> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pictory.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Video to Short Clips

> Repurpose long-form videos into short, engaging clips for social media

This guide shows you how to transform long-form videos into short, engaging clips perfect for social media. Use AI to automatically extract the most impactful moments from webinars, interviews, lectures, or any long video content.

## What You'll Learn

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Video Repurposing" icon="scissors">
    Convert long videos into short clips
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Highlights" icon="sparkles">
    Automatically detect key moments
  </Card>

  <Card title="Social Ready" icon="mobile">
    Perfect for TikTok, Reels, Shorts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Auto Captions" icon="closed-captioning">
    Subtitles generated automatically
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

* A [Pictory API key](https://app.pictory.ai/api-access)
* Node.js or Python installed on your machine
* Long-form video accessible via public URL
* Understanding of target platform requirements

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash npm theme={null}
  npm install axios
  ```

  ```bash pip theme={null}
  pip install requests
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## How Video-to-Shorts Works

When you convert a long video to short clips:

1. **Video Access** - Your source video is downloaded and analyzed
2. **Audio Transcription** - AI transcribes the audio content
3. **Content Analysis** - Speech patterns, visual changes, and content relevance are analyzed
4. **Highlight Detection** - Key moments and engaging segments are identified
5. **Clip Extraction** - Short clips are generated from the highlights
6. **Enhancement** - Clips are optimized with captions and formatting
7. **Video Rendering** - Final short clips are ready for download

<Note>
  The source video must be accessible via a public URL. Processing time depends on video length - expect approximately 1-2 minutes of processing for every minute of source video.
</Note>

## Complete Example

<CodeGroup>
  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  import axios from "axios";

  const API_BASE_URL = "https://api.pictory.ai/pictoryapis";
  const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY";

  // Sample video URL - replace with your own long-form video URL
  const VIDEO_URL = "https://pictory-static.pictorycontent.com/sample_long_video.mp4";

  async function createVideoToShorts() {
    try {
      console.log("Creating short clips from long video...");

      const response = await axios.post(
        `${API_BASE_URL}/v2/video/storyboard/render`,
        {
          videoName: "video_to_shorts",
          scenes: [
            {
              videoUrl: VIDEO_URL,           // Long-form video URL at scene level
              audioLanguage: "en-US",        // Required for video processing
            }
          ],
        },
        {
          headers: {
            "Content-Type": "application/json",
            Authorization: API_KEY,
          },
        }
      );

      const jobId = response.data.data.jobId;
      console.log("✓ Video processing started!");
      console.log("Job ID:", jobId);

      // Monitor progress
      console.log("\nMonitoring video creation...");
      let jobCompleted = false;
      let jobResult = null;

      while (!jobCompleted) {
        const statusResponse = await axios.get(
          `${API_BASE_URL}/v1/jobs/${jobId}`,
          {
            headers: { Authorization: API_KEY },
          }
        );

        const status = statusResponse.data.data.status;
        console.log("Status:", status);

        if (status === "completed") {
          jobCompleted = true;
          jobResult = statusResponse.data;
          console.log("\n✓ Short clips are ready!");
          console.log("Video URL:", jobResult.data.videoURL);

          if (jobResult.data.highlights) {
            console.log("Highlight clips:", jobResult.data.highlights);
          }
        } else if (status === "failed") {
          throw new Error("Video creation failed: " + JSON.stringify(statusResponse.data));
        }

        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
      }

      return jobResult;
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Error:", error.response?.data || error.message);
      throw error;
    }
  }

  createVideoToShorts();
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests
  import time
  import json

  API_BASE_URL = 'https://api.pictory.ai/pictoryapis'
  API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY'

  # Sample video URL - replace with your own long-form video URL
  VIDEO_URL = "https://pictory-static.pictorycontent.com/sample_long_video.mp4"

  def create_video_to_shorts():
      try:
          print("Creating short clips from long video...")

          response = requests.post(
              f'{API_BASE_URL}/v2/video/storyboard/render',
              json={
                  'videoName': 'video_to_shorts',
                  'scenes': [
                      {
                          'videoUrl': VIDEO_URL,       # Long-form video URL at scene level
                          'audioLanguage': 'en-US'     # Required for video processing
                      }
                  ]
              },
              headers={
                  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
                  'Authorization': API_KEY
              }
          )
          response.raise_for_status()

          job_id = response.json()['data']['jobId']
          print("✓ Video processing started!")
          print(f"Job ID: {job_id}")

