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Learn to Produce Video with FFmpeg: In Thirty Minutes or Less (2018 Edition) Paperback – August 1, 2017
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This focused 158-page book teaches you how to use FFmpeg to create full adaptive bitrate ladders and package them into HLS or DASH formats. Chapter 1 is the primer on streaming technology, covering terms and concepts like single and adaptive bitrate streaming, codecs and container formats, and common encoding parameters like resolution, data rate, and frame rate. This will help those unfamiliar with streaming technology get up to speed fast.
Chapter 2 covers installing FFmpeg on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and the basics of command line programming. Then, individual chapters detail FFmpeg operation for choosing a codec and container format, controlling bitrate (VBR, CBR, CRF), setting resolution (scaling, letterboxing, trimming), frame rate, and I- and B-frame settings for single file and adaptive bitrate streaming. Next, are chapters on H.264 and HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), including details on efficiently rendering an encoding ladder, packaging for HLS and DASH with Bento4, and HLS processing via Apple tools Media File Segmenter, Variant Playlist Creator, and Media Stream Validator.
Next is a chapter on encoding HEVC with x265, which includes direction on creating, encoding, and packaging a hybrid HEVC/H.264 ladder for HLS distribution. Then a chapter on VP9, which includes how to encode and package for DASH distribution. The final chapter covers miscellaneous operations like transcoding live with H.264, HEVC, and VP9, concatenating multiple files, encoding with the new AV1 codec, and computing PSNR with FFmpeg.
A downloadable zipped file includes all (Windows) batch files used in the book, which you can easily adapt for your own use, and a detailed Table of Contents and Index will help you find what you need. All these contents ensure that you’ll be able to Learn to Produce Video with FFmpeg in 30 Minutes or Less.
Specifically, in this book, you will learn:
• Streaming fundamentals, including configurations for single file and adaptive bitrate streaming
• How to install FFmpeg on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers
• Fundamentals of command line processing and batch file creation
• Single- and dual-pass encoding with FFmpeg
• How to choose the optimal configurations for resolution, data rate, frame settings, bitrate control and other common encoding options
• How to encode to H.264 (x264), HEVC (x265), VP9, and AV1 compression formats
• How to segment and package video for delivery via HTTP Live Streaming using FFmpeg, Bento4 and Apple Media File Segmenter and Variant Playlist Creator
• How to transcode into multiple stream H.264, HEVC, and VP9 formats for live streaming delivery
• How to create a hybrid H.264/HEVC encoding ladder for delivery via HLS
This book supersedes the previous edition.
- Print length158 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDoceo Publishing
- Publication dateAugust 1, 2017
- Dimensions7.5 x 0.34 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-100998453021
- ISBN-13978-0998453026
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From the first edition:
Dom Robinson (Amazon UK) - Awesome as always - Jan make it simple and clear how to get fluent with one of the most widely used video tools today. Covering key codecs and approaches to using them through FFmpeg, Jan provides a great handbook for those who want to quickly scratch the surface of FFMpeg, and get moving with straight forward video workflows.
Verified purchasor on Amazon - Everything here as already available on the net. But this is much easier. Worth the price just to have it all in one place. Easy to read and understand. Does not go into depth on all ffmpeg options, just covers what most of us need to do.
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Product details
- Publisher : Doceo Publishing (August 1, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 158 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0998453021
- ISBN-13 : 978-0998453026
- Item Weight : 9.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 7.5 x 0.34 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,847,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #696 in Digital Video Production (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Ozer is a leading expert on H.264, H.265, and VP9 encoding for live and on-demand production. In his consulting practice, Ozer helps streaming publishers produce highly optimized and deliverable streams and to choose encoders, transcoders, and workflows that optimize cost, efficiency and flexibility. Ozer is a contributing editor to Streaming Media Magazine, where he reviews codecs, on-premise and cloud encoders, and ancillary tools like QoE and QoS monitoring services. Skilled in video production and editing, Ozer also produces live events for streaming or on-demand and disc-based distribution.
Ozer blogs at http://www.streaminglearningcenter.com/ and is the author of over 20 streaming and video-related books, including Video Encoding by the Numbers: Eliminate the Guesswork from your Streaming Video, and Learn to Produce Videos with FFmpeg: In Thirty Minutes or Less. His books have consistently garnered five-star reviews on Amazon and have been adopted as textbooks by multiple colleges and universities.
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I have a background with creating and encoding closed captions within TV broadcast files, but have a very limited knowledge of streaming files. I had lightbulb moments at least once in every chapter with the things I learned.
