madappgang/claude-code/ffmpeg-core

Trust tier 2
  • community
Source check pending

Checking that the SKILL.md file is still in the repository.

FFmpeg fundamentals for video/audio manipulation. Covers common operations (trim, concat, convert, extract), codec selection, filter chains, and performance optimization. Use when planning or executing video processing tasks.

Install

npx vskill@latest install madappgang/claude-code/ffmpeg-core

SKILL.md

plugin: video-editing updated: 2026-01-20

FFmpeg Core Operations

Production-ready patterns for video and audio manipulation using FFmpeg.

System Requirements

  • FFmpeg (5.0+ recommended)
  • Verify installation: ffmpeg -version
  • For hardware acceleration: check ffmpeg -hwaccels
Cross-Platform Installation

macOS:

bash
brew install ffmpeg

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt install ffmpeg

Linux (Fedora/RHEL):

bash
sudo dnf install ffmpeg

Windows:

bash
# Using Chocolatey
choco install ffmpeg
# Or download from https://ffmpeg.org/download.html

Common Operations Reference

1. Video Information

Extract metadata and stream information:

bash
# Get full metadata
ffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_format -show_streams "input.mp4"
# Get duration only
ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 "input.mp4"
# Get resolution
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=width,height -of csv=s=x:p=0 "input.mp4"
2. Trimming and Cutting
bash
# Trim by time (fast, no re-encoding)
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:30 -i input.mp4 -to 00:02:45 -c copy output.mp4
# Trim with re-encoding (frame-accurate)
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:30 -i input.mp4 -to 00:02:45 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4
# Extract specific segment by frames
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "select=between(n\,100\,500)" -vsync vfr output.mp4
3. Concatenation
bash
# Using concat demuxer (same codecs required)
# First create file list:
# file 'clip1.mp4'
# file 'clip2.mp4'
# file 'clip3.mp4'
ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i filelist.txt -c copy output.mp4
# Using concat filter (different codecs, re-encodes)
ffmpeg -i clip1.mp4 -i clip2.mp4 -filter_complex "[0:v][0:a][1:v][1:a]concat=n=2:v=1:a=1" output.mp4
4. Format Conversion
bash
# MP4 to MOV (ProRes for FCP)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -c:a pcm_s16le output.mov
# Any to H.264 MP4 (web-friendly)
ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 23 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4
# Extract audio only
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 audio.mp3
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a pcm_s16le audio.wav
5. Resolution and Scaling
bash
# Scale to specific resolution
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:1080" output.mp4
# Scale maintaining aspect ratio
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:-1" output.mp4
# Scale to fit within bounds
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale='min(1920,iw)':min'(1080,ih)':force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease" output.mp4
6. Audio Operations
bash
# Adjust volume
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -af "volume=1.5" output.mp4
# Normalize audio (loudnorm)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -af loudnorm=I=-16:TP=-1.5:LRA=11 output.mp4
# Mix audio tracks
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i audio.mp3 -filter_complex "[0:a][1:a]amerge=inputs=2" -c:v copy output.mp4
# Replace audio
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i new_audio.mp3 -c:v copy -map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0 output.mp4
7. Video Effects and Filters
bash
# Fade in/out
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fade=t=in:st=0:d=1,fade=t=out:st=9:d=1" output.mp4
# Speed adjustment (2x faster)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=0.5*PTS[v];[0:a]atempo=2.0[a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" output.mp4
# Add text overlay
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "drawtext=text='Title':fontsize=48:fontcolor=white:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=50" output.mp4
# Color correction
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "eq=brightness=0.1:saturation=1.2:contrast=1.1" output.mp4

Codec Selection Guide

Use CaseVideo CodecAudio CodecContainer
Web deliverylibx264/libx265aacmp4
Final Cut Proprores_kspcm_s16lemov
Archive/losslessffv1flacmkv
Quick previewlibx264 -preset ultrafastaacmp4
Social medialibx264 -crf 20aac -b:a 192kmp4

ProRes Profiles (for FCP)

ProfileFlagQualityUse Case
Proxy-profile:v 0LowOffline editing
LT-profile:v 1MediumLight grading
Standard-profile:v 2HighGeneral editing
HQ-profile:v 3Very HighFinal delivery
4444-profile:v 4HighestVFX/compositing

Performance Optimization

bash
# Use hardware acceleration (macOS)
ffmpeg -hwaccel videotoolbox -i input.mp4 -c:v h264_videotoolbox output.mp4
# Use hardware acceleration (Linux with NVIDIA)
ffmpeg -hwaccel cuda -i input.mp4 -c:v h264_nvenc output.mp4
# Parallel processing
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -threads 0 output.mp4
# Limit memory usage
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 output.mp4

Error Handling Patterns

bash
# Check if file is valid video
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_type -of csv=p=0 "file.mp4" 2>/dev/null
# Returns "video" if valid
# Validate output after processing
validate_video() {
local file="$1"
if ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=codec_type -of csv=p=0 "$file" 2>/dev/null | grep -q "video"; then
echo "Valid"
return 0
else
echo "Invalid or missing video stream"
return 1
fi
}

Related Skills

  • transcription - Extract audio for Whisper processing
  • final-cut-pro - Convert processed clips for FCP timelines

Security

  • Security scanPassed, 100 of 100Pattern checks on the skill's files.
  • Model reviewPassed

Quality evaluation

  • Task evaluationNot runNo evaluation yet. Run one in Skill Studio.

Source

Popularity

Repository stars
283
Repository forks
26
7-day trend score
28

Stars and forks are for the whole GitHub repository, not this skill alone. Refreshed 5 Apr 2026, 6 months ago.

Works with

Any agent vskill installs to: 56 targets in all. These 39 have a page on this site.

  • Claude Code
  • Cursor
  • GitHub Copilot
  • Windsurf
  • Codex
  • Gemini CLI
  • Cline
  • Amp
  • Roo Code
  • Goose
  • Continue
  • Kilo Code
  • Junie
  • Trae
  • OpenHands
  • Qwen Code
  • AI Agent
  • Tabnine Chat
  • Sourcegraph Cody
  • Amazon Q
  • Firebase Genkit
  • Sweep
  • Devin
  • Phind
  • Mentat
  • Claude Desktop
  • Aider
  • GPT Pilot
  • Plandex
  • bolt.new
  • v0
  • Replit Agent
  • Anse
  • TypingMind
  • BetterChatGPT
  • LibreChat
  • Warp AI
  • Pieces
  • Fig AI
Embed badge
vskill VERIFIED badge
[![vskill VERIFIED](https://verified-skill.com/api/v1/skills/madappgang/claude-code/ffmpeg-core/badge)](https://verified-skill.com/skills/madappgang/claude-code/ffmpeg-core)

Something wrong with this skill or its page? Tell us.