10 Most Common Use-Cases of FFmpeg with Example Commands

FFmpeg is a versatile tool that is widely used for a variety of multimedia operations. While its capabilities are extensive, there are some common use-cases that many users find particularly useful. Here are 10 of the most common use-cases of FFmpeg, complete with example commands and explanations.

1. Converting Media Formats: One of the most common uses of FFmpeg is to convert media files from one format to another. For example, to convert an MP4 file to an MP3 file, you can use the command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.mp3

2. Extracting Audio from Video: FFmpeg can be used to extract the audio stream from a video file. The command for this is:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vn output.mp3

3. Resizing Videos: FFmpeg can resize videos to fit specific dimensions. The command for this is:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=1280:720 output.mp4

4. Adding Subtitles to Videos: FFmpeg can add subtitles to a video file. The command for this is:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "subtitles=subtitles.srt" output.mp4

5. Creating a Video Slideshow from Images: FFmpeg can create a video slideshow from a series of images. Here's an example command:

ffmpeg -framerate 1 -i img%03d.jpg output.mp4

6. Extracting Frames from a Video: FFmpeg can extract frames from a video, which can be useful for creating thumbnails or analyzing the video frame by frame. Here's an example command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "select=mod(n\,100)" -vsync vfr frame%03d.png

7. Speeding Up or Slowing Down a Video: FFmpeg can change the playback speed of a video. Here's an example command that doubles the speed of a video:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "setpts=0.5*PTS" output.mp4

8. Concatenating Videos: FFmpeg can concatenate, or join, multiple videos into one. Here's an example command:

ffmpeg -i "concat:input1.mp4|input2.mp4|input3.mp4" -c copy output.mp4

9. Streaming Live Video: FFmpeg can be used to stream live video over the internet. The command for this varies depending on the streaming protocol used.

10. Rotating a Video: FFmpeg can rotate a video, which can be useful if the video was recorded in the wrong orientation. Here's an example command that rotates a video 90 degrees clockwise:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "transpose=1" output.mp4

These are just a few of the many ways you can use FFmpeg. With its powerful features and flexible command syntax, FFmpeg is an invaluable tool for anyone working with multimedia data.