How can I get the resolution (width and height) for a video file from a linux command line?

Question

I've been digging through the mplayer/mencoder and ffmpeg documentation and I can't seem to come up with anything. I'm not especially picky as to the output format as I can use a regular expression to pull it out, I just can't seem to get the data in the first place.

Solution 1

MediaInfo has a command line version and provides the dimensions together with tons of other information.

Solution 2

Use ffprobe (part of FFmpeg toolkit)

example:

ffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_format -show_streams ~/Movies/big_buck_bunny_720p_5mb.mp4

output:

{
    "streams": [
        {
            "index": 0,
            "codec_name": "h264",
            "codec_long_name": "H.264 / AVC / MPEG-4 AVC / MPEG-4 part 10",
            "profile": "Main",
            "codec_type": "video",
            "codec_time_base": "1/50",
            "codec_tag_string": "avc1",
            "codec_tag": "0x31637661",
            "width": 1280,
            "height": 720,
            "coded_width": 1280,
            "coded_height": 720,
            "has_b_frames": 0,
            "sample_aspect_ratio": "1:1",
            "display_aspect_ratio": "16:9",
            "pix_fmt": "yuv420p",
            "level": 31,
            "chroma_location": "left",
            "refs": 1,
            "is_avc": "1",
            "nal_length_size": "4",
            "r_frame_rate": "25/1",
            "avg_frame_rate": "25/1",
            "time_base": "1/12800",
            "start_pts": 0,
            "start_time": "0.000000",
            "duration_ts": 378368,
            "duration": "29.560000",
            "bit_rate": "1032960",
            "bits_per_raw_sample": "8",
            "nb_frames": "739",
            "disposition": {
                "default": 1,
                "dub": 0,
                "original": 0,
                "comment": 0,
                "lyrics": 0,
                "karaoke": 0,
                "forced": 0,
                "hearing_impaired": 0,
                "visual_impaired": 0,
                "clean_effects": 0,
                "attached_pic": 0
            },
            "tags": {
                "creation_time": "1970-01-01 00:00:00",
                "language": "und",
                "handler_name": "VideoHandler"
            }
        },
        {
            "index": 1,
            "codec_name": "aac",
            "codec_long_name": "AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)",
            "profile": "LC",
            "codec_type": "audio",
            "codec_time_base": "1/48000",
            "codec_tag_string": "mp4a",
            "codec_tag": "0x6134706d",
            "sample_fmt": "fltp",
            "sample_rate": "48000",
            "channels": 6,
            "channel_layout": "5.1",
            "bits_per_sample": 0,
            "r_frame_rate": "0/0",
            "avg_frame_rate": "0/0",
            "time_base": "1/48000",
            "start_pts": 0,
            "start_time": "0.000000",
            "duration_ts": 1419264,
            "duration": "29.568000",
            "bit_rate": "383960",
            "max_bit_rate": "416704",
            "nb_frames": "1386",
            "disposition": {
                "default": 1,
                "dub": 0,
                "original": 0,
                "comment": 0,
                "lyrics": 0,
                "karaoke": 0,
                "forced": 0,
                "hearing_impaired": 0,
                "visual_impaired": 0,
                "clean_effects": 0,
                "attached_pic": 0
            },
            "tags": {
                "creation_time": "1970-01-01 00:00:00",
                "language": "und",
                "handler_name": "SoundHandler"
            }
        }
    ],
    "format": {
        "filename": "/Users/farsheed/Movies/big_buck_bunny_720p_5mb.mp4",
        "nb_streams": 2,
        "nb_programs": 0,
        "format_name": "mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2",
        "format_long_name": "QuickTime / MOV",
        "start_time": "0.000000",
        "duration": "29.568000",
        "size": "5253880",
        "bit_rate": "1421504",
        "probe_score": 100,
        "tags": {
            "major_brand": "isom",
            "minor_version": "512",
            "compatible_brands": "isomiso2avc1mp41",
            "creation_time": "1970-01-01 00:00:00",
            "encoder": "Lavf53.24.2"
        }
    }
}

See documentation for more info.

Solution 3

Use ffprobe:

ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=width,height -of csv=s=x:p=0 input.mp4

Example output:

1280x720

See FFprobe Documentation and FFmpeg Wiki: FFprobe Tips for more info.

