explainx.ainewsletter3.4k
Video

ffmpeg-video-editor▌

sundial-org/awesome-openclaw-skills · updated May 24, 2026

MDX-style export adds YAML metadata + attribution linking explainx.ai and this canonical listing URL.

$npx skills add https://github.com/sundial-org/awesome-openclaw-skills --skill ffmpeg-video-editor
0 commentsdiscussion
summary

Translate natural language video editing requests into ready-to-run FFmpeg commands.

  • ›Supports 15+ operations: cut/trim, format conversion, aspect ratio changes, resolution scaling, compression, audio extraction, speed adjustment, GIF creation, rotation, watermarking, subtitle burning, and video merging
  • ›Handles common aspect ratios (16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 9:16, 21:9) with automatic letterboxing and standard resolutions (4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p)
  • ›Includes time format flexibility (HH:MM:SS,
skill.md

FFmpeg Video Editor

You are a video editing assistant that translates natural language requests into FFmpeg commands. When the user asks to edit a video, generate the correct FFmpeg command.

How to Generate Commands

  1. Identify the operation from the user's request
  2. Extract parameters (input file, output file, timestamps, formats, etc.)
  3. Generate the FFmpeg command using the patterns below
  4. If output filename not specified, create one based on the operation (e.g., video_trimmed.mp4)
  5. Always include -y (overwrite) and -hide_banner for cleaner output

Command Reference

Cut/Trim Video

Extract a portion of video between two timestamps.

User might say: "cut video.mp4 from 1:21 to 1:35", "trim first 30 seconds", "extract 0:05:00 to 0:10:30"

Command:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -ss START_TIME -to END_TIME -c copy "OUTPUT"

Examples:

  • Cut from 1:21 to 1:35: 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -ss 00:01:21 -to 00:01:35 -c copy "video_trimmed.mp4"
  • Extract first 2 minutes: 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -ss 00:00:00 -to 00:02:00 -c copy "video_clip.mp4"

Format Conversion

Convert between video formats: mp4, mkv, avi, webm, mov, flv, wmv.

User might say: "convert to mkv", "change format from avi to mp4", "make it a webm"

Commands by format:

# MP4 (most compatible)
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -c:v libx264 -c:a aac "OUTPUT.mp4"

# MKV (lossless container change)
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -c copy "OUTPUT.mkv"

# WebM (web optimized)
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -c:v libvpx-vp9 -c:a libopus "OUTPUT.webm"

# AVI
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -c:v mpeg4 -c:a mp3 "OUTPUT.avi"

# MOV
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -c:v libx264 -c:a aac "OUTPUT.mov"

Change Aspect Ratio

Resize video to different aspect ratios with letterboxing (black bars).

User might say: "change aspect ratio to 16:9", "make it square", "vertical for TikTok"

Common aspect ratios:

Ratio Resolution Use Case
16:9 1920x1080 YouTube, TV
4:3 1440x1080 Old TV format
1:1 1080x1080 Instagram square
9:16 1080x1920 TikTok, Reels, Stories
21:9 2560x1080 Ultrawide/Cinema

Command (with letterboxing):

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vf "scale=WIDTH:HEIGHT:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=WIDTH:HEIGHT:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black" -c:a copy "OUTPUT"

Examples:

  • 16:9 for YouTube: 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -vf "scale=1920:1080:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1920:1080:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black" -c:a copy "video_16x9.mp4"
  • Square for Instagram: 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -vf "scale=1080:1080:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1080:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black" -c:a copy "video_square.mp4"
  • Vertical for TikTok: 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black" -c:a copy "video_vertical.mp4"

Change Resolution

Resize video to standard resolutions.

User might say: "resize to 720p", "make it 4K", "downscale to 480p"

Resolutions:

Name Dimensions
4K 3840x2160
1080p 1920x1080
720p 1280x720
480p 854x480
360p 640x360

Command:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vf "scale=WIDTH:HEIGHT" -c:a copy "OUTPUT"

Example - Resize to 720p:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -vf "scale=1280:720" -c:a copy "video_720p.mp4"

Compress Video

Reduce file size. CRF controls quality: 18 (high quality) → 28 (low quality), 23 is balanced.

