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FFmpeg

The FFmpeg package enables powerful video and audio processing capabilities within your RPA workflows. Built on the industry-standard FFmpeg multimedia framework, this package provides nodes for converting, editing, analyzing, and playing media files.

Overview​

FFmpeg is a complete, cross-platform solution to record, convert and stream audio and video. The Robomotion FFmpeg package wraps this functionality in easy-to-use nodes that can be connected together to create complex media processing pipelines.

Key Features​

  • Video Conversion: Convert between video formats (MP4, AVI, MOV, WebM, etc.)
  • Audio Processing: Extract, convert, and manipulate audio streams
  • Media Analysis: Probe media files to extract detailed format and stream information
  • Filtering: Apply video and audio filters (scale, crop, overlay, concatenate, etc.)
  • Playback: Preview media files directly from your automation workflows
  • Flexible Pipeline: Chain multiple operations together for complex processing

Common Use Cases​

Video Processing for RPA​

  • Convert screen recordings to different formats for reporting
  • Extract audio from video files for transcription
  • Resize and compress videos for web upload
  • Create video thumbnails from captured footage
  • Merge multiple video clips into a single file

Audio Automation​

  • Extract audio tracks from video files
  • Convert audio formats (MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC)
  • Adjust volume levels and apply audio filters
  • Concatenate multiple audio files

Media Analysis​

  • Inspect video properties (resolution, duration, codec)
  • Extract metadata from media files
  • Validate media file integrity
  • Determine encoding parameters

Workflow Pattern​

FFmpeg operations in Robomotion follow a pipeline pattern:

  1. Create - Initialize an FFmpeg session
  2. Input - Add one or more input files
  3. Filter (Optional) - Apply transformations to streams
  4. Output - Define where to save the processed media
  5. Run - Execute the FFmpeg command

Alternatively, you can use Probe to analyze media files or Play to preview them.

Available Nodes​

Installation​

The FFmpeg package is available in the Robomotion package repository. FFmpeg binaries (ffmpeg, ffprobe, and ffplay) are automatically included with the package for Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.

Requirements​

  • Robomotion 1.0 or higher
  • Sufficient disk space for media processing operations
  • Appropriate file system permissions for reading input and writing output files

Performance Considerations​

  • Large media files may require significant processing time and memory
  • For batch operations, consider processing files in parallel using multiple flow instances
  • Use appropriate compression settings to balance quality and file size
  • Monitor disk space when processing multiple large files

Tips for Effective Use​

  1. Test with Small Files First: When developing media processing workflows, use small test files to iterate quickly
  2. Use Probe Before Processing: Check file properties before processing to validate inputs and determine appropriate settings
  3. Handle Errors Gracefully: Media processing can fail for various reasons (corrupted files, unsupported formats, etc.) - use error handling nodes
  4. Optimize Filter Order: Apply filters in the most efficient order (e.g., crop before scaling)
  5. Use Variables: Store file paths and processing parameters in variables for flexible, reusable workflows

Support​

For more information about FFmpeg capabilities and filter options, refer to the official FFmpeg documentation.

For package-specific issues or questions, contact Robomotion support at support@robomotion.io.