Help installing FFmpeg

Development
1

Hello! Inspired by the VCV Recorder module, I’m hoping to use ffmpeg to save and load audio files in my modules. I’m currently using dr_wav, which is fine, but I’d like to switch to a new library. However, I’m having some trouble understanding how to include FFmpeg in my project.

Copying VCV Recorder’s approach, I added

extern "C" {
#include <libavcodec/avcodec.h>
#include <libavformat/avformat.h>
#include <libswscale/swscale.h>
}

Next step, put those folders in place. I’ve downloaded the source for FFmpeg and have everything unzipped and untarred. But where do I put the files? Sorry, I know this is a very basic question. I tried searching these forums with terms like, “installing C++ libraries” but nothing turned up. Thanks!!

2

You have to build the library. Take a look at VCV Recorder‘s Makefile how to do it. I hardly know anything about FFmpeg so I can’t help you with the build options…

1 Like
3

Ah, excellent. Thanks for the lead. I may be able to get it working from here. :wink:

4

Important information you should mention:

  1. What platform are you developing on?
  2. Check the build instructions Each platform is a little different.

If (as I suspect) you’re on Windows you don’t need to build FFMPEG, you can just install the libraries (and coincidentally the useful command line tools) for FFMPEG

5

Using ffmpeg for WAV encoding is ridiculously overpowered. Even using ffmpeg for general audio encoding/decoding is overpowered. Use something like libsndfile instead. Think smart, not hard.

1 Like
6

Thanks for the heads up. I ended up trying AudioFile.h, which is treating me well so far and is hopefully lighter weight.

7

Haven’t heard of that one, but as long as your plugin is GPLv3, it looks like it will work.