          # Monitor progress
          print("\nMonitoring video creation...")
          job_completed = False
          job_result = None

          while not job_completed:
              status_response = requests.get(
                  f'{API_BASE_URL}/v1/jobs/{job_id}',
                  headers={'Authorization': API_KEY}
              )
              status_response.raise_for_status()

              status = status_response.json()['data']['status']
              print(f"Status: {status}")

              if status == 'completed':
                  job_completed = True
                  job_result = status_response.json()
                  print("\n✓ Short clips are ready!")
                  print(f"Video URL: {job_result['data']['videoURL']}")

                  if 'highlights' in job_result['data']:
                      print(f"Highlight clips: {job_result['data']['highlights']}")
              elif status == 'failed':
                  raise Exception(f"Video creation failed: {status_response.json()}")

              time.sleep(5)

          return job_result

      except requests.exceptions.RequestException as error:
          print(f"Error: {error}")
          if hasattr(error, 'response') and error.response is not None:
              print(f"Response: {error.response.text}")
          raise

  if __name__ == '__main__':
      create_video_to_shorts()
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Understanding the Parameters

### Main Request Parameters

| Parameter   | Type   | Required | Description                               |
| ----------- | ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `videoName` | string | Yes      | A descriptive name for your video project |
| `scenes`    | array  | Yes      | Array of scene objects                    |

### Scene Parameters

| Parameter                | Type   | Required | Description                                           |
| ------------------------ | ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `videoUrl`               | string | Yes      | Public URL to the long-form source video file         |
| `audioLanguage`          | string | Yes      | Language code for audio transcription (e.g., "en-US") |
| `mediaRepurposeSettings` | object | No       | Optional settings for highlight extraction            |

### Media Repurpose Settings (Optional)

| Parameter                 | Type    | Description                                  |
| ------------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `highlightLength`         | number  | Target highlight duration in seconds (5-180) |
| `removeFillerWords`       | boolean | Remove filler words from transcription       |
| `removeSilences`          | boolean | Remove silent portions from video            |
| `silenceThresholdSeconds` | number  | Silence threshold in seconds (0-10)          |

## Supported Video Formats

| Format | Extension | Description                      | Quality   |
| ------ | --------- | -------------------------------- | --------- |
| MP4    | `.mp4`    | Most common format (recommended) | Excellent |
| MOV    | `.mov`    | Apple QuickTime format           | Excellent |
| AVI    | `.avi`    | Windows video format             | Good      |
| MKV    | `.mkv`    | Matroska multimedia container    | Excellent |
| WebM   | `.webm`   | Web video format                 | Good      |
| WMV    | `.wmv`    | Windows Media Video              | Good      |

<Tip>
  **Best Format:** Use MP4 (H.264 codec) for the best balance of quality, compatibility, and processing speed.
</Tip>

## Ideal Clip Durations by Platform

| Platform        | Ideal Duration | Maximum Length       | Notes                                   |
| --------------- | -------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| TikTok          | 15-60 seconds  | 10 minutes           | Shorter is better (under 60s)           |
| Instagram Reels | 15-90 seconds  | 90 seconds           | Sweet spot: 30-60 seconds               |
| YouTube Shorts  | 15-60 seconds  | 60 seconds           | Must be vertical or square              |
| Twitter/X       | 15-45 seconds  | 2 minutes 20 seconds | Concise content performs best           |
| LinkedIn        | 30-90 seconds  | 10 minutes           | Professional, value-focused             |
| Facebook        | 30-90 seconds  | 240 minutes          | Attention span: first 3 seconds crucial |

## Common Use Cases

### Webinar Highlights for LinkedIn

```javascript theme={null}
{
  videoName: "webinar_key_moments",
  scenes: [{
    videoUrl: "https://storage.example.com/full-webinar.mp4",
    audioLanguage: "en-US"
  }]
}
```

**Result:** Key insights extracted as 30-90 second clips perfect for LinkedIn.

### Podcast to Social Media Clips

```javascript theme={null}
{
  videoName: "podcast_episode_highlights",
  scenes: [{
    videoUrl: "https://storage.example.com/podcast-ep-042.mp4",
    audioLanguage: "en-US"
  }]
}
```

**Result:** Best moments from podcast as shareable social clips.

### Interview Highlights for YouTube Shorts

```javascript theme={null}
{
  videoName: "interview_best_moments",
  scenes: [{
    videoUrl: "https://storage.example.com/full-interview.mp4",
    audioLanguage: "en-US",
    mediaRepurposeSettings: {
      highlightLength: 60,     // 60-second highlights
      removeFillerWords: true
    }
  }]
}
```

**Result:** Most engaging interview segments as short-form content.

### Educational Content for TikTok

```javascript theme={null}
{
  videoName: "lecture_key_points",
  scenes: [{
    videoUrl: "https://storage.example.com/full-lecture.mp4",
    audioLanguage: "en-US",
    mediaRepurposeSettings: {
      highlightLength: 30,     // 30-second highlights for TikTok
      removeSilences: true
    }
  }]
}
```

**Result:** Educational highlights perfect for TikTok's short format.

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Choose Quality Source Videos">
    Start with high-quality source material:

