Building Frames

Building Frames

Article from Issue 207/2018
Author(s):

FFmpeg is good not only for converting and fusing videos together, it can also generate streams on the fly, which you can then use for compositing and effects.

The casual user might only use the FFmpeg multimedia framework for converting from one audio or video format to another, but FFmpeg can do much more than that. I'll take a look at one of FFmpeg's most powerful secret weapons: the lavfi virtual device.

Using lavfi

FFmpeg's lavfi (short for libavfilter) virtual device sounds more complicated than it really is. Instead of using prerecorded video or audio files as streams, lavfi lets you create streams out of thin air. You can use these streams on the fly and combine them with clips and other dynamically generated streams (e.g., from a webcam or microphone) to create your output file.

Maybe it is better explained with an example:

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
Print Issues
Digital Issues
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Print Subs
Digisubs
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Gobbling Up

    Most video editors supply you with a generic catalog of transitions, usually in the shape of tired wipes and fades. But what if you wanted something a little more special? FFmpeg to the rescue.

    more »
  • Tutorials – FFmpeg

    Linux has some excellent graphical video-editing tools, but sometimes working from the command line with FFmpeg is just better.

    more »
  • Video Editor Roundup

    In a comparison test, we checked out nine free video editing programs: Cinelerra, Flowblade, Kdenlive, Kino, Lightworks, LiVES, OpenShot, Pitivi, and Shotcut.

    more »
  • Castnow

    Google's Chromecast device lets you stream content directly to your TV. Castnow connects to Chromecast from a Linux system.

    more »
  • Motion Detection

    The motion detector software, Motion, monitors the video signal from one or multiple cameras and is able to detect whether a significant part of the picture has changed, record and track movement, or launch arbitrary external commands to trigger other actions.

    more »
comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News

Tag Cloud

Administration Community Events Hardware Linux Linux Pro Magazine Mobile Programming Security Software Ubuntu Web Development Windows free software open source