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MediaFX

Process videos, audio, and media files with FFmpeg

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Overview

This node, part of the MediaFX collection, processes video files using FFmpeg. Specifically, the Video - Merge operation combines multiple video sources into a single output video file. It supports input videos either from URLs or binary data passed from previous nodes. Users can specify the desired output format for the merged video.

Common scenarios where this node is beneficial include:

  • Combining several short clips into one continuous video.
  • Merging user-uploaded video segments stored as binary data.
  • Creating highlight reels or compilations from multiple video sources.

For example, you might merge three promotional clips hosted online into a single MP4 video to share on social media, or combine recorded webcam segments streamed as binary data into one final video file.

Properties

Name Meaning
Video Sources A collection of video inputs to merge. Each source can be:
• URL — a web address to a video file.
• Binary Data from Previous Node — video data passed as binary in a specified property name.
Output Format The format of the resulting merged video. Options are:
• MP4
• AVI
• MOV

Output

The node outputs a binary video file representing the merged result. The output contains:

  • json: An empty JSON object {} (no additional metadata).
  • binary.data: The merged video file in the selected output format, ready for further processing or saving.

The binary data field holds the actual video content, which can be used downstream in workflows that handle files or media.

Dependencies

  • Requires FFmpeg installed and accessible in the environment where n8n runs, as all video processing relies on FFmpeg commands.
  • No external API keys or services are needed; all processing is local.
  • Uses standard Node.js modules for file system operations and path handling.

Troubleshooting

  • No output produced error: If the merge operation does not produce an output file, ensure that all video sources are valid and accessible. Check URLs for correctness and availability, and verify that binary data properties contain valid video data.
  • File not found or access errors: When using binary data, confirm the binary property name matches exactly and that the previous node outputs the expected binary data.
  • Unsupported formats: Ensure input videos are in formats supported by FFmpeg. Also, select an output format compatible with your use case.
  • FFmpeg not found: Confirm FFmpeg is installed and properly configured in the system PATH.
  • Cleanup failures: Temporary files are cleaned up after processing; if errors occur during cleanup, they are caught silently but may indicate permission issues.

If the node is set to continue on failure, errors will be returned in the output JSON under the error key for each failed item.

Links and References

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