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FFmpeg is an open-source command-line tool for handling video, audio, and other multimedia files and streams. It supports a wide range of tasks, from video conversion to advanced encoding settings, making it an essential tool for video professionals. Basic Video Conversion FFmpeg allows users to convert video files between formats, adjusting quality or other output settings. Convert Video to MP4 This command converts an AVI file to MP4 format. The input file is input.avi, and the output file is output.mp4. ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 output.mp4 Video Codec Selection FFmpeg provides support for a variety of video codecs. Selecting the appropriate codec is crucial for optimizing video quality and file size. Encode to H.264 This command encodes the video using the H.264 codec (libx264). The input video file is input.mp4 , and the output is also an MP4 file encoded with H.264. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 output.mp4 Encode to HEVC (H.265) This command converts the video to the HEVC (H.265) codec, which provides better compression than H.264 at the same quality level. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx265 output.mp4 Encode to VP9 (for Web) Converts the video to VP9 format , commonly used for web-based streaming, especially on platforms like YouTube. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libvpx-vp9 output.webm Bitrate Control Bitrate is a key factor in determining video quality and file size. FFmpeg allows users to specify a target bitrate during encoding. Set Constant Bitrate (CBR) The video is encoded with a constant bitrate of 1 Mbps ( -b:v 1M ). This is useful for streaming platforms where consistent bandwidth is required. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -b:v 1M output.mp4 Set Variable Bitrate (VBR) The CRF (Constant Rate Factor) value controls the video quality for variable bitrate encoding. Lower CRF values (e.g., 18) result in better quality and larger file sizes, while higher values (e.g., 28) reduce file size at the cost of quality. A value of 23 is considered a good default. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 output.mp4 Resolution and Scaling Scaling videos is useful for optimizing content for different devices and platforms. Scale Video to a Specific Resolution This command scales the video to 1280x720 resolution (HD). Use this for reducing video size or preparing for specific device requirements. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf 'scale=1280:720' output.mp4 Auto-Scaling to Maintain Aspect Ratio The -1 in the scale option automatically adjusts the height to maintain the aspect ratio while scaling the width to 1280px . ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf 'scale=1280:-1' output.mp4 Audio Settings Audio settings such as codec, bitrate, and sample rate must be configured to match the requirements of the target playback environment. Change Audio Codec (AAC) This command converts the audio codec to AAC with a bitrate of 128kbps . AAC is widely used in modern video formats for its efficiency. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4 Change Audio Sample Rate This sets the audio sample rate to 44.1 kHz , which is standard for most audio playback systems. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ar 44100 output.mp4 Frame Rate and Frame Rate Conversion FFmpeg provides tools to set or adjust the frame rate (FPS) for compatibility with different platforms. Set Frame Rate This command sets the video frame rate to 30 FPS . This is common for most online streaming platforms. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -r 30 output.mp4 Convert Frame Rate This converts the video to 25 FPS . Use this for adjusting videos to match different regional broadcast standards (e.g., PAL). ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter:v 'fps=25' output.mp4 Video Filters and Effects FFmpeg includes a wide range of video filters to apply visual effects and corrections. Apply Grayscale Filter This command converts the video to grayscale using the hue=s=0 filter, which removes the color saturation. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf 'hue=s=0' output.mp4 Crop Video This command crops the video to a resolution of 640x480, starting from the top-left corner (0,0). ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf 'crop=640:480:0:0' output.mp4 Video Conversion to Streaming Formats FFmpeg supports various streaming protocols for live streaming or on-demand services. Create an HLS Stream This command generates an HLS stream from a video file. It breaks the video into 10-second segments and generates a playlist.m3u8 file for streaming. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f hls -hls_time 10 -hls_list_size 5 -hls_segment_filename 'segment_%03d.ts' playlist.m3u8 Trimming and Seeking FFmpeg supports precise trimming and seeking to extract parts of a video without re-encoding (or with re-encoding if needed). Trim Video from Start Time to Duration This command trims 10 seconds starting from 00:00:05, without re-encoding the video. ffmpeg -ss 00:00:05 -t 10 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4 Trim Video Between Two Time Points This command trims the video from 00:00:10 to 00:00:30, without re-encoding the video. ffmpeg -ss 00:00:10 -to 00:00:30 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4 Remuxing (Container Change Without Re-encoding) Remuxing allows changing the container format without altering the video/audio streams, offering fast and lossless conversion. Convert MKV to MP4 Without Re-encoding This command changes the container format from MKV to MP4 without re-encoding the video or audio. ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c copy output.mp4 Codec Listing and Exploration For discovering available codecs and understanding what FFmpeg can work with, use the following: List All Supported Codecs This command lists all codecs supported by FFmpeg, both video and audio ffmpeg -codecs List All Supported Formats This command lists all the formats (containers) supported by FFmpeg. ffmpeg -formats File Size Limiting Constrain the output file size using the -fs flag, which is useful when preparing videos for limited storage or upload requirements. Limit Output File Size to 50 MB This command limits the output file size to 50 MB. It may involve reducing the quality or bitrate of the video. ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -fs 50M output.mp4 What’s Next? Want to integrate FFmpeg into your production pipeline? Use Cincopa’s API to trigger FFmpeg-based transcodes on upload, manage codec presets, batch process asset libraries, and generate ABR-ready renditions. Automate format conversions, scaling, and filtering at scale while embedding FFmpeg logic directly into your backend workflows.
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