<p>FFmpeg does not support, at present, exporting a MOV or ISO BMFF file with external data references.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-13T01:51:32.333Z
Thanks for the info. I guess, we need to request this feature?
user1544752
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-13T03:43:52.410Z
Even when implemented. you won't be able to reuse an existing dref.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-13T04:36:08.010Z
Is the Quicktime library that is integrated with FFMPEG compatible with Apple Quicktime Reference files?
user1544752
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-13T04:53:47.627Z
Not clear what that means.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-13T05:13:12.683Z
Just wondering why you say that reusing an existing dref file wouldnt work if references are implemented in ffmpeg?
user1544752
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-13T06:33:22.960Z
Because ffmpeg 's architecture does not support editing files in-place or treat media data as a monolith. The metadata of a QT or ISO BMFF file contains tables containing byte offsets for media packets, timestamps, packet sizes..etc. So ffmpeg relays each media stream packet by packet and constructs a new stream + metadata for the output.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-09T12:57:38.233Z
2021-07-09T12:57:38.233Z
Gyan
<p>I'm trying to figure out how to use FFMPEG to make a reference MOV from a ProRes MOV source.</p>
<p>I've found commands that will take  reference file and make a rendered ProRes MOV file</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -enable_drefs 1 -use_absolute_path 1 -i SOURCE.mov -map 0 -c copy OUTPUTFILE.MOV
</code></pre>
<p>But I want to go the other direction. Start with a ProRes MOV and make a reference MOV that points to the ProRes MOV source.</p>

<ffmpeg><prores>
FFMPEG to make Quicktime reference MOV file from ProRes MOV source
user1544752
# FFMPEG to make Quicktime reference MOV file from ProRes MOV source

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-07-09)

I'm trying to figure out how to use FFMPEG to make a reference MOV from a ProRes MOV source.
I've found commands that will take  reference file and make a rendered ProRes MOV file
ffmpeg -enable_drefs 1 -use_absolute_path 1 -i SOURCE.mov -map 0 -c copy OUTPUTFILE.MOV

But I want to go the other direction. Start with a ProRes MOV and make a reference MOV that points to the ProRes MOV source.

**Tags:** ffmpeg, prores


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-07-09. Score: 0

FFmpeg does not support, at present, exporting a MOV or ISO BMFF file with external data references.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the info. I guess, we need to request this feature?  
> **username_1**: Even when implemented. you won't be able to reuse an existing dref.  
> **username_0**: Is the Quicktime library that is integrated with FFMPEG compatible with Apple Quicktime Reference files?  
> **username_1**: Not clear what that means.  
> **username_0**: Just wondering why you say that reusing an existing dref file wouldnt work if references are implemented in ffmpeg?  
> **username_1**: Because ffmpeg 's architecture does not support editing files in-place or treat media data as a monolith. The metadata of a QT or ISO BMFF file contains tables containing byte offsets for media packets, timestamps, packet sizes..etc. So ffmpeg relays each media stream packet by packet and constructs a new stream + metadata for the output.  

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