Duration of video files

[NTKBO]

I'm trying to automate starting a "Count Down" video before meetings. One of the hard parts is figuring out the time to start the video so that it ends at a specified time. To have my script automatically figure this out, I need to find the duration of a video file.

(I use the term "duration" to differentiate from "length" = 'space consumed for storage')

I this code which works on MOST video, but NOT MP4, nor MOV.

$FileName = '"C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Loops\LP- terracing waterfall 1.mpg"'

mciSendString("Open " & $FileName & " alias MediaFile")

mciSendString("Set MediaFile time format milliseconds")

$answer = mciSendString("Status MediaFile length")

mciSendString("Close MediaFile")

$Mins = int($Answer/60000)

$Seconds = int($Answer/1000)

$Secs = int($Seconds-($Mins*60))

MsgBox(4096,"file Duration","Duration - " &$Mins &"mn  " &$Secs&"s")


Func mciSendString($string)
   Local $ret
   $ret = DllCall("winmm.dll","int","mciSendString","str",$string,"str","","int",65534,"hwnd",0)
   If Not @error Then Return $ret[2]
EndFunc

(Many thanks to "Lakes " and "Larry" for posting this!)

I haven't had much luck searching for similar postings, but figure one of the "media player" coders may have already solved this.

(About 1/4 of my videos are MP4, and a few are MOV)

Above code tested accurate with:

MPG (1 & 2)

AVI (MP4 video & MPC audio embedded in AVI DivX5 Format)

MP3

(The MP4 files tested were YouTube Downloads, and MOV is a quicktime format)

[iamtheky]

With an assist from ffmpeg...

Im sure there is a nicer way than piping/parsing, but it works for all the filetypes i tried.

$file = inputbox ("Which File" , "Select file")

$time = runwait(@comspec & " /c " & "c:\ffmpeg -i " & '"' & $file & '"' & " 2>c:\pipe.txt")

$timeFile = FileRead ("c:\pipe.txt")

$timeArray = StringRegExp ($timeFile , "Duration: (\d\d:\d\d:\d\d)" , 3)

msgbox (0, '' , $timeArray[0])

filedelete ("c:\pipe.txt")

[NTKBO]

Thank you for your reply!

After tracking down ffmpeg and downloading it pre-compiled, I was wholly unable to get your code to work. The error is likely to be mine. I placed ffmpeg.exe in "C:\", but it can't seem to locate any of the files I send it. I eventually got it to accept the path using FileGetShortName, but it still doesn't see it.

I'm also curious why you wouldn't use ffprobe, but I was unable to get that to work either.

It gets an error:

>"C:\Program Files\AutoIt3\SciTE\AutoIt3Wrapper\AutoIt3Wrapper.exe" /run /prod /ErrorStdOut /in "C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\AutoIt Proj\MediaLen2.au3" /autoit3dir "C:\Program Files\AutoIt3" /UserParams

+>17:43:35 Starting AutoIt3Wrapper v.2.0.1.24 Environment(Language:0409 Keyboard:00000409 OS:WIN_XP/Service Pack 3 CPU:X64 OS:X86)

>Running AU3Check (1.54.19.0) from:C:\Program Files\AutoIt3

+>17:43:35 AU3Check ended.rc:0

>Running:(3.3.6.1):C:\Program Files\AutoIt3\autoit3.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\AutoIt Proj\MediaLen2.au3"

C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\AutoIt Proj\MediaLen2.au3 (15) : ==> Subscript used with non-Array variable.:

msgbox (0, '' , $timeArray[0])

msgbox (0, '' , $timeArray^ ERROR

->17:43:36 AutoIT3.exe ended.rc:1

>Exit code: 1 Time: 1.994

Output ("Pipe.txt") is:

FFmpeg version SVN-r25512, Copyright (c) 2000-2010 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Oct 18 2010 04:06:45 with gcc 4.4.2
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-libgsm --enable-pthreads --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libspeex --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libopencore_amrwb --enable-libopencore_amrnb --enable-libvpx --arch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-libxvid --enable-libx264 --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-librtmp --extra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm' --target-os=mingw32 --enable-avisynth --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --cc='ccache i686-mingw32-gcc' --enable-memalign-hack
  libavutil     50.32. 3 / 50.32. 3
  libavcore      0. 9. 1 /  0. 9. 1
  libavcodec    52.92. 0 / 52.92. 0
  libavformat   52.83. 0 / 52.83. 0
  libavdevice   52. 2. 2 / 52. 2. 2
  libavfilter    1.52. 0 /  1.52. 0
  libswscale     0.12. 0 /  0.12. 0
C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Loops\3m basic No music -CD.mp4: No such file or directory

