in the second pass.
-@item -pass n
-select the pass number (1 or 2). It is useful to do two pass
-encoding. The statistics of the video are recorded in the first pass and
-the video at the exact requested bit rate is generated in the second
-pass.
+@item -passlogfile file
+Set two pass logfile name to @var{file}.
-@item -passlogfile file
-select two pass log file name to @var{file}.
+@item -newvideo
+Add a new video stream to the current output stream.
@end table
@section Advanced Video Options
@table @option
-@item -g gop_size
-set the group of picture size
-@item -intra
-use only intra frames
-@item -qscale q
-use fixed video quantiser scale (VBR)
-@item -qmin q
-min video quantiser scale (VBR)
-@item -qmax q
-max video quantiser scale (VBR)
-@item -qdiff q
-max difference between the quantiser scale (VBR)
-@item -qblur blur
-video quantiser scale blur (VBR)
-@item -qcomp compression
-video quantiser scale compression (VBR)
+@item -pix_fmt format
+Set pixel format.
+@item -g gop_size
+Set the group of pictures size.
+@item -intra
+Use only intra frames.
+@item -vdt n
+Discard threshold.
+@item -qscale q
+Use fixed video quantizer scale (VBR).
+@item -qmin q
+minimum video quantizer scale (VBR)
+@item -qmax q
+maximum video quantizer scale (VBR)
+@item -qdiff q
+maximum difference between the quantizer scales (VBR)
+@item -qblur blur
+video quantizer scale blur (VBR)
+@item -qcomp compression
+video quantizer scale compression (VBR)
+
+@item -lmin lambda
+minimum video lagrange factor (VBR)
+@item -lmax lambda
+max video lagrange factor (VBR)
+@item -mblmin lambda
+minimum macroblock quantizer scale (VBR)
+@item -mblmax lambda
+maximum macroblock quantizer scale (VBR)
+
+These four options (lmin, lmax, mblmin, 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
@item -rc_init_cplx complexity
-initial complexity for 1-pass encoding
+initial complexity for single pass encoding
@item -b_qfactor factor
-qp factor between p and b frames
+qp factor between P- and B-frames
@item -i_qfactor factor
-qp factor between p and i frames
+qp factor between P- and I-frames
@item -b_qoffset offset
-qp offset between p and b frames
+qp offset between P- and B-frames
@item -i_qoffset offset
-qp offset between p and i frames
+qp offset between P- and I-frames
@item -rc_eq equation
-set rate control equation (@pxref{FFmpeg formula
-evaluator}). Default is @code{tex^qComp}.
+Set rate control equation (@pxref{FFmpeg formula
+evaluator}) (default = @code{tex^qComp}).
@item -rc_override override
rate control override for specific intervals
@item -me method
-set motion estimation method to @var{method}. Available methods are
-(from lower to best quality):
+Set motion estimation method to @var{method}.
+Available methods are (from lowest to best quality):
@table @samp
@item zero
Try just the (0, 0) vector.
@end table
@item -dct_algo algo
-set dct algorithm to @var{algo}. Available values are:
+Set DCT algorithm to @var{algo}. Available values are:
@table @samp
@item 0
FF_DCT_AUTO (default)
@end table
@item -idct_algo algo
-set idct algorithm to @var{algo}. Available values are:
+Set IDCT algorithm to @var{algo}. Available values are:
@table @samp
@item 0
FF_IDCT_AUTO (default)
@item 1
-FF_IDCT_INT
+FF_IDCT_INT
@item 2
-FF_IDCT_SIMPLE
+FF_IDCT_SIMPLE
@item 3
-FF_IDCT_SIMPLEMMX
+FF_IDCT_SIMPLEMMX
@item 4
-FF_IDCT_LIBMPEG2MMX
+FF_IDCT_LIBMPEG2MMX
@item 5
-FF_IDCT_PS2
+FF_IDCT_PS2
@item 6
-FF_IDCT_MLIB
+FF_IDCT_MLIB
@item 7
-FF_IDCT_ARM
+FF_IDCT_ARM
@item 8
-FF_IDCT_ALTIVEC
+FF_IDCT_ALTIVEC
@item 9
-FF_IDCT_SH4
+FF_IDCT_SH4
@item 10
-FF_IDCT_SIMPLEARM
+FF_IDCT_SIMPLEARM
@end table
@item -er n
-set error resilience to @var{n}.
+Set error resilience to @var{n}.
@table @samp
-@item 1
-FF_ER_CAREFULL (default)
+@item 1
+FF_ER_CAREFUL (default)
@item 2
FF_ER_COMPLIANT
@item 3
@end table
@item -ec bit_mask
-set error concealment to @var{bit_mask}. @var{bit_mask} is a bit mask of
+Set error concealment to @var{bit_mask}. @var{bit_mask} is a bit mask of
the following values:
@table @samp
@item 1
-FF_EC_GUESS_MVS (default=enabled)
+FF_EC_GUESS_MVS (default = enabled)
@item 2
-FF_EC_DEBLOCK (default=enabled)
+FF_EC_DEBLOCK (default = enabled)
@end table
@item -bf frames
-use 'frames' B frames (supported for MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4)
+Use 'frames' B-frames (supported for MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4).
@item -mbd mode
macroblock decision
@table @samp
@item 0
-FF_MB_DECISION_SIMPLE: use mb_cmp (cannot change it yet in ffmpeg)
+FF_MB_DECISION_SIMPLE: Use mb_cmp (cannot change it yet in FFmpeg).
@item 1
-FF_MB_DECISION_BITS: chooses the one which needs the fewest bits
+FF_MB_DECISION_BITS: Choose the one which needs the fewest bits.
@item 2
-FF_MB_DECISION_RD: rate distoration
+FF_MB_DECISION_RD: rate distortion
@end table
@item -4mv
-use four motion vector by macroblock (only MPEG-4)
+Use four motion vector by macroblock (MPEG-4 only).
@item -part
-use data partitioning (only MPEG-4)
+Use data partitioning (MPEG-4 only).
@item -bug param
-workaround not auto detected encoder bugs
+Work around encoder bugs that are not auto-detected.
@item -strict strictness
-how strictly to follow the standarts
+How strictly to follow the standards.
@item -aic
-enable Advanced intra coding (h263+)
+Enable Advanced intra coding (h263+).
@item -umv
-enable Unlimited Motion Vector (h263+)
+Enable Unlimited Motion Vector (h263+)
@item -deinterlace
-deinterlace pictures
-@item -interlace
-force interlacing support in encoder (only MPEG-2 and MPEG-4). Use this option
-if your input file is interlaced and if you want to keep the interlaced
-format for minimum losses. The alternative is to deinterlace the input
-stream with @option{-deinterlace}, but deinterlacing introduces more
-losses.
+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
+Calculate PSNR of compressed frames.
@item -vstats
-dump video coding statistics to @file{vstats_HHMMSS.log}.
+Dump video coding statistics to @file{vstats_HHMMSS.log}.
@item -vhook module
-insert video processing @var{module}. @var{module} contains the module
+Insert video processing @var{module}. @var{module} contains the module
name and its parameters separated by spaces.
+@item -top n
+top=1/bottom=0/auto=-1 field first
+@item -dc precision
+Intra_dc_precision.
+@item -vtag fourcc/tag
+Force video tag/fourcc.
