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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, provides functionality to extract audio from video files. It supports input videos either via a URL or as binary data and allows users to specify the output audio format and advanced encoding options. This is useful in scenarios where you want to isolate the audio track from a video for further processing, analysis, or storage.

Practical examples include:

  • Extracting podcast audio from recorded video interviews.
  • Creating audio-only versions of video content for distribution.
  • Archiving audio tracks separately from video files.

Properties

Name Meaning
Source Video Defines the source video input. Can be specified as:
- Source Type The type of source input: "URL" (a web link to the video) or "Binary Data" (uploaded file).
- Value The URL string of the video when Source Type is "URL".
- Binary Property The name of the binary property containing the video data when Source Type is "Binary Data".
Output Format The desired audio output format after extraction. Options: MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC.
Advanced Options Additional encoding settings:
- Audio Codec Specify the audio codec to use (e.g., "libmp3lame") or "copy" to keep the original codec.
- Audio Bitrate The bitrate for the extracted audio (e.g., "192k").

Output

The node outputs the extracted audio as binary data attached to the data binary property by default. The binary data represents the audio file in the selected format (MP3, WAV, AAC, or FLAC).

The JSON output object is empty ({}), indicating that the main result is the binary audio file.

Dependencies

  • FFmpeg: The node relies on FFmpeg for media processing tasks such as extracting audio from video.
  • Access to the video source: Either a reachable URL or valid binary data must be provided.
  • File system access: Temporary files are created and cleaned up during processing.

No special environment variables or API keys are required specifically for this operation.

Troubleshooting

  • No binary data found: If using binary input, ensure the specified binary property exists and contains valid video data.
  • Invalid URL or inaccessible video: When using a URL source, verify the URL is correct and accessible from the n8n environment.
  • Unsupported audio codec or format: Using an unsupported codec or invalid bitrate may cause FFmpeg errors. Use standard codecs like "copy" or "libmp3lame" and common bitrates like "192k".
  • Operation did not produce output: This error indicates the extraction failed silently; check input validity and FFmpeg logs if available.
  • Temporary file cleanup issues: Occasionally, temporary files might not be deleted immediately; ensure the node has proper file system permissions.

Links and References

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