summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/contrib/ffmpeg/doc/faq.texi
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'contrib/ffmpeg/doc/faq.texi')
-rw-r--r--contrib/ffmpeg/doc/faq.texi472
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 472 deletions
diff --git a/contrib/ffmpeg/doc/faq.texi b/contrib/ffmpeg/doc/faq.texi
deleted file mode 100644
index 85a0915b9..000000000
--- a/contrib/ffmpeg/doc/faq.texi
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,472 +0,0 @@
-\input texinfo @c -*- texinfo -*-
-
-@settitle FFmpeg FAQ
-@titlepage
-@sp 7
-@center @titlefont{FFmpeg FAQ}
-@sp 3
-@end titlepage
-
-
-@chapter General Questions
-
-@section When will the next FFmpeg version be released? / Why are FFmpeg releases so few and far between?
-
-Like most open source projects FFmpeg suffers from a certain lack of
-manpower. For this reason the developers have to prioritize the work
-they do and putting out releases is not at the top of the list, fixing
-bugs and reviewing patches takes precedence. Please don't complain or
-request more timely and/or frequent releases unless you are willing to
-help out creating them.
-
-@section I have a problem with an old version of FFmpeg; where should I report it?
-Nowhere. Upgrade to the latest release or if there is no recent release upgrade
-to Subversion HEAD. You could also try to report it. Maybe you will get lucky and
-become the first person in history to get an answer different from "upgrade
-to Subversion HEAD".
-
-@section Why doesn't FFmpeg support feature [xyz]?
-
-Because no one has taken on that task yet. FFmpeg development is
-driven by the tasks that are important to the individual developers.
-If there is a feature that is important to you, the best way to get
-it implemented is to undertake the task yourself or sponsor a developer.
-
-@section FFmpeg does not support codec XXX. Can you include a Windows DLL loader to support it?
-
-No. Windows DLLs are not portable, bloated and often slow.
-Moreover FFmpeg strives to support all codecs natively.
-A DLL loader is not conducive to that goal.
-
-@section My bugreport/mail to ffmpeg-devel/user has not received any replies.
-
-Likely reasons
-@itemize
-@item We are busy and haven't had time yet to read your report or
-investigate the issue.
-@item You didn't follow bugreports.html.
-@item You didn't use Subversion HEAD.
-@item You reported a segmentation fault without gdb output.
-@item You describe a problem but not how to reproduce it.
-@item It's unclear if you use ffmpeg as command line tool or use
-libav* from another application.
-@item You speak about a video having problems on playback but
-not what you use to play it.
-@item We have no faint clue what you are talking about besides
-that it is related to FFmpeg.
-@end itemize
-
-@section Is there a forum for FFmpeg? I do not like mailing lists.
-
-Yes, (@url{http://dir.gmane.org/gmane.comp.video.ffmpeg.user}).
-
-@section I cannot read this file although this format seems to be supported by ffmpeg.
-
-Even if ffmpeg can read the container format, it may not support all its
-codecs. Please consult the supported codec list in the ffmpeg
-documentation.
-
-@section Which codecs are supported by Windows?
-
-Windows does not support standard formats like MPEG very well, unless you
-install some additional codecs
-
-The following list of video codecs should work on most Windows systems:
-@table @option
-@item msmpeg4v2
-.avi/.asf
-@item msmpeg4
-.asf only
-@item wmv1
-.asf only
-@item wmv2
-.asf only
-@item mpeg4
-only if you have some MPEG-4 codec installed like ffdshow or XviD
-@item mpeg1
-.mpg only
-@end table
-Note, ASF files often have .wmv or .wma extensions in Windows. It should also
-be mentioned that Microsoft claims a patent on the ASF format, and may sue
-or threaten users who create ASF files with non-Microsoft software. It is
-strongly advised to avoid ASF where possible.
-
-The following list of audio codecs should work on most Windows systems:
-@table @option
-@item adpcm_ima_wav
-@item adpcm_ms
-@item pcm
-@item mp3
-if some MP3 codec like LAME is installed
-@end table
-
-
-@chapter Usage
-
-@section ffmpeg does not work; What is wrong?
