EDL files ========= EDL files basically concatenate ranges of video/audio from multiple source files into a single continuous virtual file. Each such range is called a segment, and consists of source file, source offset, and segment length. For example:: # mpv EDL v0 f1.mkv,10,20 f2.mkv f1.mkv,40,10 This would skip the first 10 seconds of the file f1.mkv, then play the next 20 seconds, then switch to the file f2.mkv and play all of it, then switch back to f1.mkv, skip to the 40 second mark, and play 10 seconds, and then stop playback. The difference to specifying the files directly on command line (and using ``--{ --start=10 --length=20 f1.mkv --}`` etc.) is that the virtual EDL file appears as a virtual timeline (like a single file), instead as a playlist. The general simplified syntax is:: # mpv EDL v0 ,, If the start time is omitted, 0 is used. If the length is omitted, the estimated remaining duration of the source file is used. Note:: Usage of relative or absolute paths as well as any protocol prefixes may be prevented for security reasons. Syntax of mpv EDL files ======================= Generally, the format is relatively strict. No superfluous whitespace (except empty lines and commented lines) are allowed. You must use UNIX line breaks. The first line in the file must be ``# mpv EDL v0``. This designates that the file uses format version 0, which is not frozen yet and may change any time. (If you need a stable EDL file format, make a feature request. Likewise, if you have suggestions for improvements, it's not too late yet.) The rest of the lines belong to one of these classes: 1) An empty or commented line. A comment starts with ``#``, which must be the first character in the line. The rest of the line (up until the next line break) is ignored. An empty line has 0 bytes between two line feed bytes. 2) A header entry if the line starts with ``!``. 3) A segment entry in all other cases. Each segment entry consists of a list of named or unnamed parameters. Parameters are separated with ``,``. Named parameters consist of a name, followed by ``=``, followed by the value. Unnamed parameters have only a value, and the name is implicit from the parameter position. Syntax:: segment_entry ::= ( ',' )* param ::= [ '=' ] ( | '%' '%' ) The ``name`` string can consist of any characters, except ``=%,;\n!``. The ``value`` string can consist of any characters except of ``,;\n!``. The construct starting with ``%`` allows defining any value with arbitrary contents inline, where ``number`` is an integer giving the number of bytes in ``valuebytes``. If a parameter value contains disallowed characters, it has to be guarded by a length specifier using this syntax. The parameter name defines the meaning of the parameter: 1) ``file``, the source file to use for this segment. 2) ``start``, a time value that specifies the start offset into the source file. 3) ``length``, a time value that specifies the length of the segment. See the section below for the format of timestamps. Unnamed parameters carry implicit names. The parameter position determines which of the parameters listed above is set. For example, the second parameter implicitly uses the name ``start``. Example:: # mpv EDL v0 %18%filename,with,.mkv,10,length=20,param3=%13%value,escaped,param4=value2 this sets ``file`` to ``filename,with,.mkv``, ``start`` to ``10``, ``length`` to ``20``, ``param3`` to ``value,escaped``, ``param4`` to ``value2``. Instead of line breaks, the character ``;`` can be used. Line feed bytes and ``;`` are treated equally. Header entries start with ``!`` as first character after a line break. Header entries affect all other file entries in the EDL file. Their format is highly implementation specific. They should generally follow the file header, and come before any file entries. Disabling chapter generation and copying ======================================== By default, chapters from the source ranges are copied to the virtual file's chapters. Also, a chapter is inserted after each range. This can be disabled with the ``no_chapters`` header. Example:: !no_chapters MP4 DASH ======== This is a header that helps implementing DASH, although it only provides a low level mechanism. If this header is set, the given url designates an mp4 init fragment. It's downloaded, and every URL in the EDL is prefixed with the init fragment on the byte stream level. This is mostly for use by mpv's internal ytdl support. The ytdl script will call youtube-dl, which in turn actually processes DASH manifests. It may work only for this very specific purpose and fail to be useful in other scenarios. It can be removed or changed in incompatible ways at any times. Example:: !mp4_dash,init=url The ``url`` is encoded as parameter value as defined in the general EDL syntax. It's expected to point to an "initialization fragment", which will be prefixed to every entry in the EDL on the byte stream level. The current implementation will - ignore stream start times - use durations as hint for seeking only - not adjust source timestamps - open and close segments (i.e. fragments) as needed - not add segment boundaries as chapter points - require full compatibility between all segments (same codec etc.) Another header part of this mechanism is ``no_clip``. This header is similar to ``mp4_dash``, but does not include on-demand opening/closing of segments, and does not support init segments. It also exists solely to support internal ytdl requirements. The ``mp4_dash`` and ``no_clip`` headers are not part of the core EDL format. They may be changed or removed at any time, depending on mpv's internal requirements. Separate files for tracks ========================= The special ``new_stream`` header lets you specify separate parts and time offsets for separate tracks. This can for example be used to source audio and video track from separate files. Example:: # mpv EDL v0 video.mkv !new_stream audio.mkv This adds all tracks from both files to the virtual track list. Upon playback, the tracks will be played at the same time, instead of appending them. The files can contain more than 1 stream; the apparent effect is the same as if the second part after the ``!new_stream`` part were in a separate ``.edl`` file and added with ``--external-file``. Note that all metadata between the stream sets created by ``new_stream`` is disjoint. Global metadata is taken from the first part only. In context of mpv, this is redundant to the ``--audio-file`` and ``--external-file`` options, but (as of this writing) has the advantage that this will use a unified cache for all streams. The ``new_stream`` header is not part of the core EDL format. It may be changed or removed at any time, depending on mpv's internal requirements. Timestamp format ================ Currently, time values are floating point values in seconds. As an extension, you can set the ``timestamps=chapters`` option. If this option is set, timestamps have to be integers, and refer to chapter numbers, starting with 0. Example:: # mpv EDL v0 file.mkv,2,4,timestamps=chapters Plays chapter 3 and ends with the start of chapter 7 (4 chapters later). Implicit chapters ================= mpv will add one chapter per segment entry to the virtual timeline. By default, the chapter's titles will match the entries' filenames. You can override set the ``title`` option to override the chapter title for that segment. Example:: # mpv EDL v0 cap.ts,5,240 OP.mkv,0,90,title=Show Opening The virtual timeline will have two chapters, one called "cap.ts" from 0-240s and a second one called "Show Opening" from 240-330s. Entry which defines the track layout ==================================== Normally, you're supposed to put only files with compatible layouts into an EDL file. However, at least the mpv implementation accepts entries that use different codecs, or even have a different number of audio/video/subtitle tracks. In this case, it's not obvious, which virtual tracks the EDL show should expose when being played. Currently, mpv will apply an arbitrary heuristic which tracks the EDL file should expose. (Before mpv 0.30.0, it always used the first source file in the segment list.) You can set the ``layout`` option to ``this`` to make a specific entry define the track layout. Example:: # mpv EDL v0 file_with_2_streams.ts,5,240 file_with_5_streams.mkv,0,90,layout=this The way the different virtual EDL tracks are associated with the per-segment ones is highly implementation-defined, and uses a heuristic. If a segment is missing a track, there will be a "hole", and bad behavior may result. Improving this is subject to further development (due to being fringe cases, they don't have a high priority). If future versions of mpv change this again, this option may be ignored. Syntax of EDL URIs ================== mpv accepts inline EDL data in form of ``edl://`` URIs. Other than the header, the syntax is exactly the same. It's far more convenient to use ``;`` instead of line breaks, but that is orthogonal. Example: ``edl://f1.mkv,length=5,start=10;f2.mkv,30,20;f3.mkv``