HOWTO: convert .flv to .mpg using ffmpeg

[DarkN00b]

I was searching for a program to convert .FLV files to .MPG files. I found an easy way to do it using the command line and ffmpeg. First, you have to make sure you have ffmpeg installed, if you don't then install it from the repositories.

Then:
1. Save a .flv file to a folder (your home folder is fine). I'm going to assume you know how to do this. :-D

2. Open a terminal window and navigate to the folder where you saved the .flv.

3. Type this in the terminal window and hit enter:

ffmpeg -i video.flv -ab 56 -ar 22050 -b 500 -s 320x240 video.mpg

Video.flv is the file you want to convert, so the name must be the same as the source file. You can name video.mpg whatever you want as long as it has the .mpg extension.

Here's an explanation of the options used here:
-b bitrate: set the video bitrate in kbit/s (default = 200 kb/s)
-ab bitrate: set the audio bitrate in kbit/s (default = 64)
-ar sample rate: set the audio samplerate in Hz (default = 44100 Hz)
-s size: set frame size. The format is WxH (default 160x128 )

If you need help, type man ffmpeg.

I use Keepvid (http://keepvid.com/) to download videos from YouTube and Google video. The result is a .flv file I can't watch in Ubuntu. Mplayer does not play the video and VLC doesn't play sound. ](*,)
NOTE:
This was taken from a blog called "The 409". This is not my own work, I just posted it here to make it Ubuntu specific. Go to The 409 (http://asuaf.org/~jj/blog/index.php/2006/01/08/convert-google-video-flvs-into-avi-mpg-etcin-linux/) for the original article.

[honeydew]

I fouund this one laying around and thought it was a good script..


#!/bin/sh

# YouTube Videodownloader for those of us,
# who has no sucking Flash in their browsers.
# If you experience any problems with this script, please
# report them to ivap on SILCNet (https://silcnet.org)
#
# $Id: hacktube.sh,v 0.1.0.9 2007/04/29 00:45:51 ivap Exp $

if [ $# -lt 1 ]; then
echo -e 1>&2 "Usage: $0 [-f] <url or id>"
echo -e 1>&2 "Options:\n\t-f enable ffmpeg postprocessing"
echo -e 1>&2 "Examples: "
echo -e 1>&2 "\t$0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=injqufD1WZI"
echo -e 1>&2 "\t$0 injqufD1WZI"
exit 64
fi

while [ $# -ge 1 ]; do
case "$1" in
"-f")
if ! `which ffmpeg >/dev/null 2>&1`; then
echo 1>&2 "ERROR: Install ffmpeg and try again"
exit 69
fi
with_ffmpeg="true"
;;
*youtube*)
vid_url=$1
;;
*)
vid_url=`echo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= $1 | sed 's/ //g'`
;;
esac
shift
done

if ! `which wget >/dev/null 2>&1`; then
echo 1>&2 "ERROR: Install wget and try again"
exit 69
fi

f_id=`echo $vid_url | sed 's/.*=//1'`
base_url='http://www.youtube.com/get_video?'
temp_fname=`mktemp html_data.XXXXXX`
if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
echo "ERROR: cannot create temp file"
exit 69
fi

if ! wget -q -O $temp_fname $vid_url; then
echo "ERROR: could not retrieve requested page"
rm $temp_fname
exit 69
fi

new_url=`cat $temp_fname | grep player2.swf | sed 's/va.*?//1' | sed 's/".*;//g'`
complete=`echo $base_url $new_url| sed 's/ //1'`
rm $temp_fname

if ! wget -O ${f_id}.flv $complete; then
echo "ERROR: could not retrieve requested video"
exit 69
fi

#feel free to tune ffmpeg's flags
if [ -n "$with_ffmpeg" ]; then
if ffmpeg -acodec mp3 -i ${f_id}.flv ${f_id}.avi; then
rm ${f_id}.flv
exit 0
else
echo "ERROR: could not convert video"
rm -f ${f_id}.avi
exit 69
fi
fi


save this file and make it executable


chmod +x hacktube.sh


and then type ./hacktube.sh http://youtube.com/url....

enjoy =]

[captgadget]

whenever I try this I get this error message: Big-Fish.flv: I/O error occured
Usually that means that input file is truncated and/or corrupted.

[khalidaziz]

That means you haven't navigated to the file. Do that by typing

cd /home/khalid/Desktop

replace "/home/khalid/Desktop" with whatever address the folder containing the file has.

[ctyc]

Very nice ffmpeg trick thanks.
:)

[therabbt]

I can't get this working on Hardy. It worked great on Gutsy though.
Here's what I get. I'm not really sure how to get ffmpeg to work...

spencer@manbearnix:~/Desktop$ ffmpeg -i punched.flv -b 500 -s 320x240 out.mpg
FFmpeg version SVN-rUNKNOWN, Copyright (c) 2000-2007 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-pp --enable-swscaler --enable-pthreads --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libogg --enable-libgsm --enable-dc1394 --disable-debug --enable-shared --prefix=/usr
libavutil version: 1d.49.3.0
libavcodec version: 1d.51.38.0
libavformat version: 1d.51.10.0
built on Mar 12 2008 14:31:53, gcc: 4.2.3 (Ubuntu 4.2.3-2ubuntu4)
punched.flv: Unknown format

[Hells_Dark]

Nice :)
Even if i play the flv format with mplayer.. no problem at all..

