FFmpeg is a well-known multifunctional tool to convert, resize, cut, crop, and perform other operations on video content. It is a cross-platform software, also available for Mac devices. We will tell you more about it.

What is this program?

FFmpeg is a set of free and open-source libraries allowing you to record, convert, and transfer digital audio and video in various formats. It has a simple media player characterized by a high file processing speed. This software is not the usual editor to download to your drive. This tool is command-based, and you must use codes to perform a specific task. Although users tend to ignore this tool because of its complexity, it is still considered the best encoder and decoder for many common and unusual files.

Software features

FFmpeg for Mac has the following features:

• Working with many formats;

• Managing the utility from the command line;

• Many auxiliary tools and libraries;

• Capturing the screen in real-time;

• Manual adjustment of the bit rate and frame rate;

• Availability of multiplexing and demultiplexing modes;

• Regular updates by the developers;

• Cross-platform;

• Audio track extraction from MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AVI, and other formats;

• The ability to save video or audio files to your computer's hard drive.

Primary advantages

• Customizable list of commands;

• Function to return default values;

• Convenient conversion string;

• Open source code;

• Supports various video and audio formats;

• Saving in VCD, SVCD, H.264/MPEG-4, and AVC;

• The ability to specify the maximum size of the output file;

• Built-in libavformat, libavcodec, and ffmpeg libraries;

• Optimizes encoding speed automatically;

• Tools for working with multiplexers and demultiplexers.

Are there any disadvantages?

The primary drawback is the lack of a familiar graphical interface, as in most video editors. All actions with video content are performed through the command line, which may be difficult for beginners. However, you can find various online training materials and learn how to enter commands to achieve specific goals. If you explore all features of this software, the lack of the standard graphical interface will not seem such a severe disadvantage.