    * **Resolution:** 1080p or higher recommended
    * **Audio Quality:** Clear speech with minimal background noise
    * **Lighting:** Well-lit content produces better clips
    * **Composition:** Centered subjects work best for crops
    * **Engagement:** Videos with natural segment breaks work better
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Optimize Video Length">
    Select appropriate source video duration:

    * **10-30 Minutes:** Ideal length for extracting multiple clips
    * **Under 10 Minutes:** May produce fewer highlight options
    * **Over 60 Minutes:** Consider splitting into segments first
    * **Clear Sections:** Videos with distinct topics produce better clips
    * **Pacing:** Varied pacing helps AI identify engaging moments
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Ensure Clean Audio">
    Audio quality directly affects clip selection:

    * **Clear Speech:** AI relies on transcription for context
    * **Minimal Noise:** Reduce background sounds
    * **Good Microphones:** Use quality recording equipment
    * **One Speaker:** Single speaker is easier to process
    * **Natural Pauses:** Helps AI identify segment boundaries
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Make Videos Publicly Accessible">
    Ensure your video file can be accessed:

    * **Cloud Storage:** Upload to Google Drive, Dropbox, AWS S3, or CDN
    * **Public Link:** Generate direct, public download URL
    * **No Authentication:** URL must work without login
    * **Test Access:** Open in incognito browser to verify
    * **Stable URL:** Ensure link will not expire during processing
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Plan for Platform Requirements">
    Consider your target platform:

    * **Aspect Ratio:** 9:16 (vertical) for TikTok, Reels, Shorts
    * **Duration:** Match platform limits (15-60s typical)
    * **Captions:** Auto-generated captions included
    * **Branding:** Add logos and brand elements
    * **Hook:** First 3 seconds crucial for retention
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Error: Unable to access video file">
    **Problem:** The API cannot download or process your video.

    **Solution:**

    * Verify URL is publicly accessible (test in incognito browser)
    * Ensure it is a direct download link, not streaming or preview link
    * For Google Drive: Share → "Anyone with the link" → Copy link
    * For Dropbox: Create link → change "dl=0" to "dl=1" in URL
    * Check file hasn't been deleted or moved
    * Verify video format is supported (MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Processing takes very long">
    **Problem:** Job status shows "in-progress" for extended periods.

    **Solution:**

    * Processing time is proportional to video length
    * Expected times:
      * 10-minute video: 15-20 minutes processing
      * 30-minute video: 30-45 minutes processing
      * 60-minute video: 60-90 minutes processing
    * Large file sizes take longer to download
    * Check status every 5-10 seconds (not more frequently)
    * If stuck for 2x expected time, contact support with job ID
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Generated clips miss important moments">
    **Problem:** AI does not extract the segments you expected.

    **Solution:**

    * AI identifies engaging moments based on multiple factors
    * Ensure important moments have:
      * Clear, distinct speech
      * Visual changes or action
      * Natural pauses before/after
      * Energy in delivery
    * Consider manually selecting specific segments instead
    * Longer source videos give more clip options
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Clips have poor audio quality">
    **Problem:** Generated clips have muffled or unclear audio.

    **Solution:**

    * Check source video audio quality
    * Use higher bitrate audio in source (128kbps minimum)
    * Reduce background noise in source video
    * Ensure consistent audio levels throughout
    * Re-export source video with better audio settings
    * Try audio enhancement tools before uploading
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Transcription is inaccurate">
    **Problem:** Auto-generated captions do not match audio.

    **Solution:**

    * Improve source audio quality
    * Reduce background music volume
    * Ensure clear speech (not too fast)
    * Minimize overlapping speakers
    * Check for audio distortion or clipping
    * Consider professional audio editing
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="No clips generated">
    **Problem:** API completes but does not return highlight clips.

    **Solution:**

    * Verify videoToVideo parameter is set to true
    * Check source video contains clear speech
    * Ensure video is not purely music or sound effects
    * Try with different source video to test
    * Verify source video is not corrupted
    * Contact support if issue persists with valid content
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

Enhance your short-form videos with these features:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Background Music" icon="music" href="/guides/advanced-features/background-music">
    Add music to your short clips
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom Captions" icon="closed-captioning" href="/guides/text-to-video/text-to-video-captions">
    Customize auto-generated captions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Brand Settings" icon="palette" href="/guides/branding-customization/brand-settings">
    Apply consistent branding to clips
  </Card>

  <Card title="Logo Watermark" icon="image" href="/guides/branding-customization/logo">
    Add your logo to all clips
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## API Reference

For complete technical details, see:

* [Render Storyboard Video](/api-reference/videos/render-storyboard-video) - Full API specification
* [Get Job Status](/api-reference/jobs/get-video-render-job-by-id) - Monitor job status and progress