Turn Videos into Short Clips with Tella 🎬

Turn Videos into Short Clips with Tella 🎬

Duration: 8 minutes | Watch on Tella

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Welcome back to the third video in this series! In the last video, we covered how to use Tella to create blog posts from your videos. Now we're taking it a step further.

One of the ideas that came up was to turn long-form videos into clips. And that's exactly what we're doing in this guide. I'll show you how to use the Tella MCP to:

• Extract 90-120 second promotional clips from your long-form videos
• Use transcript timestamps to trim videos precisely
• Create multiple clips in minutes instead of hours
• Automatically manage playlists for your new content

The best part? You can do all of this through simple conversation with Claude—no coding required.

Prerequisites: Make sure you have Tella MCP installed in Claude Code. See Part 1: Getting Started with Tella MCP for setup instructions.

Table of Contents

1. TL;DR - Want Clips Right Now?
2. How This Works: MCP + Tella
3. Real-World Example: From Conversation to Clips
4. Managing Clips with Playlists
5. Complete Conversation Example
6. Real-World Use Cases
7. Best Practices
8. FAQ
9. What's Next? Future Automation Ideas
10. Key Takeaways
11. Resources

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TL;DR - Want Clips Right Now?

Fastest path (3 minutes):

1. Open Claude Code with Tella MCP connected
2. Say: "Can you retrieve my latest video from Tella and get all the details?"
3. Say: "I need to promote this video. Using the transcript, find interesting 90-120 second clips that work as teasers. The clips need to be trimmed according to the transcript so they make sense and can work without needing the context of the full video."
4. Review the clip suggestions and say: "Let's use Clip 1. Create a duplicate of the video and trim it according to the timestamp using the Tella MCP."

No coding required. The entire process happens through natural conversation. Skip to Real-World Example to see exactly what this looks like.

How This Works: MCP + Tella

In Part 1 of this series, we explored Tella MCP and its powerful tools for managing videos. Creating trimmed clips through conversation is surprisingly simple.

Here's what makes it powerful:

The Tella MCP has a duplicate_video tool that can:

• Copy entire videos
• Extract specific chapters by index
• Trim videos using startTime and endTime parameters

The secret sauce:

One of the cool things about Tella is that when it returns the transcript, it gives you the exact timestamp by milliseconds. So it will say "from 303 to 452 seconds, this is where you talk about this." Then in clip two, it found this segment, and so on.

The workflow:

1. Retrieve video details with full transcript and timestamps
2. Analyze the transcript to find interesting 90-120 second segments
3. Use MCP's duplicate tool with trim parameters to create clips
4. Organize clips into playlists automatically

This approach gives you natural language control with millisecond precision—all through simple conversation with Claude.

Prerequisites

To follow along, you'll need:

• Tella MCP installed in Claude Code (Part 1 has setup instructions)
• A long-form video in your Tella workspace with a transcript
• Claude Code open and connected to Tella MCP

That's it. No coding required.

Real-World Example: From Conversation to Clips

Let me show you exactly what this looks like in practice. This is a real workflow from the video recording of this tutorial:

Step 1: Retrieve Your Video

You: "Can you retrieve my latest video from Tella and get all the details?"

Claude: [Connects to Tella MCP and retrieves video information]

I've retrieved your latest video:

Title: "Turn Tella Videos into Blog Posts Automatically ✍️"
Duration: 8 minutes (480 seconds)
Chapters: 8 chapters available
Transcript: Complete with millisecond timestamps

Step 2: Find Clip Opportunities

You: "I need to promote this video. Using the transcript, find interesting
90-120 second clips that I can use as teasers. The clips need to be trimmed
according to the transcript so they make sense and can work without needing
the context of the full video."

Claude: [Analyzes the entire transcript]

I've analyzed the transcript and found several strong clip opportunities:

**Clip 1: "Turn Videos into Blog Posts (Lazy Version)"**
- Timestamps: 303s - 452s (149 seconds)
- Why it works: Shows the complete workflow from start to finish
- Self-contained: Explains the problem and demonstrates the solution
- Hook: "The lazy version" catches attention

**Clip 2: "The Power of Millisecond-Precise Timestamps"**
- Timestamps: 175s - 286s (111 seconds)
- Why it works: Technical detail that adds credibility
- Demonstrates: How precise trimming creates perfect clips
- Great for: Technical or detail-oriented audience

Step 3: Create the Clip

You: "Let's use Clip 1. Create a duplicate of the video and trim it
according to the timestamp using the Tella MCP."

Claude: [Creates the trimmed clip]

✅ Promo clip created successfully!

Video ID: vid_cmke6r2wq00i804jm6v5abavh
Title: Promo Clip - Turn Videos into Blog Posts (Lazy Version)
Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (perfect for YouTube Shorts/Instagram Reels)
View URL: https://www.tella.tv/video/vid_cmke6r2wq00i804jm6v5abavh/view

That's it. Three conversational exchanges, one polished promotional clip ready to share.

Notice what happened automatically:

• Retrieved complete video details with millisecond-precise transcripts
• Analyzed the entire transcript to find self-contained moments
• Explained why each clip opportunity would work well
• Created a trimmed duplicate with proper timestamps
• Generated a shareable link immediately

How to Replicate This Exact Workflow

Here's exactly what to say to Claude to get the same results:

Step 1: Retrieve Your Video

"Can you retrieve my latest video from Tella and get all the details?"

