Ffmpeg Playback

Context: $ARGUMENTS

Quick start

• Preview a file: Step 1 — ffplay in.mp4
• Test a -vf filter live without transcoding: Step 2
• Debug pixel format / SAR / frame info: Step 3
• Visualize audio (waveform / spectrum / loudness meter): Step 4
• Fix AV-sync drift: Step 3 (-sync ext) + -vf setpts=PTS-STARTPTS
• Headless preview (no GUI): add -nodisp -autoexit (audio only)

When to use

• User wants to eyeball a clip after a cut, filter, or encode (QA pass).
• User is iterating on a -vf or -af chain and wants live feedback before running a full transcode.
• User needs visual AV diagnostics: waveform, spectrum, vectorscope, ebur128 loudness meter, or verbose logs to see pixel format / color range / SAR.
• User is debugging A/V drift, out-of-order PTS, or choppy playback.