--- name: video-podcast-maker description: Use when the user gives a topic and wants an automated video podcast created, or asks to learn visual design patterns from a reference video/image. Make sure to use this skill whenever the user mentions creating a video, podcast, knowledge video, Bilibili content, or talking-head explainer from a topic — even if they don't say "video podcast" explicitly. Produces 4K video via research → script → TTS → Remotion → MP4 + BGM. argument-hint: "[topic]" effort: high author: Agents365-ai category: Content Creation version: 2.3.0 created: 2025-01-27 updated: 2026-05-06 bilibili: https://space.bilibili.com/441831884 github: https://github.com/Agents365-ai/video-podcast-maker dependencies: - remotion-best-practices metadata: openclaw: requires: bins: [python3, ffmpeg, node, npx] primaryEnv: AZURE_SPEECH_KEY emoji: "🎬" homepage: https://github.com/Agents365-ai/video-podcast-maker os: ["macos", "linux"] install: - kind: brew formula: ffmpeg bins: [ffmpeg] - kind: uv package: edge-tts bins: [edge-tts] --- > **REQUIRED: Load Remotion Best Practices First** > > This skill depends on `remotion-best-practices`. **You MUST invoke it before proceeding:** > ``` > Invoke the skill/tool named: remotion-best-practices > ``` # Video Podcast Maker Automated pipeline for **4K Bilibili horizontal knowledge videos** from a topic. Coding agent + TTS backend + Remotion + FFmpeg. ## Contents - [Bootstrap](#bootstrap) — update check + prerequisites (run before Step 1) - [Execution Modes](#execution-modes) — Auto vs Interactive, default decisions - [Workflow](#workflow) — the 15 steps + phase-file pointers + mandatory stops - [Hard Rules](#hard-rules) — non-negotiable production constraints + output specs - [Per-Video Layout](#per-video-layout) — directory structure, `--public-dir`, naming - [Additional Resources](#additional-resources) — when to load each `references/` file - [User Preferences](#user-preferences) - [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting) --- ## Bootstrap Resolve `SKILL_DIR` to the directory containing this `SKILL.md`. If your agent exposes a built-in skill directory variable (e.g. `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}`), map it to `SKILL_DIR`. ```bash SKILL_DIR="${SKILL_DIR:-${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}}" # 1. Update check (notify-only, throttled to 24h) "${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/check_update.sh" # 2. Prerequisites (CLIs + backend env vars) python3 "${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/check_prereqs.py" ``` **`check_update.sh` output**: - `UPDATE_AVAILABLE vX.Y.Z -> vA.B.C` — tell the user the version delta and ask before running `git -C "${SKILL_DIR}" pull --ff-only`. **Notify-only by design — never pull without consent (the skill directory belongs to the user).** - `UP_TO_DATE` / `SKIPPED_RECENT_CHECK` / `MANUAL_INSTALL` — continue silently. **Prereqs failures** — see README.md for setup. The check is backend-aware (resolves `TTS_BACKEND` env → `user_prefs.json` `global.tts.backend` → `edge` default), so only env vars required by the active backend are validated. > **Design Learning shortcut**: If the user provides a reference video/image or asks to save/list/delete style profiles, see [references/design-learning.md](references/design-learning.md) instead of running the workflow below. --- ## Execution Modes Detect at workflow start: - "Make a video about..." / no special instructions → **Auto Mode** (default) - "I want to control each step" / "interactive" → **Interactive Mode** ### Auto Mode defaults Full pipeline with sensible defaults. **Mandatory stop at Step 9** (Studio review); Step 10 (4K render) only fires when the user says "render 4K" / "render final". | Step | Decision | Auto Default | |------|----------|-------------| | 3 | Title position | top-center | | 5 | Media assets | Skip (text-only animations) | | 7 | Thumbnail method | Remotion-generated (16:9 + 4:3) | | 9 | Outro animation | Pre-made MP4 (white/black by theme) | | 12 | Subtitles | Skip | | 14 | Cleanup | Auto-clean temp files | Override any default in the initial request: - "make a video about AI, burn subtitles" → auto + subtitles on - "use dark theme, AI thumbnails" → auto + dark + imagen - "need screenshots" → auto + media collection enabled ### Interactive Mode Prompts at each decision point. --- ## Workflow