FFMpeg needs --enable-x11grab

[cadorn]

Please add the --enable-x11grab option for the ffmpeg formula.

See: http://ffmpeg.org/trac/ffmpeg/ticket/821

Example:

ffmpeg -f x11grab -r 25 -s 1280x720 -i :0.0+0,24 -vcodec libx264 -vpre lossless_ultrafast -threads 0 video.mkv

Thanks!

[MikeMcQuaid]

What does it do?

[cadorn]

Record screencasts. See:

http://wiki.oz9aec.net/index.php/High_quality_screen_capture_with_Ffmpeg
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1179861.html
https://ffmpeg.org/trac/ffmpeg/wiki/How%20to%20grab%20the%20desktop%20(screen)%20with%20FFmpeg
http://infinitelygalactic.blogspot.ca/2011/12/recording-your-linux-desktop-with.html

[MikeMcQuaid]

Cool. Can you make a pull request (after checking this works without X11 on OSX)? Thanks!

[eladg]

Will love to do it, after: #17699

[eladg]

After doing some research, apparently x11grab can only capture X application (like Gimp, Wireshark and other ported apps). Normal screen capturing is not possible using x11grab (bummer).

Sources:
http://ffmpeg.org/pipermail/ffmpeg-devel/2010-May/095594.html
http://superuser.com/questions/497215/error-when-trying-to-enable-x11grab-in-ffmpeg
http://jorgenpt.tumblr.com/post/21484803576/livecasting-osx-desktop

[cadorn]

Oh, too bad :)

Thanks for looking into it anyway.

[robertoandrade]

was this ever integrated? I'm actually in need for x11grab to capture some X applications screenshot and didn't want to recompile ffmpeg just for that.

[eladg]

@robertoandrade try compile ffmpeg yourself and see if it works, if so, we can add it to homebrew support...

Compiling ffmpeg should be relatively easy...

[mistydemeo]

It doesn't look like a patch was ever merged for this, but we'd review one.

[robertoandrade]

I followed the compilation instructions, but it looks like that option seems to be for legacy purposes only (Xlib users), it's automatically enabled if libxcb is installed (don't think that is the case on OSX though).

According to the following instructions ffmpeg under OSX should really use avfoundation device instead of x11grab, so as long as you adapt your ffmpeg command line option to pass in a different -f argument as well as -i with the proper format depending on what environment you're running on (Linux or OSX), anyone attempting to use x11grab under OSX should be good to go, so I guess no work is needed from Homebrew after all.