Creating a quicktime reference file that points to growing file (during encoding)

Background - Half way through building an app and need a little help with a function that deals with creating a quicktime reference file.

I need to make a quicktime reference file which points to source files that will be in the process of being encoded and therefore not fully formed. The purpose of this, is to be able to drop the ref file into video editing software and allow an editor to start working with files as they're being encoded. For instance, if a ref clip believes its an hour long, the clip will show up on the timeline as an hour long. Obviously, by scrubbing over an area thats not been encoded yet, it will just appear black.

This is possible and I've seen it done within other software - I'm just not experienced with anything to do with quicktime.

So, to recap in terms of functions and order, it should do the following:

on execution:

- Create a quicktime reference file with duration length set by a variable (length: e.g. 1 hour)

- Point the ref file to a new source filename (a variable) that is currently being encoded by my software (which uses ffmpeg)

- In 30 second intervals, a new additional segment is encoded/created and the ref file needs to be regenerated to point to this new segment

So for example, by the end of all the encoding, the reference file will point to lots of incremental source videos which combine to make the overall video.

on execute

Create ref file with duration set to 1 hour (but does not point to any source video yet as it hasn't been encoded yet)

At 30 seconds, automatically re-generate ref file and point to segment 1

At 60 seconds, automatically re-generate ref file and point to segment 1 and segment 2

At 90 seconds, automatically re-generate ref file and point to segment 1 and segment 2 and segment 3

..

up on final segment, stop re-generating ref.

The segments are created by ffmpeg, and are numerically indexed - so the solution can just take a folder of incoming segments and periodically update the reference movie.

Additional information

- This can be tested by simply using quicktime if you don't have video editing software (final cut/premiere)

- Ideally, this needs to be completed within Linux but will consider options on mac os.

- Will also need the source to be provided upon completion.

Look forward to hearing what you can do, thanks

John

C Programming C++ Programming

Project ID: #7182338

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