Converting Videos Howto - FFMPEG

Check out my new Linux channel: http://bit.ly/linux-nixie This video tutorial will explain how to losslessly convert any video file format, including quicktime .mov, flash .flv files, open source .ogv, .mp4, .wmv, .asf and more. I show you how to install ffmpeg, check the formats and codecs available to you, convert a file to a new format (windows media and .asf in this example) without any loss in quality during the decoding and encoding process, and create and run a script file that will enable you to run a batch conversion on any number of files at the same time.

Anyone who has tried to convert multimedia files in Windows knows how challenging it can be. There are a ton of different programs out there to do it, but most of them either leave a watermark in your video, lower the resolution of your video, or both, unless you pay hundreds of dollars. ffmpeg can do this for you quickly, conveniently, and completely free - and can even be used in Windows! This video was created for Ubuntu, but will work for most Linux distributions, and the code you learn here to convert a file can be applied to the Windows version as well, though Windows' scripting language is different so you will need to adjust the batch conversion script.

For more quick video tips, check out http://www.linuxhaxor.net, and for all these and lots more fun stuff, take a look at my site http://www.nixiepixel.com

Note: Yes, if you use a lossy codec, there will be loss in transcoding, but the difference is imperceptible with ffmpeg, unlike other programs. Sorry for being imprecise.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ffmpeg
• transcode
• encode
• decode
• debian
• video
• movie
• mpeg
• avi
• convert
• wmv
• file
• files
• format
• conversion
• batch
• howto
• help
• tutorial
• tutorials
• learn
• learning
• install
• apt-get
• linux
• codecs
• unix
• windows
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[Doc556]

sudo apt-get install this_hot_chick

[RealTalkOnlyBro]

@Doc556 real men log in as root all the time.

[DLiberator78]

@bigLtcs I couldn't agree more. While I love Nixie's Linux tutorials, she has got it completely wrong here! Perhaps she doesn't know how to use Windows. I have used several programs for video conversions in Windows and they work flawlessly. Even Handbrake which is available on both platforms. Yet another Linux snob, no doubt I will get bashed for saying that even though I am both a Linux and Windows user. :(

[twocorners]

is it capable of converting .gif to .mov or .avi? i have a gif animation that youtube won't accept. thanks for the tutorial btw!

[fullmug86]

for nixie in youtube;do me not linux;done

[dgswilson]

Thanks Nixie, do more like this.

[samplingrate]

2:04 DON'T USE -sameq!

From the [old] ffmpeg man page: "-sameq: Use same quantizer as source (implies VBR)."

This does NOT mean same quality. The updated man page actually changes the option to "-same_quant" and adds "Note that this is NOT SAME QUALITY. Do not use this option unless you know you need it."

[number1234ification]

i'd tap dat nerd ;)

[bigLtcs]

Wow you really don't know what you're talking about do you? First of all you make it sound like FFmpeg is only available for Debian\Linux distros, when it is of course available for any OS since it is open source and has been compiled many times over for each. Secondly MOST of those 'crappy windows' conversion programs you talk about actually use FFmpeg as the backbone to their programs, so they are only providing a GUI. Finally, if you needd help to write that script you shouldnt be teaching us

[henceqed]

My god, the comments in this video make me sick! Come on ppl. Please stop talking about the 'tech' and 'code lines' and start commenting on what's important here, her gorgeous tits, eyes, and smile.

I swear, it seems like YT watchers get more and more uncivilized every year.

[toogawnjawn]

I am a late bloomer, went to tech school to learn some basic computer. Yes it is a nightmare concerning video converters, I think that may be the reason that Alice Cooper just released his Welcom 2 my nightmare cd. I tried Cnet and it install all kinds of unwated and high risk programs that I do not want. I used the feemake and it was cleared by norton security ass safe, then when program caused major problems, as an after fact after the damage was done, norton listed and unsafe.

[hsd2003]

get win32 builds and kill linux with fire