At Step 1 start, create one task per step in your agent's tracker (Claude Code `TaskCreate` / Codex todo list / equivalent). Mark `in_progress` on start, `completed` on finish. Files in `videos/{name}/` are the durable record — if interrupted, inspect the directory to determine where to resume. | # | Step | Output | Phase file | |---|------|--------|-----------| | 1 | Define topic direction | `topic_definition.md` | [workflow-script.md](references/workflow-script.md) | | 2 | Research topic | `topic_research.md` | [workflow-script.md](references/workflow-script.md) | | 3 | Design 5-7 sections | (in-memory) | [workflow-script.md](references/workflow-script.md) | | 4 | Write narration script | `podcast.txt` | [workflow-script.md](references/workflow-script.md) | | 4.5 | Pronunciation pre-flight (zh-CN) | `phonemes.json` | [workflow-script.md](references/workflow-script.md) | | 5 | Collect media (Auto: skip) | `media_manifest.json` | [workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | | 6 | Generate publish info (Part 1) | `publish_info.md` | [workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | | 7 | Generate thumbnails (16:9 + 4:3) | `thumbnail_*.png` | [workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | | 8 | Generate TTS audio | `podcast_audio.wav`, `timing.json` | [workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | | **9** | **Remotion composition + Studio preview** | — | [workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | | 10 | Render 4K video (only on user request) | `output.mp4` | [workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | | 11 | Mix background music | `video_with_bgm.mp4` | [workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | | 12 | Add subtitles (Auto: skip) | `final_video.mp4` | [workflow-publish.md](references/workflow-publish.md) | | 13 | Complete publish info (Part 2) | chapter timestamps | [workflow-publish.md](references/workflow-publish.md) | | **14** | **Verify output** (`scripts/verify_output.py`) | — | [workflow-publish.md](references/workflow-publish.md) | | 15 | Generate vertical shorts (optional) | `shorts/` | [workflow-publish.md](references/workflow-publish.md) | **Mandatory stops** (bold rows above): - **Step 9 — Studio review.** MUST launch `npx remotion studio` and wait for user feedback before rendering. NEVER render 4K until the user explicitly confirms ("render 4K" / "render final"). - **Step 14 — `verify_output.py`.** MUST pass before declaring the video done. Exit 0 = green; exit 2 = warnings still publishable. Auto-fixes common omissions (creates `final_video.mp4` if missing). For machine-readable output add `--format json` (auto when piped). **Pre-render audit (recommended)** — before Step 9: ```bash python3 ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/audit_beat_sync.py ``` Flags beats that drift > 1.5s from narration. Especially important for kinetic-typography videos. ### Validation Checkpoints | After Step | Check | |-----------|-------| | 8 (TTS) | `podcast_audio.wav` plays · `timing.json` covers all sections · SRT is UTF-8 | | 10 (Render) | `output.mp4` is 3840×2160 · audio-video sync · no black frames | | 14 (Verify) | `verify_output.py` exits 0 (or 2 with reviewed warnings) | --- ## Hard Rules | Rule | Requirement | |------|-------------| | **Single Project** | All videos under `videos/{name}/` in user's Remotion project. NEVER create a new project per video. | | **4K Output** | 3840×2160 (or 2160×3840 vertical), use `scale(2)` wrapper over 1920×1080 design space | | **Audio Sync** | All animations driven by `timing.json` timestamps | | **Thumbnail** | MUST generate both 16:9 (1920×1080) AND 4:3 (1200×900) — see [design-guide.md](references/design-guide.md) | | **Studio Before Render** | MUST launch `remotion studio` for review. NEVER render 4K until user explicitly confirms. | | **`--public-dir`** | Every Remotion command uses `--public-dir videos/{name}/` | Visual minimums (text sizes, content width, safe zones, animation safety) live in [references/design-guide.md](references/design-guide.md). **MUST load before Step 9.