Different h264 encoders in FFmpeg
In ffmpeg 4.0, there are several h264 encoders. If you use ./configure --list-encoders | grep "h264", you can see them.
- h264_amf
- h264_nvenc
- h264_omx
- h264_qsv
- h264_v4l2m2m
- h264_vaapi
- h264_videotoolbox
I do not know what's the difference between. And I want convert local gif to mp4 using ffmpeg, so which encoder works for me?
Answer
Each encoder use a different API to access video hardware :
- h264_amf to access AMD gpu, (windows only)
- h264_nvenc use nvidia gpu cards (work with windows and linux)
- h264_omx raspberry pi encoder
- h264_qsv use Intel Quick Sync Video (hardware embedded in modern Intel CPU)
- h264_v4l2m2m use V4L2 Linux kernel api to access hardware codecs
- h264_vaapi use VAAPI which is another abstraction API to access video acceleration hardware (Linux only)
- h264_videotoolbox use videotoolbox an API to access hardware on OS X
With proper hardware, each encoder will succeed to encode your decoded gif to mp4.
You can custom this command to convert gif to mp4 :
$ ffmpeg -i local-gif.gif -c:v libx264 output.mp4
libx264 is the default encoder which does not use any specific hardware this can be changed to the desired encoder.