+@item -qphist
+Show QP histogram.
+@item -vbsf bitstream filter
+Bitstream filters available are "dump_extra", "remove_extra", "noise".
@end table
@section Audio Options
@table @option
-@item -ar freq
-set the audio sampling freq (default = 44100 Hz)
-@item -ab bitrate
-set the audio bitrate in kbit/s (default = 64)
+@item -aframes number
+Set the number of audio frames to record.
+@item -ar freq
+Set the audio sampling frequency (default = 44100 Hz).
+@item -ab bitrate
+Set the audio bitrate in kbit/s (default = 64).
@item -ac channels
-set the number of audio channels (default = 1)
+Set the number of audio channels (default = 1).
@item -an
-disable audio recording
+Disable audio recording.
@item -acodec codec
-force audio codec to @var{codec}. Use the @code{copy} special value to
-tell that the raw codec data must be copied as is.
+Force audio codec to @var{codec}. Use the @code{copy} special value to
+specify that the raw codec data must be copied as is.
+@item -newaudio
+Add a new audio track to the output file. If you want to specify parameters,
+do so before @code{-newaudio} (@code{-acodec}, @code{-ab}, etc..).
+
+Mapping will be done automatically, if the number of output streams is equal to
+the number of input streams, else it will pick the first one that matches. You
+can override the mapping using @code{-map} as usual.
+
+Example:
+@example
+ffmpeg -i file.mpg -vcodec copy -acodec ac3 -ab 384 test.mpg -acodec mp2 -ab 192 -newaudio
+@end example
+@item -alang code
+Set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current audio stream.
+@end table
+
+@section Advanced Audio options:
+
+@table @option
+@item -atag fourcc/tag
+Force audio tag/fourcc.
+@item -absf bitstream filter
+Bitstream filters available are "dump_extra", "remove_extra", "noise", "mp3comp", "mp3decomp".
+@end table
+
+@section Subtitle options:
+
+@table @option
+@item -scodec codec
+Force subtitle codec ('copy' to copy stream).
+@item -newsubtitle
+Add a new subtitle stream to the current output stream.
+@item -slang code
+Set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current subtitle stream.
@end table
@section Audio/Video grab options
@table @option
@item -vd device
-set video grab device (e.g. @file{/dev/video0})
+sEt video grab device (e.g. @file{/dev/video0}).
@item -vc channel
-set video grab channel (DV1394 only)
+Set video grab channel (DV1394 only).
@item -tvstd standard
-set television standard (NTSC, PAL (SECAM))
+Set television standard (NTSC, PAL (SECAM)).
@item -dv1394
-set DV1394 grab
+Set DV1394 grab.
@item -ad device
-set audio device (e.g. @file{/dev/dsp})
+Set audio device (e.g. @file{/dev/dsp}).
+@item -grab format
+Request grabbing using.
+@item -gd device
+Set grab device.
@end table
@section Advanced options
@table @option
-@item -map file:stream
-set input stream mapping
+@item -map input stream id[:input stream id]
+Set stream mapping from input streams to output streams.
+Just enumerate the input streams in the order you want them in the output.
+[input stream id] sets the (input) stream to sync against.
+@item -map_meta_data outfile:infile
+Set meta data information of outfile from infile.
@item -debug
-print specific debug info
-@item -benchmark
-add timings for benchmarking
-@item -hex
-dump each input packet
+Print specific debug info.
+@item -benchmark
+Add timings for benchmarking.
+@item -dump
+Dump each input packet.
+@item -hex
+When dumping packets, also dump the payload.
@item -bitexact
-only use bit exact algorithms (for codec testing)
+Only use bit exact algorithms (for codec testing).
@item -ps size
-set packet size in bits
+Set packet size in bits.
@item -re
-read input at native frame rate. Mainly used to simulate a grab device.
-@item -loop
-loop over the input stream. Currently it works only for image
-streams. This option is used for ffserver automatic testing.
+Read input at native frame rate. Mainly used to simulate a grab device.
+@item -loop_input
+Loop over the input stream. Currently it works only for image
+streams. This option is used for automatic FFserver testing.
+@item -loop_output number_of_times
+Repeatedly loop output for formats that support looping such as animated GIF
+(0 will loop the output infinitely).
+@item -threads count
+Thread count.
+@item -vsync parameter
+Video sync method. Video will be stretched/squeezed to match the timestamps,
+it is done by duplicating and dropping frames. 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 -async samples_per_second
+Audio sync method. "Stretches/squeezes" the audio stream to match the timestamps,
+the parameter is the maximum samples per second by which the audio is changed.
+-async 1 is a special case where only the start of the audio stream is corrected
+without any later correction.
@end table
@node FFmpeg formula evaluator
@section FFmpeg formula evaluator
When evaluating a rate control string, FFmpeg uses an internal formula
-evaluator.
+evaluator.
The following binary operators are available: @code{+}, @code{-},
@code{*}, @code{/}, @code{^}.
@settitle FFmpeg video converter
@c man begin SEEALSO
-ffserver(1), ffplay(1) and the html documentation of @file{ffmpeg}.
+ffserver(1), ffplay(1) and the HTML documentation of @file{ffmpeg}.
@c man end
@c man begin AUTHOR
@section Protocols
-The filename can be @file{-} to read from the standard input or to write
-to the standard output.
+The filename can be @file{-} to read from standard input or to write
+to standard output.
-ffmpeg handles also many protocols specified with the URL syntax.
+FFmpeg also handles many protocols specified with an URL syntax.
-Use 'ffmpeg -formats' to have a list of the supported protocols.
+Use 'ffmpeg -formats' to see a list of the supported protocols.
The protocol @code{http:} is currently used only to communicate with
-ffserver (see the ffserver documentation). When ffmpeg will be a
+FFserver (see the FFserver documentation). When FFmpeg will be a
video player it will also be used for streaming :-)
@chapter Tips
@itemize
-@item For streaming at very low bit rate application, use a low frame rate
-and a small gop size. This is especially true for real video where
+@item For streaming at very low bitrate application, use a low frame rate
+and a small GOP size. This is especially true for RealVideo where
the Linux player does not seem to be very fast, so it can miss
frames. An example is:
@example
-ffmpeg -g 3 -r 3 -t 10 -b 50 -s qcif -f rv10 /tmp/b.rm
+ffmpeg -g 3 -r 3 -t 10 -b 50k -s qcif -f rv10 /tmp/b.rm
@end example
@item The parameter 'q' which is displayed while encoding is the current
-quantizer. The value of 1 indicates that a very good quality could
-be achieved. The value of 31 indicates the worst quality. If q=31
+quantizer. The value 1 indicates that a very good quality could
+be achieved. The value 31 indicates the worst quality. If q=31 appears
too often, it means that the encoder cannot compress enough to meet
-your bit rate. You must either increase the bit rate, decrease the
+your bitrate. You must either increase the bitrate, decrease the
frame rate or decrease the frame size.
@item If your computer is not fast enough, you can speed up the
compression at the expense of the compression ratio. You can use
'-me zero' to speed up motion estimation, and '-intra' to disable
-completely motion estimation (you have only I frames, which means it
+motion estimation completely (you have only I-frames, which means it
is about as good as JPEG compression).
-@item To have very low bitrates in audio, reduce the sampling frequency
-(down to 22050 kHz for mpeg audio, 22050 or 11025 for ac3).
