how to get movie library into single format linux ffmpeg

#How to get movie library into single format linux ffmpeg mp4
#How to get movie library into single format linux ffmpeg install

When file size is not an issue, this is a quick command that will produce a visually lossless H.264 encoding with an mp4 container. Depending on whether or not the file size of the output is an issue, there are a few paths one can take with x264.įfmpeg -i input -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 18 -vf yadif -strict -2 output.mp4 As libraries and archives begin to digitize their moving image collections and provide online access to them, the quality of streamed files becomes more and more important.

It has become known for its support of “all known video and audio compression formats” and has been adopted by a number of archival projects.

In addition, a new container format may be desired for posterity one such format is Matroska ( MKV), an open source container designed with the intention of becoming the defacto standard for multimedia containers. When the ultimate goal is preservation, the x264 codec supports lossless encoding, yet it should be noted that a number of streaming services, with the exception of YouTube, are capable of decoding lossless H.264. Preservation and Access Basics: Input, Output, Preservation, and StreamingĪrguably the most common use of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC encoding is for streaming and access solutions, but it can also be used to transcode lossless preservation masters and high quality mezzanine files. While this may sound obvious, it is important to tailor your tools to the task at hand: what is the method of delivery? Are you producing preservation quality files? Are you streaming? What type of player will be used? Does file size matter? If so, is there an optimal file size? For those who opt for FFMPEG, what follows are some scenarios accompanied by possible solutions. One of the key steps in helping to make this call is defining the desired output. It may be more efficient to use a transcoding program such as Handbrake (which is built on FFMPEG and x264), which has a GUI and significantly less of a learning curve, instead of a command-line application that can give you highly customizable results. Similarly, it may prove to be overkill for simple transcoding projects, such as on-demand delivery of a single file for a patron. For instance, FFMPEG is excellent for batch processing large collections, but is not ideal for detail oriented digital restoration work. Understanding Your Project’s Needsīefore embarking on an encoding project, consider whether or not FFMPEG is the right tool to be used. When compiled with FFMPEG, it is capable of high quality compression at relatively high speeds.

The x264 Library is used for encoding H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, and undergirds some of the most high profile streaming operations on the web, including YouTube, Vimeo, and Hulu. Note: the following commands rely heavily on VideoLan’s high performance x264 Library, which is licensed under the GNU GPL and can be compiled with FFMPEG, but is not added to the standard build. This article serves to provide some useful suggestions for transcoding techniques within a specific library or archival context. To refer to the FFMPEG community as an active one is a vast understatement, and it not surprising how quickly one can fall down an encoding rabbit hole when trying to search forums for solutions to their challenges. Two articles in Code4Lib Issue 23 touch on the capabilities of FFMPEG in great detail, and given these excellent introductions, the purpose of this article is to tackle some of the common problems users might face, dissecting more complicated commands and suggesting their possible uses.

#How to get movie library into single format linux ffmpeg install

The source files are easily compiled on all major platforms, and static builds are available for those who prefer to install from an executable. It is a powerful, multi-purpose open-source library that operates from the command-line, and while a basic knowledge of the command-line environment is useful, FFMPEG can be effectively utilized with little to no programming experience. FFMPEG has been an important encoding tool for technologists, preservationists, and hobbyists for well over a decade.