Add chapters to a video file using `ffmpeg`

ffmpeg

Source(s)

• https://ikyle.me/blog/2020/add-mp4-chapters-ffmpeg

• get the original metadata from the video file

ffmpeg -i INPUT.mp4 -f ffmetadata ffmetadata.txt

;FFMETADATA1
major_brand=isom
minor_version=512
compatible_brands=isomiso2avc1mp41
encoder=Lavf60.16.100

• add chapters to the metadata file
  • when using TIMEBASE=1/1000, the START and END values have to be in milliseconds, i.e. a timestamp of 2:32:13 would translate to 9133000

Example

;FFMETADATA1
major_brand=isom
minor_version=512
compatible_brands=isomiso2avc1mp41
encoder=Lavf60.16.100
 
[CHAPTER]
TIMEBASE=1/1000
START=0
; 00:39:39
END=2379000
title=Start
 
[CHAPTER]
TIMEBASE=1/1000
; 00:39:39
START=2379001
; 02:07:50
END=7670000
title=First Performance
 
[CHAPTER]
TIMEBASE=1/1000
; 02:07:50
START=7670001
; 02:32:13
END=9133000
title=Break
 
[CHAPTER]
TIMEBASE=1/1000
; 02:32:13
START=9133001
; 03:57:36
END=14246000
title=Second Performance

• write a new video file using the edited metadata file

ffmpeg -i INPUT.mp4 -i ffmetadata.txt -map_metadata 1 -codec copy OUTPUT.mp4