Guide to Splitting MPEG Videos into 10-Minute Chunks Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework that can be used for converting and playing audio and video. One of its useful features is the ability to split MPEG video files into smaller, manageable segments. In this guide, we will walk through a step-by-step process on how to use FFmpeg to split an MPEG video into 10-minute chunks using the -segment_time option. Additionally, we will cover some additional options to improve the process, such as splitting at keyframes.

Using FFmpeg to Split MPEG Videos

Basic Command

To split an MPEG video into 10-minute chunks, you can use the following command:

ffmpeg -i input_ -f segment -segment_time 600 -c copy output_

Explanation of the Command

-i input_: This specifies the input video file. -f segment: This tells FFmpeg to use the segment format to split the video. -segment_time 600: This sets the segment duration to 600 seconds (10 minutes). -c copy: This copies the video and audio streams without re-encoding, which speeds up the process and preserves quality. output_: This specifies the output filename format. %%d will be replaced with the segment number, resulting in filenames like output_1, output_2, etc.

Additional Options

For more control over the splitting, you can add the -force_key_frames option to ensure that the segments are split at keyframes:

ffmpeg -i input_ -f segment -segment_time 600 -force_key_frames 'expr:gte(t,n_forced*600)'

This way, the segments will be split at keyframes, and the n_forced variable represents the number of segments, which will be automatically calculated by FFmpeg.

Adjusting the Segment Duration

Depending on your needs, you might want to split the video into segments of different durations. Simply adjust the -segment_time value:

ffmpeg -i input_ -f segment -segment_time 300 -c copy output_ will create 20-minute segments.

Running the Command

Make sure FFmpeg is installed on your system and then execute the command in your terminal or command prompt. Be sure to replace the input and output file names with the actual file paths and names you are using.

Splitting Specific Time Intervals

For more specific time interval splits, you can use the -ss and -t options. For example, to get the 10-minute segment from 0:00:00 to 0:10:00, use:

ffmpeg -ss 0 -i input_ -t 600 output_

Here, the -ss 0 parameter says to seek to 0 seconds, and the -t 600 parameter specifies the maximum duration of the output file in seconds.

To get all 10-minute segments from an input video, you can use multiple commands of the same format. For instance:

ffmpeg -ss 0 -i input_ -t 600 output_slice_1ffmpeg -ss 600 -i input_ -t 600 output_slice_2ffmpeg -ss 1200 -i input_ -t 600 output_slice_3ffmpeg -ss 1800 -i input_ -t 600 output_slice_4

Note: The -ss parameter should be used before the input file. If you use it after the input file, the process may become slower. In that case, FFmpeg seems to start the conversion but not write to the output until the specified start time is reached. Using the -ss parameter before the input file allows FFmpeg to seek to the point more efficiently.

Conclusion

FFmpeg provides a robust solution for splitting MPEG videos into smaller, manageable chunks. By utilizing the -segment_time option, you can easily create 10-minute segments without having to re-encode the video streams. With additional options like -force_key_frames, you can further refine the splitting process for optimal results.