+@item To have very low audio bitrates, reduce the sampling frequency
+(down to 22050 kHz for MPEG audio, 22050 or 11025 for AC3).
@item To have a constant quality (but a variable bitrate), use the option
'-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 in the encoder the same quality factor than in the decoder. It
-allows to be almost lossless in encoding.
+uses the same quality factor in the encoder as in the decoder.
+It allows almost lossless encoding.
+
+@end itemize
+
+
+@chapter external libraries
+
+FFmpeg can be hooked up with a number of external libraries to add support
+for more formats.
+
+@section AMR
+
+AMR comes in two different flavors, WB and NB. FFmpeg can make use of the
+AMR WB (floating-point mode) and the AMR NB (both floating-point and
+fixed-point mode) reference decoders and encoders.
+
+@itemize
+
+@item For AMR WB floating-point download TS26.204 V5.1.0 from
+@url{http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/26_series/26.204/26204-510.zip}
+and extract the source to @file{libavcodec/amrwb_float/}.
+
+@item For AMR NB floating-point download TS26.104 REL-5 V5.1.0 from
+@url{http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/26_series/26.104/26104-510.zip}
+and extract the source to @file{libavcodec/amr_float/}.
+If you try this on Alpha, you may need to change @code{Word32} to
+@code{int} in @file{amr/typedef.h}.
+
+@item For AMR NB fixed-point download TS26.073 REL-5 V5.1.0 from
+@url{http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/26_series/26.073/26073-510.zip}
+and extract the source to @file{libavcodec/amr}.
+You must also add @code{-DMMS_IO} and remove @code{-pedantic-errors}
+to/from @code{CFLAGS} in @file{libavcodec/amr/makefile}, i.e.
+``@code{CFLAGS = -Wall -I. \$(CFLAGS_\$(MODE)) -D\$(VAD) -DMMS_IO}''.
@end itemize
+
@chapter Supported File Formats and Codecs
You can use the @code{-formats} option to have an exhaustive list.
FFmpeg supports the following file formats through the @code{libavformat}
library:
-@multitable @columnfractions .4 .1 .1
+@multitable @columnfractions .4 .1 .1 .4
@item Supported File Format @tab Encoding @tab Decoding @tab Comments
@item MPEG audio @tab X @tab X
-@item MPEG1 systems @tab X @tab X
+@item MPEG-1 systems @tab X @tab X
@tab muxed audio and video
-@item MPEG2 PS @tab X @tab X
+@item MPEG-2 PS @tab X @tab X
@tab also known as @code{VOB} file
-@item MPEG2 TS @tab @tab X
+@item MPEG-2 TS @tab @tab X
@tab also known as DVB Transport Stream
-@item ASF@tab X @tab X
-@item AVI@tab X @tab X
-@item WAV@tab X @tab X
+@item ASF@tab X @tab X
+@item AVI@tab X @tab X
+@item WAV@tab X @tab X
@item Macromedia Flash@tab X @tab X
-@tab Only embedded audio is decoded
+@tab Only embedded audio is decoded.
@item FLV @tab X @tab X
@tab Macromedia Flash video files
-@item Real Audio and Video @tab X @tab X
-@item Raw AC3 @tab X @tab X
-@item Raw MJPEG @tab X @tab X
-@item Raw MPEG video @tab X @tab X
-@item Raw PCM8/16 bits, mulaw/Alaw@tab X @tab X
-@item Raw CRI ADX audio @tab X @tab X
-@item Raw Shorten audio @tab @tab X
-@item SUN AU format @tab X @tab X
+@item Real Audio and Video @tab X @tab X
+@item Raw AC3 @tab X @tab X
+@item Raw MJPEG @tab X @tab X
+@item Raw MPEG video @tab X @tab X
+@item Raw PCM8/16 bits, mulaw/Alaw@tab X @tab X
+@item Raw CRI ADX audio @tab X @tab X
+@item Raw Shorten audio @tab @tab X
+@item SUN AU format @tab X @tab X
@item NUT @tab X @tab X @tab NUT Open Container Format
-@item Quicktime @tab X @tab X
-@item MPEG4 @tab X @tab X
-@tab MPEG4 is a variant of Quicktime
-@item Raw MPEG4 video @tab X @tab X
+@item QuickTime @tab X @tab X
+@item MPEG-4 @tab X @tab X
+@tab MPEG-4 is a variant of QuickTime.
+@item Raw MPEG4 video @tab X @tab X
@item DV @tab X @tab X
@item 4xm @tab @tab X
-@tab 4X Technologies format, used in some games
+@tab 4X Technologies format, used in some games.
@item Playstation STR @tab @tab X
@item Id RoQ @tab @tab X
-@tab used in Quake III, Jedi Knight 2, other computer games
+@tab Used in Quake III, Jedi Knight 2, other computer games.
@item Interplay MVE @tab @tab X
-@tab format used in various Interplay computer games
+@tab Format used in various Interplay computer games.
@item WC3 Movie @tab @tab X
-@tab multimedia format used in Origin's Wing Commander III computer game
+@tab Multimedia format used in Origin's Wing Commander III computer game.
@item Sega FILM/CPK @tab @tab X
-@tab used in many Sega Saturn console games
+@tab Used in many Sega Saturn console games.
@item Westwood Studios VQA/AUD @tab @tab X
-@tab Multimedia formats used in Westwood Studios games
+@tab Multimedia formats used in Westwood Studios games.
@item Id Cinematic (.cin) @tab @tab X
-@tab Used in Quake II
+@tab Used in Quake II.
@item FLIC format @tab @tab X
@tab .fli/.flc files
@item Sierra VMD @tab @tab X
-@tab used in Sierra CD-ROM games
+@tab Used in Sierra CD-ROM games.
@item Sierra Online @tab @tab X
-@tab .sol files used in Sierra Online games
+@tab .sol files used in Sierra Online games.
@item Matroska @tab @tab X
@item Electronic Arts Multimedia @tab @tab X
-@tab used in various EA games; files have extensions like WVE and UV2
+@tab Used in various EA games; files have extensions like WVE and UV2.
@item Nullsoft Video (NSV) format @tab @tab X
+@item ADTS AAC audio @tab X @tab X
+@item Creative VOC @tab X @tab X @tab Created for the Sound Blaster Pro.
+@item American Laser Games MM @tab @tab X
+@tab Multimedia format used in games like Mad Dog McCree
+@item AVS @tab @tab X
+@tab Multimedia format used by the Creature Shock game.
+@item Smacker @tab @tab X
+@tab Multimedia format used by many games.
+@item GXF @tab X @tab X
+@tab General eXchange Format SMPTE 360M, used by Thomson Grass Valley playout servers.
+@item CIN @tab @tab X
+@tab Multimedia format used by Delphine Software games.
+@item MXF @tab @tab X
+@tab Material eXchange Format SMPTE 377M, used by D-Cinema, broadcast industry.
+@item SEQ @tab @tab X
+@tab Tiertex .seq files used in the DOS CDROM version of the game Flashback.
