How do I install the Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add josiahsiegel/ffmpeg-python-integration-reference in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference?

josiahsiegel (@josiahsiegel) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference by josiahsiegel

Name: Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: josiahsiegel

Ffmpeg Python Integration Reference

Authoritative Python-FFmpeg parameter integration reference ensuring type safety, accurate parameter mappings, and proper unit conversions. PROACTIVELY activate for: (1) ffmpeg-python library usage, (2) Python subprocess FFmpeg calls, (3) Caption/subtitle parameter mapping (drawtext, ASS), (4) Color format conversions (BGR, RGB, ABGR, ASS &HAABBGGRR), (5) Time unit conversions (seconds, centiseconds, milliseconds), (6) Type safety validation (int, float, string), (7) Coordinate systems, (8) Parameter range enforcement, (9) Frame pipe handling, (10) Error detection for type mismatches. Provides: Complete parameter type reference, color format conversion tables, time unit conversion formulas, validation patterns, working Python examples with proper typing.

josiahsiegel Updated Sep 9, 2026

File contents

Python-FFmpeg Integration Reference

Use this skill when Python code is constructing FFmpeg commands, filters, ASS subtitles, or raw-frame pipes and the risk is a type, unit, color, or stream-mapping bug. This SKILL is a lean orchestrator; detailed tables and full code examples live in references/python-ffmpeg-reference.md.

When to Use

ffmpeg-python stream graphs and filter arguments
Python subprocess calls to FFmpeg
drawtext, ASS/SSA, karaoke, and animated caption parameter mapping
RGB/BGR/ASS color conversion bugs
Seconds vs centiseconds vs milliseconds confusion
Raw frame pipe I/O with NumPy/OpenCV
Range/type validation before command execution

Critical Rules

Validate types before passing parameters. fontsize and crf are integers; bitrates are strings with units such as 5M or 192k; FFmpeg expressions are strings.
Quote FFmpeg expressions in Python. Use x="(w-tw)/2", not Python variables named w or tw.
Handle audio explicitly. In ffmpeg-python, a video filter chain usually drops audio unless you map input_file.audio into the output.
Know the color context. FFmpeg drawtext colors are RGB/named strings; OpenCV arrays are BGR; ASS colors are &HAABBGGRR.
Know the time context. FFmpeg filters use seconds; ASS karaoke tags use centiseconds; ASS animation tags use milliseconds.

Quick Reference

FFmpeg / ASS parameter	Python type	Format / range	Common failure
`-crf`	`int` or `str`	H.264/H.265 `0-51`	passing `18.5`
`-b:v`, `-b:a`	`str`	`5M`, `1000k`, `192k`	raw integer without unit
`fontsize`	`int`	practical `12-200`	passing `'24'`
`fontcolor`	`str`	`white`, `#FFFFFF`, `0xFFFFFF`	RGB tuple/list
ASS colour	`str`	`&HAABBGGRR`	using RGB byte order
`x`, `y`, `alpha`, `enable`	`str` for expressions	`'(w-tw)/2`, `between(t,1,5)`	unquoted expression

Core Workflow

Probe the input or metadata source so you know width, height, fps, duration, and stream availability.
Choose the integration layer: ffmpeg-python for command graphs, subprocess for full CLI parity and pipes, PyAV for frame-level library access.
Normalize color and time units at the Python boundary.
Validate parameters and ranges before building a command.
Map audio/subtitle streams intentionally.
Run on a short sample first; capture stderr for actionable FFmpeg errors.

Reference Map

references/python-ffmpeg-reference.md - Full preserved reference: color conversion functions, ASS style structures, karaoke/animation helpers, drawtext parameter tables, ffmpeg-python examples, subprocess pipe patterns, pitfalls, validation helpers, full working examples.

