How to capture frames from a video stream or RTSP camera using FFMPEG

Imatest is still working on implementing RTSP streaming support and other video stream protocols within the software. In the meantime if your streaming protocol has the capability of outputting MP4s or other common video file formats, you can load this video into Imatest to analyze. Alternatively, you can use a program like FFMPEG or VLC to split the video into its individual frames, then analyze the frame as an image in Imatest. Heres how.

 

Using FFMPEG

  1. Download a static FFMPEG build from a reputable source.

  2. Install FFMPEG according to the directions of your current OS:

Windows:

  1. Use a program like 7-Zip to unpack the files to your preferred location.

  2. Open up the command line with administrative privileges.

  3. Run the command:

setx /M PATH "path\to\ffmpeg\bin;%PATH%"

OSX:

a. Install homebrew by running the following in a terminal:

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

b. Once homebrew is installed, just enter in a terminal:

brew install ffmpeg

Linux:

a. Install ffmpeg

b. With FFMPEG installed you can now call it from a command line or bash terminal to split your video file into frames: