FFmpeg - Encode MPEG-4 Part 2 - Revision history

Dex at 14:35, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T14:35:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:35, 14 March 2026
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	[[Category:FFmpeg]]		[[Category:FFmpeg]]
	[[Category:~~MPEG-4~~ Part 2]]		[[Category:MPEG‑4 Part 2]]
	FFmpeg ~~supports~~ two primary ways to encode MPEG‑4 ~~Part 2~~ video: ~~using~~ the external ~~Xvid~~ library ~~(libxvid) or~~ FFmpeg’s native mpeg4 encoder. Both ~~produce~~ broadly compatible MPEG‑4 ~~Part 2~~ output, ~~but they differ in dependency requirements~~, ~~performance characteristics~~, and ~~quality at lower bitrates~~.		FFmpeg provides two primary ways to encode MPEG‑4 Part 2 video: the external libxvid library and FFmpeg’s native mpeg4 encoder. Both generate broadly compatible MPEG‑4 Part 2 output suitable for AVI‑based and legacy workflows. This article explains the differences, when to use each option, how to control FourCC behaviour, and practical examples.

	== Context ==		== Context ==
	MPEG‑4 ~~Part 2~~ is ~~used in legacy~~ and ~~AVI-based workflows~~. FFmpeg ~~supports it through~~ libxvid ~~and the~~ native ~~mpeg4~~ encoder.		MPEG‑4 Part 2 (sometimes simply “MPEG‑4 Visual”) is an older but still widely supported video compression standard. It remains relevant for:
			* Legacy systems and appliances
			* AVI‑based delivery pipelines
			* Devices that pre‑date widespread H.264 adoption
			* Archival scenarios where compatibility is more important than efficiency

			FFmpeg offers two encoders:
			* libxvid — external Xvid library, quality‑focused
			* mpeg4 — FFmpeg’s native MPEG‑4 Part 2 encoder

	== Encoding Options ==		== Encoding Options ==
	=== Using libxvid ===		=== Using libxvid (Xvid Encoder) ===
	<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code>		<code>
			ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi
			</code>

	=== Using ~~native~~ mpeg4 ===		=== Using the Native FFmpeg mpeg4 Encoder ===
	<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid output.avi</code>		<code>
			ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid output.avi
			</code>

	== FourCC ==		== FourCC ==
	Use -vtag to override the default FMP4 FourCC~~, for example~~: -vtag xvid.		Use -vtag to override the default FMP4 FourCC. Example:
			<code>
			-vtag xvid
			</code>

	== Quality Notes ==		== Quality Notes ==
	libxvid generally produces ~~better output~~ at low bitrates~~, particularly around~~ ~1000 kbit/s for 720p.		libxvid generally produces higher quality at low bitrates (~1000 kbit/s for 720p). The native encoder is faster and dependency‑free.

	== Practical Examples ==		== Practical Examples ==
	=== ~~High-quality~~ Xvid ===		=== High‑Quality Xvid Encoding ===
	<code>ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libxvid -qscale:v 3 -c:a libmp3lame -qscale:a 3 output.avi</code>		<code>
			ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libxvid -qscale:v 3 -c:a libmp3lame -qscale:a 3 output.avi
			</code>

	=== Native ~~MPEG4~~ with Xvid FourCC ===		=== Native MPEG‑4 with Xvid FourCC ===
	<code>ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid -b:v 1500k -c:a mp2 output.avi</code>		<code>
			ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid -b:v 1500k -c:a mp2 output.avi
			</code>

	== References ==		== References ==
	* https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/MPEG-4		* https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/MPEG-4

Dex at 13:55, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T13:55:22Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Category:FFmpeg]]
 [[Category:MPEG-4 Part 2]]
-FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid:<br/>
+FFmpeg supports two primary ways to encode MPEG‑4 Part 2 video: using the external Xvid library (libxvid) or FFmpeg’s native mpeg4 encoder. Both produce broadly compatible MPEG‑4 Part 2 output, but they differ in dependency requirements, performance characteristics, and quality at lower bitrates.
-<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code><br/>
-...and the native encoder mpeg4:<br/>
+== Context ==
-<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid output.avi</code><br/>
+MPEG‑4 Part 2 is used in legacy and AVI-based workflows. FFmpeg supports it through libxvid and the native mpeg4 encoder.
-The native encoder has the advantage of not requiring an external library. Both encoders should provide a similar output, but for lower bitrates/quality (e.g. 1000 kBit/s for 720p content), libxvid will deliver better quality than mpeg4.<br/>
-The default FourCC stored in an MPEG-4-coded file will be FMP4. If you want a different FourCC, use the -vtag option. E.g., -vtag xvid will force the FourCC xvid to be stored as the video FourCC rather than the default.<br/>
+== Encoding Options ==
-Reference: [[https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/MPEG-4 FFmpeg: MPEG-4 Encoding Guide]]
+=== Using libxvid ===

Knowledgebaseadmin at 12:37, 6 March 2025

2025-03-06T12:37:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:37, 6 March 2025
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	[[Category:FFmpeg]]		[[Category:FFmpeg]]
			[[Category:MPEG-4 Part 2]]
	FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid:<br/>		FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid:<br/>
	<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code><br/>		<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code><br/>

Knowledgebaseadmin at 11:49, 6 March 2025

2025-03-06T11:49:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:49, 6 March 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
			[[Category:FFmpeg]]
	FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid:<br/>		FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid:<br/>
	<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code><br/>		<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code><br/>

Knowledgebaseadmin: Knowledgebaseadmin moved page FFMPEG - Encode MPEG-4 Part 2 to FFmpeg - Encode MPEG-4 Part 2

2025-03-06T11:32:19Z

Knowledgebaseadmin moved page FFMPEG - Encode MPEG-4 Part 2 to FFmpeg - Encode MPEG-4 Part 2

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:32, 6 March 2025
(No difference)

Knowledgebaseadmin: Created page with "FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid:
`ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi`
...and the native encoder mpeg4:
`ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid output.avi`
The native encoder has the advantage of not requiring an external library. Both encoders should provide a similar output, but for lower bitrates/quality (e.g. 1000 kBit/s for 720p content), libxvid will deliver b..."

2025-03-06T09:39:58Z

Created page with "FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid: <code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code> ...and the native encoder mpeg4: <code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid output.avi</code> The native encoder has the advantage of not requiring an external library. Both encoders should provide a similar output, but for lower bitrates/quality (e.g. 1000 kBit/s for 720p content), libxvid will deliver b..."

New page

FFmpeg has two encoders to output MPEG-4 video. The external encoding library libxvid: 
<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libxvid output.avi</code> 
...and the native encoder mpeg4: 
<code>ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v mpeg4 -vtag xvid output.avi</code> 
The native encoder has the advantage of not requiring an external library. Both encoders should provide a similar output, but for lower bitrates/quality (e.g. 1000 kBit/s for 720p content), libxvid will deliver better quality than mpeg4. 
The default FourCC stored in an MPEG-4-coded file will be FMP4. If you want a different FourCC, use the -vtag option. E.g., -vtag xvid will force the FourCC xvid to be stored as the video FourCC rather than the default. 
Reference: [[https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/MPEG-4 FFmpeg: MPEG-4 Encoding Guide]]