[Egeste]

I can't get this working on Hardy. It worked great on Gutsy though.
Here's what I get. I'm not really sure how to get ffmpeg to work...

spencer@manbearnix:~/Desktop$ ffmpeg -i punched.flv -b 500 -s 320x240 out.mpg
FFmpeg version SVN-rUNKNOWN, Copyright (c) 2000-2007 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-pp --enable-swscaler --enable-pthreads --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libogg --enable-libgsm --enable-dc1394 --disable-debug --enable-shared --prefix=/usr
libavutil version: 1d.49.3.0
libavcodec version: 1d.51.38.0
libavformat version: 1d.51.10.0
built on Mar 12 2008 14:31:53, gcc: 4.2.3 (Ubuntu 4.2.3-2ubuntu4)
punched.flv: Unknown format

libavutil version: 1d.49.3.0
libavcodec version: 1d.51.38.0
libavformat version: 1d.51.10.0
built on Mar 12 2008 14:31:53, gcc: 4.2.3 (Ubuntu 4.2.3-2ubuntu4)
sw_attack.flv: Unknown format

[ffmpegfailure]

Sorry, im new to ffmpeg. I tried your command line and this happened. Also, will the same script work for converting to mp4?

username:~$ ffmpeg video.flv -ab 56 -ar 22050 -b 500 -s 320x240 convertedvideo.mpg
FFmpeg version SVN-rUNKNOWN, Copyright (c) 2000-2004 Fabrice Bellard
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-pp --enable-pthreads --enable-vorbis --enable-libogg --enable-a52 --enable-dts --enable-libgsm --enable-dc1394 --disable-debug --enable-shared --prefix=/usr
libavutil version: 0d.49.0.0
libavcodec version: 0d.51.11.0
libavformat version: 0d.50.5.0
built on Jan 28 2007 22:48:38, gcc: 4.1.2 20070106 (prerelease) (Ubuntu 4.1.1-21ubuntu7)
File video.flv' already exists. Overwrite ? [y/N] y
Cannot open video device /dev/video : No such file or directory
Could not find video grab device
username:~$

[iqpilot]

I got the : Incorrect frame size , but the frame size is apps correct :(

hrvoje@localhost:~/Videos/Music$ ffmpeg -i CarlCox#118.flv -ab 56 -ar 22050 -b 500 -s 320×240 CarlCox#118.mpg
FFmpeg version SVN-rUNKNOWN, Copyright (c) 2000-2007 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-pp --enable-swscaler --enable-pthreads --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libogg --enable-libgsm --enable-dc1394 --disable-debug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libfaadbin --enable-libfaad --enable-libfaac --enable-xvid --enable-x264 --enable-liba52 --enable-amr_nb --enable-amr_wb --enable-shared --prefix=/usr
libavutil version: 1d.49.3.0
libavcodec version: 1d.51.38.0
libavformat version: 1d.51.10.0
built on Mar 17 2009 21:37:49, gcc: 4.2.4 (Ubuntu 4.2.4-1ubuntu3)

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 1000.00 (1000/1) -> 12.50 (25/2)
Input #0, flv, from 'CarlCox#118.flv':
Duration: 01:00:41.8, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 128 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Video: vp6f, yuv420p, 640x360, 12.50 fps(r)
Stream #0.1: Audio: mp3, 44100 Hz, stereo, 128 kb/s
Incorrect frame size

[Nyken]

Have Karmic Koala now, but Darkn00b's instruction is currently correct. Had no problems using it.

[tomski]

hi peep's
i use the following:


ffmpeg -i input.flv -target ntsc-dvd -s 648x364 -padleft 36 -padright 36 -padtop 58 -padbottom 58 output.mpg


i would love if some of you guy's out there could create a nautilus/sh script that would allow me to 'bulk' convert an entire folder full of flv files, keep the original filename & output to the input folder as i have approx 10Gb of flv files which i need to convert to mpg to play them on my d-link dsm520 & im getting fed up with doing it manually

i have tried various apps but they just complicate things further and do not want to learn their way lol
i know what i got
i know what i need

and the above code just works for me
thanks

[FakeOutdoorsman]

hi peep's
i use the following:


ffmpeg -i input.flv -target ntsc-dvd -s 648x364 -padleft 36 -padright 36 -padtop 58 -padbottom 58 output.mpg


i would love if some of you guy's out there could create a nautilus/sh script that would allow me to 'bulk' convert an entire folder full of flv files, keep the original filename & output to the input folder as i have approx 10Gb of flv files which i need to convert to mpg to play them on my d-link dsm520 & im getting fed up with doing it manually

i have tried various apps but they just complicate things further and do not want to learn their way lol
i know what i got
i know what i need

and the above code just works for me
thanks

You could use FFmpeg with the find command to bulk convert your files. See andrew.46's excellent guide for details and examples:

