Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu | ubuntu get ffmpeg version

FFmpeg is one of the most powerful and versatile multimedia frameworks available today. It is widely used for handling video, audio, and other multimedia files and streams. Whether you’re a developer, content creator, or just a tech enthusiast, FFmpeg is an essential tool for tasks like video conversion, streaming, editing, and more. If you’re using Ubuntu, you might need to check the installed version of FFmpeg or install it if it’s not already on your system. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the steps to check the FFmpeg version and install it on Ubuntu.

What is FFmpeg?

FFmpeg is a free and open-source software suite that includes libraries and programs for handling multimedia data. It can decode, encode, transcode, mux, demux, stream, filter, and play almost anything that humans and machines have created. It supports the most obscure ancient formats up to the cutting-edge technologies, making it a go-to tool for multimedia processing.

Some common use cases for FFmpeg include:

Converting video and audio files between formats.
Extracting audio from video files.
Resizing, cropping, and compressing videos.
Streaming live video and audio.
Adding subtitles or watermarks to videos.

Given its versatility, FFmpeg is a must-have tool for anyone working with multimedia on Ubuntu or any other operating system.

Checking the FFmpeg Version on Ubuntu

ubuntu get ffmpeg version Before you start using FFmpeg, it’s a good idea to check whether it’s already installed on your system and, if so, which version you’re using. Here’s how you can do that:

Step 1: Open the Terminal

On Ubuntu, you can open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or by searching for “Terminal” in the application menu.

Step 2: Run the FFmpeg Version Command

To check the installed version of FFmpeg, type the following command in the terminal:

ffmpeg -version

This command will display detailed information about the installed FFmpeg, including:

The version number (e.g., ffmpeg version 4.4.2).
Configuration options used during compilation.
Versions of the libraries FFmpeg is linked against (e.g., libavcodec, libavformat, etc.).

Example Output

Here’s an example of what the output might look like: ubuntu get ffmpeg version

ffmpeg version 4.4.2 Copyright (c) 2000-2021 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 11.2.0 (Ubuntu 11.2.0-19ubuntu1)
configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0ubuntu0.22.04.1 --toolchain=hardened --libdir=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu --incdir=/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu --arch=amd64 --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzimg --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-librsvg --enable-libmfx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --enable-shared
libavutil      56. 70.100 / 56. 70.100
libavcodec     58.134.100 / 58.134.100
libavformat    58. 76.100 / 58. 76.100
libavdevice    58. 13.100 / 58. 13.100
libavfilter     7.110.100 /  7.110.100
libswscale      5.  9.100 /  5.  9.100
libswresample   3.  9.100 /  3.  9.100
libpostproc    55.  9.100 / 55.  9.100

If FFmpeg is not installed, you’ll see an error message like Command 'ffmpeg' not found. In that case, you’ll need to install FFmpeg.

Installing FFmpeg on Ubuntu

If FFmpeg is not installed on your system, you can easily install it using Ubuntu’s package manager, apt. Here’s how:

Step 1: Update the Package List

Before installing any software, it’s a good idea to update your system’s package list to ensure you’re getting the latest version. Run the following command:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install FFmpeg

Once the package list is updated, you can install FFmpeg by running:

sudo apt install ffmpeg

This command will download and install FFmpeg along with any necessary dependencies.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

After the installation is complete, you can verify that FFmpeg is installed correctly by checking its version:

ffmpeg -version

If the installation was successful, you’ll see the version information as described earlier.

Installing FFmpeg from Source (Optional)

ubuntu get ffmpeg version, While installing FFmpeg via apt is the easiest method, you might want to install FFmpeg from source if you need the latest version or specific configuration options. Here’s how you can do that:

Step 1: Install Dependencies

First, install the necessary dependencies:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential git cmake libx264-dev libx265-dev libvpx-dev libmp3lame-dev libopus-dev libfdk-aac-dev libass-dev libtheora-dev libvorbis-dev libwebp-dev

Step 2: Download the FFmpeg Source Code

Clone the FFmpeg repository from GitHub:

git clone https://git.ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.git ffmpeg
cd ffmpeg

Step 3: Configure and Build FFmpeg

Run the following commands to configure and build FFmpeg:

./configure --enable-gpl --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libvpx --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-libfdk-aac --enable-libass --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libwebp
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make install

This process may take some time, depending on your system’s performance.

Step 4: Verify the Installation

Once the build process is complete, verify the installation:

ffmpeg -version

Conclusion

ubuntu get ffmpeg version, FFmpeg is an incredibly powerful tool for multimedia processing, and it’s easy to install and use on Ubuntu. Whether you’re checking the installed version or installing it for the first time, the process is straightforward. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can ensure that FFmpeg is up and running on your system, ready to handle all your multimedia needs.

If you’re new to FFmpeg, I encourage you to explore its extensive documentation and experiment with its many features. With a little practice, you’ll be able to perform complex multimedia tasks with ease.