As a beginning YouTuber and long-time software engineer, I rely on FFMPEG to automate repetitive video processing tasks. In this post, I'll share some FFMPEG tips and tricks I've picked up from running multiple YouTube channels over the past year.
Streamlining My Workflow with FFMPEG
I launched my first YouTube channel a year ago - a first-gen immigrant lifestyle vlog. Since then, I've added a macOS user group channel and two more niches. Producing many videos means wrangling tons of files on my Mac Mini M1.
While I love editing in Final Cut Pro, automating specific tasks with FFMPEG saves me time. For example, I built a script to batch-trim raw footage and cut intros. This automation helps me focus more on content creation.
Installing FFMPEG on Mac
Before using FFMPEG, you must install it via Homebrew - the missing package manager for macOS. Check out my video for a quick guide:
Once Homebrew is set, grab FFMPEG by following this video:
With FFMPEG ready, let's look at some practical Automator workflows for YouTube creators.
Trimming Videos
Trimming footage in your NLE is easy, but I needed to batch-process clips. My script scans a folder, trims the first 15 seconds from each file, and exports shortened versions. The key FFMPEG command:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:15 -c copy output.mp4
Removing Audio
When repurposing videos as background visuals, stripping audio is essential. This command handles it in one step:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy -an output.mp4
Extracting Audio
I often extract audio from YouTube videos to listen offline. FFMPEG makes this simple:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -q: a 0 -map a output.mp3
Check out the process:
More FFMPEG Uses
That covers my common uses, but I'm always learning new FFMPEG tricks. Here are a few more quick workflows:
- Extracting images from videos for thumbnails
- Creating slideshow videos from images
- Downloading audio from YouTube playlists
FFMPEG has many advanced features, like adding subtitles, concatenating files, converting formats, and more. I'm just scratching the surface of what's possible.
What FFMPEG uses would you like me to cover in future tutorials? Let me know in the comments!
For more on this powerful open-source tool, check out the official FFMPEG site: