- name
- hyperframes-media
- description
- Asset preprocessing for HyperFrames compositions — local text-to-speech narration (Kokoro-82M, no API key), audio/video transcription (Whisper), and background removal for transparent overlays (u2net). Use when generating voiceover from text, transcribing speech for captions, removing background from video/images, choosing TTS voices or whisper models, or chaining TTS -> transcribe -> captions. Each command downloads its own model on first run.
- metadata
- {"author":"cosmicstack-labs","version":"1.0.0","category":"development","tags":["hyperframes","media","tts","transcription","background-removal","kokoro","whisper","u2net","captions"]}
# HyperFrames Media Preprocessing
Three CLI commands that produce assets for compositions: `tts` (speech), `transcribe` (timestamps), and `remove-background` (transparent video). Each downloads a model on first run and caches it under `~/.cache/hyperframes/`.
---
## Text-to-Speech (`tts`)
Generate speech audio locally with Kokoro-82M. **No API key required.**
```bash
npx hyperframes tts "Text here" --voice af_nova --output narration.wav
npx hyperframes tts script.txt --voice bf_emma --output narration.wav
npx hyperframes tts --list # list all 54 voices
```
### Voice Selection
| Content Type | Recommended Voices | Why |
|-------------|-------------------|-----|
| Product demo | `af_heart` / `af_nova` | Warm, professional |
| Tutorial / how-to | `am_adam` / `bf_emma` | Neutral, easy to follow |
| Marketing / promo | `af_sky` / `am_michael` | Energetic or authoritative |
| Documentation | `bf_emma` / `bm_george` | Clear British English, formal |
| Casual / social | `af_heart` / `af_sky` | Approachable, natural |
### Multilingual
Voice IDs encode language in the first letter:
- `a` = American English, `b` = British English, `e` = Spanish
- `f` = French, `h` = Hindi, `i` = Italian, `j` = Japanese
- `p` = Brazilian Portuguese, `z` = Mandarin
The CLI auto-detects the phonemizer locale from the prefix — no `--lang` needed when the voice matches the text.
```bash
npx hyperframes tts "La reunión empieza a las nueve" --voice ef_dora --output es.wav
npx hyperframes tts "今日はいい天気ですね" --voice jf_alpha --output ja.wav
```
Use `--lang` only to override auto-detection (stylized accents). Valid codes: `en-us`, `en-gb`, `es`, `fr-fr`, `hi`, `it`, `pt-br`, `ja`, `zh`.
### Speed
| Speed | Use Case |
|-------|----------|
| 0.7-0.8 | Tutorial, complex content, accessibility |
| 1.0 | Natural pace (default) |
| 1.1-1.2 | Intros, transitions, upbeat content |
| 1.5+ | Rarely appropriate; test carefully |
### Long Scripts
Write to a `.txt` file and pass the path. Inputs over ~5 minutes may benefit from splitting into segments.
### Requirements
Python 3.8+ with `kokoro-onnx` and `soundfile` (`pip install kokoro-onnx soundfile`). Model downloads on first use (~311 MB + ~27 MB voices, cached in `~/.cache/hyperframes/tts/`).
---
## Transcription (`transcribe`)
Produce a normalized `transcript.json` with word-level timestamps.
```bash
npx hyperframes transcribe audio.mp3
npx hyperframes transcribe video.mp4 --model small --language es
npx hyperframes transcribe subtitles.srt # import existing
npx hyperframes transcribe subtitles.vtt
npx hyperframes transcribe openai-response.json
```
### Critical Language Rule
**Never use `.en` models unless the user explicitly states the audio is English.** `.en` models (`small.en`, `medium.en`) **translate** non-English audio into English instead of transcribing it. This silently destroys the original language.
1. Language known and non-English → `--model small --language <code>` (no `.en` suffix)
2. Language known and English → `--model small.en`
3. Language unknown → `--model small` (no `.en`, no `--language`) — whisper auto-detects
**Default model is `small`, not `small.en`.**
### Model Sizes
| Model | Size | Speed | When to use |
|-------|------|-------|-------------|
| `tiny` | 75 MB | Fastest | Quick previews, testing pipeline |
| `base` | 142 MB | Fast | Short clips, clear audio |
| `small` | 466 MB | Moderate | **Default** — most content |
| `medium` | 1.5 GB | Slow | Important content, noisy audio, music |
| `large-v3` | 3.1 GB | Slowest | Production quality |
Music with vocals: start at `medium` minimum.
### Output Shape
```json
[
{ "id": "w0", "text": "Hello", "start": 0.0, "end": 0.5 },
{ "id": "w1", "text": "world.", "start": 0.6, "end": 1.2 }
]
```
---
## Background Removal (`remove-background`)
Remove the background from a video or image so the subject sits as a transparent overlay.
```bash
npx hyperframes remove-background subject.mp4 -o transparent.webm # VP9 alpha WebM
npx hyperframes remove-background subject.mp4 -o transparent.mov # ProRes 4444
npx hyperframes remove-background portrait.jpg -o cutout.png # single-image cutout
npx hyperframes remove-background subject.mp4 -o subject.webm \
--background-output plate.webm # both layers
npx hyperframes remove-background --info # detected providers
```
Uses `u2net_human_seg` (MIT). First run downloads ~168 MB of weights.
### Layer Separation (`--background-output`)
Pass `--background-output` (or `-b`) to emit a **second** transparent video with the inverse alpha:
| File | Alpha is... | Use it for |
|------|-------------|------------|
| `-o subject.webm` | The mask — subject opaque, bg transparent | Foreground layer |
| `--background-output plate.webm` | Inverse — bg opaque, subject transparent | Bottom layer; put text/graphics between |
Both share the same quality preset and run from a single inference pass.
### Output Format
| Format | When |
|--------|------|
| `.webm` (VP9 + alpha) | Default. Compositions play directly via `<video>`. |
| `.mov` (ProRes 4444) | Editing in DaVinci/Premiere/FCP. Large files. |
| `.png` | Single-image cutout. |
### Quality Presets
| Preset | CRF | When |
|--------|-----|------|
| `fast` | 30 | Iterating, smaller file |
| `balanced` | 18 | Default. Visually identical for most uses |
| `best` | 12 | Master / final delivery |
---
## TTS -> Transcribe -> Captions Pipeline
Generate voiceover, get word-level timestamps, and create captions:
```bash
npx hyperframes tts script.txt --voice af_heart --output narration.wav
npx hyperframes transcribe narration.wav # -> transcript.json
```
Whisper extracts precise word boundaries from the generated audio, so caption timing matches delivery without hand-tuning.
---
## Related Skills
| Skill | Purpose |
|-------|---------|
| `hyperframes` | Composition authoring (HTML, GSAP, captions, variables) |
| `hyperframes-cli` | CLI dev loop (init, lint, preview, render, doctor) |
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