Video Understand

CommunityPopular

calesthio

video-understand

Understand video content locally using ffmpeg frame extraction and Whisper transcription. No API keys needed. Use when: (1) Understanding what a video contains, (2) Transcribing video audio locally, (3) Extracting key frames for visual analysis, (4) Getting video content without API keys.

Overview

Publisher	calesthio
Repository	`OpenMontage`
Skill name	`video-understand`
Stars	67K
Forks	8.5K
Bundled files	2
License	AGPL-3.0
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
2 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by calesthio on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Video Understand AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/tree/main/.agents/skills/video-understand
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage.git /tmp/OpenMontage
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/OpenMontage/.agents/skills/video-understand .claude/skills/video-understand

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Video Understand in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Video Understand on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Video Understand is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

video-understand

Understand video content locally using ffmpeg for frame extraction and Whisper for transcription. Fully offline, no API keys required.

Prerequisites

ffmpeg + ffprobe (required): brew install ffmpeg
openai-whisper (optional, for transcription): pip install openai-whisper

Commands

bash
# Scene detection + transcribe (default)
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4

# Keyframe extraction
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4 -m keyframe

# Regular interval extraction
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4 -m interval

# Limit frames extracted
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4 --max-frames 10

# Use a larger Whisper model
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4 --whisper-model small

# Frames only, skip transcription
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4 --no-transcribe

# Quiet mode (JSON only, no progress)
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4 -q

# Output to file
python3 skills/video-understand/scripts/understand_video.py video.mp4 -o result.json

CLI Options

Flag	Description
`video`	Input video file (positional, required)
`-m, --mode`	Extraction mode: `scene` (default), `keyframe`, `interval`
`--max-frames`	Maximum frames to keep (default: 20)
`--whisper-model`	Whisper model size: tiny, base, small, medium, large (default: base)
`--no-transcribe`	Skip audio transcription, extract frames only
`-o, --output`	Write result JSON to file instead of stdout
`-q, --quiet`	Suppress progress messages, output only JSON

Extraction Modes

Mode	How it works	Best for
`scene`	Detects scene changes via ffmpeg `select='gt(scene,0.3)'`	Most videos, varied content
`keyframe`	Extracts I-frames (codec keyframes)	Encoded video with natural keyframe placement
`interval`	Evenly spaced frames based on duration and max-frames	Fixed sampling, predictable output

If scene mode detects no scene changes, it automatically falls back to interval mode.

Output

The script outputs JSON to stdout (or file with -o). See references/output-format.md for the full schema.

json
{
  "video": "video.mp4",
  "duration": 18.076,
  "resolution": {"width": 1224, "height": 1080},
  "mode": "scene",
  "frames": [
    {"path": "/abs/path/frame_0001.jpg", "timestamp": 0.0, "timestamp_formatted": "00:00"}
  ],
  "frame_count": 12,
  "transcript": [
    {"start": 0.0, "end": 2.5, "text": "Hello and welcome..."}
  ],
  "text": "Full transcript...",
  "note": "Use the Read tool to view frame images for visual understanding."
}

Use the Read tool on frame image paths to visually inspect extracted frames.

References

references/output-format.md -- Full JSON output schema documentation

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

references/output-format.md3 KB
scripts/understand_video.py20 KB

Frequently asked questions

What does the Video Understand AI skill do?

Why use Video Understand on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Video Understand is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Video Understand in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/tree/main/.agents/skills/video-understand. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Video Understand?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Video Understand?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Video Understand with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Video Understand AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by calesthio under the AGPL-3.0 license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

video-understand

Prerequisites

Commands

CLI Options

Extraction Modes

Output

References

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

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