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Actually understand FFmpeg.

How to tune parameters, run it in a browser, and write filter graphs — long-form notes from real project work.

FormatsOct 28, 2026 · 8 min

MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM: Container vs Codec

One video plays on a phone, fails on a desktop, then breaks in an editor. That is often not corruption — it is the container, codec, or profile.

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SharingOct 28, 2026 · 8 min

How Small Should a Video Be? Discord, Email & Chat

Start with where the video is going: trim first, then match resolution, then choose CRF or a bitrate cap. The right answer changes by destination.

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SharingOct 26, 2026 · 6 min

How to Compress a Video Without Uploading It

Cut dead air, choose the right resolution, then use CRF and a bitrate cap to reach Discord, email, or chat limits. The file stays in your browser.

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AudioSep 16, 2026 · 7 min

MP3 Bitrate & Quality: 128 / 192 / 320

Is 320k always better than 128k? How sample rate, bit depth, and bitrate divide the work, CBR vs VBR, and whether your lossless source should even become an MP3.

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GIFSep 15, 2026 · 8 min

Why Are GIFs So Big? GIF Compression Explained

GIF is capped at 256 indexed colors and stores every frame — that is where the bloat comes from. How quantizing, frame rate, and gifsicle’s lossy/lossless options actually shrink one.

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EditingSep 14, 2026 · 8 min

Lossless Cutting in FFmpeg: How Seek Works

You want the clip to start at 00:38; the export starts at 00:35. Where -ss goes and whether -c copy is involved change what “accurate” means.

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ImagesSep 13, 2026 · 7 min

Which Image Format? JPG / PNG / WebP / AVIF

Pick by what the image contains, not by how new the format is. Photos, screenshots, and transparency want different formats — with measured size comparisons.

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EncodingAug 24, 2026 · 6 min

CRF Explained: Video Compression Quality Guide

Same -crf flag, so why does one video come out at 200 MB and another at 100? Starting from x264’s rate-control model, this guide explains CRF all the way through — and ends with a cheat sheet you can copy as-is.

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WASMAug 10, 2026 · 10 min

Running FFmpeg in the Browser with WebAssembly

ffmpeg.wasm loading strategies, SharedArrayBuffer cross-origin isolation, memory management for large files — everything we learned taking a 30 MB core from “it runs” to “it’s usable.”

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FiltersJul 28, 2026 · 8 min

FFmpeg filter_complex: A Beginner’s Guide

Scale, watermark, and tile video in a single command. A diagram-first guide to filter chains vs. filter graphs — read it once and you’ll be writing your own compound commands.

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