🤖 AI Chat is here! Try it out →
LearnIntegrationsn8n Automation

n8n + FFmpegAPI

This guide walks you through a minimal but complete n8n workflow that matches the screenshot and the downloadable template:

  • Pick a GIF using a form
  • Get an upload URL
  • Upload the binary
  • Process it to MP4
  • Show a final download link
⚡

Copy your FFmpegAPI key from the dashboard, you’ll need it to in the n8n workflow.

Choose your path

⚡ Quick Start

Import the ready-made workflow

1
2
Set up FFMPEG_API_KEY in n8n Variables
3
In n8n workflow, open the three‑dot menu (…)
4
Choose Import from file and select the JSON
âś“
Done — you’re ready to use the workflow!

🛠️ Manual Setup

Build from scratch for full understanding

1
Set up API credentials in n8n Variables
2
Create Form Trigger for file upload
3
Configure HTTP requests and processing
âś“
Full control and customization

Detailed instructions: See the Manual Setup section below

Manual Setup: Build the Workflow Step by Step

Choose this path if you want full control and understanding of the workflow.

What you’ll build

An n8n workflow that mirrors the exported JSON:

  1. Select a GIF in a form node (“Attach file”)
  2. Get an upload URL from our API
  3. Merge inputs (file + upload URL)
  4. Upload the file bytes to the pre‑signed URL
  5. Start an FFmpeg processing task (GIF → MP4)
  6. Show a completion screen with the final download URL

Overview diagram

API endpoints used

  • POST /file → returns { upload.url, file.file_path }
  • PUT upload.url → uploads your bytes
  • POST /ffmpeg/process → starts a task and returns the result with download URLs

See also: Quick Start, Processing, Examples.

Prepare credentials in n8n

Use n8n Variables to store your API key as FFMPEG_API_KEY (the template references $vars.FFMPEG_API_KEY).

  • Open the Variables panel in n8n
  • Create: FFMPEG_API_KEY
  • Value: your live API key (from the FFmpegAPI Dashboard)

Build the workflow step by step

1) Form trigger: Attach file

  • Add a Form Trigger node named Attach file
  • Configure a single field:
    • Label: file
    • Type: file
    • Accept: .gif
    • Required: true

2) Get upload URL (HTTP Request)

  • Add an HTTP Request node named Get Upload URL
  • Method: POST
  • URL: https://api.ffmpeg-api.com/file
  • Headers:
    • Authorization: Basic {{$vars.FFMPEG_API_KEY}}
    • Content-Type: application/json
  • Body: JSON

Body JSON:

{
  "file_name": "{{ $item(\"0\").$node[\"Attach file\"].json[\"file\"][\"filename\"] }}"
}

Expected response shape:

{
  "file": { "file_path": "<dir>/input.gif" },
  "upload": { "url": "https://...", "method": "PUT" }
}

3) Merge (combine)

  • Add a Merge node named Merge
  • Mode: combine → combineAll
  • Connect Attach file → Merge and Get Upload URL → Merge

4) Upload File (HTTP Request)

  • Add an HTTP Request node named Upload File
  • Method: {{ $('Get Upload URL').item.json.upload.method }}
  • URL: {{ $('Get Upload URL').item.json.upload.url }}
  • Send: Binary
  • Binary Property: file (from the form trigger)
  • Do not add Authorization headers for the presigned URL

4) Start processing (HTTP Request)

Add an HTTP Request node named Process File:

  • Method: POST
  • URL: https://api.ffmpeg-api.com/ffmpeg/process
  • Headers:
    • Authorization: Basic {{$vars.FFMPEG_API_KEY}}
    • Content-Type: application/json
  • Body: JSON

Minimal body example that re-encodes input to MP4 with a target quality:

{
  "task": {
    "inputs": [
      { "file_path": "{{ $('Get Upload URL').item.json.file.file_path }}" }
    ],
    "outputs": [{ "file": "output.mp4" }]
  }
}

Response contains the completed result with download URLs.

6) Completion screen (Form)

  • Add a Form node named Download URL
  • Operation: completion
  • Message:
Please download the file: [Download]({{ $json.body.result[0].download_url }})

Common variations

  • Multiple outputs: add more outputs entries in the process body
  • Thumbnails or GIFs: use -vf scale, fps, or palette filters; see Recipes

Troubleshooting

⚠️

If you see 401/403 errors, verify the Authorization header, and ensure your API key is present in n8n credentials as FFMPEG_API_KEY.

  • Upload PUT fails: ensure you are sending Binary data and not JSON
  • Task stuck in queued: try smaller inputs or verify your plan limits
  • Download empty: confirm status is completed and pick the correct result[index]

Full example payloads

Request to /ffmpeg/process:

{
  "task": {
    "inputs": [{ "file_path": "<dir>/input.gif" }],
    "outputs": [{ "file": "output.mp4" }]
  }
}

Example completed task response:

{
  "ok": true,
  "result": [
    {
      "file_name": "output.mp4",
      "size_bytes": 1234567,
      "download_url": "https://..."
    }
  ],
  "usage": {
    "gb_sec": 0.45,
    "time_sec": 3.2
  }
}
SmythOS AI Agents