Generating a waveform using ffmpeg - php

Question

I am trying to generate a waveform image using ffmpeg.
I have successfully made a waveform image, however it doesn't look very nice...
I have been looking around to try and style the image to make it look nicer, however I have been unable to find any information on this or any tutorials on this.
I am using PHP and shell_exec to create the waveform.
I am aware that there are php library that can do this but due to file format this is a lengthy process.
The code I am using is as follows:
$command = 'convertvid\bin\ffmpeg -i Temp\\'.$file.' -y -lavfi showwavespic=split_channels=0:s='.$width.'x50 Temp\\'.$PNGFileName;
shell_exec($command);
Basically I would like to add a line through the middle as there are blank spots at the moment and would like to be able to set the background and wave colour.

Answer 1

Default waveform
ffmpeg -i input.wav -filter_complex showwavespic -frames:v 1 output.png
Notes
Notice the segment of silent audio in the middle (see "Fancy waveform" below if you want to see how to add a line).
The background is transparent.
Default colors are red (left channel) and green (right channel) for a stereo input. The color is mixed where the channels overlap.
You can change the channel colors with the colors option, such as "showwavespic=colors=blue|yellow". See a list of valid color names or use hexadecimal notation, such as #ffcc99.
See the showwavespic filter documentation for additional options.
If you want a video instead of an image use the showwaves filter.
Fancy waveform
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter_complex \
"[0:a]aformat=channel_layouts=mono, \
compand=gain=-6, \
showwavespic=s=600x120:colors=#9cf42f[fg]; \
color=s=600x120:color=#44582c, \
drawgrid=width=iw/10:height=ih/5:color=#9cf42f#0.1[bg]; \
[bg][fg]overlay=format=auto,drawbox=x=(iw-w)/2:y=(ih-h)/2:w=iw:h=1:color=#9cf42f" \
-frames:v 1 output.png
Explanation of options
aformat downsamples the audio to mono. Otherwise, by default, a stereo input would result in a waveform with a different color for each channel (see Default waveform example above).
compand modifies the dynamic range of the audio to make the waveform look less flat. It makes a less accurate representation of the actual audio, but can be more visually appealing for some inputs.
showwavespic makes the actual waveform.
color source filter is used to make a colored background that is the same size as the waveform.
drawgrid adds a grid over the background. The grid does not represent anything, but is just for looks. The grid color is the same as the waveform color (#9cf42f), but opacity is set to 10% (#0.1).
overlay will place [bg] (what I named the filtergraph for the background) behind [fg] (the waveform).
Finally, drawbox will make the horizontal line so any silent areas are not blank.
Gradient example
Using gradients filter:
ffmpeg -i input.mp3 -filter_complex "gradients=s=1920x1080:c0=000000:c1=434343:x0=0:x1=0:y0=0:y1=1080,drawbox=x=(iw-w)/2:y=(ih-h)/2:w=iw:h=1:color=#0000ff[bg];[0:a]aformat=channel_layouts=mono,showwavespic=s=1920x1080:colors=#0068ff[fg];[bg][fg]overlay=format=auto" -vframes:v 1 output.png
Color background
ffmpeg -i input.opus -filter_complex "color=c=blue[color];aformat=channel_layouts=mono,showwavespic=s=1280x720:colors=white[wave];[color][wave]scale2ref[bg][fg];[bg][fg]overlay=format=auto" -frames:v 1 output.png
The scale2ref filter automatically makes the background the same size as the waveform.
Image background
Of course you can use an image or video instead for the background:
ffmpeg -i audio.flac -i background.jpg -filter_complex \
"[1:v]scale=600:-1,crop=iw:120[bg]; \
[0:a]showwavespic=s=600x120:colors=cyan|aqua[fg]; \
[bg][fg]overlay=format=auto" \
-q:v 3 showwavespic_bg.jpg
Getting waveform stats and data
Use the astats filter. Many stats are available: RMS, peak, min, max, difference, etc.
RMS level per audio frame
Example to get standard RMS level measured in dBFS per audio frame:
ffprobe -v error -f lavfi -i "amovie=input.wav,astats=metadata=1:reset=1" -show_entries frame_tags=lavfi.astats.Overall.RMS_level -of csv=p=0 > rms.log
Peak level per second
Add the asetnsamples filter.
ffprobe -v error -f lavfi -i "amovie=input.wav,asetnsamples=44100,astats=metadata=1:reset=1" -show_entries frame_tags=lavfi.astats.Overall.Peak_level -of csv=p=0
Same as above but with timestamps
ffprobe -v error -f lavfi -i "amovie=input.wav,asetnsamples=44100,astats=metadata=1:reset=1" -show_entries frame=pkt_pts_time:frame_tags=lavfi.astats.Overall.Peak_level -of csv=p=0
Output to file
Just append > output.log to the end of your command:
ffprobe -v error -f lavfi -i "amovie=input.wav,asetnsamples=44100,astats=metadata=1:reset=1" -show_entries frame_tags=lavfi.astats.Overall.RMS_level -of csv=p=0 > output.log
JSON
ffprobe -v error -f lavfi -i "amovie=input.wav,asetnsamples=44100,astats=metadata=1:reset=1" -show_entries frame_tags=lavfi.astats.Overall.RMS_level -of json > output.json