** ### Output Specs | Parameter | Horizontal (16:9) | Vertical (9:16) | |-----------|-------------------|-----------------| | Resolution | 3840×2160 (4K) | 2160×3840 (4K) | | Frame rate | 30 fps | 30 fps | | Encoding | H.264, 16Mbps | H.264, 16Mbps | | Audio | AAC, 192kbps | AAC, 192kbps | | Duration | 1-15 min | 60-90s (highlight) | --- ## Per-Video Layout ``` project-root/ # Remotion project root ├── src/remotion/ # Remotion source (Root.tsx, compositions, index.ts) ├── videos/{video-name}/ # Per-video assets (the agent's working dir) │ ├── topic_definition.md # Step 1 │ ├── topic_research.md # Step 2 │ ├── podcast.txt # Step 4: narration script │ ├── phonemes.json # Step 4.5: zh-CN pronunciation overrides │ ├── podcast_audio.wav # Step 8: TTS audio │ ├── podcast_audio.srt # Step 8: subtitles │ ├── timing.json # Step 8: timeline (drives animations) │ ├── thumbnail_*.png # Step 7 │ ├── output.mp4 # Step 10: 4K render (no BGM) │ ├── video_with_bgm.mp4 # Step 11 │ ├── final_video.mp4 # Step 12: final output │ └── bgm.mp3 # Background music └── remotion.config.ts ``` ### `--public-dir` per video Remotion commands MUST use `--public-dir videos/{name}/` — each video's assets stay in its own directory, no copy to `public/`. Enables parallel renders. ```bash npx remotion studio src/remotion/index.ts --public-dir videos/{name}/ npx remotion render src/remotion/index.ts CompositionId videos/{name}/output.mp4 --public-dir videos/{name}/ --video-bitrate 16M npx remotion still src/remotion/index.ts Thumbnail16x9 videos/{name}/thumbnail.png --public-dir videos/{name}/ ``` ### Naming - **Video name `{video-name}`**: lowercase English, hyphen-separated (e.g. `reference-manager-comparison`) - **Section name `{section}`**: lowercase English, underscore-separated, matches `[SECTION:xxx]` - **Thumbnail naming** (16:9 AND 4:3 both required): | Type | 16:9 | 4:3 | |------|------|-----| | Remotion | `thumbnail_remotion_16x9.png` | `thumbnail_remotion_4x3.png` | | AI | `thumbnail_ai_16x9.png` | `thumbnail_ai_4x3.png` | --- ## Additional Resources Load on demand — **do NOT load all at once**: | File | Load when | |------|-----------| | [references/workflow-script.md](references/workflow-script.md) | Steps 1-4 (topic → script) | | [references/workflow-production.md](references/workflow-production.md) | Steps 5-11 (media → TTS → Remotion → render → BGM) | | [references/workflow-publish.md](references/workflow-publish.md) | Steps 12-15 (subtitles, publish, cleanup, shorts) | | [references/design-guide.md](references/design-guide.md) | **MUST load before Step 9** — visual minimums, typography, animation safety | | [references/design-learning.md](references/design-learning.md) | User provides a reference video/image, or manages style profiles | | [references/azure-tts-pitfalls.md](references/azure-tts-pitfalls.md) | Choosing Azure voice/style, debugging hoarse/glitchy audio | | [references/troubleshooting.md](references/troubleshooting.md) | On error, or user asks about preferences/BGM | | [templates/presets/kinetic-typography/](templates/presets/kinetic-typography/) | Bold type-driven preset (opinion / argument / declaration videos) | | [examples/](examples/) | Reference for composition structure and `timing.json` format | ### Script suite dispatcher All scripts under `${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/` are reachable through one hierarchical entry point: ```bash python3 ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/cli.py --help # list resources python3 ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/cli.py --help # list actions python3 ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/cli.py --help # forwards to underlying script python3 ${SKILL_DIR}/scripts/cli.py schema [] # JSON parameter schema ``` Routes: `tts run|validate`, `verify`, `audit beats`, `shorts gen`, `design list|show|delete|add`, `prereqs`, `prefs get|migrate|backend|bgm-path`, `schema []`. Direct script invocation (`python3 scripts/.py ...`) keeps working — the dispatcher is additive. --- ## User Preferences Skill auto-learns and applies preferences. Full commands and learning details: [references/troubleshooting.md](references/troubleshooting.md). - **Storage**: `user_prefs.json` (auto-created from `user_prefs.template.json`, schema in `prefs_schema.json`). - **Priority**: `Root.tsx defaults < global < topic_patterns[type] < current instructions`. - **User commands**: "show preferences" · "reset preferences" · "save as X default". --- ## Troubleshooting See [references/troubleshooting.md](references/troubleshooting.md) on errors, BGM options, preference learning, design-learning issues.

Agents365.ai

Skills by Agents365.ai

Video Podcast Maker