Open-source licenses

Bitrate includes open-source software. This page lists what’s inside Bitrate 1.1.1, the licenses that apply, and where to get the source code.

How FFmpeg is used

Bitrate bundles FFmpeg 8.1 as a separate command-line program, ffmpeg, inside the app in Bitrate.app/Contents/Resources/. Bitrate runs it as a separate process and doesn’t link it into its own program. The program is a static build for Apple silicon (arm64), and the libraries it was built with are compiled into it.

GNU General Public License

FFmpeg on its own is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License. The copy in Bitrate is built with --enable-gpl and includes GPL libraries such as x264 and x265, so the ffmpeg program in Bitrate is covered by the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.

GNU General Public License, version 2
GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1 (FFmpeg’s own libraries, LAME)

These programs come with no warranty, to the extent permitted by law.

How FFmpeg is configured

These are the build options the bundled ffmpeg reports, with build-machine paths left out:

--arch=arm64 --enable-gpl --enable-libvmaf --enable-libopenjpeg
--enable-libopus --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265
--enable-libvvenc --enable-libvpx --enable-libwebp --enable-libass
--enable-libfreetype --enable-fontconfig --enable-libtheora
--enable-libvorbis --enable-libsnappy --enable-libaom --enable-libvidstab
--enable-libzimg --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-libkvazaar
--pkg-config-flags=--static --enable-ffplay --enable-neon
--enable-runtime-cpudetect --disable-indev=qtkit --disable-indev=x11grab_xcb

Bitrate uses FFmpeg for audio only. The table lists the components most relevant to what Bitrate does; each library named in the configuration above is built in under its own open-source license.

Components

Component	Version	License	Source
FFmpeg	8.1	GPL v2 or later (as built)	Source
LAME (MP3 encoder)		LGPL v2 or later	Source
libopus		BSD 3-clause	Source
libvorbis		BSD 3-clause	Source
x264		GPL v2 or later	Source
x265		GPL v2 or later	Source

Source code offer

The complete corresponding source code for the ffmpeg program in each Bitrate release, including the libraries built into it and the build configuration, will be published next to that release’s download. [confirm download URL]

Until then, or if a source archive is missing, open a support ticket and we’ll send it to you. [confirm]

Bitrate is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Apple Inc. Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

NCH Switch is a trademark of its respective owner. Bitrate is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCH Software.

Bitrate includes FFmpeg, licensed under the GNU General Public License. The license texts and the matching source code for each release are on the licenses page.