ffmpeg-video-editor

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---
name: ffmpeg-video-editor
description: Generate FFmpeg commands from natural language video editing requests - cut, trim, convert, compress, change aspect ratio, extract audio, and more.
---

# 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:**
```bash
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -ss START_TIME -to END_TIME -c copy "OUTPUT"
```

**Examples:**
- Cut from 1:21 to 1:35:
  ```bash
  ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "video.mp4" -ss 00:01:21 -to 00:01:35 -c copy "video_trimmed.mp4"
  ```
- Extract first 2 minutes:
  ```bash
  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:**
```bash
# 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):**
```bash
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:
  ```bash
  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:
  ```bash
  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:
  ```bash
  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:**
```bash
ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "INPUT" -vf "scale=WIDTH:HEIGHT" -c:a copy "OUTPUT"
```

**Example - Resize to 720p:**
```bash
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 q