vidpy: Video Editing in Python

Install name: vidpy-ray · command: vidpy · import: import vidpy

vidpy is an open-source video editor that you install with pip and run on your own computer. It gives you a browser-based studio on localhost, a Python API and a CLI, all powered by FFmpeg. Cut and arrange clips on a timeline, grade them with cinematic looks, add titles, transitions, green screen and music that auto-ducks under dialogue, then export to MP4, WebM, ProRes, GIF or audio. The core has no Python dependencies beyond the standard library.

pip install vidpy-ray
vidpy studio      # opens vidpy Studio at http://localhost:8765
vidpy demo        # opens with generated sample media and a ready-made edit

Created by Muhammad Rafay Shaikh, from Pakistan.

More screenshots

Effects & inspector	Your edit as Python / FFmpeg code

Features

Requirements

• Python 3.10+ (Windows, macOS or Linux)
• FFmpeg on your PATH: winget install ffmpeg · brew install ffmpeg · sudo apt install ffmpeg. On macOS, Homebrew's default ffmpeg has no text support, so titles won't render. Use the full build instead: brew tap homebrew-ffmpeg/ffmpeg && brew install homebrew-ffmpeg/ffmpeg/ffmpeg. If you can't install it system-wide, use pip install "vidpy-ray[ffmpeg]", which bundles a static build. You can also point to a binary with VIDPY_FFMPEG=/path/to/ffmpeg.

The studio (localhost)

vidpy studio --port 8765 --workspace ~/my-edits

• Media: drag files into the window, or import from a path to use files in place without copying them.
• Timeline: double-click media to append it. Drag clips to reorder, and drag their edges to trim. S splits at the playhead.
• Effects / Transitions / Audio: drag onto a clip, or click to apply to the selection. With nothing selected, they apply to the whole project.
• Viewer: scrubbing renders exact frames. Space renders a fast preview and plays it.
• Export ⤓: pick a format, quality and resolution. Progress shows live, and the file lands in workspace/exports.
• </> Code: shows your edit as Python and as an FFmpeg command.

Shortcuts: Space play · S split · Del delete · Ctrl+D duplicate · Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z undo/redo · Ctrl+S save · ←/→ frame step (Shift = 1 s) · +/- zoom · Esc deselect.

The server binds to 127.0.0.1 by default. --host 0.0.0.0 exposes it on your network; only do that on a network you trust.

Python API

import vidpy

p = vidpy.Project(width=1920, height=1080, fps=30)          # or p.canvas("shorts_reels_tiktok")

p.add_clip("intro.mp4", start=2, end=8).fx("cinematic").transition_to("circleopen", 1)
p.add_clip("beach.jpg", duration=4).fx("ken_burns", end_zoom=1.4, direction="left")
p.add_clip("talk.mp4").set(speed=1.25).afx("voice_enhance").afx("denoise", reduction_db=15)

p.add_overlay("logo.png", x=0.92, y=0.08, scale=0.1, opacity=0.85, fade_in=0.5)
p.add_overlay("greenscreen.mp4", start=3, x=0.75, y=0.65, scale=0.4).green_screen("#00ff00")
p.add_text("SUMMER 2026", start=0.5, duration=3, size=120, animation="zoom_pop", outline=3)
p.add_audio("music.mp3", volume=0.5, loop=True, duck=True, fade_out=3)

p.fx("film_grain", amount=8)          # whole-project grade
p.afx("normalize", target_lufs=-14)   # master bus

p.render("final.mp4", quality="high")                     # H.264
p.render("final.webm", quality="web", resolution="720p")  # VP9
p.render("teaser.gif", start=0, end=4)                    # any range
p.save("my_edit.vidpy.json")                              # open it in the studio later

Progress callbacks: p.render("x.mp4", on_progress=lambda f, stats: print(f"{f:.0%}"))

Smart tools

from vidpy import smart

smart.cut_silences("podcast.mp4").render("tight.mp4")              # auto jump-cut
smart.highlight_reel("match.mp4", clips=6, clip_length=2).render("reel.mp4")
smart.split_scenes("film.mp4")                                     # one clip per shot
smart.slideshow(["a.jpg", "b.jpg"], music="song.mp3").render("show.mp4")
smart.auto_reframe(vidpy.Project.load("edit.vidpy.json"), "9:16").render("vertical.mp4")
smart.stabilize("shaky.mp4", "steady.mp4")
smart.compress_to_size("big.mov", "email.mp4", target_mb=20)
smart.loudness("mix.wav")   # {'integrated_lufs': -15.1, 'true_peak_db': -1.2, ...}

Write your own effect (it appears in the studio automatically)

import vidpy

@vidpy.effect("neon_edges", "Neon Edges", category="My FX",
              params=[vidpy.Param("glow", "float", 6, 0, 30)])
def neon_edges(p, ctx):
    return f"edgedetect=mode=colormix,gblur=sigma={p['glow']},eq=saturation=2"

vidpy.studio()   # launch the studio with your plugin loaded

CLI

vidpy studio                                  # browser editor
vidpy demo                                    # studio + sample media + demo edit
vidpy version                                 # vidpy and FFmpeg versions
vidpy render edit.vidpy.json out.mp4 -q ultra -r 4k
vidpy convert input.mov output.webm -q web
vidpy jumpcut lecture.mp4 lecture_tight.mp4
vidpy highlights game.mp4 reel.mp4 --clips 6 --length 2
vidpy scenes movie.mp4
vidpy loudness song.wav
vidpy stabilize shaky.mp4 steady.mp4
vidpy compress big.mp4 small.mp4 --mb 25
vidpy effects video | audio | transitions | formats
vidpy info clip.mp4

How it works

A project is plain JSON: clips, overlays, texts, audio and effect stacks. Python, the CLI and the studio all share that format. At render time, vidpy.render compiles the whole timeline into one FFmpeg filter_complex graph. That covers trims, speed ramps, effects, xfade transitions, overlays, drawtext titles, sidechain ducking and the master bus. Media is decoded once and encoded once, with no intermediate files or generation loss. Scrubbing renders only the frames under the playhead, so it stays fast even on long timelines.

Contributing

Contributions are very welcome, from bug reports and new effects (usually 3–10 lines) to timeline features and translations. Read CONTRIBUTING.md to get set up in five minutes, then pick a good first issue. Questions and showcases go in Discussions.

Maintainers: the release process is in docs/PUBLISHING.md.

License

MIT © Muhammad Rafay Shaikh