“ffprobe” is a powerful multimedia stream analyzer that is part of the FFmpeg suite of multimedia tools. It is designed to provide detailed information about multimedia streams, including video, audio, and subtitle streams, contained within multimedia files. “ffprobe” allows users to extract and analyze various metadata and technical details of media streams.
Here are the key features and functionalities of “ffprobe”:
- Media Stream Analysis: “ffprobe” can analyze multimedia files, such as video files (e.g., MP4, AVI, MKV), audio files (e.g., MP3, WAV, FLAC), or multimedia streams within containers. It extracts information about the streams, including their formats, codecs, bitrates, durations, resolutions, sample rates, and other technical properties.
- Metadata Extraction: “ffprobe” provides the ability to extract metadata from media streams. This includes information about the file itself, such as the file format, creation date, and duration, as well as specific metadata related to individual streams, such as title, author, language, and more. This metadata can be essential for understanding and managing multimedia files.
- Stream Analysis: “ffprobe” allows users to analyze the characteristics of individual media streams. For video streams, it provides details like frame rate, pixel format, aspect ratio, and color space. For audio streams, it provides information about the audio codec, channel layout, sample rate, and bit depth. This analysis helps users understand the technical properties of multimedia streams.
- Subtitle Information: “ffprobe” can also extract information about subtitle streams, including subtitle format, language, and other relevant details. This is useful for working with multimedia files that contain subtitles or when examining subtitle properties for further processing.
- JSON or XML Output: “ffprobe” can generate output in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) or XML (eXtensible Markup Language) formats, in addition to the default text-based output. This makes it easier to process and analyze the information programmatically or integrate it into other applications.
- Flexible Command-Line Interface: “ffprobe” provides a command-line interface that allows users to specify the input media file or stream to be analyzed, along with various options for controlling the output format and verbosity level. Users can customize the analysis based on their specific requirements and extract the desired information.
Integration with FFmpeg: “ffprobe” seamlessly integrates with other tools in the FFmpeg suite, allowing users to combine the power of “ffprobe” with other FFmpeg functionalities, such as media conversion, editing, or streaming. This integration enables comprehensive multimedia analysis and processing workflows.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: “ffprobe” is available on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers consistent functionality and behavior across different platforms, ensuring that users can utilize its capabilities regardless of their preferred operating system.
ffprobe Command Examples
1. Display all available stream info for a media file:
# ffprobe -v error -show_entries input.mp4
2. Display media duration:
# ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4
3. Display the frame rate of a video:
# ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=avg_frame_rate -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4
4. Display the width or height of a video:
# ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=[width|height] -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4
5. Display the average bit rate of a video:
# ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=bit_rate -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 input.mp4
Summary
In summary, “ffprobe” is a versatile multimedia stream analyzer that provides detailed information about video, audio, and subtitle streams within multimedia files. It allows users to extract metadata, analyze technical properties, and obtain valuable insights into the characteristics of multimedia streams. With its flexible command-line interface, support for multiple output formats, and integration with the FFmpeg suite, “ffprobe” is a valuable tool for multimedia professionals, developers, and enthusiasts working with multimedia files and streams.