user34688: I am finally using FFMPEG after using programs like Virtualdub2 but I do need some clarity with some of the commands. Do not get me wrong, the resources that some people sent to me do help but I do some clarity on some of the commands. When you are inputting a video to convert another video, do need to type out the file location or just the video file?

user32599: Here are some general guidelines how to use FFmpeg. The command to use FFmpeg includes: input(s) and output(s), codec(s) and filter(s). It can include also other options, like map(s), but these are probably the very basic ones.
The most basic command is:
ffmpeg -i input.mkv output.mp4

It includes the input file (it is defined by -i option) and the output file (it does not need any definition, just put its name at the end of the command). This command will convert input.mkv to output.mp4 by using all the defaults of FFmpeg (including the re-encoding of streams from the input file).
The more advanced (but still basic) command is:
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c copy output.mp4

It will do the same as previous one but the streams from input file will not be re-encoded, they will be copied, as -c parameter defines a codec to use (copy means to copy the existing one, you can define other codec). You can define codec for video by using -c:v and a codec for audio by using -c:a. For example:
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -c:a copy output.mp4

This command will re-encode video stream and copy audio stream.
If you want to do some more operations with the input streams (like to scale the resolution of video stream) you need to add some filters, like here:
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -c:a copy -filter:v scale=1920:1080 output.mp4

The -filter:v defines the use of scale filter to set the resolution of the output. You can use many different filters and you can use many different parameters with these filters. For example:
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -c:a copy -filter:v scale=1920:1080:flags=lanczos output.mp4

This command will scale the input video stream with the use of Lanczos algorithm.
These all options above are really just the basic ones.
You can find much more of them in the documentation.

34688: <p>I am finally using FFMPEG after using programs like Virtualdub2 but I do need some clarity with some of the commands. Do not get me wrong, the resources that some people sent to me do help but I do some clarity on some of the commands. When you are inputting a video to convert another video, do need to type out the file location or just the video file?</p>
 32599: <p>Here are some general guidelines how to use FFmpeg. The command to use FFmpeg includes: input(s) and output(s), codec(s) and filter(s). It can include also other options, like map(s), but these are probably the very basic ones.</p>
<p>The most basic command is:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mkv output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p>It includes the input file (it is defined by <code>-i</code> option) and the output file (it does not need any definition, just put its name at the end of the command). This command will convert <code>input.mkv</code> to <code>output.mp4</code> by using all the defaults of FFmpeg (including the re-encoding of streams from the input file).</p>
<p>The more advanced (but still basic) command is:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p>It will do the same as previous one but the streams from input file will not be re-encoded, they will be copied, as <code>-c</code> parameter defines a codec to use (<code>copy</code> means to copy the existing one, you can define other codec). You can define codec for video by using <code>-c:v</code> and a codec for audio by using <code>-c:a</code>. For example:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -c:a copy output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p>This command will re-encode video stream and copy audio stream.</p>
<p>If you want to do some more operations with the input streams (like to scale the resolution of video stream) you need to add some filters, like here:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -c:a copy -filter:v scale=1920:1080 output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p>The <code>-filter:v</code> defines the use of <code>scale</code> filter to set the resolution of the output. You can use many different filters and you can use many different parameters with these filters. For example:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -c:a copy -filter:v scale=1920:1080:flags=lanczos output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p>This command will scale the input video stream with the use of Lanczos algorithm.</p>
<p>These all options above are really just the basic ones.</p>
<p>You can find <strong>much</strong> more of them in <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the documentation</a>.</p>
