How-to: install ffmpeg on Debian Lenny from SVN and x264 from GIT

[Ditlev]

FFmpeg is a complete, cross-platform solution to record, convert and stream audio and video. It includes libavcodec – the leading audio/video codec library. x264 encodes high-quality video superior to other popular encoders.

Installation Guide :
download the following debian package and install it :

# wget http://www.debian-multimedia.org/pool/main/d/debian-multimedia-keyring/debian-multimedia-keyring_2008.10.16_all.deb

# dpkg -i debian-multimedia-keyring_2008.10.16_all.deb

Add the following lines to your /etc/apt/source.list :

# nano /etc/apt/sources.list

# deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org lenny main
# deb-src http://www.debian-multimedia.org lenny main

update your apt cache :

# apt-get update

install checkinstall :

# apt-get install checkinstall

install ffmpeg dependencies :

# apt-get build-dep ffmpeg

install subversion :

# apt-get install subversion

download the latest release of ffmpeg using subversion :

# svn checkout svn://svn.mplayerhq.hu/ffmpeg/trunk ffmpeg

configure and make ffmpeg :

# cd ffmpeg/
# ./configure --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libtheora --enable-libx264 --enable-libgsm --enable-postproc --enable-libxvid --enable-libfaac --enable-pthreads --enable-libvorbis --enable-libfaad --enable-gpl --enable-x11grab --enable-nonfree
# make

on this step we will use checkinstall to make .deb package of ffmpeg. it makes reinstall and distribution of the package easy.
it will ask you some questions which are quite easy , answer to them and .deb package will be built.

# checkinstall

when .deb package is built , we can install it , please note you have to replace your own .deb package file name :

# dpkg -i ffmpeg_20090715-1_amd64.deb

Install x264 (GIT)

#cd
# git clone git://git.videolan.org/x264.git
# cd x264
# ./configure
# make
# checkinstall --fstrans=no --install=yes --pkgname=x264 --pkgversion "1:0.svn`date +%Y%m%d`-0.0ubuntu1" --default

Using FFmpeg and x264
The easiest method for high quality video encoding is by using the libx264 presets that are included with FFmpeg.

Two-Pass encode using the fastfirstpass and hq presets:

ffmpeg -y -i input.avi -pass 1 -vcodec libx264 -vpre fastfirstpass -b 512k -bt 512k -threads 0 -f mp4 -an /dev/null && ffmpeg -i input.avi -pass 2 -acodec libfaac -ab 128k -ac 2 -vcodec libx264 -vpre hq -b 512k -bt 512k -threads 0 -f mp4 output.mp4

You can add options such as frame size (for example: -s 640x480) or tweak my example settings to customize your encode.

One-pass CRF (Constant Rate Factor) using the hq preset:

ffmpeg -i input.avi -acodec libfaac -ab 128k -ac 2 -vcodec libx264 -vpre hq -crf 22 -threads 0 output.mp4

Fmpeg x264 encoding guide has more info on the differences of two-pass and CRF. Also see FFmpeg libx264 presets for more preset descriptions and usage.

Two-pass iPod 640x480 using the fastfirstpass, normal, and ipod640 presets:

ffmpeg -y -i input.avi -pass 1 -vcodec libx264 -vpre fastfirstpass -vpre ipod640 -b 512k -bt 512k -s 640x480 -threads 0 -f ipod -an /dev/null && ffmpeg -i input.avi -pass 2 -acodec libfaac -ab 128k -ac 2 -vcodec libx264 -vpre normal -vpre ipod640 -b 512k -bt 512k -s 640x480 -threads 0 -f ipod output.mp4

Additional Resources
FFmpeg x264 encoding guide
x264 - a free h264/avc encoder
x264 changelog
FFmpeg homepage
FFmpeg revision log
x264 encoding guide
FFmpeg x264 mapping and options guide


Source: HOWTO: Install and use the latest FFmpeg and x264 - Ubuntu Forums & Admins eHow How to install ffmpeg on Debian Lenny from SVN

[butler360]

Thanks for this!

But shouldn't

# nano /etc/apt/nano sources.list

be

# nano /etc/apt/sources.list

?

[anthonysomerset]

yes that must be a typo above

[Ditlev]

Originally Posted by butler360

Thanks for this!

But shouldn't

# nano /etc/apt/nano sources.list

be

# nano /etc/apt/sources.list

?

thanks - post edited

[butler360]

Apparently some changes were made so this guide no longer works (unless I'm just doing something wrong). It looks like some changes were made in the libtheora version so you end up with "Error: libtheora not found." They have changed the guide at HOWTO: Install and use the latest FFmpeg and x264 - Ubuntu Forums and it got me past that error but now I'm stuck at compiling FFMPEG:

/root/ffmpeg/libavcodec/libavcodec.a(libx264.o): In function `X264_init':
/root/ffmpeg/libavcodec/libx264.c:284: undefined reference to `x264_encoder_open_79'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make: *** [ffmpeg_g] Error 1
rm ffmpeg.o

That error led me to [FFmpeg-user] make compile errors but I don't know how to fix it so I'm stuck.

[butler360]

Still having trouble with this. The Ubuntu forum has great instructions but they don't seem to be totally compatible with Debian.

[butler360]

Seems like I finally got it working following these instructions: http://techsiteblog.com/ffmpeg-and-x264/

Even though they seem to be based on the Ubuntu instructions I failed to make work earlier...