@end multitable
-@code{X} means that the encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
+@code{X} means that encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
@section Image Formats
FFmpeg can read and write images for each frame of a video sequence. The
following image formats are supported:
-@multitable @columnfractions .4 .1 .1
+@multitable @columnfractions .4 .1 .1 .4
@item Supported Image Format @tab Encoding @tab Decoding @tab Comments
-@item PGM, PPM @tab X @tab X
-@item PAM @tab X @tab X @tab PAM is a PNM extension with alpha support
+@item PGM, PPM @tab X @tab X
+@item PAM @tab X @tab X @tab PAM is a PNM extension with alpha support.
@item PGMYUV @tab X @tab X @tab PGM with U and V components in YUV 4:2:0
-@item JPEG @tab X @tab X @tab Progressive JPEG is not supported
-@item .Y.U.V @tab X @tab X @tab One raw file per component
-@item Animated GIF @tab X @tab X @tab Only uncompressed GIFs are generated
-@item PNG @tab X @tab X @tab 2 bit and 4 bit/pixel not supported yet
+@item JPEG @tab X @tab X @tab Progressive JPEG is not supported.
+@item .Y.U.V @tab X @tab X @tab one raw file per component
+@item animated GIF @tab X @tab X @tab Only uncompressed GIFs are generated.
+@item PNG @tab X @tab X @tab 2 bit and 4 bit/pixel not supported yet.
+@item Targa @tab @tab X @tab Targa (.TGA) image format.
+@item TIFF @tab @tab X @tab Only 24 bit/pixel images are supported.
@item SGI @tab X @tab X @tab SGI RGB image format
@end multitable
-@code{X} means that the encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
+@code{X} means that encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
@section Video Codecs
-@multitable @columnfractions .4 .1 .1 .7
+@multitable @columnfractions .4 .1 .1 .4
@item Supported Codec @tab Encoding @tab Decoding @tab Comments
-@item MPEG1 video @tab X @tab X
-@item MPEG2 video @tab X @tab X
-@item MPEG4 @tab X @tab X @tab Also known as DIVX4/5
+@item MPEG-1 video @tab X @tab X
+@item MPEG-2 video @tab X @tab X
+@item MPEG-4 @tab X @tab X
@item MSMPEG4 V1 @tab X @tab X
@item MSMPEG4 V2 @tab X @tab X
-@item MSMPEG4 V3 @tab X @tab X @tab Also known as DIVX3
+@item MSMPEG4 V3 @tab X @tab X
@item WMV7 @tab X @tab X
-@item WMV8 @tab X @tab X @tab Not completely working
+@item WMV8 @tab X @tab X @tab not completely working
+@item WMV9 @tab @tab X @tab not completely working
+@item VC1 @tab @tab X
@item H.261 @tab X @tab X
-@item H.263(+) @tab X @tab X @tab Also known as Real Video 1.0
+@item H.263(+) @tab X @tab X @tab also known as RealVideo 1.0
@item H.264 @tab @tab X
-@item MJPEG @tab X @tab X
-@item Lossless MJPEG @tab X @tab X
+@item RealVideo 1.0 @tab X @tab X
+@item RealVideo 2.0 @tab X @tab X
+@item MJPEG @tab X @tab X
+@item lossless MJPEG @tab X @tab X
+@item JPEG-LS @tab X @tab X @tab fourcc: MJLS, lossless and near-lossless is supported
@item Apple MJPEG-B @tab @tab X
@item Sunplus MJPEG @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: SP5X
-@item DV @tab X @tab X
-@item Huff YUV @tab X @tab X
-@item FFmpeg Video 1 @tab X @tab X @tab Experimental lossless codec (fourcc: FFV1)
-@item FFmpeg Snow @tab X @tab X @tab Experimental wavelet codec (fourcc: SNOW)
+@item DV @tab X @tab X
+@item HuffYUV @tab X @tab X
+@item FFmpeg Video 1 @tab X @tab X @tab experimental lossless codec (fourcc: FFV1)
+@item FFmpeg Snow @tab X @tab X @tab experimental wavelet codec (fourcc: SNOW)
@item Asus v1 @tab X @tab X @tab fourcc: ASV1
@item Asus v2 @tab X @tab X @tab fourcc: ASV2
@item Creative YUV @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: CYUV
@item Sorenson Video 1 @tab X @tab X @tab fourcc: SVQ1
@item Sorenson Video 3 @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: SVQ3
@item On2 VP3 @tab @tab X @tab still experimental
-@item Theora @tab @tab X @tab still experimental
+@item On2 VP5 @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: VP50
+@item On2 VP6 @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: VP60,VP61,VP62
+@item Theora @tab X @tab X @tab still experimental
@item Intel Indeo 3 @tab @tab X
@item FLV @tab X @tab X @tab Sorenson H.263 used in Flash
+@item Flash Screen Video @tab X @tab X @tab fourcc: FSV1
@item ATI VCR1 @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: VCR1
@item ATI VCR2 @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: VCR2
@item Cirrus Logic AccuPak @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: CLJR
-@item 4X Video @tab @tab X @tab used in certain computer games
-@item Sony Playstation MDEC @tab @tab X
-@item Id RoQ @tab @tab X @tab used in Quake III, Jedi Knight 2, other computer games
-@item Xan/WC3 @tab @tab X @tab used in Wing Commander III .MVE files
-@item Interplay Video @tab @tab X @tab used in Interplay .MVE files
+@item 4X Video @tab @tab X @tab Used in certain computer games.
+@item Sony Playstation MDEC @tab @tab X
+@item Id RoQ @tab @tab X @tab Used in Quake III, Jedi Knight 2, other computer games.
+@item Xan/WC3 @tab @tab X @tab Used in Wing Commander III .MVE files.
+@item Interplay Video @tab @tab X @tab Used in Interplay .MVE files.
@item Apple Animation @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: 'rle '
@item Apple Graphics @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: 'smc '
@item Apple Video @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: rpza
@item Microsoft RLE @tab @tab X
@item Microsoft Video-1 @tab @tab X
@item Westwood VQA @tab @tab X
-@item Id Cinematic Video @tab @tab X @tab used in Quake II
+@item Id Cinematic Video @tab @tab X @tab Used in Quake II.
@item Planar RGB @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: 8BPS
@item FLIC video @tab @tab X
@item Duck TrueMotion v1 @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: DUCK
-@item VMD Video @tab @tab X @tab used in Sierra VMD files
+@item Duck TrueMotion v2 @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: TM20
+@item VMD Video @tab @tab X @tab Used in Sierra VMD files.
@item MSZH @tab @tab X @tab Part of LCL
@item ZLIB @tab X @tab X @tab Part of LCL, encoder experimental
@item TechSmith Camtasia @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: TSCC
@item IBM Ultimotion @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: ULTI
@item Miro VideoXL @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: VIXL
@item QPEG @tab @tab X @tab fourccs: QPEG, Q1.0, Q1.1
-@item LOCO @tab @tab X @tab
-@item Winnov WNV1 @tab @tab X @tab
+@item LOCO @tab @tab X @tab
+@item Winnov WNV1 @tab @tab X @tab
@item Autodesk Animator Studio Codec @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: AASC
+@item Fraps FPS1 @tab @tab X @tab
+@item CamStudio @tab @tab X @tab fourcc: CSCD
+@item American Laser Games Video @tab @tab X @tab Used in games like Mad Dog McCree
+@item ZMBV @tab X @tab X @tab Encoder works only on PAL8
+@item AVS Video @tab @tab X @tab Video encoding used by the Creature Shock game.