User might say: "compress video", "reduce file size", "make smaller for email"

Command:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -c:v libx264 -crf CRF_VALUE -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 128k "OUTPUT"

Examples:

  • Balanced compression (CRF 23): 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 128k "video_compressed.mp4"
  • High compression/smaller file (CRF 28): 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -c:v libx264 -crf 28 -preset fast -c:a aac -b:a 96k "video_small.mp4"
  • High quality (CRF 18): 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -preset slow -c:a aac -b:a 192k "video_hq.mp4"

Extract Audio

Extract audio track from video.

User might say: "extract audio as mp3", "get the audio from video", "convert to audio only"

Command:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vn -acodec CODEC "OUTPUT.FORMAT"

Codecs by format:

Format Codec
mp3 libmp3lame
aac aac
wav pcm_s16le
flac flac
ogg libvorbis

Example - Extract as MP3:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -vn -acodec libmp3lame "video.mp3"

Remove Audio

Create silent video (remove audio track).

User might say: "remove audio", "mute video", "make silent"

Command:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -an -c:v copy "OUTPUT"

Example:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -an -c:v copy "video_silent.mp4"

Change Speed

Speed up or slow down video.

User might say: "speed up 2x", "slow motion", "make 10x timelapse"

Command:

# Speed up (e.g., 2x speed)
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=0.5*PTS[v];[0:a]atempo=2.0[a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" "OUTPUT"

# Slow down (e.g., 0.5x speed / half speed)
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=2.0*PTS[v];[0:a]atempo=0.5[a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" "OUTPUT"

Formula:

  • Video: setpts = (1/speed)*PTS (2x speed → 0.5*PTS)
  • Audio: atempo = speed (must be 0.5-2.0, chain for extremes)

Examples:

  • 2x speed: 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=0.5*PTS[v];[0:a]atempo=2.0[a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" "video_2x.mp4"
  • Half speed (slow motion): 
    ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -filter_complex "[0:v]setpts=2.0*PTS[v];[0:a]atempo=0.5[a]" -map "[v]" -map "[a]" "video_slowmo.mp4"

Convert to GIF

Create animated GIF from video.

User might say: "make a gif", "convert to gif", "gif from 0:10 to 0:15"

Command:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -ss START -t DURATION -vf "fps=15,scale=480:-1:flags=lanczos" -loop 0 "OUTPUT.gif"

Example - GIF of 5 seconds starting at 0:10:

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -ss 00:00:10 -t 5 -vf "fps=15,scale=480:-1:flags=lanczos" -loop 0 "video.gif"

Rotate/Flip Video

Rotate or flip video orientation.

User might say: "rotate 90 degrees", "flip horizontally", "rotate upside down"

Commands:

# Rotate 90° clockwise
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vf "transpose=1" -c:a copy "OUTPUT"

# Rotate 90° counter-clockwise
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vf "transpose=2" -c:a copy "OUTPUT"

# Rotate 180°
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vf "transpose=2,transpose=2" -c:a copy "OUTPUT"

# Flip horizontal (mirror)
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vf
how to use ffmpeg-video-editor

How to use ffmpeg-video-editor on Cursor

AI-first code editor with Composer

1

Prerequisites

Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:

  • ›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
  • ›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with node --version)
  • ›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add ffmpeg-video-editor
2

Execute installation command

Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:

$npx skills add https://github.com/sundial-org/awesome-openclaw-skills --skill ffmpeg-video-editor

The skills CLI fetches ffmpeg-video-editor from GitHub repository sundial-org/awesome-openclaw-skills and configures it for Cursor.

3

Select Cursor when prompted

The CLI will show a list of available agents. Use arrow keys to navigate and space to select Cursor:

◆ Which agents do you want to install to?
│
│ ── Universal (.agents/skills) ── always included ────
│ • Amp
│ • Antigravity
│ • Cline
│ • Codex
│ ●Cursor(selected)
│ • Cursor
│ • Windsurf
4

Verify installation

Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:

.cursor/skills/ffmpeg-video-editor

Reload or restart Cursor to activate ffmpeg-video-editor. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /ffmpeg-video-editor) or your agent's skill management interface.

⚠

Security & Verification Notice

We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.

Skills execute code in your development environment. Always verify the publisher's identity, review recent commits, and test in isolated environments before production deployment.

Additional Resources

›View source code on GitHub›Skills CLI documentation›Learn more about Cursor›What are agent skills?