-
-Try a @code{make distclean} in the ffmpeg source directory before the build. If this does not help see
-(@url{http://ffmpeg.org/bugreports.html}).
-
-@section How do I encode single pictures to movies?
-
-First, rename your pictures to follow a numerical sequence.
-For example, img1.jpg, img2.jpg, img3.jpg,...
-Then you may run:
-
-@example
- ffmpeg -f image2 -i img%d.jpg /tmp/a.mpg
-@end example
-
-Notice that @samp{%d} is replaced by the image number.
-
-@file{img%03d.jpg} means the sequence @file{img001.jpg}, @file{img002.jpg}, etc...
-
-The same logic is used for any image format that ffmpeg reads.
-
-@section How do I encode movie to single pictures?
-
-Use:
-
-@example
- ffmpeg -i movie.mpg movie%d.jpg
-@end example
-
-The @file{movie.mpg} used as input will be converted to
-@file{movie1.jpg}, @file{movie2.jpg}, etc...
-
-Instead of relying on file format self-recognition, you may also use
-@table @option
-@item -vcodec ppm
-@item -vcodec png
-@item -vcodec mjpeg
-@end table
-to force the encoding.
-
-Applying that to the previous example:
-@example
- ffmpeg -i movie.mpg -f image2 -vcodec mjpeg menu%d.jpg
-@end example
-
-Beware that there is no "jpeg" codec. Use "mjpeg" instead.
-
-@section I get "Unsupported codec (id=86043) for input stream #0.1". What is the problem?
-
-This is the Qcelp codec, FFmpeg has no support for that codec currently. Try mencoder/mplayer it might work.
-
-@section Why do I see a slight quality degradation with multithreaded MPEG* encoding?
-
-For multithreaded MPEG* encoding, the encoded slices must be independent,
-otherwise thread n would practically have to wait for n-1 to finish, so it's
-quite logical that there is a small reduction of quality. This is not a bug.
-
-@section How can I read from the standard input or write to the standard output?
-
-Use @file{-} as filename.
-
-@section Why does FFmpeg not decode audio in VOB files?
-
-The audio is AC-3 (a.k.a. A/52). AC-3 decoding is an optional component in FFmpeg
-as the component that handles AC-3 decoding is currently released under the GPL.
-Enable AC-3 decoding with @code{./configure --enable-gpl}. Take care: By
-enabling AC-3, you automatically change the license of libavcodec from
-LGPL to GPL.
-
-@section Why does the chrominance data seem to be sampled at a different time from the luminance data on bt8x8 captures on Linux?
-
-This is a well-known bug in the bt8x8 driver. For 2.4.26 there is a patch at
-(@url{http://svn.mplayerhq.hu/michael/trunk/patches/bttv-420-2.4.26.patch?view=co}). This may also
-apply cleanly to other 2.4-series kernels.
-
-@section How do I avoid the ugly aliasing artifacts in bt8x8 captures on Linux?
-
-Pass 'combfilter=1 lumafilter=1' to the bttv driver. Note though that 'combfilter=1'
-will cause somewhat too strong filtering. A fix is to apply (@url{http://svn.mplayerhq.hu/michael/trunk/patches/bttv-comb-2.4.26.patch?view=co})
-or (@url{http://svn.mplayerhq.hu/michael/trunk/patches/bttv-comb-2.6.6.patch?view=co})
-and pass 'combfilter=2'.
-
-@section -f jpeg doesn't work.
-
-Try '-f image2 test%d.jpg'.
-
-@section Why can I not change the framerate?
-
-Some codecs, like MPEG-1/2, only allow a small number of fixed framerates.
-Choose a different codec with the -vcodec command line option.
-
-@section How do I encode XviD or DivX video with ffmpeg?
