https://ostechnix.com/create-a-video-from-images-with-ffmpeg

How to Create a Video from Images with FFmpeg (and Add Audio)

FFmpeg is a powerful open-source multimedia framework that allows users to convert, edit, and process audio and video files. One of its most useful features is the ability to create a video from a sequence of images. This guide will walk you through the process of generating a high-quality video from images and adding background audio for a professional touch.

Table of Contents

• Why Use FFmpeg for Image to Video Conversion?
• Step 1: Prepare Your Images
• Step 2: Create a Video from Images with FFmpeg
• Step 3: Add Background Audio
• Step 4: Loop Audio if It’s Too Short
• Troubleshooting Tips
  • 1. Video Not Playing in Certain Players?
  • 2. Error: ‘Deprecated Pixel Format Used’
• Conclusion

Why Use FFmpeg for Image to Video Conversion?

FFmpeg is lightweight, efficient, and works on almost any operating system. It supports various image and video formats, making it ideal for:

• Creating time-lapse videos from sequential images.
• Converting slideshow presentations into video formats.
• Automating video creation for social media or presentations.

Step 1: Prepare Your Images

Before running FFmpeg, ensure your images are properly formatted:

• Number them sequentially (e.g., 1.jpg, 2.jpg, 3.jpg, … 100.jpg).
• Place them in the same directory.
• Ensure they have the same resolution to avoid scaling issues.

Step 2: Create a Video from Images with FFmpeg

Run the following FFmpeg command to generate a video from the images:

ffmpeg -framerate 5 -i %d.jpg -vf "scale=1920:-2" -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart output.mp4

Let us breakdown the above command and see what each option does:

• -framerate 5 → Sets the frame rate to 5 FPS (adjust as needed).
• -i %d.jpg → Tells FFmpeg to use numbered images as input.
• -vf "scale=1920:-2" → Scales width to 1920px and keeps aspect ratio.
• -c:v libx264 → Uses the H.264 codec for high-quality compression.
• -pix_fmt yuv420p → Ensures broad media player compatibility.
• -movflags +faststart → Optimizes the video for web streaming.

Step 3: Add Background Audio

To include an audio file (e.g., audio.mp3) in the video, use:

ffmpeg -framerate 5 -i %d.jpg -i audio.mp3 -vf "scale=1920:-2" -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 192k -shortest -movflags +faststart output_with_audio.mp4

Here's the breakdown of the extra options:

• -i audio.mp3 → Adds an audio track. You need to place the audio file in the same directory. If it is in the other directory, mention its explicit path.
• -c:a aac -b:a 192k → Uses AAC audio codec at 192kbps bitrate.
• -shortest → Ensures the video ends when the shorter of the two (audio or video) finishes.

Step 4: Loop Audio if It’s Too Short

If the audio file is shorter than the video, you can make it loop using:

ffmpeg -framerate 5 -i %d.jpg -stream_loop -1 -i audio.mp3 -vf "scale=1920:-2" -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 192k -shortest -movflags +faststart output_with_looped_audio.mp4

I have been using this command to convert the images to video with audio. FFmpeg has a vast number of options. For more FFmpeg command examples. please visit the following link:

• 20+ FFmpeg Commands For Beginners

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Video Not Playing in Certain Players?

Some media players (like Parole) may not support the default encoding settings. Try using -profile:v baseline -level 3.0 for better compatibility:

ffmpeg -framerate 5 -i %d.jpg -i audio.mp3 -vf "scale=1920:-2" -c:v libx264 -profile:v baseline -level 3.0 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 192k -shortest -movflags +faststart output.mp4

2. Error: ‘Deprecated Pixel Format Used’

If you see this warning, try specifying a color range manually:

ffmpeg -framerate 5 -i %d.jpg -vf "scale=1920:-2,format=yuv420p" -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart output.mp4

Conclusion

FFmpeg is an incredibly versatile tool for creating videos from images. Whether you're making slideshows, animations, or time-lapse videos, these FFmpeg commands ensure a smooth workflow with high-quality results.

https://ubuntushell.com/listing-all-users-in-linux

Listing All Users in a Linux System

Linux administrators have to be aware of existing users in the Linux system for different reasons, like finding out their roles or privileges.

