/tfdg/ Clip Guide: No Audio - WebM/MP4 (~4 MB)

Simple guide to turn your The First Descendant gameplay into silent WebM/MP4 under 4 MB for posting in
/vg/ - /tfdg/in 30 - 60fps!
All commands are one-shot:
You set the start time and duration in the same command, and it outputs a clip ready to upload.

- ⌬ Programs or GUI tools for Windowns/Linux/MacOS (no terminal)
- ⌬ Quick start for Terminal use (for lazy anons)
- ⌬ How to read these commands (placeholders)
- ⌬ Less 4 MB limit – what matters
- ⌬ WebM (VP9) presets – silent and recommended
- ⌬ MP4 (H.264) presets – alternative
- ⌬ AV1 Presets (smaller files, heavier CPU)
- ⌬ Hardware Acceleration (FAST MP4 encode – modern GPU/CPU)
- A) NVIDIA (NVENC) — H.264 MP4 (fastest + simplest)
- B) Intel Quick Sync (QSV) — H.264 MP4 (fast)
- C) AMD AMF (Windows) — H.264 MP4 (fast)
- D) VAAPI (Linux) — H.264 MP4 (fast)
- ⌬ Getting your source video (PC & consoles)
- ⌬ Installing FFmpeg & running commands
- ⌬ Common problems & fixes
- ⌬ FAQ (short)
- ⌬ Related /tfdg/ pages
⌬ Programs or GUI tools for Windowns/Linux/MacOS (no terminal)
If you don’t want to touch a terminal, you can use these sofware or GUI apps instead, much easier and quick for this (~4MB).
Pick any tool that works on your OS, but always:
- Trim your clip to 10–30 s
- Set 480p / 720p / 1080p
- Use 30 fps (unless you really need 60)
- Mute audio
- Export and make sure the file is ≤ 4 MB
Windows – GUI options
You can use any of these:
- HandBrake – simple transcoder, good for MP4/MKV/WebM.
- Shotcut – full video editor, use the Export panel.
- Avidemux – simple cut + re-encode tool.
- Shutter Encoder – powerful converter, good WebM/VP9 support.
Basic workflow (applies to all):
- Import your clip or VOD segment.
- Trim your scene:
- Normal gameplay: 10–20 s
- Heavy effects/explosions: 8–12 s
- Set Resolution:
- 480p, 720p, or 1080p (for short clips).
- Set Frame rate:
- 30 fps (Constant). Use 60 fps only for very short clips.
- Mute audio (disable/remove the audio track).
- Set quality:
- If the app lets you set bitrate, use the rule from the table above.
- If it uses CRF/quality slider, start in the middle and test.
- Export the file, then check its size:
- If file > 4 MB → shorten the clip, lower bitrate/quality, or drop resolution.
Linux – GUI options
On Linux you can also avoid the terminal:
- HandBrake – transcoder (Flatpak, DEB, etc.).
- Shotcut – full editor, cross-platform.
- Avidemux – simple editor/encoder.
Basic workflow (same idea as Windows):
- Import your source clip.
- Trim to 10–30 s.
- Set 480p / 720p / 1080p, 30 fps.
- Mute audio.
- Adjust bitrate/quality so the output is under 4 MB.
- Export, check size; if it’s too big, shorten or lower quality.
You can export as MP4 (H.264) or WebM (VP9) depending on what the program supports. Both work on 4chan as long as they’re ≤ 4 MB and muted.
macOS – GUI options
For Mac users:
- HandBrake – transcoder for MP4/MKV/WebM.
- Shotcut – full video editor for macOS.
- Shutter Encoder – very good for WebM/VP9.
Basic workflow:
- Import your clip into one of these programs.
- Trim to 10–20 s (or shorter if 1080p or 60 fps).
- Set:
- 480p / 720p / 1080p
- 30 fps (or 60 fps only for very short clips)
- Mute audio.
- Use bitrate/quality controls to aim for ≤ 4 MB:
- More seconds → lower bitrate or lower resolution.
- Export and confirm the final file is under 4 MB.
Console (PS / Xbox) → PC GUI
- Capture your clip on PS5/PS4 or Xbox as usual.
- Send the clip to your PC (USB, app, cloud, etc.).
- If the clip is recorded at 60 fps:
- Keep it ≤ 8–10 s, or
- Convert it to 30 fps in HandBrake/Shotcut/Avidemux/Shutter Encoder.
- Then follow the Windows / Linux / macOS GUI steps above:
- Trim 10–20 s,
- Choose 480p/720p/1080p,
- Mute audio,
- Adjust quality/bitrate until the final file is ≤ 4 MB.