Related Skills

ffmpeg-opencv-integration - OpenCV/NumPy frame pipelines and BGR/RGB handoff
ffmpeg-pyav-integration - PyAV frame-level API patterns
ffmpeg-captions-subtitles - Subtitle extraction, burn-in, and styling
ffmpeg-animation-timing-reference - Timing units, readability, easing, and sync

---name: ffmpeg-python-integration-referencedescription: Authoritative Python-FFmpeg parameter integration reference ensuring type safety, accurate parameter mappings, and proper unit conversions. PROACTIVELY activate for: (1) ffmpeg-python library usage, (2) Python subprocess FFmpeg calls, (3) Caption/subtitle parameter mapping (drawtext, ASS), (4) Color format conversions (BGR, RGB, ABGR, ASS &HAABBGGRR), (5) Time unit conversions (seconds, centiseconds, milliseconds), (6) Type safety validation (int, float, string), (7) Coordinate systems, (8) Parameter range enforcement, (9) Frame pipe handling, (10) Error detection for type mismatches. Provides: Complete parameter type reference, color format conversion tables, time unit conversion formulas, validation patterns, working Python examples with proper typing.--- # Python-FFmpeg Integration Reference Use this skill when Python code is constructing FFmpeg commands, filters, ASS subtitles, or raw-frame pipes and the risk is a type, unit, color, or stream-mapping bug. This SKILL is a lean orchestrator; detailed tables and full code examples live in `references/python-ffmpeg-reference.md`. ## When to Use - `ffmpeg-python` stream graphs and filter arguments - Python `subprocess` calls to FFmpeg - `drawtext`, ASS/SSA, karaoke, and animated caption parameter mapping - RGB/BGR/ASS color conversion bugs - Seconds vs centiseconds vs milliseconds confusion - Raw frame pipe I/O with NumPy/OpenCV - Range/type validation before command execution ## Critical Rules 1. **Validate types before passing parameters.** `fontsize` and `crf` are integers; bitrates are strings with units such as `5M` or `192k`; FFmpeg expressions are strings. 2. **Quote FFmpeg expressions in Python.** Use `x="(w-tw)/2"`, not Python variables named `w` or `tw`. 3. **Handle audio explicitly.** In `ffmpeg-python`, a video filter chain usually drops audio unless you map `input_file.audio` into the output. 4. **Know the color context.** FFmpeg drawtext colors are RGB/named strings; OpenCV arrays are BGR; ASS colors are `&HAABBGGRR`. 5. **Know the time context.** FFmpeg filters use seconds; ASS karaoke tags use centiseconds; ASS animation tags use milliseconds. ## Quick Reference | FFmpeg / ASS parameter | Python type | Format / range | Common failure | |---|---:|---|---| | `-crf` | `int` or `str` | H.264/H.265 `0-51` | passing `18.5` | | `-b:v`, `-b:a` | `str` | `5M`, `1000k`, `192k` | raw integer without unit | | `fontsize` | `int` | practical `12-200` | passing `'24'` | | `fontcolor` | `str` | `white`, `#FFFFFF`, `0xFFFFFF` | RGB tuple/list | | ASS colour | `str` | `&HAABBGGRR` | using RGB byte order | | `x`, `y`, `alpha`, `enable` | `str` for expressions | `'(w-tw)/2`, `between(t,1,5)` | unquoted expression | ## Core Workflow 1. Probe the input or metadata source so you know width, height, fps, duration, and stream availability. 2. Choose the integration layer: `ffmpeg-python` for command graphs, `subprocess` for full CLI parity and pipes, PyAV for frame-level library access. 3. Normalize color and time units at the Python boundary. 4. Validate parameters and ranges before building a command. 5. Map audio/subtitle streams intentionally. 6. Run on a short sample first; capture stderr for actionable FFmpeg errors. ## Reference Map - `references/python-ffmpeg-reference.md` - Full preserved reference: color conversion functions, ASS style structures, karaoke/animation helpers, drawtext parameter tables, `ffmpeg-python` examples, subprocess pipe patterns, pitfalls, validation helpers, full working examples. ## Related Skills - `ffmpeg-opencv-integration` - OpenCV/NumPy frame pipelines and BGR/RGB handoff - `ffmpeg-pyav-integration` - PyAV frame-level API patterns - `ffmpeg-captions-subtitles` - Subtitle extraction, burn-in, and styling - `ffmpeg-animation-timing-reference` - Timing units, readability, easing, and sync

Frequently asked questions