# ffmpeg-analyse-video

Pulls frames out of a video with ffmpeg, hands the images to sub-agents and returns a step-by-step summary with timestamps.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1500 installs · ★ 35
- Author: fabriqaai
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill/tree/HEAD/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-02-15
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ffmpeg-analyse-video

## What it does

The skill runs a three-phase pipeline. `ffprobe` collects the metadata: duration, resolution, fps, codec, whether there is an audio track. Then `ffmpeg` exports JPEG frames, and the looking is delegated to sub-agents. A sub-agent reads its batch of frames and writes a markdown report to `batch_N_analysis.md`; the main agent opens only those files. Frames never land in the main context, so the conversation stays usable for follow-up questions.

Frame sampling scales with length. Short clips get one frame every 2 seconds, up to 10 minutes the skill detects scene changes at a 0.3 threshold, up to 30 minutes it keeps keyframes only, and longer files go through the `thumbnail` filter with a segment size chosen so the output stays near 60 frames. If scene detection returns nothing, the skill falls back to a fixed interval; an oversized batch gets evenly subsampled.

The skill stops at step one if `ffmpeg` and `ffprobe` are not both in `PATH`: install them first, for example `brew install ffmpeg` on macOS. On a tool with no sub-agent support the frames are read in the main context, and the skill advises capping that at 20 frames.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill --skill ffmpeg-analyse-video -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/ffmpeg-analyse-video/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/ffmpeg-analyse-video/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill --skill ffmpeg-analyse-video -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/ffmpeg-analyse-video/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill --skill ffmpeg-analyse-video -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/ffmpeg-analyse-video/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill ffmpeg-analyse-video
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/ffmpeg-analyse-video/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill --skill ffmpeg-analyse-video -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/ffmpeg-analyse-video/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill --skill ffmpeg-analyse-video -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/fabriqaai/ffmpeg-analyse-video-skill/tree/HEAD/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- work out what happens during a long screen recording
- build a step list with timestamps from a tutorial
- read a presentation without watching it end to end
- locate the moment an error or command flashed on screen
- describe the visuals of an animation for a write-up

## Example prompts
- Analyse `demo.mp4` frame by frame and give me a summary with timestamps
- What happens in this screen recording? I need the steps and their times
- Go through 2:00 to 5:00 of `lecture.mkv` and walk me through it

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md