[SOLVED] ffmpeg convert .avi to .mpg error

[jmd9qs]

hi, im trying to convert an .avi movie to .mpg so i can use dvdauthor and then burn it to a dvdplayer compatible dvd. i just upgraded from Hardy Heron to Intrepid and before this, ffmpeg worked wonderfully. now it doens't work at all.... here is the code and error i get:

ffmpeg -i movie.avi -target dvd /media/disk/SAFE/movie.mpg
FFmpeg version r11872+debian_3:0.svn20080206-12ubuntu3, Copyright (c) 2000-2008 Fabrice Bellard, et al.
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-pp --enable-swscaler --enable-x11grab --prefix=/usr --enable-libgsm --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-pthreads --disable-strip --enable-libfaad --enable-libfaadbin --enable-liba52 --enable-liba52bin --enable-libdc1394 --disable-armv5te --disable-armv6 --disable-altivec --disable-vis --enable-shared --disable-static
  libavutil version: 49.6.0
  libavcodec version: 51.50.0
  libavformat version: 52.7.0
  libavdevice version: 52.0.0
  built on Oct  3 2008 22:40:31, gcc: 4.3.2
Input #0, avi, from 'movie.avi':
  Duration: 01:32:15.2, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1063 kb/s
    Stream #0.0: Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 692x284 [PAR 1:1 DAR 173:71], 23.98 tb(r)
    Stream #0.1: Audio: mp3, 48000 Hz, stereo, 128 kb/s
Assuming NTSC for target.
Unknown encoder 'mpeg2video'

how can i fix this?

[Ng Oon-Ee]

In Intrepid (as in previous versions) the ffmpeg shipped in the repos is gimped to be totally legal. Which basically means many of the more popular formats (such as MP3 and, as you've seen, many video formats) are not supported. In previous versions, a relatively recent and ungimped ffmpeg was provided in the Medibuntu repos, but for Intrepid it has not yet been placed in the repo. Some speculate it may not be in the pipeline.

I'd suggest following this HOWTO to compile your own ffmpeg. I've contributed a bit more to the process, on page 22 I believe, but the thread starter's HOWTO will do everything you need.

HINT: Google is your friend with errors like this.

[FakeOutdoorsman]

The Ubuntu multiverse repository has "unstripped" libraries available and should provide mpeg2video encoding ability (and many others) to ffmpeg:

sudo apt-get purge ffmpeg
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libavcodec-unstripped-51 libavdevice-unstripped-52 libavformat-unstripped-52 libavutil-unstripped-49 libpostproc-unstripped-51 libswscale-unstripped-0 ffmpeg

Or, as Ng Oon-Ee mentioned, you can compile the latest ffmpeg yourself.

[Ng Oon-Ee]

The Ubuntu multiverse repository has "unstripped" libraries available and should provide mpeg2video encoding ability (and many others) to ffmpeg:

sudo apt-get purge ffmpeg
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libavcodec-unstripped-51 libavdevice-unstripped-52 libavformat-unstripped-52 libavutil-unstripped-49 libpostproc-unstripped-51 libswscale-unstripped-0 ffmpeg

Or, as Ng Oon-Ee mentioned, you can compile the latest ffmpeg yourself.

Ah, I saw that on another thread, but never worked with me. Nobody mentioned the need to purge ffmpeg prior to installing the unstripped though. Oh well, I now have the latest ffmpeg compiled and running thanks to you, good sir, so its all good

[ich.zazen]

Yes, Yes, Yes, it works a lot!
Thank you very much.

[alecz20]

The Ubuntu multiverse repository has "unstripped" libraries available and should provide mpeg2video encoding ability (and many others) to ffmpeg:

sudo apt-get purge ffmpeg
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libavcodec-unstripped-51 libavdevice-unstripped-52 libavformat-unstripped-52 libavutil-unstripped-49 libpostproc-unstripped-51 libswscale-unstripped-0 ffmpeg

Or, as Ng Oon-Ee mentioned, you can compile the latest ffmpeg yourself.

I am getting:

E: Couldn't find package libavcodec-unstripped-51

[FakeOutdoorsman]

I am getting:

E: Couldn't find package libavcodec-unstripped-51

My last post on this tread was from 2008 and this command is targeted towards Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex 8.10. See this thread:

HOWTO: Easily enable MP3, MPEG4, AAC, and other restricted encoders in FFmpeg

[alecz20]

My last post on this tread was from 2008 and this command is targeted towards Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex 8.10. See this thread:

HOWTO: Easily enable MP3, MPEG4, AAC, and other restricted encoders in FFmpeg

Thanks alot for the very quick reply!

I eventually installed ffmpeg from source, and it all works well, except it complains about threads option.

Do I really need two threads on a core 2 Duo when transcoding HD movies on the fly?

[FakeOutdoorsman]

Thanks alot for the very quick reply!

I eventually installed ffmpeg from source, and it all works well, except it complains about threads option.

What does it say about threads? Show your FFmpeg command and the complete FFmpeg output.

Do I really need two threads on a core 2 Duo when transcoding HD movies on the fly?

It depends on the encoder you're using. Only libx264 can currently support -threads 0, which automatically chooses an appropriate value.

[alecz20]

I'm using a script for mediatomb.

The relevant command in the script is:

exec /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -threads 2 -i "${INPUT}" -vcodec ${VIDEO_CODEC} -b ${VIDEO_BITRATE} \
-acodec ${AUDIO_CODEC} -ab ${AUDIO_BITRATE} -ar ${AUDIO_SAMPLERATE} -ac ${AUDIO_CHANNELS} \
-f ${FORMAT} - > "${OUTPUT}" 2>/tmp/mediatomb-ffmpeg.log

as you can see I give it the parameter "-threads 2"

in the log I get this:

FFmpeg version 0.6, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Jul 23 2010 14:09:43 with gcc 4.3.3
  configuration:
  libavutil     50.15. 1 / 50.15. 1
  libavcodec    52.72. 2 / 52.72. 2
  libavformat   52.64. 2 / 52.64. 2
  libavdevice   52. 2. 0 / 52. 2. 0
  libswscale     0.11. 0 /  0.11. 0
Warning: not compiled with thread support, using thread emulation

Also I am using mpeg2video as the video codec