<< All versions
Skill v1.0.1
currentAutomated scan100/100madappgang/claude-code/ffmpeg-core
3 files
──Details
PublishedSeptember 29, 2026 at 09:10 PM
Content Hashsha256:baf906258926523f...
Git SHA6097ad4643f2
Bump Typepatch
──Files
Files (1 file, 5.5 KB)
SKILL.md5.5 KBactive
SKILL.md · 208 lines · 5.5 KB
version: "1.0.1" name: ffmpeg-core description: 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.
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 Chocolateychoco install ffmpeg# Or download from https://ffmpeg.org/download.html
Common Operations Reference
1. Video Information
Extract metadata and stream information:
bash
# Get full metadataffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_format -show_streams "input.mp4"# Get duration onlyffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 "input.mp4"# Get resolutionffprobe -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 framesffmpeg -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 onlyffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 audio.mp3ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a pcm_s16le audio.wav
5. Resolution and Scaling
bash
# Scale to specific resolutionffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:1080" output.mp4# Scale maintaining aspect ratioffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:-1" output.mp4# Scale to fit within boundsffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale='min(1920,iw)':min'(1080,ih)':force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease" output.mp4
6. Audio Operations
bash
# Adjust volumeffmpeg -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 tracksffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i audio.mp3 -filter_complex "[0:a][1:a]amerge=inputs=2" -c:v copy output.mp4# Replace audioffmpeg -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/outffmpeg -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 overlayffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "drawtext=text='Title':fontsize=48:fontcolor=white:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=50" output.mp4# Color correctionffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "eq=brightness=0.1:saturation=1.2:contrast=1.1" output.mp4
Codec Selection Guide
| Use Case | Video Codec | Audio Codec | Container | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web delivery | libx264/libx265 | aac | mp4 | |
| Final Cut Pro | prores_ks | pcm_s16le | mov | |
| Archive/lossless | ffv1 | flac | mkv | |
| Quick preview | libx264 -preset ultrafast | aac | mp4 | |
| Social media | libx264 -crf 20 | aac -b:a 192k | mp4 |
ProRes Profiles (for FCP)
| Profile | Flag | Quality | Use Case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proxy | -profile:v 0 | Low | Offline editing | |
| LT | -profile:v 1 | Medium | Light grading | |
| Standard | -profile:v 2 | High | General editing | |
| HQ | -profile:v 3 | Very High | Final delivery | |
| 4444 | -profile:v 4 | Highest | VFX/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 processingffmpeg -i input.mp4 -threads 0 output.mp4# Limit memory usageffmpeg -i input.mp4 -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 output.mp4
Error Handling Patterns
bash
# Check if file is valid videoffprobe -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 processingvalidate_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"; thenecho "Valid"return 0elseecho "Invalid or missing video stream"return 1fi}
Related Skills
- transcription - Extract audio for Whisper processing
- final-cut-pro - Convert processed clips for FCP timelines