-
-Both XviD and DivX (version 4+) are implementations of the ISO MPEG-4
-standard (note that there are many other coding formats that use this
-same standard). Thus, use '-vcodec mpeg4' to encode these formats. The
-default fourcc stored in an MPEG-4-coded file will be 'FMP4'. If you want
-a different fourcc, use the '-vtag' option. E.g., '-vtag xvid' will
-force the fourcc 'xvid' to be stored as the video fourcc rather than the
-default.
-
-@section How do I encode videos which play on the iPod?
-
-@table @option
-@item needed stuff
--acodec libfaac -vcodec mpeg4 width<=320 height<=240
-@item working stuff
-4mv, title
-@item non-working stuff
-B-frames
-@item example command line
-ffmpeg -i input -acodec libfaac -ab 128kb -vcodec mpeg4 -b 1200kb -mbd 2 -flags +4mv+trell -aic 2 -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -s 320x180 -title X output.mp4
-@end table
-
-@section How do I encode videos which play on the PSP?
-
-@table @option
-@item needed stuff
--acodec libfaac -vcodec mpeg4 width*height<=76800 width%16=0 height%16=0 -ar 24000 -r 30000/1001 or 15000/1001 -f psp
-@item working stuff
-4mv, title
-@item non-working stuff
-B-frames
-@item example command line
-ffmpeg -i input -acodec libfaac -ab 128kb -vcodec mpeg4 -b 1200kb -ar 24000 -mbd 2 -flags +4mv+trell -aic 2 -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -s 368x192 -r 30000/1001 -title X -f psp output.mp4
-@item needed stuff for H.264
--acodec libfaac -vcodec h264 width*height<=76800 width%16=0? height%16=0? -ar 48000 -coder 1 -r 30000/1001 or 15000/1001 -f psp
-@item working stuff for H.264
-title, loop filter
-@item non-working stuff for H.264
-CAVLC
-@item example command line
-ffmpeg -i input -acodec libfaac -ab 128kb -vcodec h264 -b 1200kb -ar 48000 -mbd 2 -coder 1 -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -s 368x192 -r 30000/1001 -title X -f psp -flags loop -trellis 2 -partitions parti4x4+parti8x8+partp4x4+partp8x8+partb8x8 output.mp4
-@end table
-
-@section Which are good parameters for encoding high quality MPEG-4?
-
-'-mbd rd -flags +4mv+trell+aic -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -g 300 -pass 1/2',
-things to try: '-bf 2', '-flags qprd', '-flags mv0', '-flags skiprd'.
-
-@section Which are good parameters for encoding high quality MPEG-1/MPEG-2?
-
-'-mbd rd -flags +trell -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -g 100 -pass 1/2'
-but beware the '-g 100' might cause problems with some decoders.
-Things to try: '-bf 2', '-flags qprd', '-flags mv0', '-flags skiprd.
-
-@section Interlaced video looks very bad when encoded with ffmpeg, whats wrong?
-
-You should use '-flags +ilme+ildct' and maybe '-flags +alt' for interlaced
-material, and try '-top 0/1' if the result looks really messed-up.
-
-@section How can I read DirectShow files?
-
-If you have built FFmpeg with @code{./configure --enable-avisynth}
-(only possible on MinGW/Cygwin platforms),
-then you may use any file that DirectShow can read as input.
-(Be aware that this feature has been recently added,
-so you will need to help yourself in case of problems.)
-
-Just create an "input.avs" text file with this single line ...
-@example
- DirectShowSource("C:\path to your file\yourfile.asf")
-@end example
-... and then feed that text file to FFmpeg:
-@example
- ffmpeg -i input.avs
-@end example
-
-For ANY other help on Avisynth, please visit @url{http://www.avisynth.org/}.
-
-@section How can I join video files?
-
-A few multimedia containers (MPEG-1, MPEG-2 PS, DV) allow to join video files by
-merely concatenating them.
-
-Hence you may concatenate your multimedia files by first transcoding them to
-these privileged formats, then using the humble @code{cat} command (or the
-equally humble @code{copy} under Windows), and finally transcoding back to your
-format of choice.
