A technical guide for processing video and audio with precise codec selection, filtering, and high-performance encoding settings.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install ffmpeg
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install ffmpeg using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is FFmpeg?
FFmpeg is the definitive open-source framework for handling multimedia data, enabling users to decode, encode, transcode, mux, demux, stream, and filter almost any media format. This skill within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem provides a structured methodology for using FFmpeg effectively, ensuring developers can manage complex tasks like frame-accurate seeking and stream mapping without the common pitfalls of media manipulation.
By leveraging this skill, users can optimize their media workflows for both quality and speed. It covers the critical distinctions between containers and codecs, the nuances of filter syntax, and the implementation of hardware acceleration to reduce processing times on modern hardware.
FFmpeg Use Cases
- High-speed video trimming using both fast and frame-accurate seeking methods.
- Re-encoding media to specific quality targets using Constant Rate Factor (CRF) or two-pass bitrate controls.
- Extracting audio from video files or normalizing loudness levels for professional delivery.
- Merging multiple video clips with different formats into a single, unified output.
- Hardcoding subtitles into video streams or muxing them as toggleable tracks.
How FFmpeg Works
- Identify the source media streams and determine the required mapping for video, audio, and subtitles.
- Configure input seeking using the -ss flag to navigate to specific timestamps before or after the input file.
- Define the transformation logic using simple or complex filter chains for scaling, cropping, or frame rate adjustments.
- Select the appropriate codecs and container formats based on compatibility and compression requirements.
- Optimize the encoding process by choosing speed presets and hardware acceleration triggers where applicable.
- Execute the final command to produce the processed media file while maintaining timestamp integrity.
FFmpeg Setup
To use this skill, ensure that the FFmpeg binary is installed and accessible in your system environment. This is one of the essential Openclaw Skills for media automation.
Install on macOS:
brew install ffmpeg
Install on Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):
sudo apt update && sudo apt install ffmpeg
Install on Windows: Download the latest builds from the official FFmpeg website and add the bin folder to your System PATH.
FFmpeg Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill organizes media processing parameters into several key categories to ensure predictable output across different Openclaw Skills implementations:
| Parameter Group | Description | Key Flags |
|---|---|---|
| Seeking | Controls how FFmpeg navigates time | -ss, -to, -t |
| Selection | Identifies specific streams to process | -map, -vn, -an |
| Quality | Manages compression and file size | -crf, -preset, -b:v |
| Filtering | Applies visual or auditory changes | -vf, -af, -filter_complex |
| Codecs | Sets the compression algorithm | -c:v, -c:a, -c:s |
FFmpeg Advanced Features
- Hardware-accelerated encoding using NVIDIA CUDA (nvenc) or macOS VideoToolbox.
- Complex filter routing for picture-in-picture overlays and multi-input processing.
- EBU R128 loudness normalization for broadcast-compliant audio tracks.
- Lossless container switching using the stream copy mode to preserve source quality.
- Advanced concatenation using the demuxer for files with matching codecs to avoid re-encoding.
SKILL.md
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