media-processing skill

---
name: media-processing
description: "Video/audio/image processing with FFmpeg and ImageMagick. Tools: FFmpeg (video/audio), ImageMagick (images). Capabilities: format conversion, encoding (H.264/H.265/VP9/AV1), streaming (HLS/DASH), filters, effects, thumbnails, watermarks, batch processing, hardware acceleration (NVENC/QSV). Actions: convert, encode, resize, crop, compress, extract, merge, stream, transcode media. Keywords: FFmpeg, ImageMagick, video encoding, audio extraction, image resize, thumbnail, watermark, HLS, DASH, H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1, codec, bitrate, framerate, resolution, aspect ratio, filter, overlay, concat, trim, fade, batch processing. Use when: converting video/audio formats, encoding with specific codecs, generating thumbnails, creating streaming manifests, extracting audio from video, batch processing images, adding watermarks, optimizing file sizes."
license: MIT
---

# Media Processing Skill

Process video, audio, and images using FFmpeg and ImageMagick command-line tools for conversion, optimization, streaming, and manipulation tasks.

## When to Use This Skill

Use when:
- Converting media formats (video, audio, images)
- Encoding video with codecs (H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1)
- Processing images (resize, crop, effects, watermarks)
- Extracting audio from video
- Creating streaming manifests (HLS/DASH)
- Generating thumbnails and previews
- Batch processing media files
- Optimizing file sizes and quality
- Applying filters and effects
- Creating composite images or videos

## Tool Selection Guide

### FFmpeg: Video/Audio Processing
Use FFmpeg for:
- Video encoding, conversion, transcoding
- Audio extraction, conversion, mixing
- Live streaming (RTMP, HLS, DASH)
- Video filters (scale, crop, rotate, overlay)
- Hardware-accelerated encoding
- Media file inspection (ffprobe)
- Frame extraction, concatenation
- Codec selection and optimization

### ImageMagick: Image Processing
Use ImageMagick for:
- Image format conversion (PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF)
- Resizing, cropping, transformations
- Batch image processing (mogrify)
- Visual effects (blur, sharpen, sepia)
- Text overlays and watermarks
- Image composition and montages
- Color adjustments, filters
- Thumbnail generation

### Decision Matrix

| Task | Tool | Why |
|------|------|-----|
| Video encoding | FFmpeg | Native video codec support |
| Audio extraction | FFmpeg | Direct stream manipulation |
| Image resize | ImageMagick | Optimized for still images |
| Batch images | ImageMagick | mogrify for in-place edits |
| Video thumbnails | FFmpeg | Frame extraction built-in |
| GIF creation | FFmpeg or ImageMagick | FFmpeg for video source, ImageMagick for images |
| Streaming | FFmpeg | Live streaming protocols |
| Image effects | ImageMagick | Rich filter library |

## Installation

### macOS
```bash
brew install ffmpeg imagemagick
```

### Ubuntu/Debian
```bash
sudo apt-get install ffmpeg imagemagick
```

### Windows
```bash
# Using winget
winget install ffmpeg
winget install ImageMagick.ImageMagick

# Or download binaries
# FFmpeg: https://ffmpeg.org/download.html
# ImageMagick: https://imagemagick.org/script/download.php
```

### Verify Installation
```bash
ffmpeg -version
ffprobe -version
magick -version
# or
convert -version
```

## Quick Start Examples

### Video Conversion
```bash
# Convert format (copy streams, fast)
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c copy output.mp4

# Re-encode with H.264
ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -c:a aac output.mp4

# Resize video to 720p
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=-1:720 -c:a copy output.mp4
```

### Audio Extraction
```bash
# Extract audio (no re-encoding)
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a copy audio.m4a

# Convert to MP3
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -q:a 0 audio.mp3
```

### Image Processing
```bash
# Convert format
magick input.png output.jpg

# Resize maintaining aspect ratio
magick input.jpg -resize 800x600 output.jpg

# Create square thumbnail
magick input.jpg -resize 200x200^ -gravity center -extent 200x200 thumb.jpg
```

### Batch Image Resize
```bash
# Resize all JPEGs to 800px width
mogrify -resize 800x -quality 85 *.jpg

# Output to separate directory
mogrify -path ./output -resize 800x600 *.jpg
```

### Video Thumbnail
```bash
# Extract frame at 5 seconds
ffmpeg -ss 00:00:05 -i video.mp4 -vframes 1 -vf scale=320:-1 thumb.jpg
```

### HLS Streaming
```bash
# Generate HLS playlist
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 22 -g 48 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f hls -hls_time 6 -hls_playlist_type vod \
  playlist.m3u8
```

### Image Watermark
```bash
# Add watermark to corner
magick input.jpg watermark.png -gravity southeast \
  -geometry +10+10 -composite output.jpg
```

## Common Workflows

### Optimize Video for Web
```bash
# H.264 with good compression
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 23 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -movflags +faststart \
  output.mp4
```

### Create Responsive Images
```bash
# Generate multiple sizes
for size in 320 640 1024 1920; do
  magick input.jpg -resize ${size}x -quality 85 "output-${size}w.jpg"
done
```

### Extract Video Segment
```bash
# From 1:30 to 3:00 (re-encode for precision)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:01:30 -to 00:03:00 \
  -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4
```