Solution 4

Using exiftool

run the command

exiftool VIDEOFILE

The output you get is similar to this:

ExifTool Version Number         : 9.76
File Name                       : gource2.mkv
Directory                       : .
File Size                       : 2010 MB
File Modification Date/Time     : 2015:01:07 14:16:22-06:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2015:01:07 14:16:22-06:00
File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2015:01:07 14:16:22-06:00
File Permissions                : rw-rw-r--
File Type                       : MKV
MIME Type                       : video/x-matroska
EBML Version                    : 1
EBML Read Version               : 1
Doc Type                        : matroska
Doc Type Version                : 4
Doc Type Read Version           : 2
Timecode Scale                  : 1 ms
Muxing App                      : libebml v1.3.0 + libmatroska v1.4.1
Writing App                     : mkvmerge v7.4.0 ('Circles') 64bit built on Dec 17 2014 11:31:10
Duration                        : 2:35:09
Date/Time Original              : 2015:01:07 20:14:22Z
Video Codec ID                  : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Video Frame Rate                : 60
Track Language                  : und
Image Width                     : 1280
Image Height                    : 1024
Display Width                   : 1280
Display Height                  : 1024
Track Number                    : 2
Track Type                      : Audio
Audio Codec ID                  : A_DTS
Default Duration                : 10.666666 ms
Audio Sample Rate               : 48000
Audio Channels                  : 6
Image Size                      : 1280x1024

Using ffmpeg/ffprobe

run the command

ffprobe VIDEOFILE

alternatively:

ffmpeg -i VIDEOFILE

The output you get is similar to this:

ffprobe version 2.1.6 Copyright (c) 2007-2014 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Nov 29 2014 12:07:56 with gcc 4.8.3 (GCC) 20140911 (Red Hat 4.8.3-7)
  configuration: --prefix=/usr --bindir=/usr/bin --datadir=/usr/share/ffmpeg --incdir=/usr/include/ffmpeg --libdir=/usr/lib64 --mandir=/usr/share/man --arch=x86_64 --optflags='-O2 -g -pipe -Wall -Wp,-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 -fexceptions -fstack-protector-strong --param=ssp-buffer-size=4 -grecord-gcc-switches -m64 -mtune=generic' --enable-bzlib --disable-crystalhd --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-libass --enable-libcdio --enable-libcelt --enable-libdc1394 --disable-indev=jack --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-openal --enable-libopencv --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libv4l2 --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxvid --enable-x11grab --enable-avfilter --enable-avresample --enable-postproc --enable-pthreads --disable-static --enable-shared --enable-gpl --disable-debug --disable-stripping --shlibdir=/usr/lib64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect
  libavutil      52. 48.101 / 52. 48.101
  libavcodec     55. 39.101 / 55. 39.101
  libavformat    55. 19.104 / 55. 19.104
  libavdevice    55.  5.100 / 55.  5.100
  libavfilter     3. 90.100 /  3. 90.100
  libavresample   1.  1.  0 /  1.  1.  0
  libswscale      2.  5.101 /  2.  5.101
  libswresample   0. 17.104 /  0. 17.104
  libpostproc    52.  3.100 / 52.  3.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'gource2.mkv':
  Metadata:
    creation_time   : 2015-01-07 20:14:22
  Duration: 02:35:09.70, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1811 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (Constrained Baseline), yuv420p, 1280x1024, SAR 1:1 DAR 5:4, 60 fps, 60 tbr, 1k tbn, 120 tbc (default)
    Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: dts (DTS), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 1536 kb/s (default)

Using mplayer

run the command

mplayer -really-quiet -ao null -vo null -identify -frames 0 VIDEOFILE

The output you get is similar to this:

ID_VIDEO_ID=0
ID_AUDIO_ID=0
ID_AID_0_LANG=eng
ID_CLIP_INFO_NAME0=creation_time
ID_CLIP_INFO_VALUE0=2015-01-07 20:14:22
ID_CLIP_INFO_N=1
ID_FILENAME=gource2.mkv
ID_DEMUXER=lavfpref
ID_VIDEO_FORMAT=H264
ID_VIDEO_BITRATE=0
ID_VIDEO_WIDTH=1280
ID_VIDEO_HEIGHT=1024
ID_VIDEO_FPS=60.000
ID_VIDEO_ASPECT=0.0000
ID_AUDIO_FORMAT=8193
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=1536000
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=6
ID_START_TIME=0.00
ID_LENGTH=9309.70
ID_SEEKABLE=1
ID_CHAPTERS=0
ID_VIDEO_CODEC=ffh264
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=1536000
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=6
ID_AUDIO_CODEC=ffdca
ID_EXIT=EOF

