How to compile ffmpeg extending the codec support on Ubuntu Gutsy


The ffmpeg support of many codecs is disabled by default for legal reasons (geographical variations in legislation regarding copyright, license, patent, etc).
The Ubuntu package has only a limited part of the available codec support. To extend it you must compile it yourself enabling specific options.
It is your legal responsibility to make sure that the software you are installing can be legally used in your country and for your intended purpose.


To compile a program from source code you need to use the command line. Instead of clicking on icons you are going to talk to your computer writing words, that are commands.
To run a command, open a terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal), type the suggested command (copy by mouse highlighting and paste by middle mouse button clicking) and press ENTER.



The Source Code of ffmpeg is a multi-developer project. The Community of developers use Subversion (SVN), a Version Control System for managing multiple revisions of the code. The Source Code of ffmpeg is in a svn repository.

To get a copy of the source code, you first need to install Subversion.
Make sure you have enabled the component called 'main' (Check: System -> Administration -> Software Sources)

    sudo apt-get install subversion

To fetch the source code:

    svn checkout svn://svn.mplayerhq.hu/ffmpeg/trunk ffmpeg

This command downloads a copy of the source code of ffmpeg. It will appear as a folder in your home directory (or your current working directory) named ffmpeg.



You need some compilation tools installed. Type:

    sudo apt-get install build-essential 

You need also many codec libraries installed. Type:

    sudo apt-get install liblame-dev libfaad2-dev libfaac-dev libxvidcore4-dev liba52-0.7.4 liba52-0.7.4-dev libx264-dev libdts-dev



Enter the ffmpeg directory by typing:

    cd ffmpeg

Then run:
./configure --enable-gpl --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-liba52 --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libfaad --enable-libfaac --enable-libxvid --enable-pthreads --enable-libx264 --enable-shared
And:

    make

You can now install ffmpeg. Type:

    sudo make install

One last command:

    sudo ldconfig


Raffaella Traniello - last edited on 24 Mar 2008

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