media_filmstrip

Render a grid of thumbnails sampled across the timeline to a PNG (local render, no credits), each row stamped with an HH:MM:SS:FF ruler. A fast, token-efficient video track preview; narrow the window to zoom into a region of interest. Video only (use media_waveform for audio).

MCP tool	media_filmstrip
CLI	dapi media filmstrip <path> [options]
CLI aliases	dapi media film

Input

Field	Type	CLI	Description
path	string, required	<path>	absolute file path or URL (works with or without an open project), or a library path like b-roll/clip.mp4 (needs an open project)
start	Time	-s, --start <time>	start of the window — seconds ("1.5"), frames ("45f"), or "MM:SS" (default: 0)
end	Time	-e, --end <time>	end of the window — seconds ("1.5"), frames ("45f"), or "MM:SS" (default: asset duration)
output	string	-o, --output <path>	absolute path to write the PNG to (default: a fresh file under the system temp dir)
scale	number	-x, --scale <factor>	scale factor for the thumbnails; smaller fits more rows and columns, larger fits fewer (default: 1)

Frames are sampled at even intervals across the window. An end past the asset's duration is clamped to it; a start at or past the end is an error, since the window would be empty. Tick labels use HH:MM:SS:FF timecode (hours, minutes, seconds, frame within the second) at every zoom level, so labels stay comparable regardless of the window's span; frames count against the video's frame rate. Video only; use media_waveform to inspect the audio track.

The overall canvas size stays fixed, so a smaller scale (clamped to 0.25–4) fits more rows and columns — a denser grid sampling more moments — and a larger one fits fewer but shows more detail each. Without output the PNG lands in a fresh file under the system temp directory; an output naming an existing directory gets that fresh file inside it.

Output

One JSON object, the absolute path to the written PNG. Over MCP the image also arrives inline when it is under a megabyte.

{
  path: string,   // e.g. "/tmp/dapi-filmstrip-3f2c1a8e-….png", or the `output` path
}

Errors

Fails when the path can't be resolved, the asset isn't a video, the window is empty (start at or past the asset's end) or crosses (start >= end), scale isn't a positive number, or the PNG can't be written.