Video Encoder by Terminal (PC/Linux/MacOS)
⌬ Quick start for Terminal use (for lazy anons)
"TL;DR – 720p WebM in one command"
- Put your long video (stream, VOD, etc.) in a simple folder, e.g.
C:\clips\source.mp4or~/clips/source.mp4. - Decide:
START_TIME= when the scene starts (HH:MM:SS)DURATION= how many seconds you want (e.g. 13, 20, 30)
- Run this (single line) in cmd, PowerShell, or terminal:
⌬ How to read these commands (placeholders)
In all commands below, you only need to edit these parts:
START_TIME→ when your scene starts in the source video.- Format:
HH:MM:SS- Example:
00:03:15,01:23:45
- Example:
- Format:
DURATION→ length of the clip in seconds.- Example:
13,20,30
- Example:
source.mp4→ your long video (VOD, stream, etc.).- Can be
.mp4,.mkv, etc.
- Can be
output-xxx.ext→ the final file name (WebM or MP4).
Example:
- Starts at 01:23:45 of
my_stream.mp4 - Takes 20 seconds
- Re-encodes to 720p 30fps, WebM VP9, silent
- Outputs
tfdg-clip-720p.webmyes between" "please don't forget this.

⌬ Less 4 MB limit – what matters
4chan’s limit is 4 MB per file. Only two things really control your size:
- Clip duration →
DURATION - Video bitrate / quality → -
b:v(or-crfin MP4 section)
The total length of the original source (30 min, 2 h, 5 h) does not matter as long as you set -t DURATION.
FFmpeg will only encode that slice.
"Rule of thumb for bitrates"
Rough maximum bitrate that still fits under ~4 MB is:
max_kbps ≈ 32000 / seconds
Examples:
| Resolution | Recommended Bitrate (30fps) | Safe Max Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 480p | 500-700K | 40s+ | Low motion safe |
| 720p | 800-1100K | 25-35s | TFD standard |
| 1080p | 1200-1800K | 15-20s | High detail bosses |
| 1080p60 | +50% bitrate | 10-15s | Explosions heavy |
The presets below use conservative values tuned for typical gameplay.
If your file is still > 4 MB, shorten DURATION or lower -b:v.

⌬ WebM (VP9) presets – silent and recommended
These presets use VP9 and are recommended for /vg/.
All are silent (-an) and single-command!
Works the same on Windows, Linux, macOS (no OS-specific flags).
WebM – keep original resolution (any res)
Use this if you want to keep the source resolution (whatever it is).
- Keeps the original resolution.
- Uses constant quality (
-b:v 0 -crf 32). - If file > 4 MB:
- Raise
-crf(34, 36, …) or - Reduce
DURATION.
- Raise
WebM 480p (longer clips, smaller size)
Good for longer clips (e.g. 30–45 seconds) with smaller size.
- Guideline:
- Try
DURATION≤ 40–45 s with600K. - If file > 4 MB → lower
-b:vto500Kor shortenDURATION.
- Try
WebM 720p (balanced – typical use)
Default recommendation for most /tfdg/ clips.
Guideline:
- For 20–35 s clips,
900Kis usually safe. - If your clip is longer (35–40 s), try:
-b:v 800Kor- 480p instead.
To keep 60 fps (heavier):
60 fps looks smoother but grows in size quickly. Keep those clips shorter.
WebM 1080p (short, high quality)
For short highlights only (e.g. 10–25 s).
If you go longer, 1080p is risky for 4 MB.
Guideline:
- Use DURATION ≤ 25 s for
1200K. - If file > 4 MB:
- Lower
-b:vto1000K, or - Shorten
DURATION, or - Drop to 720p.
- Lower
Optional 60 fps:
⌬ MP4 (H.264) presets – alternative
If WebM gives you problems, you can use MP4 (H.264) instead.
These presets are also silent and one-command
They use CRF (constant quality):
- Lower
-crf→ better quality, bigger file. - Higher
-crf→ worse quality, smaller file.
MP4 – keep original resolution
If file > 4 MB:
- Raise
-crf→ 28, 30. - Or shorten
DURATION.
MP4 480p
- Good for longer clips with smaller size.
- If too blocky → lower
-crfto 26 (but keep clip short).
MP4 720p
- Good default for most clips.
- If > 4 MB → rise
-crfto 28 or shortenDURATION.
MP4 1080p
- Use for short clips only (≤ 15–20 s).
- If file too big → raise
-crfto 26 or move down to 720p.


