Build FFmpeg from Source with x264, x265, fdk-aac and more on MacOS

FFmpeg is one of the most powerful open-source multimedia frameworks, capable of handling everything from simple format conversions to complex video pipelines. While pre-built binaries are convenient, compiling FFmpeg from source gives you full control over included codecs, performance optimizations, and platform-specific tweaks.

In this post, we’ll walk through how to build FFmpeg 8.0 from source on macOS, linking it statically against essential libraries like x264, x265, fdk-aac, libvpx, opus, freetype and OpenSSL.
This setup ensures maximum codec compatibility, secure streaming support, and improved runtime performance.

💡 For the full step-by-step build script, see the complete Gist here:
🔗 FFmpeg Source Build Script (macOS)

1. Why Build FFmpeg from Source?

Precompiled FFmpeg packages often exclude nonfree codecs (like fdk-aac) or advanced optimizations.
By building from source, you can:

• Enable both GPL and nonfree libraries
• Optimize for your CPU architecture (Apple Silicon / Intel)
• Keep all dependencies in an isolated directory
• Gain full control over codec versions and features

2. Required Tools

Before you begin, make sure these basic packages are installed:

brew install cmake pkg-config

These are needed by most FFmpeg dependencies for configuration and build management.

3. Key Libraries Overview

Each of these is built and installed under a dedicated $HOME/Applications/ffmpeg_library path to keep your system clean and portable.

4. Configuring FFmpeg

Once dependencies are compiled, FFmpeg is configured to statically link all external libraries.
This ensures your build remains self-contained and doesn’t rely on system-wide libraries.

Example configuration flags include:

--enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libfdk_aac \
--enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-libvpx \
--enable-libfreetype --enable-openssl --enable-gpl --enable-nonfree

5. Verifying the Build

After compilation, check that your FFmpeg binary includes all expected codecs:

$HOME/Applications/FFmpeg-V8.0/bin/ffmpeg -version

You should see entries like:

--enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libfdk_aac --enable-libopus ...

6. Conclusion

Building FFmpeg from source takes a bit of effort, but the result is a fully optimized multimedia toolchain tailored to your needs.
Whether you’re developing video processing apps, encoding workflows, or streaming services, a custom-built FFmpeg ensures you’re not limited by prebuilt binaries.