How To Install x264 on Ubuntu
Posted on April 1, 2023 (Last modified on May 20, 2023 )
3 minutes • 440 words
Introduction
In this tutorial we learn how to install x264 on Ubuntu.
What is x264
x264 is:
x264 is an advanced commandline encoder for creating H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) video streams.
x264 supports the following features:
- CABAC (context-based adaptive binary arithmetic coding) and CAVLC (context-based adaptive variable length coding
- multiple reference frames
- 16x16, 8x8 and 4x4 intra-predicted macroblocks
- all P-frame inter-predicted macroblock types
- B-Inter-predicted macroblock types from 16x16 down to 8x8
- rate distortion optimization
- multiple rate control modes (constant quantizer, constant quality, single or multipass ABR with the option of VBV)
- scene cut detection
- adaptive B-frame placement, with the option of keeping B-frames as references / arbitrary frame order
- 8x8 and 4x4 adaptive spatial transform (high profile)
- lossless mode (high 4:4:4 profile)
- custom quantization matrices (high profile)
- parallel encoding on multiple CPUs
- interlaced streams
There are three methods to install x264 on Ubuntu. We can use apt-get, apt and aptitude. In the following sections we will describe each method. You can choose one of them.
Install x264 Using apt-get
Update apt database with apt-get using the following command.
sudo apt-get update
After updating apt database, We can install x264 using apt-get by running the following command:
sudo apt-get -y install x264
Install x264 Using apt
Update apt database with apt using the following command.
sudo apt update
After updating apt database, We can install x264 using apt by running the following command:
sudo apt -y install x264
Install x264 Using aptitude
If you want to follow this method, you might need to install aptitude first since aptitude is usually not installed by default on Ubuntu. Update apt database with aptitude using the following command.
sudo aptitude update
After updating apt database, We can install x264 using aptitude by running the following command:
sudo aptitude -y install x264
How To Uninstall x264 on Ubuntu
To uninstall only the x264 package we can use the following command:
sudo apt-get remove x264
Uninstall x264 And Its Dependencies
To uninstall x264 and its dependencies that are no longer needed by Ubuntu, we can use the command below:
sudo apt-get -y autoremove x264
Remove x264 Configurations and Data
To remove x264 configuration and data from Ubuntu we can use the following command:
sudo apt-get -y purge x264
Remove x264 configuration, data, and all of its dependencies
We can use the following command to remove x264 configurations, data and all of its dependencies, we can use the following command:
sudo apt-get -y autoremove --purge x264
Dependencies
x264 have the following dependencies:
References
Summary
In this tutorial we learn how to install x264 package on Ubuntu using different package management tools: apt, apt-get and aptitude.