FFMPEG An Intermediate Guide/AVCodecContext AVOptions

-b

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name: Video Bitrate
Variables: integer (bits/s)
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: Used to set video bitrate, in bits per second.

-ab

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name: Audio Bitrate
Variables: integer (bits/s)
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: Used to set audio bitrate, in bits per second.

-bt

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer (in bits/s)
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set videos o bitrate tolerance
your bitrate x 10 = bt
def - 4M

-g

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set the group of picture size

-cutoff

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set cutoff bandwidth

-frame_size

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-qcomp

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: video quantizer scale compression (VBR)

-qblur

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: video quantizer scale blur (VBR)

-qmin

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: min video quantizer scale (VBR)

-qmax

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: max video quantizer scale (VBR)

-qdiff

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: max difference between the quantizer scale (VBR)

-bf

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: use 'frames' B frames

-b_qfactor

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: qp factor between p and b frames

-rc_strategy

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: ratecontrol method

-b_strategy

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: strategy to choose between I/P/B-frames

-hurry_up

FFMPEG: Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-ps

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: rtp payload size in bytes

-luma_elim_threshold

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: single coefficient elimination threshold for luminance (negative values also consider dc coefficient)

-chroma_elim_threshold

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: single coefficient elimination threshold for chrominance (negative values also consider dc coefficient)

-b_qoffset

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: qp offset between P and B frames

-mpeg_quant

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: use MPEG quantizers instead of H.263

-qsquish

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: how to keep quantizer between qmin and qmax (0 = clip, 1 = use differentiable function)

-rc_qmod_amp

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: experimental quantizer modulation

-rc_qmod_freq

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: experimental quantizer modulation

-rc_eq

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: String
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set rate control equation

-maxrate

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set max video bitrate tolerance (in bits/s)

-minrate

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set min video bitrate tolerance (in bits/s)

-bufsize

FFMPEG: Encode, Video, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set ratecontrol buffer size (in bits)

-rc_buf_aggressivity

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables:
Codecs: allFloat
Web sites:
Description: currently useless

-i_qfactor

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: qp factor between P and I frames

-i_qoffset

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: qp offset between P and I frames

-rc_init_cplx

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: initial complexity for 1-pass encoding
recommended value - 100

-lumi_mask

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: compresses bright areas stronger than medium ones

-tcplx_mask

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: temporal complexity masking

-scplx_mask

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: spatial complexity masking

-p_mask

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: inter masking

-dark_mask

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: compresses dark areas stronger than medium ones

-aspect

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Rational
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: sample aspect ratio

-mb_qmin

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: obsolete, use qmin

-mb_qmax

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: obsolete, use qmax

-dia_size

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: diamond type & size for motion estimation

-last_pred

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: amount of motion predictors from the previous frame

-preme

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: pre motion estimation

-precmp

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: pre motion estimation compare function

-pre_dia_size

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: diamond type & size for motion estimation pre-pass

-subq

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: sub pel motion estimation quality

-me_range

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: limit motion vectors range (1023 for DivX player)

-ibias

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: intra quant bias

-pbias

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: inter quant bias

-context

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: context model

-sc_threshold

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: scene change threshold

-lmin

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: min lagrange factor (VBR)

-lmax

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: max lagrange factor (VBR)

-noise_reduction

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: noise reduction
recommended value - 250

-rc_init_occupancy

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: number of bits which should be loaded into the rc buffer before decoding starts

-inter_threshold

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-error

FFMPEG:
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: Encode, Video

-quantizer_noise_shaping

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: quantizer noise shaping

-threads

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-mb_threshold

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: macroblock threshold

-dc

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: intra_dc_precision

-nssew

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: nsse weight

-skip_top

FFMPEG: Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: number of macroblock rows at the top which are skipped

-skip_bottom

FFMPEG: Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: number of macroblock rows at the bottom which are skipped

-lowres

FFMPEG: Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: decode at 1= 1/2, 2=1/4, 3=1/8 resolutions

-skip_threshold

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: frame skip threshold

-skip_factor

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: frame skip factor

-skip_exp

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: frame skip exponent

-border_mask

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: increases the quantizer for macroblocks close to borders

-mblmin

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: min macroblock lagrange factor (VBR)

-mblmax

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: max macroblock lagrange factor (VBR)

-mepc

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: motion estimation bitrate penalty compensation (1.0 = 256)

-bidir_refine

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: refine the two motion vectors used in bidirectional macroblocks

-brd_scale

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: downscales frames for dynamic B-frame decision

-crf

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: x264
Web sites:
Description: enables constant quality mode, and selects the quality

-cqp

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: constant quantization parameter rate control method

-keyint_min

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: x264
Web sites:
Description: minimum interval between IDR-frames

-refs

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: Snow
Web sites:
Description: reference frames to consider for motion compensation

-chromaoffset

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: chroma qp offset from luma

-bframebias

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: influences how often B-frames are used

-trellis

FFMPEG: Encode, Video, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: rate-distortion optimal quantization

• In lavc:
  • trellis 0 = no trellis
  • trellis 1 = trellis on final encode
• In x264:
  • trellis 0 = no trellis
  • trellis 1 = trellis on final encode
  • trellis 2 = trellis on all RD calls (slow)

-directpred

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: direct mv prediction mode - 0 (none), 1 (spatial), 2 (temporal), 3 (auto)

-complexityblur

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: reduce fluctuations in qp (before curve compression)

-deblockalpha

FFMPEG: Integer
Full Name:
Variables: Encode, Video
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: in-loop deblocking filter alphac0 parameter

-deblockbeta

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: in-loop deblocking filter beta parameter

-sc_factor

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: multiplied by qscale for each frame and added to scene_change_score

-mv0_threshold

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-b_sensitivity

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: adjusts sensitivity of b_frame_strategy 1

-compression_level

FFMPEG: Encode, Video, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-use_lpc

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: sets whether to use LPC mode (FLAC)

-lpc_coeff_precision

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: LPC coefficient precision (FLAC)

-min_prediction_order

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-max_prediction_order

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-prediction_order_method

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: search method for selecting prediction order

-min_partition_order

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-max_partition_order

FFMPEG: Encode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-timecode_frame_start

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer 64bit
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: GOP timecode frame start number, in non drop frame format

-request_channels

FFMPEG: Decode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: set desired number of audio channels

-drc_scale

FFMPEG: Decode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: percentage of dynamic range compression to apply

-channel_layout

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer 64bit
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-request_channel_layout

FFMPEG: Decode, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer 64bit
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-rc_max_vbv_use

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-rc_min_vbv_use

FFMPEG: Encode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Float
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-ticks_per_frame

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Video, Audio
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-color_primaries

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-color_trc

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-colorspace

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-color_range

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description:

-chroma_sample_location

FFMPEG: Encode, Decode, Video
Full Name:
Variables: Integer
Codecs: all
Web sites:
Description: