Before getting into the configuration let’s have a brief on FFMpeg

FFMPEG :
  • It is a complete solution to record, convert and stream audio and video.
  • It is a command line tool to convert one video file format to another.
  • It also supports grabbing and encoding in real time from a TV card.
  • Several FrontEnds/GUIs available like WinFF, Super, Avanti, AutoFF, Xpegt, GVC.
  • It includes libavcodec – the leading open source audio/video codec library
  • It includes an experimental streaming server for live broadcasts.

After the configuration it gives u following advantages

  1. While writing commands you don’t have to specify the path where ffmpeg exists. “<path>/ffmpeg <command>” will be reduced to “<path>/ffmpeg <command>”
  2. Commands like “set classpath” won’t be necessary
  3. U can save your commands as batch file and reuse them. (have a look at other post for batch conversion)
  4. one configuration that allows you to access ffmpeg from command line tools like CMD,PowerShell (and other apps working on STDIN/STDOUT mechanisim).

Well, lets step into the configuration


Download FFMPeg
  • Download the best build suits for you from official FFMpeg site here
  • Alternatively if you don’t wanna look for all builds, the best can be downloaded from here

Launch System properties
  • Right click on My Computer
  • Choose properties
(or)
  • Open run command using windows hotkey win+R
  • Type sysdm.cpl
  • Click ok

Launch Environment Variables
  • Switch to tab named Advanced
  • Click on button Environment Variables

Add ffmpeg to system’s environment
  • Look for the variable named Path in System Variables section
  • Click on Edit button
  • Go to the folder where you’ve placed ffmpeg
  • Search for ffmpeg.exe file and copy the location
  • Paste the location in the text box for Variable value and type ;
    leave the existing paths as is
  • Click ok

Check if configuration is successful
  • Open command prompt.
  • Type ffmpeg, press Enter
  • Ffmpeg information should displayed (if not something would have went wrong, try the configuration again)