MPEG2 Frame Capture

[reven]

has anyone had any luck with this? ive been able to capture a frame with every other file format, but i really really really need to be able to capture a frame (to jpeg, bmp, tiff whatever) from a mpeg2 file. ive searched thecodeproject.com and none of the guides there can handled mpeg2, ive googled until my eyes have bleed and had no joy.

the best i have done is found a program called snatchit, which does want i want by its shareware, and you have to pay US$30 for it, which is a bloody rip off.

anyone know if you can capture a frame from the command line with ffmpeg or virtual dub (any version/modification), or anyone know any free programs that can do this from the command line. i would prefer to do it via code, but the command line will do.

[reven]

ok still no joy on this front, anyone know a program (command line) that can convert part of a mpeg2 file to another format, quickly?

ffmpeg can do it but it takes over 2 minutes on my machine to create a 2second avi file. i need to be able to specify where in the mpeg2 file i want the new file to start and for how long. i figured since i can get a frame from a avi file it will be easier finding a free tool to convert a segment of the mpeg2 file to avi.

i need something that is rather small aswell since i want to include it in the my videos package (dont want people to have to download 30megs just to grab a thumbnail )

[-stattik-]

My thread on mencoder should be able to do that.

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=10606&page=2

If you create an edl file, you can specify when you want to start and stop.

Here's a sample:

0.03 60.00 0
120.00 180.00 0

Assuming this is a 3 minute file, this would start recording at 60 seconds and stop recording at 120 seconds. A mpeg reencode transcodes at about 45fps on my 1.5 ghz pc.

[-stattik-]

Mplayer also has an output option to jpeg:

Video output drivers are interfaces to different video output facilities. The syntax is:
-vo <driver1[uboption1[=value]:...],driv- er2,...[,]>

jpeg
Output each frame into a JPEG file in the current directory. Each file takes the frame number padded with leading zeros as name.

http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/man/en/mpla...YER%20ONLY)

[reven]

thanks stattik i managed to get it to work using mplayer without needing to conver the file first.

[erik]

If you only want to capture a single frame from an mpeg2 file you can use mpeg2cut2 (google for it)
Its free and you can dump a .bmp picture of any frame.
Very quick navigation too.

[reven]

do you know if mpeg2cut2 works from the command line? the documentation doesnt seem to mention it at all.

[erik]

Sorry, missed that requirement, nope, it does not.

[reven]

bugger....