⌬ AV1 Presets (smaller files, heavier CPU)
AV1 usually compresses better than VP9, but it’s more CPU-expensive to encode.
WebM can carry AV1, but don’t claim 4chan supports it unless you personally confirmed uploads work.
If AV1 upload fails, use the VP9 WebM section.
Check you have SVT-AV1
- Windows:
- ffmpeg -hide_banner -encoders | findstr /i "libsvtav1 libaom-av1"
- Linux:
- ffmpeg -hide_banner -encoders | grep -E "libsvtav1|libaom-av1"
Mode A — CRF (best quality-per-byte, size NOT guaranteed)
- Use this when you want the smallest file for a given visual quality.
- If it exceeds 4 MB, increase CRF (+2) or shorten duration.
720p 30fps (start here):
1080p 30fps:*
1080p 60fps (short clips only):
- CRF tips:
- Lower CRF = better quality, bigger file (SVT-AV1 CRF range is 0–63).
- For faster presets (8+), you may need slightly lower CRF to match quality.
- For chaotic motion/explosions, expect bigger files at the same CRF.
Mode B — Size-lock Bitrate (best for strict 4 MB limit)
This is the most reliable way to hit the 4 MB cap.
- Rule of thumb:
- TARGET_K ≈ 32000 / seconds (4 MB = 4096 KB)
720p 30fps (size-locked):
1080p 30fps (size-locked):
- If it still barely exceeds 4 MB:
- reduce DURATION a bit, OR
- reduce TARGET_K by 50–100K, OR
- drop resolution/fps.
Notes
- Ultra-slow fallback (highest quality, very slow)*
- Replace libsvtav1 with libaom-av1 if you really want max efficiency, but expect much slower encodes.

⌬ Hardware Acceleration (FAST MP4 encode – modern GPU/CPU)
Software VP9/AV1 can be slow. Hardware H.264 is usually much faster.
Output here is MP4 (H.264). Keep NO AUDIO for /vg/: always use-an.
Step 1: Pick bit rate (size-lock)
- Rule of thumb:
TARGET_K ≈ 32000 / seconds(4 MB = 4096 KB)BUF_K = 2 × TARGET_K
- Examples:
- 20s → TARGET_K=1600k, BUF_K=3200k
- 30s → TARGET_K=1060k, BUF_K=2120k
Step 2: Vrify your encoder exists
- Windows:
- ffmpeg -hide_banner -encoders | findstr /i "nvenc qsv amf"
- Linux:
- ffmpeg -hide_banner -encoders | grep -E "nvenc|qsv|vaapi|amf"
A) NVIDIA (NVENC) — H.264 MP4 (fastest + simplest)
Windows / Linux:
Notes:
- Change
720to480or1080as needed. - IIf size is still > 4 MB: shorten DURATION or reduce TARGET_K.
B) Intel Quick Sync (QSV) — H.264 MP4 (fast)
Windowns and Linux
C) AMD AMF (Windows) — H.264 MP4 (fast)
Only Windows:
D) VAAPI (Linux) — H.264 MP4 (fast)
- VAAPI needs
format=nv12,hwuploadin the filter chain. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}Linux:
Notes:
- If your VAAPI device differs:
- check:
ls -l /dev/dri/
- check:
Why MP4 (H.264) for hardware?
- NVENC/AMF commonly accelerate H.264/H.265/AV1, but not VP9 WebM in a universal "just replace libvpx-vp9" way.
- H.264 is broadly compatible in browsers and devices.