+@item Smacker Video @tab @tab X @tab Video encoding used in Smacker.
+@item RTjpeg @tab @tab X @tab Video encoding used in NuppelVideo files.
+@item KMVC @tab @tab X @tab Codec used in Worms games.
+@item VMware Video @tab @tab X @tab Codec used in videos captured by VMware.
+@item Cin Video @tab @tab X @tab Codec used in Delphine Software games.
+@item Tiertex Seq Video @tab @tab X @tab Codec used in DOS CDROM FlashBack game.
@end multitable
-@code{X} means that the encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
-
-Check at @url{http://www.mplayerhq.hu/~michael/codec-features.html} to
-get a precise comparison of FFmpeg MPEG4 codec compared to the other
-solutions.
+@code{X} means that encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
@section Audio Codecs
@multitable @columnfractions .4 .1 .1 .1 .7
@item Supported Codec @tab Encoding @tab Decoding @tab Comments
-@item MPEG audio layer 2 @tab IX @tab IX
+@item MPEG audio layer 2 @tab IX @tab IX
@item MPEG audio layer 1/3 @tab IX @tab IX
-@tab MP3 encoding is supported through the external library LAME
+@tab MP3 encoding is supported through the external library LAME.
@item AC3 @tab IX @tab IX
-@tab liba52 is used internally for decoding
+@tab liba52 is used internally for decoding.
@item Vorbis @tab X @tab X
-@tab supported through the external library libvorbis
-@item WMA V1/V2 @tab @tab X
+@item WMA V1/V2 @tab X @tab X
@item AAC @tab X @tab X
-@tab supported through the external library libfaac/libfaad
+@tab Supported through the external library libfaac/libfaad.
@item Microsoft ADPCM @tab X @tab X
@item MS IMA ADPCM @tab X @tab X
@item QT IMA ADPCM @tab @tab X
@item 4X IMA ADPCM @tab @tab X
@item G.726 ADPCM @tab X @tab X
@item Duck DK3 IMA ADPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in some Sega Saturn console games
+@tab Used in some Sega Saturn console games.
@item Duck DK4 IMA ADPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in some Sega Saturn console games
+@tab Used in some Sega Saturn console games.
@item Westwood Studios IMA ADPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in Westwood Studios games like Command and Conquer
+@tab Used in Westwood Studios games like Command and Conquer.
@item SMJPEG IMA ADPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in certain Loki game ports
+@tab Used in certain Loki game ports.
@item CD-ROM XA ADPCM @tab @tab X
@item CRI ADX ADPCM @tab X @tab X
-@tab used in Sega Dreamcast games
+@tab Used in Sega Dreamcast games.
@item Electronic Arts ADPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in various EA titles
+@tab Used in various EA titles.
@item Creative ADPCM @tab @tab X
+@tab 16 -> 4, 8 -> 4, 8 -> 3, 8 -> 2
@item RA144 @tab @tab X
@tab Real 14400 bit/s codec
@item RA288 @tab @tab X
@tab Real 28800 bit/s codec
@item RADnet @tab X @tab IX
-@tab Real lowbitrate AC3 codec, liba52 is used for decoding
+@tab Real low bitrate AC3 codec, liba52 is used for decoding.
@item AMR-NB @tab X @tab X
-@tab supported through an external library
+@tab Supported through an external library.
@item AMR-WB @tab X @tab X
-@tab supported through an external library
+@tab Supported through an external library.
@item DV audio @tab @tab X
@item Id RoQ DPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in Quake III, Jedi Knight 2, other computer games
+@tab Used in Quake III, Jedi Knight 2, other computer games.
@item Interplay MVE DPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in various Interplay computer games
+@tab Used in various Interplay computer games.
@item Xan DPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in Origin's Wing Commander IV AVI files
+@tab Used in Origin's Wing Commander IV AVI files.
@item Sierra Online DPCM @tab @tab X
-@tab used in Sierra Online game audio files
+@tab Used in Sierra Online game audio files.
@item Apple MACE 3 @tab @tab X
@item Apple MACE 6 @tab @tab X
@item FLAC lossless audio @tab @tab X
@item Apple lossless audio @tab @tab X
@tab QuickTime fourcc 'alac'
@item FFmpeg Sonic @tab X @tab X
-@tab Experimental lossy/lossless codec
+@tab experimental lossy/lossless codec
+@item Qdesign QDM2 @tab @tab X
+@tab there are still some distortions
+@item Real COOK @tab @tab X
+@tab All versions except 5.1 are supported
+@item DSP Group TrueSpeech @tab @tab X
+@item True Audio (TTA) @tab @tab X
+@item Smacker Audio @tab @tab X
+@item WavPack Audio @tab @tab X
+@item Cin Audio @tab @tab X
+@tab Codec used in Delphine Software games.
+@item Intel Music Coder @tab @tab X
+@item Musepack @tab @tab X
+@tab Only SV7 is supported
@end multitable
-@code{X} means that the encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
+@code{X} means that encoding (resp. decoding) is supported.
-@code{I} means that an integer only version is available too (ensures highest
-performances on systems without hardware floating point support).
+@code{I} means that an integer-only version is available, too (ensures high
+performance on systems without hardware floating point support).
@chapter Platform Specific information
-@section Linux
-
-ffmpeg should be compiled with at least GCC 2.95.3. GCC 3.2 is the
-preferred compiler now for ffmpeg. All future optimizations will depend on
-features only found in GCC 3.2.
-
@section BSD
+BSD make will not build FFmpeg, you need to install and use GNU Make
+(@file{gmake}).
+
@section Windows
+To get help and instructions for using FFmpeg under Windows, check out
+the FFmpeg Windows Help Forum at
+@url{http://arrozcru.no-ip.org/ffmpeg/}.
+
@subsection Native Windows compilation
@itemize
@url{http://www.mingw.org/}. You can find detailed installation
instructions in the download section and the FAQ.
-@item If you want to test the FFmpeg Simple Media Player, also download
+@item If you want to test the FFplay, also download
the MinGW development library of SDL 1.2.x
(@file{SDL-devel-1.2.x-mingw32.tar.gz}) from
-@url{http://www.libsdl.org}. Unpack it in a temporary place, and
+@url{http://www.libsdl.org}. Unpack it in a temporary directory, and
unpack the archive @file{i386-mingw32msvc.tar.gz} in the MinGW tool
directory. Edit the @file{sdl-config} script so that it gives the
correct SDL directory when invoked.
-@item Extract the current version of FFmpeg (the latest release version or the current CVS snapshot whichever is recommended).
-
+@item Extract the current version of FFmpeg.
+
@item Start the MSYS shell (file @file{msys.bat}).
-@item Change to the FFMPEG directory and follow
- the instructions of how to compile ffmpeg (file
+@item Change to the FFmpeg directory and follow
+ the instructions of how to compile FFmpeg (file
@file{INSTALL}). Usually, launching @file{./configure} and @file{make}
suffices. If you have problems using SDL, verify that
@file{sdl-config} can be launched from the MSYS command line.
-@item You can install FFmpeg in @file{Program Files/FFmpeg} by typing @file{make install}. Don't forget to copy @file{SDL.dll} at the place you launch
-@file{ffplay}.
+@item You can install FFmpeg in @file{Program Files/FFmpeg} by typing
+@file{make install}. Don't forget to copy @file{SDL.dll} to the place
+you launch @file{ffplay} from.