### Batch Image Optimization
```bash
# Convert PNG to optimized JPEG
mogrify -path ./optimized -format jpg -quality 85 -strip *.png
```

### Video GIF Creation
```bash
# High quality GIF with palette
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=15,scale=640:-1:flags=lanczos,split[s0][s1];[s0]palettegen[p];[s1][p]paletteuse" output.gif
```

### Image Blur Effect
```bash
# Gaussian blur
magick input.jpg -gaussian-blur 0x8 output.jpg
```

## Advanced Techniques

### Multi-Pass Video Encoding
```bash
# Pass 1 (analysis)
ffmpeg -y -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -b:v 2600k -pass 1 -an -f null /dev/null

# Pass 2 (encoding)
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx264 -b:v 2600k -pass 2 -c:a aac output.mp4
```

### Hardware-Accelerated Encoding
```bash
# NVIDIA NVENC
ffmpeg -hwaccel cuda -i input.mp4 -c:v h264_nvenc -preset fast -crf 22 output.mp4

# Intel QuickSync
ffmpeg -hwaccel qsv -c:v h264_qsv -i input.mp4 -c:v h264_qsv output.mp4
```

### Complex Image Pipeline
```bash
# Resize, crop, border, adjust
magick input.jpg \
  -resize 1000x1000^ \
  -gravity center \
  -crop 1000x1000+0+0 +repage \
  -bordercolor black -border 5x5 \
  -brightness-contrast 5x10 \
  -quality 90 \
  output.jpg
```

### Video Filter Chains
```bash
# Scale, denoise, watermark
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i logo.png \
  -filter_complex "[0:v]scale=1280:720,hqdn3d[v];[v][1:v]overlay=10:10" \
  -c:a copy output.mp4
```

### Animated GIF from Images
```bash
# Create with delay
magick -delay 100 -loop 0 frame*.png animated.gif

# Optimize size
magick animated.gif -fuzz 5% -layers Optimize optimized.gif
```

## Media Analysis

### Inspect Video Properties
```bash
# Detailed JSON output
ffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_format -show_streams input.mp4

# Get resolution
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 \
  -show_entries stream=width,height \
  -of csv=s=x:p=0 input.mp4
```

### Image Information
```bash
# Basic info
identify image.jpg

# Detailed format
identify -verbose image.jpg

# Custom format
identify -format "%f: %wx%h %b\n" image.jpg
```

## Performance Tips

1. **Use CRF for quality control** - Better than bitrate for video
2. **Copy streams when possible** - Avoid re-encoding with `-c copy`
3. **Hardware acceleration** - GPU encoding 5-10x faster
4. **Appropriate presets** - Balance speed vs compression
5. **Batch with mogrify** - In-place image processing
6. **Strip metadata** - Reduce file size with `-strip`
7. **Progressive JPEG** - Better web loading with `-interlace Plane`
8. **Limit memory** - Prevent crashes on large batches
9. **Test on samples** - Verify settings before batch
10. **Parallel processing** - Use GNU Parallel for multiple files

## Reference Documentation

Detailed guides in `references/`:

- **ffmpeg-encoding.md** - Video/audio codecs, quality optimization, hardware acceleration
- **ffmpeg-streaming.md** - HLS/DASH, live streaming, adaptive bitrate
- **ffmpeg-filters.md** - Video/audio filters, complex filtergraphs
- **imagemagick-editing.md** - Format conversion, effects, transformations
- **imagemagick-batch.md** - Batch processing, mogrify, parallel operations
- **format-compatibility.md** - Format support, codec recommendations

## Common Parameters

### FFmpeg Video
- `-c:v` - Video codec (libx264, libx265, libvpx-vp9)
- `-crf` - Quality (0-51, lower=better, 23=default)
- `-preset` - Speed/compression (ultrafast to veryslow)
- `-b:v` - Video bitrate (e.g., 2M, 2500k)
- `-vf` - Video filters

### FFmpeg Audio
- `-c:a` - Audio codec (aac, mp3, opus)
- `-b:a` - Audio bitrate (e.g., 128k, 192k)
- `-ar` - Sample rate (44100, 48000)

### ImageMagick Geometry
- `800x600` - Fit within (maintains aspect)
- `800x600!` - Force exact size
- `800x600^` - Fill (may crop)
- `800x` - Width only
- `x600` - Height only
- `50%` - Scale percentage

## Troubleshooting

**FFmpeg "Unknown encoder"**
```bash
# Check available encoders
ffmpeg -encoders | grep h264

# Install codec libraries
sudo apt-get install libx264-dev libx265-dev
```

**ImageMagick "not authorized"**
```bash
# Edit policy file
sudo nano /etc/ImageMagick-7/policy.xml
# Change <policy domain="coder" rights="none" pattern="PDF" />
# to <policy domain="coder" rights="read|write" pattern="PDF" />
```

**Memory errors**
```bash
# Limit memory usage
ffmpeg -threads 4 input.mp4 output.mp4
magick -limit memory 2GB -limit map 4GB input.jpg output.jpg
```

## Resources

- FFmpeg: https://ffmpeg.org/documentation.html
- FFmpeg Wiki: https://trac.ffmpeg.org/
- ImageMagick: https://imagemagick.org/
- ImageMagick Usage: https://imagemagick.org/Usage/