{"id":218,"date":"2024-09-12T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=218"},"modified":"2024-09-08T18:52:01","modified_gmt":"2024-09-08T22:52:01","slug":"how-to-convert-mp4-video-file-in-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/how-to-convert-mp4-video-file-in-linux","title":{"rendered":"How to convert MP4 video file in Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Compressing an MP4 video file on Linux can be done easily using various tools. The most common method involves using <strong>FFmpeg<\/strong>, but alternatives like <strong>HandBrake<\/strong>, <strong>Avidemux<\/strong>, and <strong>VLC<\/strong> can also be used. Below are methods for compressing MP4 files using different tools, with FFmpeg being the most flexible and powerful option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we begin, we want to let you know you can use\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/compress-mp4\">https:\/\/www.xconvert.com\/compress-mp4<\/a>\u00a0to compress your <code>.mp4<\/code> online. You can choose\u00a0<code>Autoscale<\/code>\u00a0feature to keep the quality high while reducing file size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Using FFmpeg<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FFmpeg is the most powerful command-line tool for multimedia conversion and compression. You can easily adjust the video\u2019s codec, bitrate, resolution, and other parameters to reduce file size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>a. Installing FFmpeg<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ubuntu\/Debian:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo apt update\nsudo apt install ffmpeg<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fedora:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo dnf install ffmpeg<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arch Linux:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo pacman -S ffmpeg<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>b. Basic Compression Example<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reduce Video Bitrate:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This will compress the MP4 video by lowering the bitrate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -b:v 1000k -b:a 128k output.mp4<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><code>-b:v 1000k<\/code>: Sets the video bitrate to 1000 kbps (adjust to your needs).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><code>-b:a 128k<\/code>: Sets the audio bitrate to 128 kbps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Using CRF (Constant Rate Factor) for Compression:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>CRF is a better way to control the quality and size trade-off for video encoding. A lower CRF value means better quality, but larger file size. Recommended values are between 18 and 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec libx264 -crf 28 -preset slow -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><code>-crf 28<\/code>: Compresses with a quality factor of 28 (lower value = better quality, higher value = more compression).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><code>-preset slow<\/code>: Slower preset provides better compression but takes more time. You can choose between <code>ultrafast<\/code>, <code>superfast<\/code>, <code>fast<\/code>, <code>medium<\/code>, <code>slow<\/code>, <code>slower<\/code>, <code>veryslow<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Compress by Reducing Resolution:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>To reduce the resolution of the video (e.g., downscaling to 1280&#215;720):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=1280:720 -c:a copy output.mp4<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Compress by Changing Codec:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Use H.265 (HEVC) for better compression while maintaining quality. However, it may take longer to encode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec libx265 -crf 28 output.mp4<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Compress by Reducing Frame Rate:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Reducing the frame rate can significantly reduce file size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -r 24 output.mp4<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This command reduces the frame rate to 24 fps (from the default 30 or 60 fps).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Using HandBrake (GUI)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HandBrake<\/strong> is a GUI-based tool that allows for easy video compression and conversion. It also has a command-line version for scripting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>a. Installing HandBrake<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ubuntu\/Debian:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins\/handbrake-releases\nsudo apt update\nsudo apt install handbrake-cli handbrake<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fedora:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo dnf install HandBrake-gui HandBrake-cli<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arch Linux:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo pacman -S handbrake<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>b. Compressing MP4 Using HandBrake<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open HandBrake<\/strong> and select your source MP4 file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Choose Output Settings<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose a preset, like \u201cFast 720p30\u201d or \u201cFast 1080p30\u201d to compress the video while retaining reasonable quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Video Settings<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the \u201cVideo\u201d tab, set the encoder to <code>H.264 (x264)<\/code> or <code>H.265 (x265)<\/code> for better compression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adjust the <strong>Quality Slider<\/strong> (RF value). A higher RF value results in more compression. RF 22-28 is typically a good balance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start Compression<\/strong>: Click \u201cStart\u201d to begin compressing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Using Avidemux (GUI)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Avidemux<\/strong> is a simple tool for video editing and compression with a straightforward GUI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>a. Installing Avidemux<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ubuntu\/Debian:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo apt update\nsudo apt install avidemux<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fedora:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo dnf install avidemux<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arch Linux:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo pacman -S avidemux-gtk<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>b. Compressing MP4 Using Avidemux<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open Avidemux<\/strong> and load your MP4 video file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select Output Codec<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under \u201cVideo Output,\u201d choose <code>MPEG-4 AVC (x264)<\/code> or <code>HEVC (x265)<\/code> for more compression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under \u201cAudio Output,\u201d choose <code>AAC (Faac)<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Configure Settings<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adjust settings like bitrate or quality (higher compression levels reduce quality).