Video editing: which service, and how

Editing starts from footage that already exists, so the first rule is not to damage it. Work in this order, and pick the service for each step from the table below.

1. Probe. Run ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration:stream=codec_type,codec_name,width,height,r_frame_rate,sample_rate -of json in.mp4. Note the frame rate, whether it is variable, the sample rate and the duration.
2. Transcribe once if anyone speaks: word-level timestamps, saved as JSON next to the source. Every text decision reads from this file: silences, filler words, highlights, captions.
3. Write the edit decision list as data: source, in and out points, track, effect, the service for each step and its cost. Show it to the person and wait for a yes before any paid call. On varg, run estimate_cost first.
4. Render deterministically wherever you can (FFmpeg, HyperFrames, Remotion). Use a generative model only on the shortest span whose pixels must change. Cut that span out, edit it, and stitch it back.
5. Verify. ffprobe the output, grab stills at every cut point (ffmpeg -ss <t> -i out.mp4 -frames:v 1 cut-<t>.jpg) and look at them. Compare the duration with the edit list.

Which service for which edit

The first service in each row is the default pick. Switch only for the reason given. The full table, with access, pricing and links, is in references/services.md.