Use 'ffmpeg' on Ubuntu to trim a video

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To trim a video using FFmpeg on Ubuntu, use the -ss (seek to start time) and -t (duration) options, or -to (end time) option, followed by the input and output file paths. 

Here's a breakdown of the common trimming methods:

1. Trimming from a Start Time and Duration:
Command: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:10 -t 00:00:20 output.mp4
-i input.mp4: Specifies the input video file.
-ss 00:00:10: Sets the start time to 10 seconds (0 hours, 0 minutes, 10 seconds).
-t 00:00:20: Specifies the duration of the trimmed segment as 20 seconds.
output.mp4: Specifies the output file name. 

2. Trimming from a Start Time to an End Time:
Command: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:10 -to 00:00:30 output.mp4
-i input.mp4: Specifies the input video file.
-ss 00:00:10: Sets the start time to 10 seconds.
-to 00:00:30: Sets the end time to 30 seconds.
output.mp4: Specifies the output file name. 


3. Trimming from the Beginning to a Specific Duration:
Command: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -t 00:00:30 output.mp4
-i input.mp4: Specifies the input video file.
-t 00:00:30: Specifies the duration of the trimmed segment as 30 seconds, starting from the beginning.
output.mp4: Specifies the output file name. 

4. Trimming from a Specific Time to the End:
Command: ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:10 -to 00:00:30 output.mp4
-i input.mp4: Specifies the input video file.
-ss 00:00:10: Sets the start time to 10 seconds.
-to 00:00:30: Sets the end time to 30 seconds.
output.mp4: Specifies the output file name. 

Tips for Using FFmpeg:
Install FFmpeg:
If you don't have FFmpeg installed, open a terminal and run sudo apt-get install ffmpeg. 

-c copy for faster trimming:
Use -c copy to copy the video and audio streams without re-encoding, which is faster but might result in cuts on keyframes. 

Accuracy:
If you need precise cuts, consider re-encoding the trimmed portion for better accuracy. 

Multiple Segments:
To cut multiple segments, use the concat demuxer or filters. 

-vf trim filter:
You can also use the trim filter for more control over the trimming process. 

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