How do I integrate the FFMPEG commands with Python Script?

Question

I am trying to extract the frames when the scene changes in an .mp4 video. The package that I am using is FFMPEG. FFMPEG predominantly works on the CLI and I am trying to integrate it with Python3.x

The command I am using in the CLI is:

ffmpeg -i {0} -vf  "select=gt(scene\,0.5), scale=640:360" -vsync vfr frame%d.png

The output comes out just fine with the CLI execution.

But I want to use same command in a Python script, how do I do that and what should be the code?

Being an amateur in the field, currently grappling with this!

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/52197883/how-to-use-ffmpeg-in-a-python-function — Shijith, Dec 31 '20 at 06:14
Or more generally https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4256107/running-bash-commands-in-python — tripleee, Dec 31 '20 at 06:27

Allan Wind · Answer 1 · 2020-12-31T06:29:15.043

1

You could execute that command from Python via subprocess module, of course, but it would better to use library like https://github.com/kkroening/ffmpeg-python

edited Dec 31 '20 at 06:29

answered Dec 31 '20 at 06:04

Allan Wind

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Like the `os.system()` documentation itself suggests, a better solution is the `subprocess` package. But of course, a native Python library would be better stil. – tripleee Dec 31 '20 at 06:26

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 31 '20 at 13:41

1

I would recommend PyAV. it's a proper wrapper around ffmpeg's libraries.

the other mentioned packages use the "subprocess" approach, which is limited and inefficient. these libraries may be more convenient than plain ffmpeg APIs.

answered Dec 31 '20 at 13:41

Christoph Rackwitz

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 12 '21 at 07:57

Thanks for the help! This is the snippet of code I'm currently using and it gives the results as I require. I have added a functionality for timestamp generation of the frames in addition to the frame formation using scene change detection

===========================================================================

>     # FFMPEG Package call through script
>     # need to change the location in the cmd post -vsync vfr to the location where the frames are to be stored 
>     # the location should be same as where the videos are located

============================================================================

inputf = []
for filename in os.listdir(path):
    file= filename.split('.')[0]             # Splits the file at the extension and stores it without .mp4 extension
    input_file = path + filename
    inputf.append(input_file)                # Creates a list of all the files read
    for x in range (0, len(inputf)):
        cmd = f'ffmpeg -i {inputf[x]} -filter_complex "select=gt(scene\,0.2), scale=640:360, metadata=print:file=time_{file}.txt" -vsync vfr {path where the videos are located}\\{file}_frame%d.jpg'
        os.system(cmd)
        x=x+1
    print("Done")                            # Takes time will loop over all the videos

How do I integrate the FFMPEG commands with Python Script?

3 Answers3