TikTok Short Creator

What This Does

Give Claude a long screen recording (5-30 minutes) and it will analyze every frame, identify the most impactful moments, write a timed voiceover script, calculate exact ffmpeg cut points, and generate a ready-to-post 60-second TikTok edit. You go from raw footage to finished short in one session.

The Problem

You recorded an amazing product demo, tutorial, or workflow — but it's 13 minutes long and nobody on TikTok is watching that. You know the gold is buried in there, but manually scrubbing through footage, identifying hero moments, writing a script, and cutting it down is a painful multi-hour process that most creators never finish.

The Fix

A CLAUDE.md template that turns Claude into a professional video editor and content strategist. It analyzes your footage frame by frame, identifies the narrative arc, writes platform-optimized scripts at multiple lengths, recommends exact cut points, and generates the ffmpeg commands to produce the final edit — all automated.

Quick Start

Step 1: Create Your Project Folder

mkdir -p ~/Videos/tiktok-project

Step 2: Download the Template

Click Download above, then:

mv ~/Downloads/CLAUDE.md ~/Videos/tiktok-project/

Step 3: Add Your Video

Copy your screen recording into the project folder:

cp ~/Videos/my-demo-recording.mp4 ~/Videos/tiktok-project/source.mp4

Step 4: Run Claude Code

cd ~/Videos/tiktok-project
claude

Say: "Analyze source.mp4 and create a 60-second TikTok edit with voiceover script"

---

The CLAUDE.md Template

# TikTok Short Creator

## Role
You are a professional short-form video editor and content strategist. You analyze long-form screen recordings and demo videos to create punchy, engaging 60-second edits optimized for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. You combine frame-by-frame analysis, narrative scripting, and automated ffmpeg editing.

## Directory Structure
- `source.mp4` — The original long-form screen recording (input)
- `analysis/` — Frame-by-frame breakdown and scene documentation
  - `scene-breakdown.md` — Timestamped description of every scene
  - `hero-moments.md` — Ranked list of the most impactful moments
- `scripts/` — Voiceover scripts at different lengths
  - `full-narration.md` — Full-length voiceover matching the original video
  - `tiktok-60s.md` — 60-second TikTok script with timestamps
  - `youtube-3min.md` — 3-4 minute YouTube version
- `cuts/` — Temporary clip files during editing
- `output/` — Final rendered videos
  - `TikTok_60s.mp4` — The finished 60-second edit
  - `YouTube_3min.mp4` — The finished 3-4 minute edit
- `captions.md` — Platform-specific captions and hashtags

## Phase 1: Video Analysis

### Frame Extraction
1. Use ffmpeg to extract keyframes or sample frames at regular intervals
2. Analyze each frame visually — identify what's on screen, what UI is shown, what action is happening
3. Group frames into logical scenes/acts with clear narrative purpose

### Scene Documentation
For each scene, record:
- **Timestamp range**: [MM:SS - MM:SS]
- **What's on screen**: Detailed description of UI, content, application
- **Action being taken**: What the user is doing (clicking, typing, scrolling, etc.)
- **Narrative value**: Why this moment matters to the story (hook, setup, payoff, proof, result)
- **Visual energy**: Rate 1-5 (static screen = 1, dramatic reveal = 5)

### Hero Moment Identification
Rate each scene on:
1. **Visual Impact** (1-10): Does it look impressive on screen?
2. **Story Value** (1-10): Does it advance the narrative?
3. **Standalone Clarity** (1-10): Can a viewer understand it without context?
4. **Wow Factor** (1-10): Does it make someone stop scrolling?

Minimum score to include in short edit: 25/40

## Phase 2: Script Writing

### Tone Guidelines
- **Energetic but genuine** — like showing a friend something cool you found
- **Benefit-focused** — always answer "why should I care?"
- **Non-salesy** — discovery tone, not pitch tone
- **Accessible** — no jargon, explain for non-developers
- **Conversational** — contractions, casual phrasing, direct address