The code I used:

Global $file, $time, $timeFile, $timeArray[12]=[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]

;$file = inputbox ("Which File" , "Select file")
$File = FileGetShortName("C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Loops\3m basic No music -CD.mp4")


$time = runwait(@comspec & " /c " & "c:\ffmpeg -i " & '"' & $file & '"' & " 2>c:\pipe.txt")
;$time = runwait(@comspec & " /c " & "c:\ffprobe -pretty " & '"' & $file & '"' & " 2>c:\pipe.txt")

$timeFile = FileRead ("c:\pipe.txt")

$timeArray = StringRegExp ($timeFile , "Duration: (\d\d:\d\d:\d\d)" , 3)

msgbox (0, '' , $timeArray[0])

;filedelete ("c:\pipe.txt")

(I hard coded the file because the InputBox was a pain for repetitive testing.)

[iamtheky]

I'd never heard of ffprobe, looks nice, thanks.

And dont know why its not working, I tried with all sorts of paths and names and its not breaking for me.

(and you can always set a default value in the inputbox, for the repetitive testing action)

Edited February 27, 2011 by iamtheky

[smartee]

Try placing "ffprobe.exe" in the same directory as your script, and having no spaces in the path to your script.

Then try omitting the "-i" parameter; which gives something like this:

Func _durGet($thisVid)
    $tempPipe=@ScriptDir&"\piped.tmp"
    ShellExecuteWait(@ComSpec,' /c ffprobe.exe "'&$thisVid&'" 2>'&$tempPipe)
    Return StringRegExp(FileRead($tempPipe), "Duration: (\d\d:\d\d:\d\d\.\d\d)", 3)
EndFunc   ;==>_durGet

_ArrayDisplay(_durGet("C:\Videos\Sample.mp4"))

EDIT: clumsy code & faulty grammar

Edited February 27, 2011 by smartee

[wakillon]

You can use MediaInfo.dll !

#include <Array.au3>

$_InfoArray = _GetInfoArrayByMediaInfodll ( 'D:\video.mp4' )
_ArrayDisplay ( $_InfoArray )
$_InfoString = _ExtractInfoOfMediaInfodllArray ( $_InfoArray, 'playtime' )
ConsoleWrite ( $_InfoString & @Crlf )

Func _GetInfoArrayByMediaInfodll ( $_MediaFilePath )
    If Not FileExists ( @SystemDir & '\MediaInfo.dll' ) Then FileInstall ( 'MediaInfo.dll', @SystemDir & '\MediaInfo.dll' )
    $_Dll = DllOpen ( "MediaInfo.dll" )
    $_Handle = DllCall ( $_Dll, "ptr", "MediaInfo_New" )
    DllCall ( $_Dll, "int", "MediaInfo_Open", "ptr", $_Handle[0], "wstr", $_MediaFilePath )
    DllCall ( $_Dll, "wstr", "MediaInfo_Option", "ptr", 0, "wstr", "Complete", "wstr", "1" )
    $_Inform = DllCall ( $_Dll, "wstr", "MediaInfo_Inform", "ptr", $_Handle[0], "int", 0 )
    DllClose ( $_Dll )
    $_Return = StringSplit ( $_Inform[0], @lf )
    If Not @error Then
        Return $_Return
    Else
        Return 0
    EndIf
EndFunc ;==> _GetInfoArrayByMediaInfodll ( )

Func _ExtractInfoOfMediaInfodllArray ( $_InfoArray, $_Find )
    For $_E = 1 To Ubound ( $_InfoArray ) - 1
        If StringInStr ( $_InfoArray[$_E], $_Find ) Then Return $_InfoArray[$_E]
    Next
    Return 0
EndFunc ;==> _ExtractInfoOfMediaInfodllArray ( )

Information you can get from MediaInfo :

General: title, author, director, album, track number, date, duration...

Video: codec, aspect, fps, bitrate...

Audio: codec, sample rate, channels, language, bitrate...