@end itemize
-Notes:
+Notes:
@itemize
@item The target @file{make wininstaller} can be used to create a
Nullsoft based Windows installer for FFmpeg and FFplay. @file{SDL.dll}
-must be copied in the ffmpeg directory in order to build the
+must be copied to the FFmpeg directory in order to build the
installer.
-@item By using @code{./configure --enable-shared} when configuring ffmpeg,
+@item By using @code{./configure --enable-shared} when configuring FFmpeg,
you can build @file{avcodec.dll} and @file{avformat.dll}. With
@code{make install} you install the FFmpeg DLLs and the associated
-headers in @file{Program Files/FFmpeg}.
+headers in @file{Program Files/FFmpeg}.
-@item Visual C++ compatibility: if you used @code{./configure --enable-shared}
-when configuring FFmpeg, then FFmpeg tries to use the Microsoft Visual
+@item Visual C++ compatibility: If you used @code{./configure --enable-shared}
+when configuring FFmpeg, FFmpeg tries to use the Microsoft Visual
C++ @code{lib} tool to build @code{avcodec.lib} and
-@code{avformat.lib}. With these libraries, you can link your Visual C++
-code directly with the FFmpeg DLLs.
+@code{avformat.lib}. With these libraries you can link your Visual C++
+code directly with the FFmpeg DLLs (see below).
@end itemize
+@subsection Visual C++ compatibility
+
+FFmpeg will not compile under Visual C++ -- and it has too many
+dependencies on the GCC compiler to make a port viable. However,
+if you want to use the FFmpeg libraries in your own applications,
+you can still compile those applications using Visual C++. An
+important restriction to this is that you have to use the
+dynamically linked versions of the FFmpeg libraries (i.e. the
+DLLs), and you have to make sure that Visual-C++-compatible
+import libraries are created during the FFmpeg build process.
+
+This description of how to use the FFmpeg libraries with Visual C++ is
+based on Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition Beta 2. If you have a different
+version, you might have to modify the procedures slightly.
+
+Here are the step-by-step instructions for building the FFmpeg libraries
+so they can be used with Visual C++:
+
+@enumerate
+
+@item Install Visual C++ (if you haven't done so already).
+
+@item Install MinGW and MSYS as described above.
+
+@item Add a call to @file{vcvars32.bat} (which sets up the environment
+variables for the Visual C++ tools) as the first line of
+@file{msys.bat}. The standard location for @file{vcvars32.bat} is
+@file{C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\bin\vcvars32.bat},
+and the standard location for @file{msys.bat} is
+@file{C:\msys\1.0\msys.bat}. If this corresponds to your setup, add the
+following line as the first line of @file{msys.bat}:
+
+@code{call "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\bin\vcvars32.bat"}
+
+@item Start the MSYS shell (file @file{msys.bat}) and type @code{link.exe}.
+If you get a help message with the command line options of @code{link.exe},
+this means your environment variables are set up correctly, the
+Microsoft linker is on the path and will be used by FFmpeg to
+create Visual-C++-compatible import libraries.
+
+@item Extract the current version of FFmpeg and change to the FFmpeg directory.
+
+@item Type the command
+@code{./configure --enable-shared --disable-static --enable-memalign-hack}
+to configure and, if that didn't produce any errors,
+type @code{make} to build FFmpeg.
+
+@item The subdirectories @file{libavformat}, @file{libavcodec}, and
+@file{libavutil} should now contain the files @file{avformat.dll},
+@file{avformat.lib}, @file{avcodec.dll}, @file{avcodec.lib},
+@file{avutil.dll}, and @file{avutil.lib}, respectively. Copy the three
+DLLs to your System32 directory (typically @file{C:\Windows\System32}).
+
+@end enumerate
+
+And here is how to use these libraries with Visual C++:
+
+@enumerate
+
+@item Create a new console application ("File / New / Project") and then
+select "Win32 Console Application". On the appropriate page of the
+Application Wizard, uncheck the "Precompiled headers" option.
+
+@item Write the source code for your application, or, for testing, just
+copy the code from an existing sample application into the source file
+that Visual C++ has already created for you. (Note that your source
+filehas to have a @code{.cpp} extension; otherwise, Visual C++ won't
+compile the FFmpeg headers correctly because in C mode, it doesn't
+recognize the @code{inline} keyword.) For example, you can copy
+@file{output_example.c} from the FFmpeg distribution (but you will
+have to make minor modifications so the code will compile under
+C++, see below).
+
+@item Open the "Project / Properties" dialog box. In the "Configuration"
+combo box, select "All Configurations" so that the changes you make will
+affect both debug and release builds. In the tree view on the left hand
+side, select "C/C++ / General", then edit the "Additional Include
+Directories" setting to contain the complete paths to the
+@file{libavformat}, @file{libavcodec}, and @file{libavutil}
+subdirectories of your FFmpeg directory. Note that the directories have
+to be separated using semicolons. Now select "Linker / General" from the
+tree view and edit the "Additional Library Directories" setting to
+contain the same three directories.
+
+@item Still in the "Project / Properties" dialog box, select "Linker / Input"
+from the tree view, then add the files @file{avformat.lib},
+@file{avcodec.lib}, and @file{avutil.lib} to the end of the "Additional
+Dependencies". Note that the names of the libraries have to be separated
+using spaces.
+
+@item Now, select "C/C++ / Code Generation" from the tree view. Select
+"Debug" in the "Configuration" combo box. Make sure that "Runtime
+Library" is set to "Multi-threaded Debug DLL". Then, select "Release" in
+the "Configuration" combo box and make sure that "Runtime Library" is
+set to "Multi-threaded DLL".
+
+@item Click "OK" to close the "Project / Properties" dialog box and build
+the application. Hopefully, it should compile and run cleanly. If you
+used @file{output_example.c} as your sample application, you will get a
+few compiler errors, but they are easy to fix. The first type of error
+occurs because Visual C++ doesn't allow an @code{int} to be converted to
+an @code{enum} without a cast. To solve the problem, insert the required
+casts (this error occurs once for a @code{CodecID} and once for a
+@code{CodecType}). The second type of error occurs because C++ requires
+the return value of @code{malloc} to be cast to the exact type of the
+pointer it is being assigned to. Visual C++ will complain that, for
+example, @code{(void *)} is being assigned to @code{(uint8_t *)} without
+an explicit cast. So insert an explicit cast in these places to silence
+the compiler. The third type of error occurs because the @code{snprintf}
+library function is called @code{_snprintf} under Visual C++. So just
+add an underscore to fix the problem. With these changes,
+@file{output_example.c} should compile under Visual C++, and the
+resulting executable should produce valid video files.
+
+@end enumerate
+
@subsection Cross compilation for Windows with Linux
You must use the MinGW cross compilation tools available at
@url{http://www.mingw.org/}.
-Then configure ffmpeg with the following options:
+Then configure FFmpeg with the following options:
@example
./configure --enable-mingw32 --cross-prefix=i386-mingw32msvc-
@end example
-(you can change the cross-prefix according to the prefix choosen for the
+(you can change the cross-prefix according to the prefix chosen for the
MinGW tools).
-Then you can easily test ffmpeg with wine
+Then you can easily test FFmpeg with Wine
(@url{http://www.winehq.com/}).
