How to Convert 3GP to Linux

3GP is a video and audio file format used in 3G capable phones. 3GP is also the format PlayStation 3 will convert audio from a CD when AAC codec is selected. Linux will read video and audio 3GP files when the FFmpeg decoder is installed. FFmpeg can also be used to convert video 3GP files to AVI file and audio 3GP file to MP3 files if you need a more standard file format.

Instructions

1. Click on the "Terminal" icon in your Linux task bar.

2. Make sure the FFmpeg library is installed. Type "sudo apt-get install ffmpeg" if you are using Ubuntu. Type "yum install ffmpeg" if you are using Fedora or a derivative.

3. Type "ffmpeg --i name-of-your-file.3gp --f avi --acodec mp3 *.avi" to convert your video 3GP file the file to a AVI file. The file will have the same name as the original one but with the AVI suffix and will be located in the same folder.

4. Type "ffmpeg -y -i * name-of-your-file.3gp -ac 1 -acodec mp3 -ar 22050 -f wav *.mp3" to convert your sound-only 3GP file to MP3. The file will be located in the same folder and have the same name but with the MP3 suffix.

Tips & Warnings

• WinFF is a graphical interface to FFmpeg and can be used if you do not want to have to deal with long lines of commands.

• Linux is case sensitive. File.3gp is not the same as file.3GP. Make sure the name you type the name using all the capitalization.

References

• Die.net : ffmpeg Manual page