Tired of black bars interrupting your viewing experience on MPV in Ubuntu? It’s time to say goodbye to those pesky distractions and enjoy your videos in their full glory. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of cropping blackbars, empowering you with the knowledge to enhance your video playback effortlessly.
MPV, a versatile and widely acclaimed media player, offers a plethora of customization options. Among them, the ability to crop blackbars stands out as a particularly valuable feature, allowing you to eliminate the empty spaces that often surround videos. By doing so, you can optimize the utilization of your screen real estate and immerse yourself fully in the visual content.
To embark on this journey of blackbar removal, we will embark on a step-by-step exploration of the necessary configurations within MPV. We will introduce the key parameters involved in cropping, providing clear instructions and practical examples to guide you through the process. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a firm grasp on the art of cropping blackbars in MPV, enabling you to enjoy a seamless and distraction-free viewing experience.
Setting Up mpv on Ubuntu
To get started with mpv on Ubuntu, follow these steps:
| # | Command |
|---|---|
| 1 | sudo apt-get update |
| 2 | sudo apt-get install mpv |
Detailed Steps:
-
Update the package repository: Run the following command to ensure you have the latest package information:
sudo apt-get updateThis updates the local package cache with the latest information from the official Ubuntu repositories.
-
Install mpv: Use the following command to install the mpv package:
sudo apt-get install mpvThis command downloads and installs the mpv package from the repositories.
-
Verify installation: Once the installation is complete, you can verify it by running the following command:
mpv --versionThis should output the version number of the installed mpv player.
Understanding Blackbars
Blackbars are those annoying black bars that appear on the top and bottom of your screen when watching fullscreen videos. They are caused by the difference in aspect ratios between the video you’re watching and your monitor. Most monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9, while many movies are shot in 2.35:1 or 2.40:1. This means that when you watch a movie in fullscreen, the black bars are added to fill in the extra space.
Blackbars can be distracting and take away from your viewing experience. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them.
Disable Overscan
Overscan is a setting on some TVs and monitors that causes the image to be stretched to fit the screen. This can result in black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. To disable overscan, consult your TV or monitor’s manual.
| TV or Monitor | How to Disable Overscan |
|---|---|
| Samsung | Go to the Settings menu > Picture > Screen Fit > 16:9 |
| LG | Go to the Settings menu > Picture > Aspect Ratio > Just Scan |
| Sony | Go to the Settings menu > Display > Screen > Full Pixel |
If you don’t see an option to disable overscan in your TV or monitor’s settings, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
MPV offers a vast array of keyboard shortcuts to manipulate video playback. To crop black borders, you can utilize the following shortcuts:
-
**’a’ and ‘d’ keys:** Adjust the horizontal crop margins. By default, these shortcuts shift the crop area by 5% of the video’s width. You can fine-tune the adjustment by holding down the ‘Shift’ key while pressing ‘a’ or ‘d’. This reduces the shift amount to 1%.
-
**’w’ and ‘s’ keys:** Adjust the vertical crop margins. Similar to the horizontal crop, these shortcuts move the crop area by 5% of the video’s height by default. Press ‘Shift’ along with ‘w’ or ‘s’ to make smaller adjustments, reducing the shift to 1% of the height.
-
**’c’ key:** Toggle the cropping feature on or off. By pressing ‘c’, you can quickly enable or disable cropping, allowing you to switch between cropped and uncropped views.
Fine-Tuning Crop Margins
For more precise control over the crop margins, you can utilize the ‘a’, ‘d’, ‘w’, and ‘s’ keys in conjunction with the ‘Shift’ key. This enables you to make incremental adjustments to the crop area, allowing for precise fine-tuning.
By simultaneously holding ‘Shift’ and pressing one of the crop margin adjustment keys, you reduce the shift amount to 1% of the corresponding dimension (width or height). This fine-tuning capability empowers you to make subtle changes to the crop area, ensuring that the video is optimally presented.
The following table summarizes the keyboard shortcuts for fine-tuning crop margins:
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Shift + a | Incrementally shift the left crop margin by 1% of the video’s width |
| Shift + d | Incrementally shift the right crop margin by 1% of the video’s width |
| Shift + w | Incrementally shift the top crop margin by 1% of the video’s height |
| Shift + s | Incrementally shift the bottom crop margin by 1% of the video’s height |
Customizing mpv Configuration File
To configure mpv to crop black bars, you need to edit its configuration file. The file is usually located at ~/.config/mpv/mpv.conf. You can open it using a text editor such as Vim or Nano. Once you have opened the file, you need to add or modify the following lines:
crop-black=yes
This line enables black bar cropping.
crop-black-margin=20
This line specifies the width of the black bars that will be cropped. The value is in pixels. A higher value will crop more of the black bars.
crop-black-top=20
This line specifies the amount of black bars that will be cropped from the top of the video. The value is in pixels. A higher value will crop more of the black bars from the top.
crop-black-bottom=20
This line specifies the amount of black bars that will be cropped from the bottom of the video. The value is in pixels. A higher value will crop more of the black bars from the bottom.