⌬ Getting your source video (PC & consoles)
PC (Windows / Linux / macOS)
Recommended:
OBS Studio (Windows / Linux / macOS)
- Windows:
- OBS, NVIDIA ShadowPlay, AMD ReLive, Xbox Game Bar…
- Linux:
- OBS, SimpleScreenRecorder…
- macOS:
- OBS, QuickTime screen recording.
Tips:
- Record at a stable resolution (1080p or 1440p is ok).
- Save as MP4 or MKV.
- For this guide, we call it
source.mp4(rename if needed).
PS5 / Xbox → PC
PS5
- Capture your gameplay (Create/Share button → Save Recent Gameplay, etc.).
- Export your clip to USB or via the official app.
- On PC, you should have a video file (usually MP4). Rename it to
source.mp4if you want.
Xbox Series X|S
- Use the Xbox capture function.
- Transfer the file via the Xbox app or USB.
- Again, you should end with an MP4 on your PC.
Once you have
source.mp4, the commands above work exactly the same.
⌬ Installing FFmpeg & running commands
Install FFmpeg
Windows
- Download a static build from the official FFmpeg site (or a trusted build).
- Extract to e.g. C:\ffmpeg.
- Add C:\ffmpeg\bin to your PATH so ffmpeg works in any cmd/PowerShell.
Linux
macOS
- Install Homebrew (if you don’t have it).
- Then:
Where to run the commands
- Put your
source.mp4in a simple folder (no weird paths). - Open:
- Windows: cmd or PowerShell in that folder.
- Linux/macOS: terminal,
cdinto that folder.
- Paste one of the commands from sections 3 or 4:
- Replace
START_TIMEDURATION,source.mp4,output-xxx.
- Replace
- Press Enter and wait. The output file will appear in the same folder.


⌬ Common problems & fixes
File is bigger than 4 MB :c
- Shorten
DURATION(fewer seconds). - Lower
-b:v(WebM) or raise-crf(MP4). - Drop resolution:
- 1080p → 720p → 480p.
- For very high motion scenes:
- Use shorter clips or 480p.
4chan rejects the file :o!
- Make sure the extension is
.webmor .mp4. - Do not just rename
mp4ormkvto.webm– re-encode using ffmpeg. - Confirm size ≤ 4 MB.
- Avoid changing the codecs/flags in the commands if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Video looks blurry/blocky :/
- Your bitrate/quality is too low for:
- that resolution,
- that duration,
- and that much motion.
- Fix:
- For WebM: raise
-b:vor reduceDURATIONor lower resolution. - For MP4: lower
-crf(e.g. 28 → 26 → 24). - Shorten clips for heavy effects or boss fights.
- For WebM: raise
There is audio! :'(
- You forgot
-an. - Check that your command includes
-an. - Re-run the command.
- If using a GUI, mute/disable the audio track.

⌬ FAQ (short)
- 1080p? Works for short clips. At 30 fps: calm up to ~10–15 s; heavy action ~6–9 s. At 60 fps, keep it even shorter.
- 60 fps? You’ll hit 4 MB fast. Prefer 30 fps or keep it ≤ 8–10 s.
- Best format? MP4 (H.264) encodes fast; WebM (VP9) compresses a bit better.
- Why mute? Saves bits... and rules from 4chan. Don't ask me why.
- Do I need bitrate math? Nope. Use the presets table above, but if you want...do it.
⌬ Related /tfdg/ pages
/tfdg/Builds & Guides for New / Returning / Active players: https://rentry.co/tfdg-builders/tfdg/Clip Guide (~4 MB, gameplay) (this page): https://rentry.co/tfdg-clip-guide/tfdg/Play & Trade Together with Anons: https://rentry.co/tfdg-play/tfdg/OP template (for new/tfdg/threads): https://rentry.co/tfdg-op
