<p><code>-ss</code> after the input name performs a slow seek where ffmpeg decodes all frames but discards till it reaches the seek point.</p>

<p>With <code>-ss</code> before <code>-i</code>, ffmpeg performs a fast seek.</p>

<pre><code>FFMPEG.exe -ss hh:mm:ss -i in.webm -q:a 0 -map a -t hh:mm:ss -y out.mp3
</code></pre>

<p>But you'll have to specify a duration instead of <code>to</code> with most formats.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-14T20:17:13.577Z
I only use FFMPEG every few years, but it always amazes me how much it is the embodiment of the power/complexity trade-off.
Sidney
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-14T19:53:44.250Z
2017-08-14T19:53:44.250Z
Gyan
<p>I'm cutting audio out of files, and I'm running into an issue. When I run FFMPeg with this command</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>FFMPEG.exe -i in.webm -q:a 0 -map a -ss hh:mm:ss -to hh:mm:ss -y out.mp3</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If the <code>-ss</code> parameter is rather large (lets say <code>00:30:00</code>), it takes a long time before it even starts cutting -- It just sits on the below statement for a long time before finally starting.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>size=       0kB time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Does anyone know why it would do this and how I could fix it?</p>

<ffmpeg>
Why does FFMPeg sit at 00:00:00.00 if I start cutting a video a long ways into the file?
Sidney
# Why does FFMPeg sit at 00:00:00.00 if I start cutting a video a long ways into the file?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-14)

I'm cutting audio out of files, and I'm running into an issue. When I run FFMPeg with this command

> FFMPEG.exe -i in.webm -q:a 0 -map a -ss hh:mm:ss -to hh:mm:ss -y out.mp3

If the `-ss` parameter is rather large (lets say `00:30:00`), it takes a long time before it even starts cutting -- It just sits on the below statement for a long time before finally starting.

> size= 0kB time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A

Does anyone know why it would do this and how I could fix it?

**Tags:** ffmpeg


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-14. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

-ss after the input name performs a slow seek where ffmpeg decodes all frames but discards till it reaches the seek point.
With -ss before -i, ffmpeg performs a fast seek.
FFMPEG.exe -ss hh:mm:ss -i in.webm -q:a 0 -map a -t hh:mm:ss -y out.mp3

But you'll have to specify a duration instead of to with most formats.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I only use FFMPEG every few years, but it always amazes me how much it is the embodiment of the power/complexity trade-off.  

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