[FFmpeg-user] Unable to find a suitable output format for 'libx264'

[Antony Peiris]

> Please provide the ffmpeg command and the complete ffmpeg console
> output.

Thank you for your response, and my most sincere apologies about not 
providing enough info. My bad, won't happen again!

Here is the full console output:

===
# ffmpeg -y -i test.mov -filter:v scale=640:-1 -c:v libx264 -profile:v 
baseline -x264opts "level=3.0:vbv-maxrate=750:vbv-bufsize=3750:ref=1" 
-b:v 500k -r:v 25/1 -force_fps -movflags faststart -c:a aac -b:a 80k 
-pass 1 -strict -2 test_new.mp4
ffmpeg version N-50077-g71ae8d5 Copyright (c) 2000-2013 the FFmpeg 
developers
   built on Feb 18 2013 08:42:45 with gcc 4.4.6 (GCC) 20120305 (Red Hat 
4.4.6-4)
   configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libvorbis 
--enable-libvpx --enable-libx264
   libavutil      52. 17.102 / 52. 17.102
   libavcodec     54. 92.100 / 54. 92.100
   libavformat    54. 63.100 / 54. 63.100
   libavdevice    54.  3.103 / 54.  3.103
   libavfilter     3. 38.103 /  3. 38.103
   libswscale      2.  2.100 /  2.  2.100
   libswresample   0. 17.102 /  0. 17.102
   libpostproc    52.  2.100 / 52.  2.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'test.mov':
   Metadata:
     major_brand     : qt
     minor_version   : 537199360
     compatible_brands: qt
     creation_time   : 2013-02-02 19:09:54
   Duration: 00:26:49.68, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2960 kb/s
     Stream #0:0(eng): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, 
fltp, 171 kb/s
     Metadata:
       creation_time   : 2013-02-02 19:09:54
       handler_name    : Apple Alias Data Handler
     Stream #0:1(eng): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 
638x476 [SAR 1:1 DAR 319:238], 2800 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 600 tbn, 
59.94 tbc
     Metadata:
       creation_time   : 2013-02-02 19:09:54
       handler_name    : Apple Alias Data Handler
[libx264 @ 0x31559a0] height not divisible by 2 (640x477)
Output #0, mp4, to 'test_new.mp4':
   Metadata:
     major_brand     : qt
     minor_version   : 537199360
     compatible_brands: qt
     Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264, yuv420p, 640x477 [SAR 152163:152320 
DAR 319:238], q=-1--1, pass 1, 500 kb/s, 90k tbn, 25 tbc
     Metadata:
       creation_time   : 2013-02-02 19:09:54
       handler_name    : Apple Alias Data Handler
     Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: none, 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s
     Metadata:
       creation_time   : 2013-02-02 19:09:54
       handler_name    : Apple Alias Data Handler
Stream mapping:
   Stream #0:1 -> #0:0 (h264 -> libx264)
   Stream #0:0 -> #0:1 (aac -> aac)
Error while opening encoder for output stream #0:0 - maybe incorrect 
parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height
===

And again...

===
ffmpeg -y -i test.mov -filter:v scale=640:trunc(ow/a/2)*2 -c:v libx264 
-profile:v baseline -x264opts 
"level=3.0:vbv-maxrate=750:vbv-bufsize=3750:ref=1" -b:v 500k -r:v 25/1 
-force_fps -movflags faststart -c:a aac -b:a 80k -pass 1 -strict -2 
test_new.mp4
-bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
===

I later figured out that the following works:

===
ffmpeg -y -i test.mov -filter:v scale=*"640:trunc(ow/a/2)*2"* -c:v 
libx264 -profile:v baseline -x264opts 
"level=3.0:vbv-maxrate=750:vbv-bufsize=3750:ref=1" -b:v 500k -r:v 25/1 
-force_fps -movflags faststart -c:a aac -b:a 80k -pass 1 -strict -2 
test_new.mp4
===

Just thought I'd share this for anyone else who finds this on Google or 
runs into the same  newbie problem.

> Remember that top-posting is not recommended in this mailing list.

My apologies if it seemed that way, I genuinely considered this matter a 
new issue (since it was a specific error message) although still related 
to my original problem.

Thanks so much again for all the help, it's very much appreciated. Also, 
thank you for being patient with this newbie poster, I value the 
guidance and will remember next time.


On 20/02/2013 12:51 AM, Lou wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:18:38 +0530
> Antony Peiris <acct_reg at fireslug.com> wrote:
>
>> Thank you so much for the help, truly appreciate it.
>>
>> Actually, that filter was for scale, like so: -filter:v scale=640:-1
>>
>> This command did not work, so I tired
> "did not work" is one of the most common error messages here. Providing
> the ffmpeg command and the complete ffmpeg console output is much more
> useful.
>   
>> "scale=640:trunc(ow/a/2)*2"
>>
>> This also failed. I am assuming I have just messed up the syntax/format
> Please provide the ffmpeg command and the complete ffmpeg console
> output.
>
>> ... but I also tried this:
>> scale="trunc(oh*a*2)/2:640"
> Please provide the ffmpeg command and the complete ffmpeg console
> output.
>   
> Remember that top-posting is not recommended in this mailing list.
> _______________________________________________
> ffmpeg-user mailing list
> ffmpeg-user at ffmpeg.org
> http://ffmpeg.org/mailman/listinfo/ffmpeg-user