ffmpeg Node

Overview

This node provides functionality related to media files using ffmpeg capabilities. Specifically, for the "Metadata" resource and the "Extract Metadata" operation, it extracts metadata information from a given media file. This is useful when you want to analyze or retrieve details such as codec, duration, format, resolution, or other embedded metadata from audio or video files.

Common scenarios include:

• Automatically gathering media file properties before processing or transcoding.
• Validating media file attributes in workflows.
• Extracting technical details for reporting or cataloging media assets.

Example: You provide a URL or binary input of a video file, and the node outputs detailed metadata about that video, which can then be used downstream in your workflow.

Properties

Output

The node outputs a JSON object containing the extracted metadata of the provided media file. This typically includes fields such as codec information, duration, bit rate, format, streams info, and other relevant media attributes.

If the input was binary data, the node processes it accordingly but does not output binary data itself; the output is purely metadata in JSON form.

Dependencies

• Requires an API key credential for accessing the underlying ffmpeg service.
• The node depends on an external ffmpeg-based service or library to perform media analysis.
• No additional environment variables are explicitly required beyond the API authentication.

Troubleshooting

• Invalid Media Input: If the media URL is invalid or the binary input field does not contain a proper media file, the node may fail to extract metadata. Ensure the input is correct and accessible.
• Authentication Errors: Missing or incorrect API credentials will prevent the node from functioning. Verify that the API key credential is properly configured.
• Unsupported Media Format: Some rare or proprietary media formats might not be supported by the underlying ffmpeg service, leading to incomplete or failed metadata extraction.
• Timeouts or Network Issues: When providing URLs, network connectivity issues can cause failures. Check URL accessibility and network status.

Links and References

• FFmpeg Official Documentation
• n8n Documentation on Creating Custom Nodes