Linux Basics: A gentle introduction to 'find' (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1128937)

[tomski]

thnx for the tip fakeoutdoorsman but i have no scripting experience and have no idea where to begin on implementing your advice!

i guess my post was more of a plea/request to readers to create it
my time is filled by trying to get my ubuntu to work correctly since the koala upgrade, perhaps once this is finished i will attempt to learn bash programming

[mc4man]

For the moment here is a batch convert command that will do as you asked, same filename, same dir. ( using your parameters in blue

for f in *.flv; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -target ntsc-dvd -s 648x364 -padleft 36 -padright 36 -padtop 58 -padbottom 58 "${f%.flv}.mpg"; done

assumes your flash has a .flv ext. ( if no ext. then add

You just cd to the dir. containing files to be converted and run.

As far as a script, I've got to run but you could do it a few different ways, you'd probably want it executed in a visible terminal. (either by starting a terminal at the wanted dir. prompt as above for the command or having that part of the script.

[Sotiri]

for better quality use this! ffmpeg -i existingvideo.format -ab 56 -ar 44100 -b 1000 outgoingvideo.format that .format is if you want to convert frome anny type op video codec.

[FakeOutdoorsman]

for better quality use this! ffmpeg -i existingvideo.format -ab 56 -ar 44100 -b 1000 outgoingvideo.format that .format is if you want to convert frome anny type op video codec.

That won't work. FFmpeg takes bitrate values in bits/s, and your command will tell the encoder to use 56 bits/s for the audio. Add a "k" to your bitrate values.

[Sotiri]

It works for me!


http://gamingmedia.be/images/originalphotos/62/4/eeb559ff9ce1c599cde06a09.png

[FakeOutdoorsman]

It works for me!
Let's try some tests. H.264 / AAC audio in MKV:
$ ffmpeg -i IronMan.mkv -ab 56 -ar 44100 -b 1000 -y out.mkv
...
Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 47.95 (10000000/208541) -> 24.00 (24/1)
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'IronMan.mkv':
Duration: 00:01:48.50, start: 0.000000, bitrate: N/A
Stream #0.0: Video: h264, yuv420p, 1280x720, PAR 115:87 DAR 1840:783, 23.98 fps, 24 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc
Stream #0.1: Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
WARNING: The bitrate parameter is set too low. It takes bits/s as argument, not kbits/s
w:1280 h:720 pixfmt:yuv420p
Output #0, matroska, to 'out.mkv':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf52.88.0
Stream #0.0: Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 1280x720 [PAR 115:87 DAR 1840:783], q=2-31, 1 kb/s, 1k tbn, 24 tbc
Stream #0.1: Audio: mp2, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, [B]0 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0.0 -> #0.0
Stream #0.1 -> #0.1
Press [q] to stop encoding
frame= 2600 fps= 86 q=31.0 Lsize= 21587kB time=108.46 bitrate=1630.5kbits/s
video:21491kB audio:45kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead 0.240341%
Result: Output contains an invalid audio stream and no audio plays back with ffplay or mplayer. The audio stream is 45 KB in file size for a 108 second input.

Another format. H.263 / MP3 in FLV:
ffmpeg -i in.flv -ab 56 -ar 44100 -b 1000 out.flv
Result: It plays. The output of this 60 second input contains an audio stream that is 117 KB in file size. This means that FFmpeg is ignoring your -ab and using the default value of 64k.

Conclusion: FFmpeg will output a warning telling you that the bitrate parameter is set too low and, depending on the encoder, the output file may either create a non-playable file or will revert to the default of -ab 64k.

[Sotiri]

so why did it work for me then?

[ron999]

so why did it work for me then?
Probably because you are using an old version of ffmpeg.
Enter:-
ffmpeg
to find out when your ffmpeg was compiled.
Like so:-
ron@ubuntu:~$ ffmpeg
FFmpeg version SVN-r25751, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
built on Nov 14 2010 13:43:35 with gcc 4.4.1

[FakeOutdoorsman]

so why did it work for me then?

It probably didn't use your -ab value, and so didn't work as expected. Divide the size of the audio stream by the duration to find your bitrate. It will probably be around 64 kbits/s and not 56 bits/s.

[Sotiri]

Probably because you are using an old version of ffmpeg.
Enter:-
ffmpegto find out when your ffmpeg was compiled.
Like so:-


I have an output like this!


FFmpeg version SVN-r25846, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
built on Nov 29 2010 20:40:21 with gcc 4.4.5
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-nonfree --enable-postproc --enable-libfaac --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-x11grab
libavutil 50.33. 0 / 50.33. 0
libavcore 0.14. 0 / 0.14. 0
libavcodec 52.97. 2 / 52.97. 2
libavformat 52.87. 1 / 52.87. 1
libavdevice 52. 2. 2 / 52. 2. 2
libavfilter 1.65. 0 / 1.65. 0
libswscale 0.12. 0 / 0.12. 0
libpostproc 51. 2. 0 / 51. 2. 0
Hyper fast Audio and Video encoder
usage: ffmpeg [options] [[infile options] -i infile]... {[outfile options] outfile}...