Video Clipper

Create video clips from time ranges or chapter markers using ffmpeg.

5|Updated Nov 26, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jeffvincent/claude-config --skill video-clipper
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: Video Clipper
Source: https://github.com/jeffvincent/claude-config/tree/main/skills/video-clipper
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jeffvincent/claude-config --skill video-clipper

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires ffmpeg.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill uses ffmpeg to create clips from a source video either by chapter timestamps or a single time range, enabling rapid video editing without a GUI.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Multi-chapter clipping: Generate multiple clips from a chapter timestamps.
  • Single-snippet clipping: Extract a single segment by a time range.
  • Encoding options: Copy mode for speed or encode mode for precise cuts.
  • Output organization: Filenames sanitized and clips saved to a structured directory.

Quick Start

Say: "Create a clip from 00:00:55 to 00:02:35" for /path/to/video.mp4 or provide a real example to illustrate.

Frequently Asked Questions about Video Clipper

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I extract a single clip from a video using time ranges?

Video clipper uses ffmpeg to extract segments by specifying start and end timestamps. Provide your source video path and time range (e.g., 00:00:55 to 00:02:35) to generate a clipped output file with fast copy mode or frame-accurate encoding.

Can I split a video into multiple clips from chapter timestamps?

Yes. Video clipper processes chapter metadata or a timestamps list to automatically generate sequential clips from a single source video, sanitizing filenames and organizing output into a structured directory.

What video formats does ffmpeg-based clipping support?

Ffmpeg clipping handles common formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, and MKV. The Skill preserves source codec properties in copy mode or re-encodes with optional parameters for precise cuts across these container types.

Should I use copy mode or encode mode for video clipping?

Copy mode clips faster by skipping re-encoding but may have timing imprecision at boundaries. Encode mode performs frame-accurate cuts with slower processing. Choose based on speed requirements versus cut precision for your workflow.

Does ffmpeg clipping require GUI software or can it run headless?

Video clipper runs entirely headless via ffmpeg commands, requiring no GUI. It generates a concise summary report and saves sanitized, sequential filenames to your output directory automatically.

What do I need to set up before clipping videos with ffmpeg?

Install ffmpeg as a system dependency. Prepare your source video file and define either a single time range or chapter timestamps. The Skill handles output directory creation and filename sanitization.