-@section MacOS X
+@subsection Compilation under Cygwin
+
+Cygwin works very much like Unix.
+
+Just install your Cygwin with all the "Base" packages, plus the
+following "Devel" ones:
+@example
+binutils, gcc-core, make, subversion
+@end example
+
+Do not install binutils-20060709-1 (they are buggy on shared builds);
+use binutils-20050610-1 instead.
+
+Then run
+
+@example
+./configure --enable-static --disable-shared
+@end example
+
+to make a static build or
+
+@example
+./configure --enable-shared --disable-static
+@end example
+
+to build shared libraries.
+
+If you want to build FFmpeg with additional libraries, download Cygwin
+"Devel" packages for Ogg and Vorbis from any Cygwin packages repository
+and/or SDL, xvid, faac, faad2 packages from Cygwin Ports,
+(@url{http://cygwinports.dotsrc.org/}).
+
+@subsection Crosscompilation for Windows under Cygwin
+
+With Cygwin you can create Windows binaries that don't need the cygwin1.dll.
+
+Just install your Cygwin as explained before, plus these additional
+"Devel" packages:
+@example
+gcc-mingw-core, mingw-runtime, mingw-zlib
+@end example
+
+and add some special flags to your configure invocation.
+
+For a static build run
+@example
+./configure --enable-mingw32 --enable-memalign-hack --enable-static --disable-shared --extra-cflags=-mno-cygwin --extra-libs=-mno-cygwin
+@end example
+
+and for a build with shared libraries
+@example
+./configure --enable-mingw32 --enable-memalign-hack --enable-shared --disable-static --extra-cflags=-mno-cygwin --extra-libs=-mno-cygwin
+@end example
@section BeOS
Old stuff:
-François Revol - revol at free dot fr - April 2002
+François Revol - revol at free dot fr - April 2002
-The configure script should guess the configuration itself,
-however I still didn't tested building on net_server version of BeOS.
+The configure script should guess the configuration itself,
+however I still didn't test building on the net_server version of BeOS.
-ffserver is broken (needs poll() implementation).
+FFserver is broken (needs poll() implementation).
-There is still issues with errno codes, which are negative in BeOs, and
-that ffmpeg negates when returning. This ends up turning errors into
+There are still issues with errno codes, which are negative in BeOS, and
+that FFmpeg negates when returning. This ends up turning errors into
valid results, then crashes.
(To be fixed)
@chapter Developers Guide
@section API
-@itemize
+@itemize @bullet
@item libavcodec is the library containing the codecs (both encoding and
- decoding). See @file{libavcodec/apiexample.c} to see how to use it.
+decoding). Look at @file{libavcodec/apiexample.c} to see how to use it.
-@item libavformat is the library containing the file formats handling (mux and
- demux code for several formats). See @file{ffplay.c} to use it in a
+@item libavformat is the library containing the file format handling (mux and
+demux code for several formats). Look at @file{ffplay.c} to use it in a
player. See @file{output_example.c} to use it to generate audio or video
streams.
You can use libavcodec or libavformat in your commercial program, but
@emph{any patch you make must be published}. The best way to proceed is
-to send your patches to the ffmpeg mailing list.
+to send your patches to the FFmpeg mailing list.
@node Coding Rules
@section Coding Rules
-ffmpeg is programmed in the ISO C90 language with a few additional
+FFmpeg is programmed in the ISO C90 language with a few additional
features from ISO C99, namely:
@itemize @bullet
@item
accept patches to remove their use unless they absolutely don't impair
clarity and performance.
-All code must compile with gcc 2.95 and gcc 3.3. Currently, ffmpeg also
+All code must compile with GCC 2.95 and GCC 3.3. Currently, FFmpeg also
compiles with several other compilers, such as the Compaq ccc compiler
or Sun Studio 9, and we would like to keep it that way unless it would
be exceedingly involved. To ensure compatibility, please don't use any
-additional C99 features or gcc extensions. Watch out especially for:
+additional C99 features or GCC extensions. Especially watch out for:
@itemize @bullet
@item
mixing statements and declarations;
@item
@samp{__attribute__} not protected by @samp{#ifdef __GNUC__} or similar;
@item
-gcc statement expressions (@samp{(x = (@{ int y = 4; y; @})}).
+GCC statement expressions (@samp{(x = (@{ int y = 4; y; @})}).
@end itemize
-Indent size is 4. The TAB character should not be used.
-The presentation is the one specified by 'indent -i4 -kr'.
+Indent size is 4.
+The presentation is the one specified by 'indent -i4 -kr -nut'.
+The TAB character is forbidden outside of Makefiles as is any
+form of trailing whitespace. Commits containing either will be
+rejected by the Subversion repository.
-Main priority in ffmpeg is simplicity and small code size (=less
+Main priority in FFmpeg is simplicity and small code size (=less
bugs).
-Comments: use the JavaDoc/Doxygen
-format (see examples below) so that a documentation
-can be generated automatically. All non trivial functions should have a comment
-above it explaining what the function does, even if its just one sentance.
-All Structures and their member variables should be documented too.
+Comments: Use the JavaDoc/Doxygen
+format (see examples below) so that code documentation
+can be generated automatically. All nontrivial functions should have a comment
+above them explaining what the function does, even if it's just one sentence.
+All structures and their member variables should be documented, too.
@example
/**
- * @@file mpeg.c
- * mpeg codec.
- * @@author ...
- */
+ * @@file mpeg.c
+ * MPEG codec.
+ * @@author ...
+ */
/**
- * Summary sentance.
- * more text ...
- * ...
- */
+ * Summary sentence.
+ * more text ...
+ * ...
+ */
typedef struct Foobar@{
- int var1; /**< var1 description */
- int var2; ///< var2 description
- /** var3 description */
- int var3;
+ int var1; /**< var1 description */
+ int var2; ///< var2 description
+ /** var3 description */
+ int var3;
@} Foobar;
/**
- * Summary sentance.
- * more text ...
- * ...
- * @@param my_parameter description of my_parameter
- * @@return return value description
- */
+ * Summary sentence.
+ * more text ...
+ * ...
+ * @@param my_parameter description of my_parameter
+ * @@return return value description
+ */
int myfunc(int my_parameter)
...
@end example
-fprintf and printf are forbidden in libavformat and libavcodec,
+fprintf and printf are forbidden in libavformat and libavcodec,
please use av_log() instead.
-@node CVS Policy
-@section CVS Policy
+@section Development Policy
@enumerate
-@item
+@item
You must not commit code which breaks FFmpeg! (Meaning unfinished but
- enabled code which breaks compilation or compiles but does not work. Or
+ enabled code which breaks compilation or compiles but does not work or
breaks the regression tests)
You can commit unfinished stuff (for testing etc), but it must be disabled
(#ifdef etc) by default so it does not interfere with other developers'
work.
-@item
+@item
You don't have to over-test things. If it works for you, and you think it
- should work for others, too, then commit. If your code has problems
- (portability, exploits compiler bugs, unusual environment etc) they will be
+ should work for others, then commit. If your code has problems
+ (portability, triggers compiler bugs, unusual environment etc) they will be
reported and eventually fixed.
-@item
+@item
Do not commit unrelated changes together, split them into self-contained
pieces.
