Python OpenCV multiprocessing cv2.VideoCapture mp4

Here’s a minimal working example with optional FPS control. If you need to extract frames from your process back to the main program, you can use multiprocessing.Queue() to transfer frames since multiprocesses have an independent memory stack.

import multiprocessing as mp
import cv2, time

def capture_frames():
    src="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/72120491/test.mp4"
    capture = cv2.VideoCapture(src)
    capture.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_BUFFERSIZE, 2)

    # FPS = 1/X, X = desired FPS
    FPS = 1/120
    FPS_MS = int(FPS * 1000)

    while True:
        # Ensure camera is connected
        if capture.isOpened():
            (status, frame) = capture.read()
            
            # Ensure valid frame
            if status:
                cv2.imshow('frame', frame)
            else:
                break
            if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord('q'):
                break
            time.sleep(FPS)

    capture.release()
    cv2.destroyAllWindows()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    print('Starting video stream')
    capture_process = mp.Process(target=capture_frames, args=())
    capture_process.start()

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