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Asked: 2024-09-27T07:57:17+05:30

Is there a way to supply a list of input files to FFmpeg using a text file instead of specifying them directly in the command line?

I’ve been diving into FFmpeg recently, and I’ve hit a bit of a roadblock. Maybe someone here has figured this out. So, here’s the situation: I’m working on a project where I need to convert a bunch of video files. I’ve got this massive list of files, and if I were to input them directly in the command line, it would be a nightmare! I mean, who wants to type each one out, right?

I’ve heard that you can actually use a text file to simplify this process, but I’m not entirely sure how it works or if it’s even possible. My goal is to have all the input file names in one text file, and then have FFmpeg read from that file when I run the command.

I guess I just don’t want to get caught in the endless loop of trying to manually enter each file, not to mention dealing with any typos. The thought of sitting there for hours just to run a single conversion input is just discouraging. If I can find a way to streamline this, it would save me so much time.

So, has anyone successfully done this? What’s the best way to set that up? Do I need to format the text file in a special way, or is it just a straightforward list of file names? And what about the command I’d need to use? I’m really hoping there’s a simple command or flag I can use to tell FFmpeg, “Hey, read your list from this text file instead of me typing it all out!”

I’ve done a bit of digging, but the answers I found seemed either too technical or didn’t really apply to my situation. If someone could break it down or even share a sample command they used, that would be amazing. Any help would be hugely appreciated! Thanks!

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    2 Answers

    1. Using FFmpeg with a List of Files

      So, it sounds like you want to convert a bunch of videos without typing each one out in the command line. Totally get that! You can actually use a text file to make this way easier. Here’s how you can set it up:

      Step 1: Create Your Text File

      First, create a simple text file and list all your video file names in it. Just write one file name per line like this:

      video1.mp4
video2.mp4
video3.mp4

      Let’s say you name this file filelist.txt.

      Step 2: Use FFmpeg Command

      Now for the fun part! You can tell FFmpeg to read from that text file. Use the following command in your terminal:

      ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i filelist.txt -c copy output.mp4

      Here’s what this command does:

      • -f concat tells FFmpeg that you’re using a concatenation format.
      • -safe 0 allows for unsafe file paths, which you might need based on your file names.
      • -i filelist.txt tells FFmpeg to read the input from your list.
      • -c copy keeps the original video format without re-encoding (if that’s what you want).

      Important Note

      Make sure the paths to your video files in filelist.txt are correct. If your files are in different directories, you may need to specify the full path in the text file.

      Example

      If you are combining multiple videos into one, your filelist.txt will look like this:

      file 'video1.mp4'
file 'video2.mp4'
file 'video3.mp4'

      Final Output

      When you run the command, FFmpeg will read your list and process each file accordingly. This should save you a ton of time!

      Hope this helps! Give it a shot and see how it works out!

    2. Yes, you can definitely simplify your process by using a text file to list all the input video files for FFmpeg. This method eliminates the need to type out each file name manually, reducing the risk of typos and saving you a significant amount of time. You can create a simple text file (let’s call it filelist.txt) containing the paths to your video files, formatted as follows: each line should start with the file ' keyword, followed by the file path in single quotes, and end with '. For example:

      file 'path/to/video1.mp4'
file 'path/to/video2.mp4'
file 'path/to/video3.mp4'

      Once your file list is set up, you can run the FFmpeg command to handle all conversions in one go. Use the -f concat option along with the -safe 0 flag to read from your text file. Here’s a sample command:

      ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i filelist.txt -c copy output_video.mp4

      In this command, -c copy ensures that the streams are copied as-is, but you can change it to use specific codecs or processing options based on your needs. This way, you won’t have to deal with the hassle of entering each file individually.