#Inspecting video files with ffprobe (part of ffmpeg)
Today I needed to inspect a video file. So I thought: "Do it with ffmpeg!". I had a older version of ffmpeg installed via macports. So this is the process i went through.

If you don't have it already:

1. Install XCode and the XCode command-line tools

2. Update or install ffmpeg using macports

   This updates the ports tree

   sudo port selfupdate

   This checks if you have ffmpeg installed via macports

   port search ffmepg

   you can check for outdated ports

   port outdated

   If you have it installed and it is outdated update all outdated ports

   sudo port upgrade outdated

   If you only want to upgrade ffmpeg

   sudo port upgrade ffmpeg

   If it is not installed do it

   sudo port install ffmpeg +gpl +lame +x264 +xvid

###Now inspect a file using ffprobe (comes bundled with ffmpeg)

# This redirects the ffprobe help to a file
ffprobe -h > ffprobe_help.txt

# This creates a report next to your file  
ffprobe -report SOMEFILE.mp4  

# This creates your report as .json file next to your file
ffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_format -show_streams SOMEFILE.mp4 > ffprobe.json

###Sources:

• XCode
• stackoverflow : xcode 4.4 command line tools
• Macports Guide
• Hay Kranen howto install and use ffmpeg on mac os x leopard
• stackoverflow : get ffmpeg information in friendly way
• ffmpeg Documentation
• ffprobe Documentation
• Peteris Krumins Bash One-Liners Explained, Part III: All about redirections