One of the main overarching themes throughout the book is streaming is all about efficiencies in bitrate or data rate. The data pipe to the customer playing the streaming video is often limited and even changing through time. There are many different strategies to maximize the quality and size of the encoded video. Encoding strategies that work best for non-streamed files are often not the best for adaptive bitrate streamed files. Strategies that work best for a LIVE stream are not necessarily best for VOD (video on demand) files.
I had contacted the author and got the batch files (see bottom of page 10 in the book for directions), but decided to just read the book first. I am on a Macintosh computer at work, and if I set FFMPEG up--it would be on our Windows server, and I decided not to invest time on the Macintosh side of things. (I have since set up FFmpeg on the Windows server, and using Microsoft Remote Desktop on my Macintosh--I am running through many of the examples.)
This strategy was helpful for me because I decided to concentrate on understanding the concepts first and didn't get bogged down in running the batch files. The book filled in a lot of details I was missing on streaming. (If you find yourself getting bogged down, just read the book first and then go back and do the examples.)
One area of great interest to me is the creation of HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) adaptive bitrate streaming files developed by Apple from start to finish for the web. On page 88 it says as of June 2017, FFmpeg cannot create a master playlist file, which is the last of three steps in creating HLS files for the web. The book goes on to describe using a free third party software Bento4 to create this file. I googled this, and found the following in an online forum, “Update January 2018 You can now create master playlists directly with FFmpeg using master_pl_name and var_stream_map.” I hope in future editions of this book, that this information is updated to also include using FFmpeg to create the master playlist file.
I reached out to the author and he pointed me to a newer online article “An FFmpeg Script to Render and Package a Complete HLS Presentation” he wrote on this very topic. He also helped me figure out why the example was giving me an error in trying to run it in a DOS batch file. Apparently if a DOS batch file includes a “%” or “&” one must use double %% every place there is a single % (also &&) this is called “escape characters”.
I was hoping to find in the book a single "recipe card" of program instructions that I could use with FFMPEG to produce HLS files for the program I create closed captions.
While I didn’t find for my specific situation code that I could just copy and paste into FFmpeg, the author has been most helpful in leading me to the material I need for more study.
When I purchased this book, I thought when I finished reading it, it would be the end of my journey; but I realized it is only the beginning--and that is ok. Encoding files is a very detailed subject that takes a lot of learning, and this book is a great help to me. I also found that the author has a website Streaming Learning Center (read the free blog articles) and offers this material and more in many different formats. You can purchase a printed book, a PDF book, take an online video course, etc. Depending on your learning style, you may prefer one method over another. By the way, I love both a printed book to read and markup, and also a PDF version for word searching. It would be great to see a bundled offer for this, and maybe even a bundle of all three formats (printed book, PDF, online course) for one price.
1) The decision maker who may be skeptical about using FFmpeg in a production environment compared to a turn-key commercial solution.
2) The video-adjacent engineer who has been asked by the decision maker to evaluate FFmpeg for use in a streaming encoding pipeline and needs to ramp up fast on the basics.
I built automation around FFmpeg for a large streaming media service and had this book existed then it would have saved me a lot of time. You can spend days trolling around Stack Overflow and various other forums and still not have all you need to get started. That's what this book covers.
I think the author could go further with advanced topics in a followup volume:
- Using FFmpeg as the heart of a distributed encoding solution for UHD content.
- Advanced audio mixing and re-sampling
- HDR encoding in detail
- Advanced filtering
- Using statistics from filters like IDET and FIELDMATCH to detected combing, mixed film/video and telecined content.
- Using it with cloud hosting and delviery providers like Azure Media Services
- When it makes sense to use other tools. IE: Mediainfo may be a better choice for media attribute detection.
- Issues with codec IP and when using a licensed solution may be the wise choice.
- Scripting FFmpeg via code (C#, python, etc).
- Using named pipes to use FFmpeg with 3rd party/commercial tools like UHDKIT.
2. There are some missing examples, and a promise to send electronic materials. I tried the emails and several variations but they all bounced. So the print book is all I got.
Everything here as already available on the net. But this is much easier. Worth the price just to have it all in one place.
Easy to read and understand. Does not go into depth on all ffmpeg options, just covers what most of us need to do.
I have no idea at all why the book was in there. I ripped it out, and the rest of the book is fine.
Wierdest damn thing I've ever seen.

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2019
I have no idea at all why the book was in there. I ripped it out, and the rest of the book is fine.
Wierdest damn thing I've ever seen.

Top reviews from other countries

If your new to ffmpeg, this book should be your first choice before wasting endless hours on the web. If you already know the basics, this is still a very worthwhile purchase, particularly for those intending on working with streaming media. Whilst my personnel interest is output for TV, this has still proved to be an invaluable purchase.