ascii-video

Convert audio, video, images, or generative parameters into full-color ASCII character videos.

Updated Apr 11, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/musical-basics/hermes-build-2 --skill ascii-video-musical-basics
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ascii-video
Source: https://github.com/musical-basics/hermes-build-2/tree/main/skills/creative/ascii-video
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/musical-basics/hermes-build-2 --skill ascii-video-musical-basics

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Turn audio, video, images, or generative parameters into high-fidelity, full-color ASCII character video so creators can produce cinematic, shareable outputs without manual frame-by-frame art or GPU dependencies.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Video-to-ASCII conversion that preserves source color and detail for MP4, GIF, or image-sequence outputs.
  • Audio-reactive visualizers and generative animations with beat-detection, multi-band FFT, and bdecay-driven effects.
  • Multi-density grid rendering, pre-rasterized character bitmaps, OKLAB/OKLCH color interpolation, adaptive percentile tonemapping, ShaderChain post-processing, and temporal FeedbackBuffer recursion.
  • TTS-narrated testimonial rendering, lyrics/SRT overlays, and hardware-adaptive quality profiles for draft → production workflows.

Quick Start

Render a 30-second audio-reactive colored ASCII MP4 from an input audio file using the skill's default production pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions about ascii-video

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I convert a video to ASCII art while preserving the original color?▼

Video-to-ASCII conversion preserves source color and detail by applying OKLAB color mapping and adaptive percentile tonemapping, outputting high-fidelity full-color ASCII characters as MP4, GIF, or image sequences.

Can I create audio-reactive ASCII music visualizers from an audio file?▼

Audio-reactive ASCII music visualizers are generated from audio files using beat-detection, multi-band FFT, and bdecay-driven effects to produce cinematic colored character animations.

Do I need a GPU to render full-color ASCII videos?▼

No GPU dependencies are required to render full-color ASCII videos. The pipeline runs on Python 3.10+ with NumPy, Pillow, optional SciPy or OpenCV, and encodes output via ffmpeg.

What is the best way to add timed lyrics overlays to an ASCII video?▼

Timed lyrics or SRT overlays are applied directly within the ASCII video pipeline, syncing text with multi-density grid rendering and ShaderChain post-processing for cinematic outputs.

Can I generate TTS-narrated ASCII videos for short-form content?▼

TTS-narrated testimonial rendering is supported using optional ElevenLabs integration, combining generated speech with ASCII character video for short-form or cinematic outputs.

What output formats are supported when exporting ASCII video animations?▼

ASCII video animations export as MP4, GIF, or image sequences. Encoding is handled by ffmpeg, utilizing adaptive quality profiles for draft to production workflows.