FFmpeg error - unspecified pixel format for pipe input

Question

I'm trying to convert stream into mp4 file using ffmpeg

ffmpeg -i pipe:0 -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -an -s 800x600 -q:v 31 output.mp4

Output:

[mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2 @ 0x55e63529aec0] Could not find codec parameters for stream 0 (Video: h264 (avc1 / 0x31637661), none, 1280x720, 3001 kb/s): unspecified pixel format
Consider increasing the value for the 'analyzeduration' and 'probesize' options
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'pipe:0':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
    encoder         : Lavf58.45.100   Duration: 00:03:03.15, start: 0.000000, bitrate: N/A
    Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (avc1 / 0x31637661), none, 1280x720, 3001 kb/s, SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 24k tbn, 48k tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      handler_name    : VideoHandler
    Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      handler_name    : Stereo
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 (native) -> h264 (libx264))
[mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2 @0x55e63529aec0] stream 0, offset 0x30: partial file pipe:0: Invalid data found when processing input
Cannot determine format of input stream 0:0 after EOF Error marking filters as finished
Conversion failed!

What I've tried:

to increase analyzeduration and probesize values in the command

ffmpeg -analyzeduration 100M -probesize 100M -i pipe:0 -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -an -s 800x600 -q:v 31 output.mp4

but I still have the same error.

Update:

ffmpeg -f mp4 -i pipe:0 -c:v libx264 -f mp4 output.mp4

this command with formmating stream as mp4 actually works with smaller files. I still have issues with bigger files. I'm suspecting on dockerfile with specfic ffmpeg package

Answer 1

You have to tell FFmpeg what codec format (and/or settings) that your pipe data is using.
You didn't say what format your "stream" is using so here's some general tips:

• Apply format setting (including widths/heights, where needed like for raw RGB data).
• Use -f to specify a format.
• Use -pix_fmt to specify a YUV picture format (like 4:2:0)

For example if your stream to convert is in H.264 format (you won't need pix_fmt here):

ffmpeg -f h264 -i - -c:v copy -f mp4 output.mp4

or can try as (where you don't need -f for MP4 output :

ffmpeg -f h264 -i pipe:0 -c:v copy output.mp4

If your stream is raw RGB pixel data:
(maybe you're generating a video by code / bitmap data at 30 FPS with -r 30).

ffmpeg -f rawvideo -pix_fmt argb -s 800x600 -r 30 -i pipe:0 -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -an  -q:v 31 output.mp4 

Hope it helps. Ask anything if you get a specific error.