crop-black-left=20
This line specifies the amount of black bars that will be cropped from the left side of the video. The value is in pixels. A higher value will crop more of the black bars from the left.
crop-black-right=20
This line specifies the amount of black bars that will be cropped from the right side of the video. The value is in pixels. A higher value will crop more of the black bars from the right.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
crop-black |
Enable black bar cropping |
crop-black-margin |
Width of the black bars that will be cropped |
crop-black-top |
Amount of black bars that will be cropped from the top of the video |
crop-black-bottom |
Amount of black bars that will be cropped from the bottom of the video |
crop-black-left |
Amount of black bars that will be cropped from the left side of the video |
crop-black-right |
Amount of black bars that will be cropped from the right side of the video |
Installing Video Filters
To crop black bars using MPV on Ubuntu, you’ll need to install the necessary video filters. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Install the `ffmpeg` package
ffmpeg is a powerful tool that includes a variety of video filters. To install it, open a terminal and run the following command:
“`
sudo apt install ffmpeg
“`
Step 2: Copy the `mpv.conf` file
The `mpv.conf` file contains the configuration for MPV. To create a copy in your home directory, run:
“`
cp /etc/mpv/mpv.conf ~/.config/mpv/mpv.conf
“`
Step 3: Add the `crop` filter to the `mpv.conf` file
Open the `mpv.conf` file in a text editor and add the following line to the bottom of the file:
“`
vf=crop=1920:1080
“`
Replace `1920:1080` with the desired crop dimensions for your video. You can also specify the cropping coordinates using the `crop-x` and `crop-y` options. For example:
“`
vf=crop=1920:1080:0:0
“`
This will crop 1920 pixels from the left and 1080 pixels from the top of the video, starting from the top-left corner.
Step 4: Add the `scale` filter to the `mpv.conf` file
The `scale` filter will resize the cropped video to fit your screen. Add the following line after the `crop` filter in the `mpv.conf` file:
“`
vf+=scale=1920:1080
“`
Again, replace `1920:1080` with the desired output resolution.
Step 5: Configure the `crop` filter interactively using `mpv-crop`
For more precise cropping, you can use the `mpv-crop` tool. Install it with the following command:
“`
sudo apt install mpv-crop
“`
Then, run the following command to load your video in MPV and open the `mpv-crop` interface:
“`
mpv –untimed –no-cache –loop video.mp4
“`
In the `mpv-crop` interface, you can use the arrow keys to adjust the crop coordinates and the `Enter` key to apply the changes. The `Escape` key exits the interface.
Once you’re satisfied with the crop, press `Enter` to save the changes to the `mpv.conf` file. You can then close MPV and use the `mpv` command to play the cropped video.
Utilizing External Tools
FFmpeg is a popular command-line tool that can be used to manipulate video files. It can be used to crop blackbars from MPV videos on Ubuntu, but it requires some additional setup.
First, you need to install FFmpeg. You can do this by opening a terminal and typing the following command:
“` sh
sudo apt install ffmpeg
“`
Once FFmpeg is installed, you can use it to crop blackbars from an MPV video file. To do this, you need to use the -vf option to specify the cropping filter. The following command will crop the blackbars from the top and bottom of a video file:
“` sh
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf “crop=w=out_width:h=out_height:x=out_x:y=out_y” output.mp4
“`
Here, out_width and out_height are the desired output width and height of the video, and out_x and out_y are the coordinates of the top-left corner of the crop region.
You can also use the -vf option to specify other cropping filters, such as the croptop, cropbottom, cropleft, and cropright filters.
The following table shows some examples of how to use these filters:
| Filter | Description |
|---|---|
croptop=50 |
Crops 50 pixels from the top of the video. |
cropbottom=50 |
Crops 50 pixels from the bottom of the video. |
cropleft=50 |
Crops 50 pixels from the left of the video. |
cropright=50 |
Crops 50 pixels from the right of the video. |
Advanced Cropping Options
Cropping by percentage
- Syntax:
--crop=w%,h% - Description: Crops a percentage of the video’s width and height. For example,
--crop=50%,50%crops the video to half its original size.
Cropping by absolute values
- Syntax:
--crop=left,top,width,height - Description: Crops the video using absolute values for the left, top, width, and height. For instance,
--crop=10,20,300,200crops a 300×200 rectangle starting at (10, 20) from the top left corner of the video.
Cropping by polynomial equation
- Syntax:
--crop-src-filter=polynom=a1x^4+b1x^3+c1x^2+d1x+e1,a2x^4+b2x^3+c2x^2+d2x+e2,a3x^4+b3x^3+c3x^2+d3x+e3 - Description: Crops the video using a polynomial equation to determine the cropping parameters. This option provides advanced control over the cropping.
Cropping by scale
- Syntax:
--scale=w%,h% - Description: Scales the video to a percentage of its original size, then crops the scaled video. For example,
--scale=50%,50% --crop=100%crops the video to half its original size.