-
-@example
-ffmpeg -i input1.avi -sameq intermediate1.mpg
-ffmpeg -i input2.avi -sameq intermediate2.mpg
-cat intermediate1.mpg intermediate2.mpg > intermediate_all.mpg
-ffmpeg -i intermediate_all.mpg -sameq output.avi
-@end example
-
-Notice that you should either use @code{-sameq} or set a reasonably high
-bitrate for your intermediate and output files, if you want to preserve
-video quality.
-
-Also notice that you may avoid the huge intermediate files by taking advantage
-of named pipes, should your platform support it:
-
-@example
-mkfifo intermediate1.mpg
-mkfifo intermediate2.mpg
-ffmpeg -i input1.avi -sameq -y intermediate1.mpg < /dev/null &
-ffmpeg -i input2.avi -sameq -y intermediate2.mpg < /dev/null &
-cat intermediate1.mpg intermediate2.mpg |\
-ffmpeg -f mpeg -i - -sameq -vcodec mpeg4 -acodec libmp3lame output.avi
-@end example
-
-Similarly, the yuv4mpegpipe format, and the raw video, raw audio codecs also
-allow concatenation, and the transcoding step is almost lossless.
-
-For example, let's say we want to join two FLV files into an output.flv file:
-
-@example
-mkfifo temp1.a
-mkfifo temp1.v
-mkfifo temp2.a
-mkfifo temp2.v
-mkfifo all.a
-mkfifo all.v
-ffmpeg -i input1.flv -vn -f u16le -acodec pcm_s16le -ac 2 -ar 44100 - > temp1.a < /dev/null &
-ffmpeg -i input2.flv -vn -f u16le -acodec pcm_s16le -ac 2 -ar 44100 - > temp2.a < /dev/null &
-ffmpeg -i input1.flv -an -f yuv4mpegpipe - > temp1.v < /dev/null &
-ffmpeg -i input2.flv -an -f yuv4mpegpipe - > temp2.v < /dev/null &
-cat temp1.a temp2.a > all.a &
-cat temp1.v temp2.v > all.v &
-ffmpeg -f u16le -acodec pcm_s16le -ac 2 -ar 44100 -i all.a \
- -f yuv4mpegpipe -i all.v \
- -sameq -y output.flv
-rm temp[12].[av] all.[av]
-@end example
-
-@section FFmpeg does not adhere to the -maxrate setting, some frames are bigger than maxrate/fps.
-
-Read the MPEG spec about video buffer verifier.
-
-@section I want CBR, but no matter what I do frame sizes differ.
-
-You do not understand what CBR is, please read the MPEG spec.
-Read about video buffer verifier and constant bitrate.
-The one sentence summary is that there is a buffer and the input rate is
-constant, the output can vary as needed.
-
-@section How do I check if a stream is CBR?
-
-To quote the MPEG-2 spec:
-"There is no way to tell that a bitstream is constant bitrate without
-examining all of the vbv_delay values and making complicated computations."
-
-
-@chapter Development
-
-@section Are there examples illustrating how to use the FFmpeg libraries, particularly libavcodec and libavformat?
-
-Yes. Read the Developers Guide of the FFmpeg documentation. Alternatively,
-examine the source code for one of the many open source projects that
-already incorporate ffmpeg at (@url{projects.html}).
-
-@section Can you support my C compiler XXX?
-
-It depends. If your compiler is C99-compliant, then patches to support
-it are likely to be welcome if they do not pollute the source code
-with @code{#ifdef}s related to the compiler.
-
-@section Is Microsoft Visual C++ supported?
-
-No. Microsoft Visual C++ is not compliant to the C99 standard and does
-not - among other things - support the inline assembly used in FFmpeg.
-If you wish to use MSVC++ for your
-project then you can link the MSVC++ code with libav* as long as
-you compile the latter with a working C compiler. For more information, see
-the @emph{Microsoft Visual C++ compatibility} section in the FFmpeg
-documentation.
-
-There have been efforts to make FFmpeg compatible with MSVC++ in the
-past. However, they have all been rejected as too intrusive, especially
-since MinGW does the job adequately. None of the core developers
-work with MSVC++ and thus this item is low priority. Should you find
-the silver bullet that solves this problem, feel free to shoot it at us.
