Overview
FFmpeg is a software application that can be used across different platforms to perform a variety of multimedia tasks such as recording, converting and streaming audio/video files. Many software applications and websites make use of FFmpeg to handle the read and write operations of their multimedia files. In addition to being a useful tool for developers, FFmpeg also provides a command-line interface that allows users to manage, alter, and analyze their audio and video files in a variety of ways. This interface is capable of performing a large number of tasks related to multimedia file management, such as cutting and merging video files, adjusting video and audio quality, and converting files to different formats.
It is a powerful and versatile multimedia tool that can be used for a wide range of purposes, from basic file management to advanced video and audio editing. Its cross-platform compatibility and command-line interface makes it a popular choice for developers and users alike who require efficient and effective multimedia management tools.
Prerequisites
There are certain prerequisites that need to be met before you begin.
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS configured on your system.
- Non-root sudo user privileges.
Get Started
Step 1: Installing FFmpeg
- Update the package index:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade- Install FFmpeg:
sudo apt install ffmpeg- Verify the installation by checking its version:
ffmpeg -version
Step 2: Utilizing the FFmpeg Command Line
FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework that includes a command-line tool for converting and manipulating audio and video files. The tool can be used to perform a wide range of operations, including video encoding, decoding, transcoding, filtering, and streaming. The ffmpeg CLI offers a vast array of options for its users to utilize. Below are some of the fundamental command line options commonly employed in conjunction with ffmpeg.
|
Command line options
|
Description
|
|---|---|
| ffmpeg -version | to display version |
| ffmpeg -formats | to display available formats |
| ffmpeg -bsfs | to display available bit stream filters |
| ffmpeg -protocols | to display available protocols |
| ffmpeg -filters | to display available filters |
| ffmpeg -layouts | to display standard channel layouts |
| ffmpeg -decoders | to display available decoders |
| ffmpeg -encoders | to display available encoders |
- To print all available FFmpeg’s encoders type, run the following command:
ffmpeg -encoders
- To print all available FFmpeg’s decoders type, run the following command:
ffmpeg -decoders
Conclusion
The aim of this tutorial is to give you directions on how to download and set up FFmpeg on your Linux system running Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
