FFmpeg — The Complete Guide: Converting, Compressing and Processing Video from the Command Line
FFmpeg is a set of libraries and command-line tools for processing video and audio, and the engine behind many programs such as HandBrake and Shutter Encoder. It is open source (LGPL; a build that includes GPL components falls entirely under the GPL) and free for any use including commercial.
FFmpeg
FFmpeg project
A command-line engine for encoding, converting, cutting and compressing video and audio in almost any format, and the basis of most free video tools.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Format conversion — almost any video and audio format, including files from cameras and test equipment.
- Compression — shrink a large video for email or upload.
- Video from images — assemble simulation frames or a site time-lapse into a video.
- Extraction — frames as images, or the audio track from a video.
- Automation — process hundreds of files in a script, from Python or a batch file.
A practical example
To build a video from a numbered image sequence of a simulation: ffmpeg -framerate 24 -i frame_%04d.png -pix_fmt yuv420p out.mp4. The last option keeps the file compatible with players and presentation software. Note that the project ships source code only; Windows and macOS binaries come from third-party builders linked from the official site. There is no graphical interface, and the syntax takes learning.
Related tools
For a graphical interface on top of the same engine — Shutter Encoder. For compression with ready presets — HandBrake. For lossless cutting — LosslessCut.
Shutter Encoder
Paul Pacifico
An FFmpeg-based video, audio and image converter with a graphical interface, render queue, subtitles, lossless cutting and hardware acceleration.
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HandBrake
HandBrake team
Compress and convert large video files — screen recordings and site videos down to a shareable size.
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LosslessCut
Mikael Finstad
Cut and join video without re-encoding — fast and with no quality loss, for drone footage, inspections and recordings.
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Avidemux
Avidemux project (Mean)
An open-source tool for cutting, filtering and re-encoding a single video file, including fast cuts without re-encoding and a job queue.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
A tool every engineer who works with video should know: one command line replaces long manual work, especially when turning simulation results into videos.