shorts-creator

Shorts Creator - Social Media Clip Generator

Transform full-length music videos into platform-optimized vertical clips for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.

Workflow

1. Input Requirements

Required:

• Full music video MP4 (from music-video-producer)
• Lyrics file (.srt or plain text)
• Audio file (MP3/WAV)
• Scene plan JSON (from creative-director)

Optional:

• Target platforms (Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/All)
• Clip strategy (chorus-focused, lyric highlights, full song segments)
• Brand overlays (logo, CTA, @handle)

2. Clip Selection Strategy

Auto-detect best moments:

1. Chorus/Hook - Most repeatable, catchy section
2. Lyric highlights - Powerful lines with visual impact
3. First 15 seconds - Hook viewers immediately
4. Peak energy moments - Musical climax, beat drops

Manual selection:

• Specify timestamp ranges (e.g., "1:15-1:45")
• Choose specific scenes by number
• Target specific lyrics

3. Platform Specifications

Instagram Reels:

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (1080x1920)
• Duration: 15-90 seconds (optimal: 30-45s)
• Format: MP4, H.264
• Max file size: 4GB

TikTok:

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (1080x1920)
• Duration: 15-60 seconds (optimal: 21-34s)
• Format: MP4, H.264
• Max file size: 287MB

YouTube Shorts:

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (1080x1920)
• Duration: Up to 60 seconds
• Format: MP4, H.264
• Max file size: 256GB

4. Clip Generation Process

Using FFmpeg (via script):

# Extract segment (1:15 to 1:45)
python scripts/extract_clip.py \
  --input full-video.mp4 \
  --start 75 \
  --duration 30 \
  --output clip-01.mp4

# Convert to vertical 9:16
python scripts/reframe_vertical.py \
  --input clip-01.mp4 \
  --output clip-01-vertical.mp4 \
  --strategy zoom-center

# Add platform branding
python scripts/add_branding.py \
  --input clip-01-vertical.mp4 \
  --output clip-01-final.mp4 \
  --platform instagram \
  --logo assets/psalmix-logo.png \
  --cta "Full video on YouTube 🎵"

5. Re-framing Strategies

Options for landscape → vertical:

A. Zoom & Pan (Recommended)

• Zoom into video center
• Crops sides, keeps focus on main subject
• Smooth pan follows action/lyrics
• Best for: Videos with centered subjects

B. Letterbox with Background

• Add blurred/colored background
• Original video stays 16:9 in center
• Fills vertical space with aesthetic bars
• Best for: Scenic, wide-shot videos

C. Split Screen

• Top 50%: Original video (small)
• Bottom 50%: Zoomed/cropped detail
• Best for: Lyric-focused content

D. Dynamic Crop

• Intelligently crops to follow motion
• AI-detects faces/main subjects
• Keeps important content in frame
• Best for: Action-heavy videos

6. Overlay Elements

Platform-specific CTAs:

• Instagram: "Full song on YouTube 🎵 Link in bio"
• TikTok: "Full video on my page! #PsalMix"
• YouTube: "Subscribe for more clean music 🎶"

Branding:

• Logo: Lower right corner (small, 10% opacity)
• Handle: Bottom center "@psalmix" (last 3 seconds)
• Artist credit: Top overlay "Song: [Title] by [Artist]"

Engagement hooks:

• First 2 seconds: "Wait for the drop 🔥"
• Last 3 seconds: "Tag someone who needs this ❤️"
• Mid-clip: "Send this to your bestie 💯"

7. Batch Processing

Generate multiple clips from one video:

python scripts/batch_clips.py \
  --input full-video.mp4 \
  --scene-plan scene-plan.json \
  --strategy chorus-focus \
  --platforms instagram,tiktok,youtube \
  --output-dir clips/

Outputs:

clips/
├── instagram/
│   ├── chorus-15s.mp4
│   ├── hook-30s.mp4
│   └── lyric-highlight-45s.mp4
├── tiktok/
│   ├── chorus-21s.mp4
│   └── hook-30s.mp4
└── youtube/
    ├── chorus-30s.mp4
    └── full-song-60s.mp4

8. Optimization Best Practices

For maximum engagement:

• First 3 seconds: Hook viewer with best moment
• Captions ON: 85% watch without sound
• High contrast: Pops on small screens
• Bold text: Readable on mobile
• Trending audio: Use original audio + hashtags

For algorithm:

• Post at peak times (7-9pm)
• Use 3-5 relevant hashtags
• Engage in comments within 1 hour
• Cross-post to Stories
• Pin top-performing clips

Scripts

scripts/extract_clip.py

Extract time segment from full video:

python scripts/extract_clip.py \
  --input video.mp4 \
  --start 75 \
  --duration 30 \
  --output clip.mp4

scripts/reframe_vertical.py

Convert landscape to 9:16 vertical:

python scripts/reframe_vertical.py \
  --input clip.mp4 \
  --output vertical.mp4 \
  --strategy zoom-center

scripts/add_branding.py

Add logo, CTA, platform-specific overlays:

python scripts/add_branding.py \
  --input vertical.mp4 \
  --output branded.mp4 \
  --platform instagram \
  --logo logo.png

scripts/batch_clips.py

Generate multiple clips automatically:

python scripts/batch_clips.py \
  --input video.mp4 \
  --scene-plan scene-plan.json \
  --platforms instagram,tiktok \
  --output-dir clips/

Reference Files

• references/platform-specs.md - Detailed requirements for each platform
• references/ffmpeg-commands.md - Common FFmpeg recipes for video editing
• references/engagement-hooks.md - Proven text overlays and CTAs

PsalMix Branding

Logo placement:

• Position: Lower right corner
• Size: 80x80px
• Opacity: 15% (subtle)
• Duration: Full clip

Colors:

• Primary: #667eea (Purple gradient)
• Text: White with black shadow
• Background: Dark overlay (50% opacity) for readability

CTAs:

• "Stream clean music at psalmix.com 🎵"
• "Christian music you can trust ✨"
• "Family-friendly vibes only 🙏"

Quality Checklist

Before publishing clips:

• Aspect ratio is exactly 9:16 (1080x1920)
• Audio syncs perfectly (no drift)
• Captions are readable on mobile
• Logo/branding visible but not distracting
• First 3 seconds hook viewer
• CTA visible in last 3 seconds
• File size under platform limits
• Tested on actual device (iPhone/Android)
• Hashtags and caption ready

Deliverables

1. Platform-specific clips - Optimized MP4 for each target platform
2. Caption templates - Suggested text for each clip
3. Hashtag suggestions - Trending + evergreen tags
4. Posting schedule - Optimal times for each platform

Advanced Features

A/B Testing clips:

• Generate 2-3 variations per clip
• Different hooks, CTAs, text overlays
• Test which performs best
• Double down on winners

Trend integration:

• Overlay trending sounds (TikTok)
• Use popular hashtag challenges
• Remix format (duet/stitch opportunities)

Analytics tracking:

• Encode UTM parameters in CTA links
• Track views/engagement per clip
• Iterate based on performance