Text: language of subtitle

Chapters: number of chapters, list of chapters

Format (container) does MediaInfo support :

Video: MKV, OGM, AVI, DivX, WMV, QuickTime, Real, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DVD (VOB)...

(Codecs: DivX, XviD, MSMPEG4, ASP, H.264, AVC...)

Audio: OGG, MP3, WAV, RA, AC3, DTS, AAC, M4A, AU, AIFF...

Subtitles: SRT, SSA, ASS, SAMI...

Edited February 27, 2011 by wakillon

[dynamitemedia]

wakillon  i have tried using this script and all i get is this error.... at first i thought cause i had pointed to the .dll without installing  ( will that work)

and even after installing media info i get the same error:

==> Subscript used on non-accessible variable.:
DllCall ( $_Dll, "int", "MediaInfo_Open", "ptr", $_Handle[0], "wstr", $_MediaFilePath )
DllCall ( $_Dll, "int", "MediaInfo_Open", "ptr", $_Handle^ ERROR
>Exit code: 1    Time: 0.4139

only change i made was the location of the file location like here:
 

$_InfoArray = _GetInfoArrayByMediaInfodll ( 'C:\Documents and Settings\admin\Desktop\recordings\Big 10 Network_11_26_22_32_2014.flv' )

[dynamitemedia]

i have even tried using ffprobe like this but im just getting zero back

$rName = "World of Martial Arts Television_11_11_02_32_2014.flv"
$rVideo = $recordings & "\" &  $rName
$ffmpegProbe = '"' & $ffprobe & '" -v error -show_format -of flat=s=_ -show_entries format=duration "'& $rVideo &'" '
$command = 'cmd /k  "' & $ffmpegProbe & '" '
local $PID = Run($command, @ScriptDir, @SW_show, 0x08)
$line = StdoutRead($PID) ;read stdout
$return = StringRegExp($line,"format_duration=22.168000", 1)
ConsoleWrite($line  & @CRLF)

i can see in the console this info tho:

format_duration="22.168000"
format_tags_length="25992064"
format_tags_language="eng"
format_tags_timescale="48000"
format_tags_sampletype="mp4a"
format_tags_audiochannels="2"
format_tags_videoframerate="25"
format_tags_aacaot="2"
format_tags_avclevel="30"
format_tags_avcprofile="66"
format_tags_frameWidth="876"
format_tags_frameHeight="480"
format_tags_displayWidth="853"
format_tags_displayHeight="480"
format_tags_moovposition="57041862"
format_tags_encoder="Lavf56.12.103"

I would much rather use ffProbe if possible as it is a easy portable file

 

 

im usig esamples as shown here:
https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/FFprobeTips

 

eval $(ffprobe -v error -show_format -of flat=s=_ input.mkv | grep format_duration); echo $format_duration

Alternatively you can omit grep by using the -show_entries option:
 

eval $(ffprobe -v error -show_format -of flat=s=_ -show_entries format=duration input.mkv); echo $format_duration

Edited March 2, 2015 by dynamitemedia

[Kyan]

Did you downloaded MediaInfo.dll  and putted it in C:\Windows\System32\ or c:WindowsSysWOW64 if you have x64 windows?

[dynamitemedia]

Did you downloaded MediaInfo.dll  and putted it in C:\Windows\System32\ or c:WindowsSysWOW64 if you have x64 windows?

 

Actually i will check when i get home, i just installed the program...  can i put the .dll anywhere as long as its pointing at it?   and does it need to have the program installed?

 

[dynamitemedia]

ok i changed a little code around and now see the correct info in the editor 

$rVideo = $recordings & "\" &  $rName
$ffmpegProbe = '"' & $ffprobe & '" -v error -show_format -of flat=s=_ -show_entries format=duration "'& $rVideo &'" '
$command = 'cmd /k  "' & $ffmpegProbe & '" '
local $PID = Run($command, @ScriptDir, @SW_show, $STDERR_CHILD)
$line = StdoutRead($PID) ;read stdout

and this is coming up in the console write of the editor
 

format_duration="22.168000"
format_tags_length="25992064"
format_tags_language="eng"
format_tags_timescale="48000"
format_tags_sampletype="mp4a"
format_tags_audiochannels="2"
format_tags_videoframerate="25"
format_tags_aacaot="2"
format_tags_avclevel="30"
format_tags_avcprofile="66"
format_tags_frameWidth="876"
format_tags_frameHeight="480"
format_tags_displayWidth="853"
format_tags_displayHeight="480"
format_tags_moovposition="57041862"
format_tags_encoder="Lavf56.12.103"

so how do i get the "22.168000"" info from $line :

