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How to Install FFmpeg 3.3 in Ubuntu 16.04, 14.04

Last updated: May 5, 2017

FFMPEG

This quick tutorial is going to show you how to install the latest FFmpeg multimedia library 3.3 “Hilbert” in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04 via PPA.

FFmpeg 3.3 “Hilbert” is a new major release that features:

  • Apple Pixlet decoder
  • NewTek SpeedHQ decoder
  • QDMC audio decoder
  • PSD (Photoshop Document) decoder
  • FM Screen Capture decoder
  • ScreenPressor decoder
  • XPM decoder
  • DNxHR decoder fixes for HQX and high resolution videos
  • ClearVideo decoder (partial)
  • 16.8 and 24.0 floating point PCM decoder
  • Intel QSV-accelerated VP8 video decoding
  • native Opus encoder
  • DNxHR 444 and HQX encoding
  • Quality improvements for the (M)JPEG encoder
  • VAAPI-accelerated MPEG-2 and VP8 encoding
  • MPEG-7 Video Signature filter
  • Intel QSV video scaling and deinterlacing filters
  • Support MOV with multiple sample description tables
  • Pro-MPEG CoP #3-R2 FEC protocol
  • Support for spherical videos
  • CrystalHD decoder moved to new decode API
  • and many more, see release note.

How to Install FFmpeg 3.3 via PPA in Ubuntu:

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “Terminal” from the dash. When it opens, run command to add the PPA repository (unofficial):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonathonf/ffmpeg-3

Type in password (no visual feedback due to security reason) and hit Enter.

2. (For Ubuntu 14.04 only), you also need to add another PPA for the dependencies:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonathonf/tesseract

3. Then upgrade FFmpeg using Software Updater:

upgrade ffmpeg

Or simply run command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

How to Restore:

To undo the changes and restore to the stock version of FFmpeg in main Ubuntu repositories, purge the PPA via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && ppa-purge ppa:jonathonf/ffmpeg-3
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    4 responses to How to Install FFmpeg 3.3 in Ubuntu 16.04, 14.04

    1. J August 8, 2017 at 1:54 am

      Wow, thanks a lot. I needed to render an animation, and the only way i could do that was by installing the FFmpeg on my Ubuntu. This really helped. It also saved a lot of time, especially since I’m not that skilled of a coder, and this guide just put the directions straight forward without any fancy words.

    2. Uiguy October 13, 2017 at 8:56 am

      Hi, Sorry, I am new to linux and am trying to setup Zoneminder.

      It is askling me for the loxcation where the ffmpeg encoder is installed (ZM_PATH_FFMPEG)

    3. Atul January 23, 2018 at 12:04 am

      This following command not working in my java module (this takes snap from live stream and save it)
      Runtime.getRuntime().exec(“ffmpeg -i \”rtmp://127.0.0.1:1935/live/mytest live=1 timeout=2\” -f image2 -vframes 1 /snaps/testo.jpg”);

      If I use same command on Ubuntu 14.0.4 console it works. Same command working in my red5pro module on Window but not on Ubuntu.

      When I use
      String[] execStr = {“/usr/local/bin/ffmpeg”,”-i”,”rtmp://127.0.0.1:1935/live/mytest”,”live=1″,”timeout=2″,”-f”,”image2″,”-vframes”,”1″,”/snaps/tt.jpg”};
      ProcessBuilder pb = new ProcessBuilder(“ffmpeg -i rtmp://localhost/live/mytest live=1 timeout=2 -f image2 -vframes 1 /snaps/testo.jpg”);

      It always throw stream not found ( in red5pro console)