FFmpeg Command Reference

FFmpeg is a complete, cross-platform solution to record, convert, and stream audio and video.

Downloads and docs

• FFmpeg Windows builds
• FFmpeg documentation (ffmpeg)

Audio processing

Convert to 8 kHz, mono PCM (WAV)

ffmpeg -i "input.mp3" -ar 8000 -ac 1 output.wav

Convert to 16 kHz, mono PCM (WAV)

ffmpeg -i "input.mp3" -ar 16000 -ac 1 output.wav

Convert to 48 kHz, mono PCM (WAV)

ffmpeg -i "input.mp3" -ar 48000 -ac 1 output.wav

Video processing

Add music to a video (no re-encode)

ffmpeg -i "video.mp4" -i "music.mp3" -codec copy -shortest output.mp4

-i video.mp4

Select video.mp4 as an input file (same directory unless you provide a path).

-i music.mp3

Select music.mp3 as an input file.

-codec copy

Copy streams without re-encoding.

-shortest

Stop the output when the shortest input ends (useful when audio is longer than video).

Assemble images into a video

ffmpeg -framerate 60 -s 2560x1440 -i %04d.png output.mp4

-framerate 60

Set the frame rate to 60 FPS.

-s 2560x1440

Set the output resolution.

-i %04d.png

Read an image sequence named like 0001.png, 0002.png, etc.

Start from a specific frame number:

ffmpeg -start_number 140 -i %04d.png interpolated-0.mp4

Re-encode for YouTube (H.264)

ffmpeg -i "transition.mp4" -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 18 -c:a copy -pix_fmt yuv420p "transition.mkv"

-c:v libx264

Encode video as H.264.

-preset slow

Encoding speed vs compression efficiency. Slower presets usually produce smaller files at the same quality.

-crf 18

Constant Rate Factor (quality target). Lower = higher quality. Typical “sane” range is ~17–28.

-c:a copy

Copy the input audio as-is (no re-encode).

-pix_fmt yuv420p

Improves compatibility with many players (QuickTime/Windows Media Player/etc.).

Video filters

Stack two videos side-by-side (hstack)

ffmpeg -i "left.mp4" -i "right.mp4" -filter_complex hstack output.mp4

Vertical scroll and wrap

ffmpeg -i "input.mp4" -vf "scroll=vertical=0.001,format=yuv420p" output.mp4

Remove black bars from top and bottom (crop)

ffmpeg -i "input.mp4" -vf "crop=iw:ih-40:0:20" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p output.mp4

Resize a video’s height while maintaining aspect ratio

ffmpeg -i "input.mp4" -vf "scale=-1:1280" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p output.mp4

Crop a video down the center (e.g., to 720 wide)

ffmpeg -i "input.mp4" -vf "crop=720:ih:((iw-720)/2):0" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p output.mp4

Crop → scale → crop (all in one go)

ffmpeg -i "input.mp4" -vf "crop=iw:ih-40:0:20,scale=-1:1280,crop=720:ih:((iw-720)/2):0" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p output.mp4

Screen recording (Windows)

Uses gdigrab for desktop capture.

Record all screens (example: 5 seconds, with audio)

ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 30 -t 5 -i desktop -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4

Record a single region (example: one 1920×1080 screen, 5 seconds, with audio)

ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 30 -t 5 -offset_x 0 -offset_y 0 -video_size 1920x1080 -i desktop -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4

Record the right half of a 5120×1440 screen (no audio)

Right half math:

• Full: 5120×1440
• Right-half width: 2560
• Offset X: 2560

ffmpeg -f gdigrab -framerate 60 -offset_x 2560 -offset_y 0 -video_size 2560x1440 -i desktop -an output.mp4

How to stop the recording

• Click the terminal window running FFmpeg and press q (clean stop / finalizes the file).
• Alternatively, press Ctrl+C (works, but q is usually cleaner).

Animated GIF

Create a GIF from a video (quick/simple)

ffmpeg -i "input.mp4" output.gif

Create a high-quality GIF from an image sequence (palette workflow)

Generate a palette:

ffmpeg -y -i %03d.png -vf palettegen palette.png

• -y: overwrite output
• -i %03d.png: reads 001.png, 002.png, etc.
• -vf palettegen: generates a reduced color palette for better GIF quality/size

Create the GIF using the palette:

ffmpeg -y -f image2 -framerate 60 -i %03d.png -i palette.png -filter_complex paletteuse file.gif

• -framerate 60: output GIF frame rate
• -filter_complex paletteuse: applies the palette to the GIF for improved quality