Automate Video Uploads to Thumbnails with FFmpeg & Google Drive
Accepts video uploads via webhook, generates thumbnails at 5s using FFmpeg, uploads to Google Drive, and returns JSON with file details. Ideal for marketing teams and developers needing an API thumbnail service.
This n8n workflow automates the process of handling video uploads through an HTTP webhook endpoint (/mediaUpload), validating the file as a video, extracting a thumbnail frame at the 5-second mark using FFmpeg, uploading the thumbnail to a specified Google Drive folder, and responding with structured JSON containing the Drive file ID, name, links, size, and checksums.
Key features include automatic FFmpeg installation if not present, temporary file handling in /tmp for reliability, and flexible naming (original-filename-thumb.jpg). It rejects non-video files with HTTP 400, ensuring robust API behavior without extra infrastructure.
Benefits: Saves hours for social media teams by instantly providing publish-ready thumbnails; acts as a serverless microservice for developers; standardizes assets for agencies/creators in shared Drives. Use cases include content pipelines, automated asset processing, and integration into larger media workflows.
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How to import this workflow into n8n
- 1Purchase or download the workflow to get the n8n workflow JSON file.
- 2In your n8n instance, open Workflows and choose "Import from File" (or paste the JSON with Ctrl+V on the canvas).
- 3Open each node marked with a credential warning and connect your own accounts and API keys.
- 4Run the workflow once manually to verify the data flow, then toggle it to Active.
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