mpv-video-splice

An mpv player script that helps you create a video out of cuts made in the current playing video.

Requires: ffmpeg

Description

This script provides the hability to create video slices by grabbing two timestamps, which generate a slice from timestamp A to timestamp B, e.g.:

-> Slice 1: 00:10:34.25 -> 00:15:00.00;
-> Slice 2: 00:23:00.84 -> 00:24:10.00;
...
-> Slice n: 01:44:22.47 -> 01:56:00.00;

Then, all the slices from 1 to n are joined together, creating a new video.

The output file will appear at the directory that the mpv command was ran.

Note: This script prevents the mpv player from closing when the video ends, so that the slices don't get lost. Keep this in mind if there's the option keep-open=no in the current config file.

Note: This script will also silence the terminal, so the script messages can be seen more clearly.

Usage

This section correspond to the shortcut keys provided by this script.

Alt + T (Grab timestamp)

In the video screen, press Alt + T to grab the first timestamp and then press Alt + T again to get the second timestamp. This process will generate a time range, which represents a video slice. Repeat this process to create more slices.

Alt + P (Print slices)

To see all the slices made, press Alt + P. All of the slices will appear in the terminal in order of creation, with their corresponding timestamps. Incomplete slices will show up as Slice N in progress, where N is the slice number.

Alt + R (Reset unfinished slice)

To reset an incomplete slice, press Alt + R. If the first part of a slice was created at the wrong time, this will reset the current slice.

Alt + D (Delete slice)

To delete a whole slice, start the slice deletion mode by pressing Alt + D. When in this mode, it's possible to press Alt + NUM, where NUM is any number between 0 inclusive and 9 inclusive. For each Alt + NUM pressed, a number will be concatenated to make the final number referring to the slice to be removed, then press Alt + D again to stop the slicing deletion mode and delete the slice corresponding to the formed number.

Example 1: Deleting slice number 3

Alt + D # Start slice deletion mode
Alt + 3 # Concatenate number 3
Alt + D # Exit slice deletion mode

Example 2: Deleting slice number 76

Alt + D # Start slice deletion mode
Alt + 7 # Concatenate number 7
Alt + 6 # Concatenate number 6
Alt + D # Exit slice deletion mode

Alt + C (Compiling final video)

To fire up ffmpeg, which will slice up the video and concatenate the slices together, press Alt + C. It's important that there are at least one slice, otherwise no video will be created.

Note: No cut will be made unless the user presses Alt + C. Also, the original video file won't be affected by the cutting.

Log Level

Everytime a timestamp is grabbed, a text will appear on the screen showing the selected time. When Alt + P is pressed, besides showing the slices in the terminal, it will also show on the screen the total number of cuts (or slices) that were made. When the actual cutting and joining process begins, a message will be shown on the screen and the terminal telling that it began. When the process ends, a message will appear on the screen and the terminal displaying the full path of the generated video. It will also appear a message in the terminal telling that the process ended.

Note: Every message that appears on the terminal has the log level of 'info'.

Environment Variables

This script uses environment variables to allow the user to set the temporary location of the video cuts and for setting the location for the resulting video.

To set the temporary directory, set the variable MPV_SPLICE_TEMP;

e.g.: export MPV_SPLICE_TEMP="$HOME/temporary_location"

To set the video output directory, set the variable MPV_SPLICE_OUTPUT;

e.g.: export MPV_SPLICE_OUTPUT="$HOME/output_location"

Make sure the directories set in the variables really exist, or else the script might fail.

Installation

To install this script, simply add it to your script folder, located at $HOME/.config/mpv/scripts

When the mpv player gets started up, the script will be executed and will be ready to use.

automatata/mpv-video-splice