How to convert video using MEncoder

By Yifan Peng | September 26, 2013 

 

 MEncoder is a free command line video decoding, encoding, and filtering tool. As a by-product of MPlayer, it can convert all formats that Mplayer can understand.

1. install mencoder
   

   sudo apt-get install mencode
   

2. avi → mp4
   

   mencoder 1.avi -o 1.mp4 -oac copy -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg1video -of mpeg
   

   • o: output file name.
   • oac: audio codecs for encoding. copy does not reencode but just copy compressed frames.
   • ovc: video codecs for encoding. lavc means using one of libavcodec’s video codecs.
   • lavcopts: libavcodec’s video codecs. Here we choose MPEG-1 video.
   • of: output container formats. mpeg means MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 PS.
3. mov → avi
   

   mencoder -oac mp3lame -ovc x264 1.mov -o 1.avi
   

   • oac: mp3lame means encoding to VBR, ABR or CBR MP3 with LAME.
   • ovc: x264 means using x264, MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding (AVC), AKA H.264 codec.