-
-We strongly recommend you to move over from MSVC++ to MinGW tools.
-
-@section Can I use FFmpeg or libavcodec under Windows?
-
-Yes, but the Cygwin or MinGW tools @emph{must} be used to compile FFmpeg.
-Read the @emph{Windows} section in the FFmpeg documentation to find more
-information.
-
-To get help and instructions for building FFmpeg under Windows, check out
-the FFmpeg Windows Help Forum at
-@url{http://arrozcru.no-ip.org/ffmpeg/}.
-
-@section Can you add automake, libtool or autoconf support?
-
-No. These tools are too bloated and they complicate the build.
-
-@section Why not rewrite ffmpeg in object-oriented C++?
-
-ffmpeg is already organized in a highly modular manner and does not need to
-be rewritten in a formal object language. Further, many of the developers
-favor straight C; it works for them. For more arguments on this matter,
-read "Programming Religion" at (@url{http://www.tux.org/lkml/#s15}).
-
-@section Why are the ffmpeg programs devoid of debugging symbols?
-
-The build process creates ffmpeg_g, ffplay_g, etc. which contain full debug
-information. Those binaries are strip'd to create ffmpeg, ffplay, etc. If
-you need the debug information, used the *_g versions.
-
-@section I do not like the LGPL, can I contribute code under the GPL instead?
-
-Yes, as long as the code is optional and can easily and cleanly be placed
-under #ifdef CONFIG_GPL without breaking anything. So for example a new codec
-or filter would be OK under GPL while a bugfix to LGPL code would not.
-
-@section I want to compile xyz.c alone but my compiler produced many errors.
-
-Common code is in its own files in libav* and is used by the individual
-codecs. They will not work without the common parts, you have to compile
-the whole libav*. If you wish, disable some parts with configure switches.
-You can also try to hack it and remove more, but if you had problems fixing
-the compilation failure then you are probably not qualified for this.
-
-@section I'm using libavcodec from within my C++ application but the linker complains about missing symbols which seem to be available.
-
-FFmpeg is a pure C project, so to use the libraries within your C++ application
-you need to explicitly state that you are using a C library. You can do this by
-encompassing your FFmpeg includes using @code{extern "C"}.
-
-See @url{http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/mixing-c-and-cpp.html#faq-32.3}
-
-@section I have a file in memory / a API different from *open/*read/ libc how do i use it with libavformat?
-
-You have to implement a URLProtocol, see libavformat/file.c in FFmpeg
-and libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c in MPlayer sources.
-
-@section I get "No compatible shell script interpreter found." in MSys.
-
-The standard MSys bash (2.04) is broken. You need to install 2.05 or later.
-
-@section I get "./configure: line <xxx>: pr: command not found" in MSys.
-
-The standard MSys install doesn't come with pr. You need to get it from the coreutils package.
-
-@section I tried to pass RTP packets into a decoder, but it doesn't work.
-
-RTP is a container format like any other, you must first depacketize the
-codec frames/samples stored in RTP and then feed to the decoder.
-
-@section Where can I find libav* headers for Pascal/Delphi?
-
-see @url{http://www.iversenit.dk/dev/ffmpeg-headers/}
-
-@section Where is the documentation about ffv1, msmpeg4, asv1, 4xm?
-
-see @url{http://svn.mplayerhq.hu/michael/trunk/docs/}
-
-@section How do I feed H.263-RTP (and other codecs in RTP) to libavcodec?
-
-Even if peculiar since it is network oriented, RTP is a container like any
-other. You have to @emph{demux} RTP before feeding the payload to libavcodec.
-In this specific case please look at RFC 4629 to see how it should be done.
-
-@section AVStream.r_frame_rate is wrong, it is much larger than the framerate.
-
-r_frame_rate is NOT the average framerate, it is the smallest framerate
-that can accurately represent all timestamps. So no, it is not
-wrong if it is larger than the average!
-For example, if you have mixed 25 and 30 fps content, then r_frame_rate
-will be 150.
-
-@bye