Trouble with paths that have spaces in them

[Jacob-Mahoney]

Title is pretty self-explanatory. I'm having trouble with paths that have spaces in them.

import ffmpeg from "ffmpeg"

try {
    let process = new ffmpeg("C:\\Users\\JR\\Desktop\\new folder\\test.m4a");
    process.then(video => {
        video.save("C:\\Users\\JR\\Desktop\\test.mp3", (error, file) => {
            if (!error) {
                console.log("converted!");
            } else {
                console.log("uh oh error: " + error);
            }
        });
    },
    error => {
        console.log("Error: " + error);
    });
} catch (error) {
    console.log(error.code);
    console.log(error.msg);
}

Below are all the variations I've tried. They all result in either an error from the module itself saying "The input file does not exist" or an error from ffmpeg saying "No such file or directory".

let process = new ffmpeg("C:\\Users\\JR\\Desktop\\new folder\\test.m4a");

let process = new ffmpeg('C:\\Users\\JR\\Desktop\\new folder\\test.m4a');

let process = new ffmpeg('"C:\\Users\\JR\\Desktop\\new folder\\test.m4a"');

let process = new ffmpeg("C:/Users/JR/Desktop/new folder/test.m4a");

let process = new ffmpeg('C:/Users/JR/Desktop/new folder/test.m4a');

let process = new ffmpeg("C:\\Users\\JR\\Desktop\\new\ folder\test.m4a");

let process = new ffmpeg('C:\\Users\\JR\\Desktop\\new\ folder\test.m4a');

And probably several other variations that I'm forgetting. Any ideas?

[clement-lta]

Nice. Same issue

[tugrul512bit]

Also with paranthesis even when its encodeURI(name)'d.

World of Warcraft - Warlords of Draenor Cinematic(1).mp4

even if I append+prepent the file path with (") characers.

"'"+path.join(__dirname,uri)+"'"

[anselanza]

Ouch, yes, having the same problem. Anybody at least find a workaround?

[paulkre]

How is this still not fixed?

[anselanza]

Going to clone the repo and see if I can hunt this one down for myself!

[anselanza]

I think I fixed it: #87

[cyoung502]

For anyone looking for a fix to this in 2025, can't believe it's even an issue that it doesn't wrap the inputs/output in quotes...

Go to ffmpeg/lib/video.js
Inside the 'execCommand' function, below line 553 add these two lines of code:

inputs = inputs.map(x => `"${x}"`)
output = `"${output}"`

So you should have

// Create a copy of the commands list
inputs = inputs.map(x => `"${x}"`)
output = `"${output}"`
var finalCommands = ['ffmpeg -i']
.concat(inputs.join(' -i '))
.concat(commands.join(' '))
.concat(filtersComlpex.length > 0 ? ['-filter_complex "'].concat(filtersComlpex.join(', ')).join('') + '"' : [])
.concat([output]);