$line = StdoutRead($PID) ;read stdout

when it comes back 

format_duration="22.168000"

[TheSaint]

Haven't got my code on hand, but I use the CLI (Command-line) version of Media Info, as the regular won't work. It is a separate download, and sometimes difficult to find, but I either got it through Sourceforge or the Home page. It writes a single entry to a text file, which you can then read. It can be a bit tricky to understand the command-line usage, so tomorrow, if I remember, and you haven't had success yet, I will dig it out and post here.

Simpler than wakillon's code, but I'm interested in the DLL method he's used, for I wasn't aware there was another way.

[TheSaint]

Here's my code, extracted from a much bigger script.

Also note, that this for Audio duration, so you will need to chase up the different command(s) for Video.

I don't have the correct version of Media Info installed on this PC, so cannot currently check for you.

MediaInfo CLI 0.7.70 (http://MediaArea.net/MediaInfo)

This first bit of code, you might find useful, in regards to setting Media Info location and variable assignments.

expandcollapse popup

Global $ans, $audlog, $inifle, $medfle, $mediainfo, $pth, $time, $version

$inifle = @ScriptDir & "\Settings.ini"
$medfle = @ScriptDir & "\Medlog.txt"


$mediainfo = IniRead($inifle, "MediaInfo", "path", "")
If $mediainfo = "" Or Not FileExists($mediainfo) Then
    $mediainfo = @ScriptDir & "\MediaInfo_CLI\MediaInfo.exe"
    If FileExists($mediainfo) Then
        IniWrite($inifle, "MediaInfo", "path", $mediainfo)
    Else
        $mediainfo = @ProgramFilesDir & "\MediaInfo\MediaInfo.exe"
        While 1
            If FileExists($mediainfo) Then
                $version = FileGetVersion($mediainfo, "InternalName")
                If StringInStr($version, " - CLI - ") > 0 Then
                    IniWrite($inifle, "MediaInfo", "path", $mediainfo)
                    ExitLoop
                Else
                    $mediainfo = ""
                EndIf
            Else
                $pth = FileOpenDialog("Choose the MediaInfo CLI executable file", @ProgramFilesDir, "Program file (*.exe)", 3, "MediaInfo.exe")
                If @error <> 1 And $pth <> "" And StringMid($pth, 2, 2) = ":\" Then
                    $mediainfo = $pth
                    $version = FileGetVersion($mediainfo, "InternalName")
                    If StringInStr($version, " - CLI - ") > 0 Then
                        IniWrite($inifle, "MediaInfo", "path", $mediainfo)
                        ExitLoop
                    Else
                        $mediainfo = ""
                        $ans = MsgBox(262193, "Version Error", _
                            "Selected file is not the CLI version of MediaInfo." & @LF & @LF & _
                            "Both the CLI and GUI versions have the same" & @LF & _
                            "executable name, but only the command-line" & @LF & _
                            "version (CLI) will work with this program." & @LF & @LF & _
                            "Do you want to browse for it again?", 0)
                        If $ans = 2 Then
                            $mediainfo = @ScriptDir & "\MediaInfo_CLI"
                            DirCreate($mediainfo)
                            $mediainfo = ""
                            Exit
                        EndIf
                    EndIf
                Else
                    $mediainfo = @ScriptDir & "\MediaInfo_CLI"
                    DirCreate($mediainfo)
                    $mediainfo = ""
                    MsgBox(262192, "Program Error", "MediaInfo CLI (command-line version) freeware is required!")
                    Exit
                EndIf
            EndIf
        WEnd
    EndIf
EndIf

This next bit of code, is the important bit.

Func GetAudioDuration($pth)
    RunWait($mediainfo & ' "--Inform=General;Duration is: %Duration/String3%" --LogFile="' & $medfle & '" "' & $pth & '"', "", @SW_HIDE)
    Sleep(200)
    _FileReadToArray($medfle, $audlog)
    If @error = 0 Then
        $time = StringReplace($audlog[1], "Duration is: ", "")
        $time = StringTrimLeft($time, 1)
    Else
        $time = ""
    EndIf
EndFunc ;=> GetAudioDuration

Obviously you call it with something like.

