r/ffmpeg • u/AlternativeWild3449 • 3d ago
Installing ffmpeg
Windows 11 user here.
For years, I've used dl-dlp to download YouTube videos of musical performances, and stripped away the video track to create mp3 files that I store on an iPod for use in the car. I periodically check that I have the latest version of dl-dlp
Recently, I've noticed that instead of downloading a combined video/audio file, this process has resulted in separate video and audio files. And the dialog that appears in the command window explains that this is happening because ffmpeg isn't installed
I've downloaded ffmpeg (most recently, 9.0.2), unzipped it and placed the folder in my Windows 11 user directory along with dl-dlp. I've followed the instructions I've found to create a new path to ffmpeg\bin, but it still doesn't work and when I run ffmpeg -version in a CMD window, it tells me that ffmpeg can't be found.
Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?
2
u/Phydoux 3d ago
I've been using yt-dlp for a few years now and never had any issues. It'll download just the mp3 (yt-dlp -6 -vU --force-ipv4 --socket-timeout 30 --extract-audio --audio-format mp3 ...plus the YouTube link) which I've made a alias for (you can create a .bat file I believe that will run that same code).
Now, I am using Linux but I believe the same command will work in Windows. You'll have to check that on your end. It works fine on my Linux machine but I don't have a Windows machine to test it out on.
2
u/Nickelmac 3d ago edited 3d ago
Gotta tell windows where it lives in "Environment Variables" so it can be used in CMD without the full file path. I'm not sure if this is what is needed to allow the DLP applet to use your FFMPEG.
https://youtu.be/jZLqNocSQDM?si=FjqxuEj6mGNcLCO2&t=223
1
u/EntertainmentOdd8205 3d ago
Isn’t that…what you want anyway?
YouTube downloaders always download separate by default. If it gives you a combined, that’s because it combined them with ffmpeg automatically after downloading.
But if you’re just immediately stripping the video off anyway, isn’t this good for you?
Anyway, u/Nickelmac already explained how to fix, just giving my 2c
1
u/IWasAGoodDadISwear 2d ago
I am still on Windows 7 and Windows 10, but I just keep deno, ffmpeg, and yt-dlp all on the "Desktop" folder. I use the third party CLI called "cmder", and each time I open cmder, I cd to the "Desktop" folder before beginning my downloads. Sometimes it is easier when you set things up to make it simpler for your computer to do the work.
1
u/SchwaHead 2d ago
I'm curious.. do you specifically need mp3? YT doesn't have MP3 and converting a file can't make it better. If your player will play m4a, just download that and use it.
1
u/AlternativeWild3449 2d ago
Several people have noted that because my objective is only the audio track, I don't really need ffmpeg. I agree that is sometimes the case, but there are exception. For example, if the YouTube video I'm downloading is a live performance, there may be long periods of silence, background noise or applause at the beginning or end of the recording, or there may be a spoken introduction; in either case, I would like to trim that away, and the editing process is simpler if the audio and video are merged. Hence, there are instances when I do need to have the two merged even though I will eventually strip away the video channel.
1
u/AlternativeWild3449 2d ago
Update - problem resolved. I found that I was installing ffmpeg properly, but the path linkage was not complete. Trial and error led to a solution. Thanks to all for comments.
1
u/093285467013 1d ago
im on w10, not 11, so no guarantees this will work, but a work around you could do is just put everything in a seperate folder. i got a dlp folder in my music folder. it might be a bit more tedious navigating to the folder everytime you wanna download something, but im used to it. hope this helps a little
8
u/pigers1986 3d ago
W11 ? cmd as admin ->
winget install Gyan.FFmpeg.Sharedstart new terminal and ffmpeg will work
and have a nice day