Cropping by aspect ratio
- Syntax:
--crop-ratio=<width>:<height> - Description: Crops the video to a specific aspect ratio. For instance,
--crop-ratio=16:9crops the video to a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Cropping with a custom filter
- Syntax:
--crop-src-filter=filtername - Description: Applies a custom filter to the video before cropping. This allows for more complex cropping operations.
Advanced Cropping Options Table
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--crop=w%,h% |
Crops by percentage |
--crop=left,top,width,height |
Crops by absolute values |
--crop-src-filter=polynom=a1x^4+b1x^3+c1x^2+d1x+e1,a2x^4+b2x^3+c2x^2+d2x+e2,a3x^4+b3x^3+c3x^2+d3x+e3 |
Crops by polynomial equation |
--scale=w%,h% |
Crops by scale |
--crop-ratio=<width>:<height> |
Crops by aspect ratio |
--crop-src-filter=filtername |
Crops with a custom filter |
Best Practices for Cropping Blackbars
When cropping blackbars from videos, there are a few best practices to follow to ensure the best possible results.
Use a high-quality video player
A high-quality video player will provide you with more options for cropping blackbars, and will generally produce better results. Some of the best video players for cropping blackbars include MPV, VLC, and SMPlayer.
Use the correct aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a video is the ratio of its width to its height. When cropping blackbars, it is important to use the correct aspect ratio for the video, otherwise the video will be distorted.
Crop the blackbars as close to the edge of the video as possible
When cropping blackbars, it is important to crop them as close to the edge of the video as possible. This will help to ensure that the video is not cropped too tightly, and that there is no black space around the video.
Use a soft crop
A soft crop will blend the edges of the video with the black bars, resulting in a more natural look. A hard crop will simply cut off the black bars, which can result in a jarring look.
Use a high-quality cropping filter
A high-quality cropping filter will help to ensure that the cropped video is sharp and free of artifacts. Some of the best cropping filters include the Lanczos filter and the bilinear filter.
Preview the cropped video before saving it
Before saving the cropped video, it is important to preview it to make sure that you are happy with the results. If you are not happy with the results, you can adjust the cropping settings and try again.
Use a cropping script
If you need to crop a large number of videos, you can use a cropping script to automate the process. This can save you a lot of time and effort.
Crop blackbars using MPV
To crop blackbars using MPV, you can use the following steps:
- Open the video in MPV.
- Press CTRL+O to open the options menu.
- Navigate to the Processing tab.
- Select the Crop filter.
- Enter the desired crop settings.
- Click OK to save the settings.
Crop blackbars using VLC
To crop blackbars using VLC, you can use the following steps:
- Open the video in VLC.
- Click on the Video menu.
- Select Crop.
- Enter the desired crop settings.
- Click OK to save the settings
Tips for Cropping Blackbars with MPV on Ubuntu
1. Open the Video in MPV
Launch MPV and drag and drop the video file into the player window to open it.
2. Adjust the Zoom Level
Press the “+” or “-” keys to zoom in or out of the video. You can also use the “z” key to toggle between different zoom modes.
3. Enable the Cropping Option
Press “c” to open the cropping options menu. Select “Crop black borders” to enable the feature.
4. Set the Left and Right Margins
Use the arrow keys or type in values to adjust the left and right margins of the crop. Negative values crop from the outside, positive values crop from the video center.
5. Set the Top and Bottom Margins
Similarly, adjust the top and bottom margins using the arrow keys or enter specific values.
6. Preview the Cropped Video
Press “p” to preview the cropped video. This enables you to see how the changes will affect the final output.
7. Apply the Crop Settings
Once satisfied, press “Enter” to apply the crop settings.
8. Save the Cropped Video
To save the cropped video, open the “File” menu and select “Save Video As”. Choose a file name and location to save the cropped video.
9. Crop with Custom Margins
For more precise cropping, use the command line options:
“`
mpv –crop-left=
“`
10. Additional Cropping Options
MPV offers several advanced cropping options:
| Option | Description |
|—|—|
| `–crop-margin` | Set a uniform margin for all sides |
| `–crop-window` | Crop to a specific window size |
| `–sws-scaler` | Specify a scaling algorithm for cropping |
| `–hr-filter` | Apply a high-resolution filter for scaling |
How To Crop Blackbars Mpv Ubuntu
Mpv is a free and open-source media player that is available for Ubuntu. It is a powerful media player that can play a wide variety of video and audio formats. One of the features of mpv is the ability to crop black bars. This can be useful for watching movies or TV shows that have black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.
To crop black bars in mpv, you can use the following steps:
1. Open the video file in mpv.
2. Right-click on the video and select “Crop”.
3. In the “Crop” dialog box, select the “Auto” option.
4. Click on the “OK” button.
The black bars will now be cropped from the video.
People Also Ask About How To Crop Blackbars Mpv Ubuntu
How do I crop black bars in mpv?
To crop black bars in mpv, you can use the following steps:
1. Open the video file in mpv.
2. Right-click on the video and select “Crop”.
3. In the “Crop” dialog box, select the “Auto” option.
4. Click on the “OK” button.
What is mpv?
Mpv is a free and open-source media player that is available for Ubuntu. It is a powerful media player that can play a wide variety of video and audio formats.