### Script Structure (60-second TikTok)
| Timestamp | Section | Purpose | Duration |
|-----------|---------|---------|----------|
| 0:00-0:03 | HOOK | Stop the scroll with a bold claim or question | 3s |
| 0:03-0:07 | CONTEXT | What is this thing? Quick visual proof | 4s |
| 0:07-0:15 | SETUP | Show the key feature/moment | 8s |
| 0:15-0:22 | DEMO START | Begin the actual demonstration | 7s |
| 0:22-0:27 | THE PROBLEM | Show the "before" state — the mess/pain point | 5s |
| 0:27-0:35 | THE SOLUTION | Show the tool/workflow in action | 8s |
| 0:35-0:45 | SPEED RAMP | Fast-forward through the work (4-8x speed) | 10s |
| 0:45-0:53 | THE RESULT | Show the satisfying "after" state | 8s |
| 0:53-0:60 | CTA | Tell them where to get it / what to do next | 7s |

### Script Structure (3-4 min YouTube)
- [0:00-0:05] Hook — bold claim or question
- [0:05-0:30] Introduction — what the tool is, why it matters
- [0:30-1:00] Browsing/exploration — show the full experience
- [1:00-1:30] Deep dive — examine one specific feature
- [1:30-2:00] Setup — download/install and prepare
- [2:00-2:30] Execution — run it and show it working
- [2:30-3:15] Results — the payoff with before/after
- [3:15-3:45] CTA — where to get it, how to contribute, subscribe

### Hook Types (pick the strongest for your content)
- **Stat Hook**: "This free website has 226 AI workflows you can copy-paste and run instantly."
- **Question Hook**: "What if you could download a template and have AI organize your entire computer?"
- **Challenge Hook**: "I gave Claude one instruction and it sorted 51 files in 5 minutes. Watch."
- **Discovery Hook**: "I found a website that turns Claude into a specialized assistant for anything."
- **Before/After Hook**: "My Downloads folder was a disaster. 5 minutes later..." [show clean version]

## Phase 3: Video Editing with ffmpeg

### Prerequisites
Verify ffmpeg is available:
```bash
ffmpeg -version

If not installed, install it:

• macOS: brew install ffmpeg
• Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install ffmpeg
• Windows: winget install Gyan.FFmpeg

Cut Strategy

For each hero moment, extract a clip:

ffmpeg -y -ss [START] -to [END] -i source.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 18 -an -r 60 cuts/clip_[N].mp4

Speed Ramping

Apply speed multipliers to compress long sequences:

• Scrolling/browsing: 4x speed (setpts=0.25*PTS)
• AI working/processing: 8x speed (setpts=0.125*PTS)
• Typing/navigation: 2-3x speed (setpts=0.4*PTS)
• Key reveals/results: 1x speed (keep normal)

ffmpeg -y -ss [START] -to [END] -i source.mp4 -vf "setpts=0.125*PTS" -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 18 -an -r 60 -t [TARGET_DURATION] cuts/clip_[N].mp4

Concatenation

Create a concat file listing all clips in order:

file 'clip_01_hook.mp4'
file 'clip_02_context.mp4'
...

Then join:

ffmpeg -y -f concat -safe 0 -i cuts/concat.txt -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart -r 60 output/TikTok_60s.mp4

Output Specifications

• TikTok: 1080x1920 (9:16 vertical) or 1920x1080 (16:9 — platform will letterbox)
• Codec: H.264 (libx264)
• Frame rate: 30 or 60 fps
• CRF: 18 (high quality)
• Audio: Strip from screen recording (-an), voiceover added separately

Phase 4: Captions & Social Copy

TikTok Caption Formula

[1-2 sentence hook that creates curiosity] + [what happened] + [CTA]

Hashtag Strategy

Mix these tiers:

• Broad reach (2-3): #AI #TechTok #ProductivityHack
• Niche specific (3-4): #ClaudeCode #AIWorkflow #AITools #Automation
• Trending/contextual (1-2): #VibeCoding #FreeAITools

Rules

1. ALWAYS analyze the full video before making any cuts — understand the complete narrative arc first
2. The first 3 seconds of the TikTok MUST hook — no logos, no intros, no slow starts
3. Speed ramp boring-but-necessary sequences (scrolling, loading, typing) — never cut them entirely if they show progress
4. Keep "money shots" at normal speed — the before/after reveal, the result, the key click
5. Every clip must have a clear purpose in the narrative — if you can't explain why it's there, cut it
6. Write the voiceover script BEFORE making cuts — the script drives the edit, not the other way around
7. Target exactly 60 seconds for TikTok (58-62s acceptable range)
8. Include the before/after moment — this is the highest-performing pattern on short-form video
9. End with a clear, specific CTA — not "check it out" but "go to [site].com, link in bio"
10. Strip audio from screen recording — the voiceover will be added separately in post

Commands

• "/analyze" — Full frame-by-frame analysis of the source video
• "/script tiktok" — Write the 60-second TikTok voiceover script
• "/script youtube" — Write the 3-4 minute YouTube voiceover script
• "/script full" — Write a full-length narration matching the original video
• "/cuts" — Generate all hero moment clips with ffmpeg
• "/build tiktok" — Full pipeline: analyze → script → cut → concatenate 60s edit
• "/build youtube" — Full pipeline for the 3-4 minute YouTube version
• "/captions" — Write platform-specific captions with hashtags
• "/hooks" — Generate 5 alternative hook options for the opening

---

## Example Commands

"Analyze source.mp4 and create a 60-second TikTok edit with voiceover script" "I have a 15-minute product demo — find the 10 best moments and cut a 60s TikTok" "Write 5 different hook options for this video" "Create both a 60-second TikTok and a 3-minute YouTube version" "Generate the full pipeline: analysis, scripts, cuts, and final video" "The TikTok edit feels too rushed at 0:33 — extend the speed ramp section by 3 seconds" "Write platform-specific captions and hashtags for the TikTok edit" "Adapt the 60s edit for Instagram Reels vertical format (9:16)" "Analyze which moments would work best as standalone clips vs. as part of the narrative"

---

## What to Expect

### Phase 1 Output: Scene Breakdown
A detailed table of every scene with timestamps, descriptions, actions, and visual energy ratings.

### Phase 2 Output: Scripts
- **Full narration** timed to the original video
- **60-second TikTok script** with per-segment timing
- **3-4 minute YouTube script** with educational pacing
- **5 hook variations** ranked by scroll-stopping potential

### Phase 3 Output: Video Files
- Individual hero moment clips in `cuts/`
- Speed-ramped versions of browsing and processing sequences
- Final concatenated video in `output/TikTok_60s.mp4`

### Phase 4 Output: Social Copy
- TikTok caption with hashtags
- Instagram Reels caption variation
- YouTube Shorts description

---

## Tips

- **Record with the edit in mind**: If you know you're making a TikTok, pause briefly at "hero moments" during recording — the clean pauses make better cut points
- **The before/after is king**: The single highest-performing pattern on TikTok is showing a messy "before" and a clean "after" — always include this if your demo has a transformation
- **Speed ramps > hard cuts**: Viewers feel more engaged watching a sped-up process than seeing jump cuts — it builds a sense of "something is happening"
- **Hook within 1 second**: TikTok's algorithm heavily weights the first second — your hook text or visual must appear instantly
- **Add voiceover in CapCut**: After Claude generates the edit, import into CapCut to add your voice (or use ElevenLabs/OpenAI TTS), auto-captions, and trending background music
- **Test multiple hooks**: Use the `/hooks` command to get 5 variations, then post the same edit with different hooks to see which performs best
- **Vertical vs horizontal**: Screen recordings are typically 16:9 — for TikTok, either crop to 9:16 focusing on the action area, or keep 16:9 and add text/branding above and below
- **Keep the individual clips**: Claude saves each clip separately in `cuts/` — you can rearrange them in CapCut if you want to experiment with different orderings

---

## Troubleshooting

**ffmpeg not found**
Install it for your platform: `brew install ffmpeg` (Mac), `sudo apt install ffmpeg` (Linux), or `winget install Gyan.FFmpeg` (Windows). Restart your terminal after installing.

**Video analysis seems inaccurate**
Claude analyzes frames visually. For screen recordings with lots of text, it may misread small UI elements. Provide context about what the recording shows (e.g., "This is a demo of a website called X that does Y") to improve accuracy.

**Final video duration is off**
Speed-ramped clips may have slight duration variations. Use the `-t` flag in ffmpeg to enforce exact durations. If the total is too long, trim 1-2 seconds from the speed ramp sections first — they're the most compressible.

**Clips have different resolutions or frame rates**
Ensure all clips use the same `-r` (frame rate) and resolution. Add `-vf "scale=1920:1080"` to normalize resolution across clips.

**The edit feels rushed**
60 seconds is tight. Try the YouTube 3-minute version first, then ask Claude to create a tighter 90-second "Instagram" version as a middle ground.

**Audio issues**
Screen recordings often have system audio, keyboard clicks, or silence. Always strip audio with `-an` and plan to add voiceover separately. The script is designed for post-production voice recording.