GetAudioDuration("C:\My Documents\Videos\My Video.mp4")

NOTE - You will need to make alterations (rename a few things, etc) to my code, to suit your requirements.

EDIT

Actually, it seems that Duration/String3 is correct (same commands as audio), going by this extraction from CL_Help.txt

Video;

mpg,vob,ts avi or mp4 mp4 only mp4 or mkv wmv only wmv only flv only   
Format Format used MPEG Video MPEG-4 Visual MPEG-4 Visual AVC WVP2 VC-1 H.263 or VP6

Format/Info Info about Format    
Advanced Video Codec

Format_Version Version of this format Version 2         
Format_Profile Profile of the Format Main@Main Streaming Video@L1 Simple@Ln Main@L4.n  MP@ML      
Main@High   High@L3.1      
CodecID Codec ID (found in some containers)  XVID or DX50 MP4V V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC WVP2 WMV3    
CodecID/Hint A hint for this codec ID  XviD or DivX 5     WMV3    
Duration Play time of the stream 729578
Duration/String Play time (formated) 12mn 9s
Duration/String1 Play time in : HHh MMmn SSs MMMms 12mn 9s 78ms

Duration/String2 Play time in format : HHh MMmn SSs 12mn 9s
Duration/String3 Play time in format : HH:MM:SS.MMM 12:10.0

 

You may need to replace Inform=General with Inform=Video

Edited March 3, 2015 by TheSaint

[BrewManNH]

Do the files show the duration in the file properties fields? Might be easier to find them that way if they do.

[TheSaint]

Probably not for MP4 or even MOV going by my recollection.

My experience though, is with Win XP.

Edited March 3, 2015 by TheSaint

[BrewManNH]

I don't have either type on any computer, so I couldn't tell. Worth a shot.

[TheSaint]

Could be worth a try for the OP, as it would simplify things if it worked.

>_FileGetProperty

One of yours too, and in your signature.

I still use the old original in a few scripts .... just haven't updated yet.

Edited March 3, 2015 by TheSaint

[dynamitemedia]

Guys love the help for rea l!!   but im married to this ffProbe/ffmpeg 

been messing with     _StringBetween

but cant seem to figure out how to read what is coming out of ffprobe or ffmpeg

now this is hard coded for example...  and works

Local $duration =' format_duration="22.168000" format_tags_length="25992064" format_tags_language="eng" '

$left = 'format_duration="'
$right = '"'

$source = _StringBetween($duration, $left,$right)
If Not @error Then
    MsgBox(0,"",""& $source[0])
Else
    MsgBox(0,""," No Time came back ")
EndIf

and the code i am using once again is this  which prints out line per line

$rVideo = $recordings & "\" &  $rName
$ffmpegProbe = '"' & $ffprobe & '" -v error -show_format -of flat=s=_ -show_entries format=duration "'& $rVideo &'" '
$command = 'cmd /k  "' & $ffmpegProbe & '" '
local $PID = Run($command, @ScriptDir, @SW_show, $STDERR_CHILD)
$line = StdoutRead($PID) ;read stdout

but i just want it all into one variable so that _stringBetween will read it

Thanks so much but ffprobe is very easy to include with no install to the end user

[TheSaint]

Sorry, I misunderstood who was asking the question.

You asked a question of wakillon who last posted in this topic over 4 years ago.

My experience is with Media Info, not ffprobe.

Going by your last line in Post #11

format_duration="22.168000"

You could just use StringSplit with a double quote.

$line = 'format_duration="22.168000"'
$duration = StringSplit($line, '"')
$duration = $duration[2]

[Kyan]

hey fellow, you can use StringRegExp for the job

#include <Array.au3>
$aRex=StringRegExp($stdout,'^(.+?)="(.+?)$"',3)
local $aOutput[1][2]
For $i = 0 to ubound($aRex)-1 Step 2
     Redim $aOutput[$i/2+1][2]
     $aOutput[$i/2][0]=$aRex[$i]
     $aOutput[$i/2][1]=$aRex[$i+1]
Next
_ArrayDisplay($aOutput)
Exit

Edited March 4, 2015 by Kyan