How do I install the Vhs Recorder skill?

Run npx skillmds add modbender/vhs-recorder 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 Vhs Recorder 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 Vhs Recorder?

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 Vhs Recorder free to use?

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

Who published Vhs Recorder?

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

Vhs Recorder by modbender — Agent Skill

Name: Vhs Recorder
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: modbender

File contents

VHS Recorder

Create terminal recordings with Charm's VHS. Use when creating CLI demos, README animations, documentation videos.

Prerequisites

vhs installed (brew install vhs / go install github.com/charmbracelet/vhs@latest)
ttyd and ffmpeg on PATH

Tape File Structure

Output demo.gif         # Outputs first
Set Width 1200          # Settings second
Set Theme "Catppuccin Mocha"
Require git             # Requirements third
Hide                    # Hidden setup
Type "cd /tmp && clear"
Enter
Show
Type "your command"     # Main recording
Enter
Wait
Sleep 2s

Core Commands

Command	Purpose
`Type "text"`	Type text (uses TypingSpeed setting)
`Enter` / `Tab` / `Space`	Key presses
`Up` / `Down` / `Left` / `Right`	Arrow navigation
`PageUp` / `PageDown`	Page navigation
`Ctrl+C` / `Ctrl+D` / `Ctrl+L`	Signal/EOF/clear combos
`Wait` / `Wait /pattern/`	Wait for prompt or regex match
`Sleep 2s`	Fixed pause (supports ms/s/m)
`Hide`/`Show`	Hide setup/cleanup from output
`Type@50ms "text"`	Override typing speed inline
`Backspace N` / `Delete N`	Delete N chars back/forward
`Copy` / `Paste`	Clipboard operations
`Screenshot path.png`	Capture single frame
`Env VAR "value"`	Set environment variable

Essential Settings

Setting	Default	Notes
Width/Height	1200/600	Terminal dimensions in pixels
FontSize	32	Text size; FontFamily for custom fonts
TypingSpeed	50ms	Per-char delay (override with `Type@Xms`)
Theme	-	Use `vhs themes` to list all available
Padding	40	Border space; LetterSpacing/LineHeight also available

Timing & Patterns

3-2-1 Rule: 3s after important commands, 2s between actions, 1s for transitions

Clean start: Hide → Type "clear" → Enter → Show
Command-wait: Type → Enter → Wait → Sleep 2s
Fast hidden: Type@10ms "setup command"
ASCII preview: Output demo.ascii for instant test

Output Formats

Format	Use Case
`.gif`	Web/README (universal)
`.mp4`/`.webm`	Social media / modern browsers
`.ascii`	Preview/test (instant, no ffmpeg)
`frames/`	PNG sequence for post-processing

Quick Fixes

Issue	Solution
Commands too fast	Add `Wait` + `Sleep 2s` after Enter
Messy terminal	`Hide` → `clear` → `Show` at start
Inconsistent pacing	Follow 3-2-1 timing rule

CLI Commands

vhs demo.tape       # Run tape file
vhs themes          # List all available themes
vhs manual          # Show full command reference

References

vhs-syntax.md - Full command reference
timing-control.md - Pacing strategies
settings.md - All configuration options
examples.md - Real-world tape files

---name: vhs-recorderdescription: Create professional terminal recordings with VHS tape files - guides through syntax, timing, settings, and best practices--- # VHS Recorder Create terminal recordings with Charm's VHS. Use when creating CLI demos, README animations, documentation videos. ## Prerequisites - `vhs` installed (`brew install vhs` / `go install github.com/charmbracelet/vhs@latest`) - `ttyd` and `ffmpeg` on PATH ## Tape File Structure ```tape Output demo.gif # Outputs first Set Width 1200 # Settings second Set Theme "Catppuccin Mocha" Require git # Requirements third Hide # Hidden setup Type "cd /tmp && clear" Enter Show Type "your command" # Main recording Enter Wait Sleep 2s ``` ## Core Commands | Command | Purpose | |---------|---------| | `Type "text"` | Type text (uses TypingSpeed setting) | | `Enter` / `Tab` / `Space` | Key presses | | `Up` / `Down` / `Left` / `Right` | Arrow navigation | | `PageUp` / `PageDown` | Page navigation | | `Ctrl+C` / `Ctrl+D` / `Ctrl+L` | Signal/EOF/clear combos | | `Wait` / `Wait /pattern/` | Wait for prompt or regex match | | `Sleep 2s` | Fixed pause (supports ms/s/m) | | `Hide`/`Show` | Hide setup/cleanup from output | | `Type@50ms "text"` | Override typing speed inline | | `Backspace N` / `Delete N` | Delete N chars back/forward | | `Copy` / `Paste` | Clipboard operations | | `Screenshot path.png` | Capture single frame | | `Env VAR "value"` | Set environment variable | ## Essential Settings | Setting | Default | Notes | |---------|---------|-------| | Width/Height | 1200/600 | Terminal dimensions in pixels | | FontSize | 32 | Text size; FontFamily for custom fonts | | TypingSpeed | 50ms | Per-char delay (override with `Type@Xms`) | | Theme | - | Use `vhs themes` to list all available | | Padding | 40 | Border space; LetterSpacing/LineHeight also available | ## Timing & Patterns **3-2-1 Rule**: 3s after important commands, 2s between actions, 1s for transitions - **Clean start**: `Hide` → `Type "clear"` → `Enter` → `Show` - **Command-wait**: `Type` → `Enter` → `Wait` → `Sleep 2s` - **Fast hidden**: `Type@10ms "setup command"` - **ASCII preview**: `Output demo.ascii` for instant test ## Output Formats | Format | Use Case | |--------|----------| | `.gif` | Web/README (universal) | | `.mp4`/`.webm` | Social media / modern browsers | | `.ascii` | Preview/test (instant, no ffmpeg) | | `frames/` | PNG sequence for post-processing | ## Quick Fixes | Issue | Solution | |-------|----------| | Commands too fast | Add `Wait` + `Sleep 2s` after Enter | | Messy terminal | `Hide` → `clear` → `Show` at start | | Inconsistent pacing | Follow 3-2-1 timing rule | ## CLI Commands ```bash vhs demo.tape # Run tape file vhs themes # List all available themes vhs manual # Show full command reference ``` ## References - [vhs-syntax.md](./references/vhs-syntax.md) - Full command reference - [timing-control.md](./references/timing-control.md) - Pacing strategies - [settings.md](./references/settings.md) - All configuration options - [examples.md](./references/examples.md) - Real-world tape files

Frequently asked questions