---
name: vidseeds-local-video
description: Use when the user's video is on disk — VidSeeds MCP probe, frame/clip extraction, ffmpeg recipes, precision trim, and midroll analysis. Hosted tools return commands/recipes to run locally; media stays on the user's machine.
---

# Local video media (MCP)

VidSeeds.ai follows **client-first** media: the hosted MCP server does not read files from the user's computer. Tools return **recipes** (ffmpeg/ffprobe commands) or accept **base64 frames** the agent extracted locally.

## Probe a file

- `vidseeds_probe_local_video` — duration, resolution, codecs; use before trim or thumbnail frame picks.

## Frames and clips

| Goal                        | Tool                               |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Still frames for thumbnails | `vidseeds_extract_video_frames`    |
| Short clip for context      | `vidseeds_extract_video_clip`      |
| Generic transcode recipe    | `vidseeds_transcode_format_recipe` |
| Media helper commands       | `vidseeds_get_local_media_recipe`  |

Run returned shell commands on the **user's machine** (requires ffmpeg/ffprobe installed). Pass results back into thumbnail tools as `frames` on `vidseeds_generate_thumbnail` when needed.

## Precision trim

1. `vidseeds_analyze_precision_trim` — suggested cut points.
2. `vidseeds_plan_precision_trim` — plan from analysis.
3. `vidseeds_execute_precision_trim` — export recipe/commands for local ffmpeg.

## Midroll placement

- `vidseeds_analyze_midroll_opportunities` — suggested mid-roll times from transcript/context (analysis only; user edits in their editor).

## Thumbnails from local file

Prefer the **vidseeds-local** stdio MCP tool `vidseeds_generate_thumbnail_from_video` when the whole pipeline should run on-disk (see `vidseeds-thumbnails`).

## YouTube-hosted source (not local path)

- `vidseeds_get_youtube_video_transcript`, `vidseeds_get_youtube_video_captions` — text from YouTube without downloading video to the server.

## Do not

- Expect hosted tools to accept arbitrary filesystem paths for upload/processing.
- Re-run probe/extract in a loop — cache probe results for the session.