@item
Do not change behavior of the program (renaming options etc) without
- first discussing it on the ffmpeg-dev mailing list. Do not remove
+ first discussing it on the ffmpeg-devel mailing list. Do not remove
functionality from the code. Just improve!
-
- Note: Redundant code can be removed
+
+ Note: Redundant code can be removed.
@item
Do not commit changes to the build system (Makefiles, configure script)
- which change behaviour, defaults etc, without asking first. The same
+ which change behavior, defaults etc, without asking first. The same
applies to compiler warning fixes, trivial looking fixes and to code
maintained by other developers. We usually have a reason for doing things
- the way we do. Send your changes as patches to the ffmpeg-dev mailing
+ the way we do. Send your changes as patches to the ffmpeg-devel mailing
list, and if the code maintainers say OK, you may commit. This does not
apply to files you wrote and/or maintain.
@item
with functional changes, such commits will be rejected and removed. Every
developer has his own indentation style, you should not change it. Of course
if you (re)write something, you can use your own style, even though we would
- prefer if the indention throughout ffmpeg would be consistant (Many projects
- force a given indentation style - we don't.) If you really need to make
+ prefer if the indentation throughout FFmpeg was consistent (Many projects
+ force a given indentation style - we don't.). If you really need to make
indentation changes (try to avoid this), separate them strictly from real
changes.
NOTE: If you had to put if()@{ .. @} over a large (> 5 lines) chunk of code,
- then either do NOT change the indentation of the inner part within (don't
- move it to the right)! or do so in a seperate commit
+ then either do NOT change the indentation of the inner part within (don't
+ move it to the right)! or do so in a separate commit
@item
Always fill out the commit log message. Describe in a few lines what you
changed and why. You can refer to mailing list postings if you fix a
particular bug. Comments such as "fixed!" or "Changed it." are unacceptable.
@item
If you apply a patch by someone else, include the name and email address in
- the CVS log message. Since the ffmpeg-cvslog mailing list is publicly
- archived you should add some spam protection to the email address. Send an
- answer to ffmpeg-dev (or wherever you got the patch from) saying that
+ the log message. Since the ffmpeg-cvslog mailing list is publicly
+ archived you should add some SPAM protection to the email address. Send an
+ answer to ffmpeg-devel (or wherever you got the patch from) saying that
you applied the patch.
@item
- Do NOT commit to code actively maintained by others without permission. Send
- a patch to ffmpeg-dev instead.
+ Do NOT commit to code actively maintained by others without permission.
+ Send a patch to ffmpeg-devel instead. If noone answers within a reasonable
+ timeframe (12h for build failures and security fixes, 3 days small changes,
+ 1 week for big patches) then commit your patch if you think it's OK.
+ Also note, the maintainer can simply ask for more time to review!
@item
- Subscribe to the ffmpeg-cvslog mailing list. The diffs of all CVS commits
+ Subscribe to the ffmpeg-cvslog mailing list. The diffs of all commits
are sent there and reviewed by all the other developers. Bugs and possible
improvements or general questions regarding commits are discussed there. We
expect you to react if problems with your code are uncovered.
@item
Update the documentation if you change behavior or add features. If you are
- unsure how best to do this, send a patch to ffmpeg-dev, the documentation
+ unsure how best to do this, send a patch to ffmpeg-devel, the documentation
maintainer(s) will review and commit your stuff.
@item
- Revert a commit ONLY in case of a big blunder like committing something not
- intended to be committed or committing a wrong file, the wrong version of a
- patch, cvs policy violation or broken code and you are going to recommit the
- right thing immediately.
-
- Never revert changes made a long time ago or buggy code. Fix it in the
- normal way instead.
+ Never write to unallocated memory, never write over the end of arrays,
+ always check values read from some untrusted source before using them
+ as array index or other risky things.
+@item
+ Remember to check if you need to bump versions for the specific libav
+ parts (libavutil, libavcodec, libavformat) you are changing. You need
+ to change the version integer and the version string.
+ Incrementing the first component means no backward compatibility to
+ previous versions (e.g. removal of a function from the public API).
+ Incrementing the second component means backward compatible change
+ (e.g. addition of a function to the public API).
+ Incrementing the third component means a noteworthy binary compatible
+ change (e.g. encoder bug fix that matters for the decoder).
@item
- Never write to not allocated memory, never write over the end of arrays,
- always check values read from some untrusted source before using them as index
- into an array or otherwise risky things.
+ If you add a new codec, remember to update the changelog, add it to
+ the supported codecs table in the documentation and bump the second
+ component of the @file{libavcodec} version number appropriately. If
+ it has a fourcc, add it to @file{libavformat/avienc.c}, even if it
+ is only a decoder.
@end enumerate
We think our rules are not too hard. If you have comments, contact us.
Note, these rules are mostly borrowed from the MPlayer project.
-@subsection Renaming/moving files or content of files
- You CANNOT do that. Post a request for such a change to the mailinglist
- Do NOT remove & readd a file - it will kill the changelog!!!!
-
@section Submitting patches
First, (@pxref{Coding Rules}) above if you didn't yet.
When you submit your patch, try to send a unified diff (diff '-up'
option). I cannot read other diffs :-)
+Also please do not submit patches which contain several unrelated changes.
+Split them into individual self-contained patches; this makes reviewing
+them much easier.
+
Run the regression tests before submitting a patch so that you can
verify that there are no big problems.
Patches should be posted as base64 encoded attachments (or any other
-encoding which ensures that the patch wont be trashed during
-transmission) to the ffmpeg-devel mailinglist, see
-@url{http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ffmpeg-devel}
+encoding which ensures that the patch won't be trashed during
+transmission) to the ffmpeg-devel mailing list, see
+@url{http://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/ffmpeg-devel}
It also helps quite a bit if you tell us what the patch does (for example
-'replaces lrint by lrintf') , and why (for example '*bsd isnt c99 compliant
+'replaces lrint by lrintf'), and why (for example '*BSD isn't C99 compliant
and has no lrint()')
-We reply to all patches submitted and either apply or reject with some
-explanation why, but sometimes we are quite busy so it can take a week or 2
+We reply to all submitted patches and either apply or reject with some
+explanation why, but sometimes we are quite busy so it can take a week or two.
@section Regression tests
-Before submitting a patch (or committing with CVS), you should at least
+Before submitting a patch (or committing to the repository), you should at least
test that you did not break anything.
-The regression test build a synthetic video stream and a synthetic
-audio stream. Then these are encoded then decoded with all codecs or
+The regression tests build a synthetic video stream and a synthetic
+audio stream. These are then encoded and decoded with all codecs or
formats. The CRC (or MD5) of each generated file is recorded in a
-result file. Then a 'diff' is launched with the reference results and
+result file. A 'diff' is launched to compare the reference results and
the result file.
-The regression test then goes on to test the ffserver code with a
+The regression tests then go on to test the FFserver code with a
limited set of streams. It is important that this step runs correctly
as well.
Run 'make test' to test all the codecs and formats.
-Run 'make fulltest' to test all the codecs, formats and ffserver.
+Run 'make fulltest' to test all the codecs, formats and FFserver.
-[Of course, some patches may change the regression tests results. In
-this case, the regression tests reference results shall be modified
+[Of course, some patches may change the results of the regression tests. In
+this case, the reference results of the regression tests shall be modified
accordingly].
@bye
projects / ffmpeg / blobdiff