HOWTO: Install and use the latest FFmpeg and x264

[gaixixon]

I try to convert an video to another format using -vcodec but got following error:

teppy@BP:~/Videos$ ffmpeg -i "hua xin.dat" -vcodec libx264 "hua xin.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 16 2009 21:16:26, gcc: 4.2.4 (Ubuntu 4.2.4-1ubuntu3)
Input #0, mpeg, from 'hua xin.dat':
Duration: 00:03:43.3, start: 0.253333, bitrate: 1422 kb/s
Stream #0.0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg1video, yuv420p, 352x240, 1152 kb/s, 29.97 fps(r)
Stream #0.1[0x1c0]: Audio: mp2, 44100 Hz, stereo, 224 kb/s
Unknown codec 'libx264'

1/ How do I install libx264 codec?
2/ what is another codec option other than libx264?

[cyper]

Thanks for nice guide! I just got rid of "Segmentation fault" issue. Used Hardy HOW-TO on Intrepid.
good luck to you

[FakeOutdoorsman]

I try to convert an video to another format using -vcodec but got following error:

1/ How do I install libx264 codec?
2/ what is another codec option other than libx264?

You are using FFmpeg from the Ubuntu repository. This does not include support for libx264 by default. Ubuntu Hardy users can:

1. Uninstall the repository FFmpeg and compile FFmpeg and x264 yourself:
HOWTO: Install and use the latest FFmpeg and x264

or

2. Use FFmpeg from a third-party repository:
HOWTO: Easily enable MP3, MPEG4, AAC, and other restricted encoding in FFmpeg

[gaixixon]

hi FakeOutdoorsman, I still got error

Unknown codec 'libx264'

what is another video codec options that I can use?
I am now trying to convert some .dat movie files to what ever (maybe flv, mpg to play on my mobile phone).

[FakeOutdoorsman]

hi FakeOutdoorsman, I still got error
what is another video codec options that I can use?
I am now trying to convert some .dat movie files to what ever (maybe flv, mpg to play on my mobile phone).

For mpg:

ffmpeg -i inputvideo.dat -b 512k output.mpg

You will need to compile FFmpeg yourself or install FFmpeg from Medibuntu to create flv with mp3 audio.

[hz428]

hi, my installation stop at "install FFmpeg" because I accidentally closed the terminal. When restart the whole process I got this error

" svn: Working copy 'ffmpeg' locked"

soon after entered this command "svn checkout svn://svn.ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg/trunk ffmpeg".

how can I fix this problem?

[FakeOutdoorsman]

Rename or delete ~/ffmpeg and then run svn checkout svn://svn.ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg/trunk ffmpeg again:

cd
rm -rf ffmpeg
svn checkout svn://svn.ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg/trunk ffmpeg

[kishigo]

Hi,

This question may have been asked already, but I couldn't find it in the thread. Do I need to uninstall the unstripped ffmpeg libraries such as libavutil-unstripped49 et al before compiling ffmpeg?

Thank you,

Kevin

[FakeOutdoorsman]

Hi,

This question may have been asked already, but I couldn't find it in the thread. Do I need to uninstall the unstripped ffmpeg libraries such as libavutil-unstripped49 et al before compiling ffmpeg?

Thank you,

Kevin

I doubt that you need to remove them. However, the libav*-dev packages may cause issues if my memory is correct. I usually like to test these things out before replying (instead of relying on my often faulty memory), but I'm out of town now, so I can't test it to be completely sure.

[andrew.46]

Hi hz428,

svn: Working copy 'ffmpeg' locked

The Gordian Knot approach is to delete and start again as FakeOutdoorsman has already suggested. An alternative is to change to your FFmpeg source tree and run:

svn cleanup .

Don't forget the '.' which of course signifies that the target of the command is the present working directory. This command recursively cleans up the working copy, removing locks, resuming unfinished operations, etc.

All the best,

Andrew