Can't write and save a video file using OpenCV and Python

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I'm trying to process frames from a video stream, and it as a new video.

This is what I'm doing : 

fourcc = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*'XVID')
out = cv2.VideoWriter('Videos/output.mp4',fourcc, fps, (1080,1080))

I keep getting : 

OpenCV: FFMPEG: tag 0x44495658/'XVID' is not supported with codec id 13 and format 'mp4 / MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14)'
OpenCV: FFMPEG: fallback to use tag 0x00000020/' ???'

I think I'm using the wrong fourcc value... Which one should I use ? I've been trying a lot of them.

I'm using Ubuntu 16.04, Python 2.7.11 and OpenCV 3.1.0

python
opencv
asked on Stack Overflow Jul 15, 2016 by lilian • edited Jun 14, 2017 by Right leg

9 Answers

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Define the codec and create VideoWriter object like this

fourcc = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*'MPEG')
out = cv2.VideoWriter('output.avi',fourcc, 20.0, (640,480))
answered on Stack Overflow Aug 17, 2016 by Amar • edited Aug 17, 2016 by Luca
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For Windows users

I am using OpenCV 2 with Python 3.6, on Windows 10.

The 'XVID' codec, along with producing a .avi file, seems to be the most generic solution (if not the only one that works).

fourcc = cv.VideoWriter_fourcc(*'XVID')
out = cv.VideoWriter('test.avi', fourcc, 60, (320, 240))

In addition, only BGR can be directly written with such a VideoWriter declaration. Don't try to write gray frames: the output would be empty.

answered on Stack Overflow Jun 14, 2017 by Right leg
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The problem that you are having is that you are trying to export the frames in XVID format but the name of your output file is ending with .mp4. You should change the export format to MP4V or the name of your output file to .avi.

fourcc = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*'MP4V')
out = cv2.VideoWriter('Videos/output.mp4',fourcc, fps, (1080,1080))

alternative

fourcc = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*'XVID')
out = cv2.VideoWriter('Videos/output.avi',fourcc, fps, (1080,1080))

here you can find more information about the video codecs

answered on Stack Overflow Apr 8, 2019 by Gonzalo Garcia
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If you want to save video by opencv in mp4 format, let

Follow this link:

you should replace:

fourcc = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*'XVID')

by:

fourcc = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*'FMP4')

I tried and succeeded.

answered on Stack Overflow Sep 27, 2019 by M.Vu
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The size of the frame(width,height) you are giving, should match the size of the frame you want to save. so
fw = int(cap.get(3)) fh = int(cap.get(4)) print("w,h",fw,fh) out = cv2.VideoWriter('fb1.avi',cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc('X','V','I','D'), fps, (fw,fh))

answered on Stack Overflow Apr 15, 2019 by Hariprasad • edited Apr 15, 2019 by Hariprasad
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I had the same problem. With me, it turned out that I had switched the height and width of the video, so the frame dimensions did not match the video specifications and as a result nothing was written. Make sure they match exactly.

Also, OpenCV seems to give that same warning if the file extension does not match the codec used. Specifically, it wants .avi for the XVID codec.

answered on Stack Overflow Aug 24, 2017 by werecow
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If you are using linux try this

fourcc = 0x00000021
out = cv2.VideoWriter('Videos/output.mp4',fourcc, fps, (1080,1080))

answered on Stack Overflow Mar 11, 2020 by user3900921
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I wanted to save as a .mp4, and using *"mp4v" turned out to be the right code, on Linux at least.

answered on Stack Overflow Apr 2, 2020 by makeworld
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Install K-Lite Mega Codec Pack: https://filehippo.com/download_klite_mega_codec/
This error occurs because some codecs are not available by default in Windows media player. So by installing this software, the video works fine with same code.

answered on Stack Overflow Jan 22, 2021 by sauravjoshi23

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