List & Monetize Your Skill

Submit your Claude Code skill and start earning

GET_STARTED →

Use Cases▌

Task Automation & Efficiency

Automate repetitive workflows and reduce manual effort

Example

Generate reports, summarize documents, draft communications

✓

Save 3-5 hours per week on routine tasks

Knowledge Enhancement

Learn new skills, understand complex topics, get expert guidance

Example

Explain concepts, provide examples, suggest learning resources

✓

Accelerate learning and skill development by 2x

Quality Improvement

Enhance output quality through reviews, suggestions, and refinements

Example

Review drafts, suggest improvements, catch errors

✓

Improve work quality by 30-40% with less effort

Implementation Guide▌

Prerequisites

  • ›Claude Desktop or compatible AI client with skill support
  • ›Clear understanding of task or problem to solve
  • ›Willingness to iterate and refine outputs

Time Estimate

15-45 minutes depending on use case complexity

Installation Steps

  1. 1.Install skill using provided installation command
  2. 2.Test with simple use case relevant to your work
  3. 3.Evaluate output quality and relevance
  4. 4.Iterate on prompts to improve results
  5. 5.Integrate into regular workflow if valuable

Common Pitfalls

  • ⚠Expecting perfect results without iteration
  • ⚠Not providing enough context in prompts
  • ⚠Using skill for tasks outside its intended scope
  • ⚠Accepting outputs without review and validation

Best Practices▌

✓ Do

  • +Start with clear, specific prompts
  • +Provide relevant context and constraints
  • +Review and refine all outputs before using
  • +Iterate to improve output quality
  • +Document successful prompt patterns

✗ Don't

  • −Don't use without understanding skill limitations
  • −Don't skip validation of outputs
  • −Don't share sensitive information in prompts
  • −Don't expect skill to replace human judgment

💡 Pro Tips

  • ★Be specific about desired format and style
  • ★Ask for multiple options to choose from
  • ★Request explanations to understand reasoning
  • ★Combine AI efficiency with human expertise

When to Use This▌

✓ Use When

Use when skill capabilities match your task, clear ROI on time saved, and you can validate outputs. Best for repetitive tasks, learning, and quality improvement.

✗ Avoid When

Avoid when task requires deep expertise you can't validate, involves sensitive decisions, or when learning process is more valuable than speed of completion.

Learning Path▌

  1. 1Familiarize yourself with skill capabilities and limitations
  2. 2Start with low-risk, non-critical tasks
  3. 3Progress to more complex and valuable use cases
  4. 4Build expertise through regular use and experimentation

Discussion

Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)
  • No comments yet — start the thread.
general reviews

Ratings

4.4★★★★★37 reviews
  • ★★★★★Fatima Li· Dec 20, 2024

    Registry listing for ffmpeg-video-editor matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.

  • ★★★★★Noor Diallo· Dec 8, 2024

    Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: ffmpeg-video-editor is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.

  • ★★★★★Yuki Iyer· Nov 27, 2024

    We added ffmpeg-video-editor from the explainx registry; install was straightforward and the SKILL.md answered most questions upfront.

  • ★★★★★Noor Abebe· Nov 7, 2024

    Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: ffmpeg-video-editor is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.

  • ★★★★★Yuki Martinez· Oct 26, 2024

    ffmpeg-video-editor has been reliable in day-to-day use. Documentation quality is above average for community skills.

  • ★★★★★Yuki Robinson· Oct 18, 2024

    ffmpeg-video-editor fits our agent workflows well — practical, well scoped, and easy to wire into existing repos.

  • ★★★★★Rahul Santra· Sep 25, 2024

    Registry listing for ffmpeg-video-editor matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.

  • ★★★★★Luis Gupta· Sep 25, 2024

    Solid pick for teams standardizing on skills: ffmpeg-video-editor is focused, and the summary matches what you get after install.

  • ★★★★★Emma Bansal· Sep 25, 2024

    Registry listing for ffmpeg-video-editor matched our evaluation — installs cleanly and behaves as described in the markdown.

  • ★★★★★Sakshi Patil· Sep 17, 2024

    ffmpeg-video-editor has been reliable in day-to-day use. Documentation quality is above average for community skills.

showing 1-10 of 37

1 / 4