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Save Video<\/strong>: Click \u201cFile\u201d > \u201cSave\u201d and give your file a name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Using VLC Media Player (GUI)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VLC<\/strong> is a widely used media player that also supports video conversion and compression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>a. Installing VLC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ubuntu\/Debian:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo apt update\nsudo apt install vlc<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fedora:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo dnf install vlc<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arch Linux:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">sudo pacman -S vlc<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>b. Compressing MP4 Using VLC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open VLC<\/strong> and go to <code>Media<\/code> > <code>Convert \/ Save<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add the MP4 file<\/strong>: Click \u201cAdd\u201d and select the MP4 file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Choose Convert Settings<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click \u201cConvert \/ Save\u201d and choose a profile such as \u201cVideo &#8211; H.264 + MP3 (MP4)\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the wrench icon to adjust settings like video resolution, frame rate, and bitrate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start Compression<\/strong>: Set the destination file, then click \u201cStart\u201d to compress the video.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Other Useful Tips for Compression<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>a. Adjust Video Bitrate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Reducing the bitrate is one of the most effective ways to compress a video, but it can also reduce quality. Make sure to find a balance that maintains reasonable quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>b. Choose the Right Codec<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>H.264 (libx264)<\/strong> is widely supported and offers good compression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>H.265 (libx265)<\/strong> offers even better compression but takes longer to encode and may not be as widely supported.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>c. Lower Resolution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the video is originally 1080p or higher, you can compress it by lowering the resolution to 720p or even 480p, depending on your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>d. Reduce Frame Rate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the video doesn\u2019t require high frame rates, reducing the frame rate (e.g., from 60 fps to 30 or 24 fps) can significantly reduce file size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>e. CRF Adjustment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When using FFmpeg, the <strong>CRF (Constant Rate Factor)<\/strong> is key to balancing quality and compression. A value of 23 is considered good, but for more compression, a value of 28-30 may still retain acceptable quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Example: Compressing MP4 with FFmpeg (Optimal Settings)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a balanced example that compresses an MP4 video using H.264 with medium quality and moderate compression:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code class=\"\">ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec libx264 -crf 28 -preset slow -b:a 128k output.mp4<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Explanation<\/strong>:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><code>-crf 28<\/code>: Controls video quality (28 is more compressed, 23 is better quality).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><code>-preset slow<\/code>: Slower encoding for better compression (choose <code>ultrafast<\/code>, <code>fast<\/code>, <code>medium<\/code>, <code>slow<\/code>, or <code>veryslow<\/code>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>By using the right combination of bitrate, codec, resolution, and CRF settings, you can compress MP4 files on Linux while maintaining an acceptable level of video quality. Let me know if you need more help or further examples!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>FFmpeg Documentation<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/ffmpeg.org\/documentation.html\">https:\/\/ffmpeg.org\/documentation.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HandBrake Documentation<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/handbrake.fr\/docs\/en\/latest\/\">https:\/\/handbrake.fr\/docs\/en\/latest\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>VLC Documentation<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.videolan.org\/doc\/\">https:\/\/www.videolan.org\/doc\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FFmpeg Cheatsheet<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/leandromoreira\/ffmpeg-cheatsheet\">https:\/\/github.com\/leandromoreira\/ffmpeg-cheatsheet<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Featured photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@jakobowens1?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\">Jakob Owens<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/man-holding-camcorder-with-man-near-wall-9pRbuWJ6TvQ?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\">Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Compressing an MP4 video file on Linux can be done easily using various tools. The most common method involves using FFmpeg, but alternatives like HandBrake, Avidemux, and VLC can also be used. Below are methods for compressing MP4 files using different tools, with FFmpeg being the most flexible and powerful option. Before we begin, we [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":219,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,14],"tags":[23,27,28,26,29],"class_list":["post-218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-guides","category-tools","tag-compress-video","tag-ffmpeg","tag-headbreak","tag-mp4-compress","tag-vlc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions\/223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}