Files

in_file

is the input elementary stream (but see -stdin below).

out_file

is the output stream, either an equivalent elementary stream, or an H.222 Transport Stream (but see -stdout and -host below).

Actions

-copy

Copy the input data to the output file (mostly useful as a way of truncating data with -max)

-filter

Filter data from input to output, aiming to keep every keep_frequencyth frame (where keep_frequency is specified by -freq).

-strip

For H.264, output just the IDR and I pictures, for H.262, output just the I pictures, but see -allref below.

Switches

-err stdout

Write error messages to standard output (the default)

-err stderr

Write error messages to standard error (Unix traditional)

-stdin

Input from standard input, instead of a file

-v, -verbose

Output extra information about packets

-q, -quiet

Only output error messages

-host dest_ip[:port]

Writes output (over TCP/IP) to the named host, instead of to a named file. If port is not specified, it defaults to 88. Implies -tsout.

-max max_frames, -m max_frames

Maximum number of frames to read (for -filter and -strip), or ES units/NAL units (for -copy).

-freq keep_frequency

Specify the frequency of frames to try to keep with -filter. Defaults to 8.

-allref

With -strip, keep all reference pictures (H.264) or all I and P pictures (H.262)

-tsout

Output data as Transport Stream PES packets (the default is as Elementary Stream)

-pes, -ts

The input file is TS or PS, to be read via the PES->ES reading mechanisms. Not allowed with -stdin.

Stream type:

If input is from a file, then the program will look at the start of the file to determine if the stream is H.264 or H.262 data. This process may occasionally come to the wrong conclusion, in which case the user can override the choice using the following switches.

If input is from standard input (via -stdin), then it is not possible for the program to make its own decision on the input stream type. Instead, it defaults to H.262, and relies on the user indicating if this is wrong.

-h264, -avc

Force the program to treat the input as MPEG-4/AVC.

-h262

Force the program to treat the input as MPEG-2.