ffmpeg-core

plugin: video-editing updated: 2026-01-20 # FFmpeg Core Operations Production-ready patterns for video and audio manipulation using FFmpeg. ## System Requirements - **FFmpeg** (5.0+ recommended) - Verify installation: `ffmpeg -version` - For hardware acceleration: check `ffmpeg -hwaccels` ### Cross-Platform Installation **macOS:** ```bash brew install ffmpeg ``` **Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):** ```bash sudo apt update && sudo apt install ffmpeg ``` **Linux (Fedora/RHEL):** ```bash sudo dnf install ffmpeg ``` **Windows:** ```bash # Using Chocolatey choco install ffmpeg # Or download from https://ffmpeg.org/download.html ``` ## Common Operations Reference ### 1. Video Information Extract metadata and stream information: ```bash # Get full metadata ffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_format -show_streams "input.mp4" # Get duration only ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 "input.mp4" # Get resolution ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=width,height -of csv=s=x:p=0 "input.mp4" ``` ### 2. Trimming and Cutting ```bash # Trim by time (fast, no re-encoding) ffmpeg -ss 00:01:30 -i input.mp4 -to 00:02:45 -c copy output.mp4 # Trim with re-encoding (frame-accurate) ffmpeg -ss 00:01:30 -i input.mp4 -to 00:02:45 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4 # Extract specific segment by frames ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "select=between(n\,100\,500)" -vsync vfr output.mp4 ``` ### 3. Concatenation ```bash # Using concat demuxer (same codecs required) # First create file list: # file 'clip1.mp4' # file 'clip2.mp4' # file 'clip3.mp4' ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i filelist.txt -c copy output.mp4 # Using concat filter (different codecs, re-encodes) ffmpeg -i clip1.mp4 -i clip2.mp4 -filter_complex "[0:v][0:a][1:v][1:a]concat=n=2:v=1:a=1" output.mp4 ``` ### 4. Format Conversion ```bash # MP4 to MOV (ProRes for FCP) ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -c:a pcm_s16le output.mov # Any to H.264 MP4 (web-friendly) ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 23 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4 # Extract audio only ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 audio.mp3 ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a pcm_s16le audio.wav ``` ### 5. Resolution and Scaling ```bash # Scale to specific resolution ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:1080" output.mp4 # Scale maintaining aspect ratio ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:-1" output.mp4 # Scale to fit within bounds ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale='min(1920,iw)':min'(1080,ih)':force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease" output.mp4 ``` ### 6. Audio Operations ```bash # Adjust volume ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -af "volume=1.5" output.mp4 # Normalize audio (loudnorm) ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -af loudnorm=I=-16:TP=-1.5:LRA=11 output.mp4 # Mix audio tracks ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i audio.mp3 -filter_complex "[0:a][1:a]amerge=inputs=2" -c:v copy output.mp4 # Replace audio ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i new_audio.mp3 -c:v copy -map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0 output.mp4 ``` ### 7. Video Effects and Filters ```bash # Fade in/out ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fade=t=in:st=0:d=1,fade=t=out:st=9:d=1" output.mp4 # Speed adjustment (2x faster) ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=0.5*PTS[v];[0:a]atempo=2.0[a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" output.mp4 # Add text overlay ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "drawtext=text='Title':fontsize=48:fontcolor=white:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=50" output.mp4 # Color correction ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "eq=brightness=0.1:saturation=1.2:contrast=1.1" output.mp4 ``` ## Codec Selection Guide | Use Case | Video Codec | Audio Codec | Container | |----------|-------------|-------------|-----------| | Web delivery | libx264/libx265 | aac | mp4 | | Final Cut Pro | prores_ks | pcm_s16le | mov | | Archive/lossless | ffv1 | flac | mkv | | Quick preview | libx264 -preset ultrafast | aac | mp4 | | Social media | libx264 -crf 20 | aac -b:a 192k | mp4 | ## ProRes Profiles (for FCP) | Profile | Flag | Quality | Use Case | |---------|------|---------|----------| | Proxy | -profile:v 0 | Low | Offline editing | | LT | -profile:v 1 | Medium | Light grading | | Standard | -profile:v 2 | High | General editing | | HQ | -profile:v 3 | Very High | Final delivery | | 4444 | -profile:v 4 | Highest | VFX/compositing | ## Performance Optimization ```bash # Use hardware acceleration (macOS) ffmpeg -hwaccel videotoolbox -i input.mp4 -c:v h264_videotoolbox output.mp4 # Use hardware acceleration (Linux with NVIDIA) ffmpeg -hwaccel cuda -i input.mp4 -c:v h264_nvenc output.mp4 # Parallel processing ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -threads 0 output.mp4 # Limit memory usage ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 output.mp4 ``` ## Error Handling Patterns ```bash # Check if file is valid video ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_type -of csv=p=0 "file.mp4" 2>/dev/null # Returns "video" if valid # Validate output after processing validate_video() { local file="$1" if ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_type -of csv=p=0 "$file" 2>/dev/null | grep -q "video"; then echo "Valid" return 0 else echo "Invalid or missing video stream" return 1 fi } ``` ## Related Skills - **transcription** - Extract audio for Whisper processing - **final-cut-pro** - Convert processed clips for FCP timelines