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Add to SafariWhen comparing ffmpeg vs Final Cut Pro X, the Slant community recommends ffmpeg for most people. In the question“What are the best video encoding tools?” ffmpeg is ranked 4th while Final Cut Pro X is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose ffmpeg is:
Works on Linux, OS X and Windows.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Cross-platform
Works on Linux, OS X and Windows.
Pro Powerful
In addition to having great flexibility over demuxer, decoder, processer, encoder, muxer choice and settings, ffmpeg can crop, stream, merge audio and video from different sources and perform many other tasks.
Pro Free and open source
Licensed under LGPL.
Pro Screen capture
You can use ffmpeg to record your desktop along with audio.
Pro Extensive list of formats supported
Among the more common formats ffmpeg can handle are h.264, HEVC(h.265), mp3, AAC, mpeg-4, wmv3, ProRes, QuickTime, SWF, Speex, FLAC, VP9 and many more. To get a full list in terminal type: ffmpeg-formats
Pro Excellent streaming support
Because ffmpeg allows transcoding on the fly and supports multiple streaming protocols such as rtmp, rtsp, http, ftp, hls, you can use it to stream to services such as twitch.tv or set up your own streaming solution.
You can use both local realtime recordings or another stream as a source, transcode it if necessary, and output it to a different stream.
ffmpeg -i rtmp://server/live/originalStream -c:a copy -c:v libx264 -vpre slow -f flv rtmp://server/live/h264Stream
Pro GPU utilization
Pro Powerful media organization
Pro Resolution independence
Pro Real-time graphics and effects
Pro 64-bit architecture
Pro Native format support
Pro Full high-quality pro-res support
Pro Integration with Motion
Pro Multicam editing
Pro ColorSync-managed color pipeline
Cons
Con Steep learning curve
Unless you use a front-end (that has reduced functionality), ffmpeg might be intimidating at first.
Con You need lots of plugins
For example tracking is something Final Cut can't do. Only with a plugin which costs (example) around 100$.
As well as for advanced colour correction you have get a third-party plugin.
Con Important compatibility and format issues
Breaks compatibility with previous versions of FCP and does not support industry standards such as EDL, OMF, AAF. You can export to their version of XML and use third-party tools for a workaround (with limited success).
Con Works only on OS X
Con Color grading is unfamiliar and nonprofessional
Especially compared to Premiere's Lumetri Color Panel in 2015 cc.