Using mediainfo

run the command

mediainfo VIDEOFILE

The output you get is similar to this:

General
Unique ID                                : 311795358270161665158539797930749663166 (0xEA919A09196F0CAEF4E1B4FEB72B17BE)
Complete name                            : gource2.mkv
Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 4 / Version 2
File size                                : 1.96 GiB
Duration                                 : 2h 35mn
Overall bit rate                         : 1 811 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2015-01-07 20:14:22
Writing application                      : mkvmerge v7.4.0 ('Circles') 64bit built on Dec 17 2014 11:31:10
Writing library                          : libebml v1.3.0 + libmatroska v1.4.1

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : [email protected]
Format settings, CABAC                   : No
Format settings, ReFrames                : 1 frame
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Bit rate                                 : 266 Kbps
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 1 024 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 5:4
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Writing library                          : x264 core 138 r2363 c628e3b
Encoding settings                        : cabac=0 / ref=1 / deblock=0:1:1 / analyse=0:0 / me=dia / subme=0 / psy=1 / psy_rd=0.40:0.00 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=0 / weightp=0 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=0 / intra_refresh=0 / rc=crf / mbtree=0 / crf=22.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=0
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : DTS
Format/Info                              : Digital Theater Systems
Mode                                     : 16
Format settings, Endianness              : Big
Codec ID                                 : A_DTS
Duration                                 : 2h 35mn
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 509 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                                : 24 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 1.64 GiB (83%)
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No

time summary

exiftool
    real    0m0.089s
    user    0m0.081s
    sys     0m0.008s
mplayer
    real    0m0.050s
    user    0m0.034s
    sys     0m0.017s
ffprobe/ffmpeg
    real    0m0.017s
    user    0m0.011s
    sys     0m0.007s
mediainfo
    real    0m0.029s
    user    0m0.025s
    sys     0m0.004s

YMMV, but ffprobe is the fastest followed by mediainfo then mplayer and finally exiftool

ffprobe < mediainfo < mplayer < exiftool

Solution 5

To return only the Width and Height mediainfo is an excellent tool.

mediainfo --Inform="Video;%Width%" Videofile && mediainfo --Inform="Video;%Height%" Videofile will do exactly that, no more, no less, for a vast array of supported video files.

There is a long list of useful Inform= parameters which you can obtain with the command mediainfo --Info-Parameters

If you want the output in standard WidthXHeight format use Width=$(mediainfo --Inform="Video;%Width%" Video.File)&& Height=$(mediainfo --Inform="Video;%Height%" Video.File)&&echo $Width"X"$Height

There's a bash script here that you could easily modify to meet your needs.

Or as darkdragon mentioned in a comment recently mediainfo --Inform="Video;%Width%X%Height%" Videofile

Sources:

Adding an Overlay Using FFMPEG With Minimal Re-Encoding

http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/xenial/man1/mediainfo.1.html

whiptail: How to redirect output to environment variable?

How to concatenate string variables in Bash

View more solutions

Comments

[Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com]

askubuntu.com/questions/249828/…

[Jeremy Logan]

I tried it on a few and it was crazy unreliable. Seemed like it could only really handle mpeg files.

[Ben]

ffmpeg -i video.mpg is also an option.

[laughingbovine]

@Ben ffprobe does the same exact thing except it doesn't return an error code (and expect you to provide encoding options)

[Elder Geek]

This is useful. For a more targeted approach see my answer :-)

[Li3ro]

do you happen to have the bean classes for the fields for ffprobe show_streams command? (I would like to serialize)

[Omid1989]

Thanks. This answer really helped me.

[Elder Geek]

I'm glad it helped!

[darkdragon]

One can also do mediainfo --Inform="Video;%Width%X%Height%" Video.file directly.

[Alejo Dev]

In my system (Linux mint), I had to do sudo apt install mplayer, and then /usr/share/mplayer/midentify.sh video.avi

[Veranek]

You can use jq to pipe in the width too. ffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_streams <PATH TO FILE> | jq -r '.streams[0].width'

[Jeremy Caney]

They're explicitly asking how to get this via the command line. There are likely reasons they want to do that, such as scripting. This doesn't offer an answer to this question (which I think we can conclude was effectively answered nearly a decade ago).

[chicOrtiz]

mediainfo works for me. I was looking for the framerate of a Matroska file inside Linux Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS. Thank you so much!

[chicOrtiz]

mediainfo works for me. I was looking for the framerate of a Matroska file inside Linux Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS. Thank you so much!

[Mike Shiyan]

What are all the parameters?