Clipping Script

py-clipper is a Python-based command-line tool that automates the creation of video clips from a single MP4 video file using timestamps recorded in a text file. It leverages ffmpeg to trim the video based on provided timestamps and saves the resulting clips in a dedicated directory.

Features

• Automatic File Detection:

  • Expects exactly one MP4 video file and one TXT file (with timestamps) in the current directory.

• Timestamp Parsing:

  • Reads timestamps in hh:mm:ss format from the TXT file.
  • Supports optional notes after the timestamp to generate a custom filename.
  • Cleans up filenames by removing invalid characters.

• Clip Generation:

  • Automatically calculates the clip start time by subtracting 10 seconds from the recorded timestamp (without going below zero).
  • Generates clips of a fixed duration (120 seconds) using ffmpeg with a copy codec for fast processing.

• Organized Output:

  • Saves all generated clips in a "Clips" folder located in your Downloads directory.
  • If a "Clips" folder already exists, creates a new folder with an incremented name (e.g., "Clips (1)").

Usage

1. Prerequisites:

   • Install Python 3 on your system.
   • Ensure ffmpeg is installed and accessible from the command line.

2. Prepare Your Files:

   • Place the script, one MP4 video file, and one TXT file with timestamps (formatted as hh:mm:ss - Note where the note is optional) in the same directory.

3. Run the Script:

   • Open a terminal and navigate to the directory containing your files.
   • Run the script using:

     python clipping_script.py

   • The script will process the video, create clips based on the timestamps, and automatically open the output folder where the clips are saved.

4. Review Your Clips:

   • The generated clips will be saved in a "Clips" folder in your Downloads directory. If a folder already exists, a new folder with an incremented name is created.