avconv

Avconv

avconv is a free and open-source command-line tool for converting audio and video files between formats. It is a fork of the popular FFmpeg project. avconv supports a wide range of codecs and file formats and can perform various editing tasks during conversion.
video audio conversion transcoding ffmpeg opensource

avconv: Free Command-Line Audio & Video Converter

Free and open-source audio and video converter with support for multiple codecs and formats, also offers basic editing capabilities

What is Avconv?

Avconv is a free, open-source command-line utility for converting video and audio files between formats. It is a fork of the popular FFmpeg project that was created in 2011 due to licensing disagreements. Avconv provides similar functionality and format support as FFmpeg.

Some key features and capabilities of avconv include:

  • Supports a wide range of video and audio codecs and container formats including MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, FLV, WMV, MP3, AAC, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, and more.
  • Can transcode media files for playback on different devices and platforms.
  • Allows scaling, cropping, rotating, and other basic editing of video files during conversion.
  • Supports stream copying which allows fast conversion between compatible formats without reencoding.
  • Includes filters for audio noise reduction, volume normalization, framerate changes, and more.
  • Can extract audio or video streams from files and save them separately.
  • Built-in streaming capabilities for broadcasting media streams over a network.
  • Cross-platform software that runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

While not as widely adopted as FFmpeg today, avconv continues to offer an updated and maintained alternative for some users, especially Linux distributions that require a LGPL licensing model. It offers comprehensive media conversion and editing functionality via command-line operations.

Avconv Features

Features

  1. Command line interface for audio/video conversion
  2. Supports a wide range of codecs and file formats
  3. Can convert between different formats
  4. Can perform editing tasks during conversion
  5. Open source and free

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Free and open source

Powerful and versatile

Supports many formats

Can do conversions and editing

Actively developed

Cons

Command line only, no GUI

Steep learning curve

Less user-friendly than GUI alternatives

Requires technical knowledge to use well

Not as widely adopted as FFmpeg


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