Convert using your custom ffmpeg or imagemagick commands

FFmpeg and imagemagick are far developed and proven tools for video and image processing. We are also using modified versions of these tools under the hood. Because of this we also want that our users can profit from the full power of these tools. The most important conversion options are configurable with our webinterface and API options. Due the fact that these tools are so powerful and offer tons of options, we can never implement all of these options.

Because of this CloudConvert now offers the option to set your own, custom command line options for the ffmpeg command and the convert command (part of the imagemagick suite). Many of our users know these tools already and are familiar with the command line options.

We always use one of the latest available versions of these tools. Currently this is ffmpeg 2.3.3 and imagemagick 6.8.9. This means you can always profit from the full power of these tools without the pain of hosting, maintaining and upgrading them.

From today you can set your custom commands using our webinterface. To do this use the advanced options and set up a custom command.  Check out the ffmpeg and imagemagick documentations to find out about all possible parameters. The following custom command applies an grayscale filter to a MP4 video.

Of course, you can save your custom command as preset to use it more easily. Also, you can use the custom commands using our API. Therefore see the following example of starting a process:

{
 "input": "download",
 "file": "https://cloudconvert.org/assets/a0206cf7/testfiles/mp4example.mp4",
 "outputformat": "mp4",
 "converter" : "ffmpeg",
 "converteroptions": {
  "command" : "-i {INPUTFILE} -vf format=gray,format=yuv422p {OUTPUTFILE}"
 }
}

We are looking forward how you use this new powerful feature.  Also, let us know your feedback at any time!