Video operations

Beyond converting between video containers, the API offers operations that edit and process video — trimming, extracting frames, building slideshows and muxing audio. Each runs as a job: set category: "operation" and the operation name as target. For the request envelope and how to add inputs, see Quickstart and Uploading files.

Cut / trim a video

The cut-video operation extracts one or more segments from a video. Use start_video/end_video for a single range, length to set the duration, or cut_points together with number_of_parts to split into pieces.

"conversion": [{
  "category": "operation",
  "target": "cut-video",
  "options": {
    "start_video": "00:00:10.000",
    "end_video": "00:00:40.000"
  }
}]

Split into equal parts instead of trimming to a range:

"conversion": [{
  "category": "operation",
  "target": "cut-video",
  "options": { "number_of_parts": 3 }
}]

Extract frames (video to image)

The video-to-image operation samples frames from a video and returns them as images. Control sampling rate with images_per_time_unit and time_unit, limit to a range with start_video/end_video, restrict to keyframes_only, and pick the image format with target_format.

"conversion": [{
  "category": "operation",
  "target": "video-to-image",
  "options": {
    "images_per_time_unit": 1,
    "time_unit": "second",
    "keyframes_only": false,
    "target_format": "jpg"
  }
}]

Slideshow from images

The slideshow operation builds a single video from a set of image inputs. Choose the output container with target_format, the dimensions with width/height, the framerate, and add transitions between images.

"input": [
  { "type": "remote", "source": "https://example-files.online-convert.com/raster%20image/jpg/example.jpg" },
  { "type": "remote", "source": "https://example-files.online-convert.com/raster%20image/jpg/example_small.jpg" },
  { "type": "remote", "source": "https://example-files.online-convert.com/raster%20image/png/example.png" }
],
"conversion": [{
  "category": "operation",
  "target": "slideshow",
  "options": {
    "target_format": "mp4",
    "width": 1920,
    "height": 1080,
    "framerate": 30,
    "transitions": [{ "transition": "fade" }]
  }
}]

Merge audio into video

The merge-streams operation muxes an audio track onto a video. Provide both a video and an audio input. Set the output container with video_format, keep or replace the original track with keep_original_audio, repeat a short track over a longer video with loop_audio, and join multiple audio inputs with audio_concatenate or smooth the join with audio_fade.

"input": [
  { "type": "remote", "source": "https://example-files.online-convert.com/video/mp4/example.mp4" },
  { "type": "remote", "source": "https://example-files.online-convert.com/audio/mp3/example.mp3" }
],
"conversion": [{
  "category": "operation",
  "target": "merge-streams",
  "options": {
    "video_format": "mp4",
    "keep_original_audio": false,
    "loop_audio": true
  }
}]

Resize, rotate, flip and reframe while converting

You don't need an operation for basic transforms — when converting to a video target you can resize, rotate, flip and change the frame rate inline via the conversion options. Use width and height to scale, rotate to turn the picture, mirror (the flip tool — horizontal or vertical) to mirror it, and framerate to retime.

"conversion": [{
  "category": "video",
  "target": "mp4",
  "options": {
    "width": 1280,
    "height": 720,
    "rotate": 90,
    "mirror": "horizontal",
    "framerate": 24
  }
}]

Live options

Pick an operation or video target to see its live options: