Batch resize videos with Python

To batch resize videos with Python, you can use the moviepy library, which makes video editing tasks like resizing, trimming, or adding effects relatively simple. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to batch resize multiple videos using Python:

Step 1: Install Required Libraries

Before you begin, you’ll need to install the necessary libraries. The primary library for this task is moviepy.

bash
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pip install moviepy

Step 2: Write Python Script to Resize Videos

Here’s a Python script that resizes all videos in a specific directory to a given width while maintaining the aspect ratio. You can adjust the target width and height as needed.

python
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import os
from moviepy.editor import VideoFileClip

# Function to resize videos
def resize_video(input_path, output_path, target_width):
    # Load the video file
    video = VideoFileClip(input_path)
    
    # Calculate the new height while maintaining the aspect ratio
    aspect_ratio = video.size[1] / video.size[0]
    target_height = int(target_width * aspect_ratio)
    
    # Resize the video
    resized_video = video.resize(width=target_width, height=target_height)
    
    # Write the resized video to output file
    resized_video.write_videofile(output_path, codec='libx264')

# Directory where your videos are located
input_directory = 'path/to/your/videos'
output_directory = 'path/to/output/videos'

# Target width for resizing
target_width = 720

# Loop through all video files in the input directory
for filename in os.listdir(input_directory):
    if filename.endswith(".mp4"):  # You can add more video file types if needed
        input_path = os.path.join(input_directory, filename)
        output_path = os.path.join(output_directory, f"resized_{filename}")
        
        # Resize and save the video
        resize_video(input_path, output_path, target_width)
        print(f"Resized video saved at {output_path}")

Step 3: Customize the Script

• Input Directory: Replace 'path/to/your/videos' with the actual path to the folder containing your videos.

• Output Directory: Replace 'path/to/output/videos' with the folder where you want to save the resized videos.

• Target Width: Change the target_width variable to set the desired width of the resized videos. The height will adjust automatically to maintain the aspect ratio.

Step 4: Run the Script

Once you’ve set up the paths and parameters, simply run the script, and it will resize all .mp4 videos in the input directory and save them in the output directory.

Additional Notes:

• Aspect Ratio: The script automatically calculates the height based on the original aspect ratio to ensure the video doesn’t get distorted.

• Video Format: The script assumes .mp4 files. You can add more formats by updating the if filename.endswith(".mp4"): condition.

This method should work for most cases, but if you’re dealing with large video files or need specific optimizations, you might need to adjust the encoding settings or consider other libraries like ffmpeg directly.