FFmpeg Toolkit for Claude Code: Production-ready FFmpeg automation

Automating video and audio processing is essential for modern content creators, but traditional FFmpeg workflows require deep technical knowledge and manual command-line work. The FFmpeg Toolkit for Claude Code changes this by providing production-ready, model-invoked skills that handle complex multimedia tasks automatically — no command-line expertise required.

What is the FFmpeg Toolkit?

The FFmpeg Toolkit is a collection of battle-tested Claude Code skills designed specifically for YouTube creators, educators, and developers who need professional-grade video and audio processing without the complexity. Built on top of FFmpeg's powerful capabilities, these skills are model-invoked (user-invocable: false), meaning Claude automatically uses them when the task context matches — you simply describe what you want to accomplish in natural language.

With over 100 YouTube videos processed using these skills, the toolkit has been refined through real-world use cases ranging from educational content creation to entertainment production.

Core Capabilities

Audio Processing

The free-tier /ffmpeg-toolkit:audio-processor skill handles all your essential audio needs:

• Normalize audio levels - Ensure consistent volume across clips
• Trim and extract segments - Cut precise sections from long recordings
• Concatenate multiple audio files - Seamlessly join clips together
• Convert between formats - PCM → MP3, WAV → MP3, and more
• Generate silence - Create padding for skipTTS mode
• Measure audio duration - Get precise timing information

This skill is particularly valuable for podcasters and educators who need to process TTS output (PCM/MP3/WAV) and ensure professional audio quality.

Subtitle Filtering

The Pro-tier /ffmpeg-toolkit:subtitle-filter skill creates TikTok-style word-by-word subtitles with automatic language detection and font selection:

• TikTok-style word-by-word highlighting - Automatic line wrapping for 2-3 lines
• Scene title overlays - Professional titles positioned at the top of the screen
• Multi-language font support - Automatic selection of BlackHanSans (Korean), NotoSansCJK (Chinese/Japanese), NotoSansDevanagari (Hindi)
• Simplified subtitle mode - Optimized for 30+ captions with customizable positioning

This skill transforms raw SRT files into engaging, platform-optimized subtitles perfect for Shorts, Reels, and TikTok content.

Video Concatenation

The Pro-tier /ffmpeg-toolkit:video-concat skill connects multiple video clips with professional transitions:

• Simple concatenation - FPS normalization and re-encoding for seamless joins
• Xfade transitions - 33 different transition effects including fade, dissolve, wipeleft, slideup, circlecrop, and more
• Customizable duration - Control transition length (default 0.5 seconds)
• Orientation support - Optimize for portrait (1080x1920) or landscape formats

Instead of manually crafting complex FFmpeg filter_complex commands, you simply describe your desired effect and let Claude handle the implementation.

Video Editing

The Pro-tier /ffmpeg-toolkit:video-editor skill provides comprehensive video composition:

• Full video + audio + subtitle composition - Single-command synthesis
• Ken Burns effect - Transform static images into dynamic video with zoom and pan
• Formula overlay - Add mathematical equations as PNG overlays
• Ultrafast encoding presets - Optimize for speed without sacrificing quality

This skill enables complete video production workflows from script to final export, handling everything from educational content with mathematical formulas to entertainment videos with dynamic motion effects.

How It Works

The FFmpeg Toolkit integrates seamlessly with Claude Code's plugin architecture. Each skill is implemented as TypeScript classes with clean, well-documented APIs:

class AudioProcessor {
  async savePcmToMp3(audio: ArrayBuffer, filePath: string): Promise<string>
  async concatAudios(inputPaths: string[], outputPath: string): Promise<string>
  async concatAudiosWithCrossfade(inputPaths: string[], outputPath: string, crossfadeDuration?: number): Promise<string>
  // ... additional methods
}

All skills depend on fluent-ffmpeg and require ffmpeg to be installed on your system. The toolkit includes comprehensive utility functions for FFmpeg wrapper operations, ffprobe integration, and file system management.

For local development, installation is straightforward:

claude --plugin-dir ./plugins/ffmpeg-toolkit

For marketplace installation:

/plugin marketplace add http://168.107.56.106/ffmpeg-toolkit/.claude-plugin/
/plugin install ffmpeg-toolkit@clickaround

Getting Started

To begin using the FFmpeg Toolkit, you'll need:

• FFmpeg binary - Install via apt, brew, or download static builds
• Node.js 18+ - Required for the fluent-ffmpeg wrapper
• Claude Code - The latest version supporting plugin architecture

The free tier provides immediate value with the audio processor skill, while Pro skills offer advanced capabilities for professional content creation.