This all requires knowledge of the commands, which help us list all the current users on the Linux system.

Today, we will learn different ways to list users in Linux, with or without a home directory.

Method 1: Reading the Passwd File

The generic way to list users is by reading the content of the passwd file. For example, the cat command can be used along with a passwd file path, as shown below.

• cat /etc/passwd

Below is the behavior of the above command.

The cat command also lists all other information related to the users, which might be unnecessary to you.

For that, use the awk command to list the username from the passwd file, as shown below.

• awk -F ":" '{print $1}' /etc/passwd

Below is the behavior of the above command.

• How to Remove Home Folder Icon from Ubuntu Desktop

Method 2: Using the Compgen Command

Just like the awk command, which ignores all the other details except the username, you can use the compgen command to do the same job without writing a long line of code, as shown below.

• compgen -u

Below is the behavior of the above command.

Method 3: Using the Getent Command

Just like the cat command, getent includes all the other details. You can use this command to do the same job without specifying the passwd path, as shown below.

• getent passwd

Below is the behavior of the above command.

Method 4: Filtering Users Based on Home Directory

From the above-mentioned commands, you might be thinking that they were listing all users created manually by you or by services.

It is true that users are frequently unable to distinguish between users that they manually created and those that the services created.

To solve this problem, we can list users with the home directory located at the /home/ path using the awk command, as shown below.

• awk -F ":" '{if($6 = /home/) print $1}' /etc/passwd

Below is the behavior of the above command.

The above command only lists the users with a home directory created using the adduser command.

As you can see, I have created two users, "ubuntushell" and "test", manually with their home directory using the adduser command.

Final Thought

A GUI application is available on the market to do the same job, which I have not listed. After all, Linux without a terminal is insolent work, according to me.

https://ubuntushell.com/access-the-grub-menu-in-virtual-machine

How to Access the GRUB Menu in Virtual Machine

Most Linux distributions that are installed using virtual machine software like VirtualBox or VMware are configured to skip the GRUB bootloader for a seamless user experience.

However, certain events might require you to access the GRUB menu, such as switching to an older kernel version, editing the kernel parameter, entering recovery mode, or resetting the password.

In this quick guide, I'll show you two different ways to access the GRUB menu of Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, or Fedora running on virtual machines.

• How to Disable Unattended-Upgrades on Ubuntu

Access the GRUB Menu in Virtual Machine

Most users might not need to access the GRUB menu regularly. For that purpose, you can use a temporary solution to access the GRUB menu without any configuration changes.

Method 1: Access the GRUB Menu in VM (One-Time Solution)

To access GRUB just once, simply boot your system and hold the shift key until the GRUB bootloader appears.

You'll have the GRUB without any time limit.

As you can see, it's straightforward to access GRUB on a Linux VM with a simple one-time shortcut key solution. However, this method only works for single boots. So, if you want a permanent solution, then check out the next method.

• Mission Center: A Linux Alternative to Windows Task Manager

Method 2: Access the GRUB Menu in VM (Permanent Solution)

This method involves editing the GRUB config file in the command line, so if you need to access GRUB on a daily basis, you can follow this method. First, open your terminal and edit the GRUB config file using this command:

$ sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Then change the GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE parameter value to "menu", which will display the GRUB menu, and set the GRUB_TIMEOUT parameter value to "5", which will display the GRUB menu for only 5 seconds.

After editing, save and close the file.

Apply the new changes you made to the GRUB configuration file using this command:

$ sudo update-grub

That's it. You can now reboot your system to check the GRUB menu.

• How to Enable Automatic Login in Ubuntu

Wrap Up

Today, you've learned how to display the GRUB menu on a Linux system running on a VM. The method described in this article is demonstrated on Ubuntu 24.04 but is applicable to all other Linux distributions.