Or if you want a specific video:

"Find my Tella video about [TOPIC] and get all the details"

Examples:

• "Find my Tella video about automation workflows and get all the details"
• "Retrieve my most recent Webflow tutorial from Tella"
• "Get details for my video about no-code marketplaces"

Step 2: Analyze for Clip Opportunities

"I need to promote this video. Using the transcript, find interesting
90 to 120 second clips that I can use as teasers. The clips need to be
trimmed according to the transcript so they make sense and can work
without needing the context of the full video."

Customize based on your needs:

"Find 3-5 clips under 60 seconds for Instagram Reels"

"Identify clips between 45-90 seconds that focus on actionable tips"

"Find the best moments that show before/after transformations,
60-90 seconds each"

Step 3: Create the Clip

Once you see the suggestions:

"Let's use Clip 1. Create a duplicate of the video and trim it
according to the timestamp using the Tella MCP."

Or create multiple at once:

"Create clips 1, 3, and 5 using the Tella MCP"

Managing Clips with Playlists

After creating your clips, you can automatically organize them:

You: "Can you review the playlists and see if there are any suitable
playlists for my promo clips? If not, recommend one that I should set up."

Claude: [Reviews your existing playlists]

I've reviewed your playlists. Verdict: No suitable playlist exists for
promotional clips.

Recommendation: Create a new playlist called "Promo Clips - Social Media"
to organize all your short-form content.

You: "Okay, create the playlist and add the video"

Claude: ✅ Done! Created "Promo Clips - Social Media" playlist and added
your clip to it.

This is just one example of the playlist automation capabilities. You can:

• Automatically sort clips into playlists by duration
• Create topic-based playlists ("Webflow Tips", "Automation Workflows")
• Build platform-specific collections ("YouTube Shorts", "Instagram Reels")

Pro Tips:

• Be specific about duration: "90-120 seconds" works better than "short clips"
• Specify the context needed: "Self-contained without needing the full video"
• Mention your platform: Results for "Instagram Reels" vs "LinkedIn" will differ
• Iterate freely: "Make that clip shorter and cut the intro"
• Batch process: "Do this for my 5 most recent videos"

Important Note About Permissions:

When Claude creates clips using the MCP, it will ask for permission:

• Allow Once: You'll need to approve each clip creation
• Always Allow: Clips are created automatically without prompts

Choose "Always Allow" if you want fully automated clip generation.

Complete Conversation Example

Here's what a full conversation looks like from start to finish:

YOU: "Show me my videos about Webflow"

CLAUDE: I found 12 videos about Webflow in your workspace. Here are your 5
most recent:

1. "Webflow Super Collections Tutorial" (15:30) - vid_abc123...
2. "Client-First Design System" (22:45) - vid_def456...
3. "Webflow vs WordPress 2024" (18:20) - vid_ghi789...
4. "Advanced Webflow Animations" (25:15) - vid_jkl012...
5. "Webflow CMS Deep Dive" (31:40) - vid_mno345...

Which would you like to work with?

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YOU: "Create 2 promotional clips from the Super Collections Tutorial.
Under 90 seconds each, with compelling titles that highlight the benefits."

CLAUDE: I'll analyze the video and create two promotional clips for you.

[Claude reads the transcript and identifies the best moments]

Done! Here's a summary of the two promotional clips I created:

✅ Promotional Clips Created

Clip 1: 🤯 What If You Could Rank for EVERY Keyword Combo?
- Timestamps: 2:27 - 3:45 (~78 seconds)
- Why this works: Opens with a provocative question that hooks viewers,
  then demonstrates the problem and teases the solution
- Link: https://www.tella.tv/video/vid_clip001/view

Clip 2: ⚡ The Secret to Webflow SEO: 2 Fields That Change Everything
- Timestamps: 15:13 - 16:23 (~70 seconds)
- Why this works: Promises a simple, actionable solution. Numbers in
  titles perform well ("2 Fields"). Shows concrete before/after.
- Link: https://www.tella.tv/video/vid_clip002/view

Both clips are optimized for social media sharing and include emojis
for better engagement.

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YOU: "Perfect! Now create a playlist called 'Webflow Shorts' and add
both clips to it."

CLAUDE: Done! I've created the "Webflow Shorts" playlist and added both
promotional clips to it. You can view the playlist here:
https://www.tella.tv/playlist/pl_xyz789

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YOU: "Make both clips public so I can share them on Twitter"

CLAUDE: Updated! Both clips are now set to public. They're ready to share
on social media.

Total time: Under 2 minutes from idea to shareable clips.

This is the power of Tella MCP—natural language control with millisecond precision.

Real-World Use Cases

Weekly Content from Monthly Videos

Scenario: You record one 60-minute video per month. You want daily content for social media.

Solution:

1. Create 20-30 clips per video (2-3 minutes each)
2. Schedule them throughout the month
3. Repurpose the same clips across platforms (YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok)

Course Module Breakdown

Scenario: You have a 2-hour course video. Students want bite-sized lessons.

Solution:

1. Identify natural breaking points in the transcript
2. Create 15-20 clips (5-8 minutes each)
3. Each clip becomes a separate lesson
4. Students can watch on their own pace

Client Testimonial Library

Scenario: You have long client interview videos. You need short testimonials for marketing.

Solution:

1. Search transcripts for positive phrases ("game-changer", "highly recommend", etc.)
2. Extract 30-60 second clips around those moments
3. Build a library of testimonials
4. Use different clips for different campaigns

Podcast to Social Media

Scenario: You have a weekly 90-minute podcast. You want to promote it with clips.

Solution:

1. Identify the top 10 moments (funny stories, key insights, controversial takes)
2. Create 10 clips (60-90 seconds each)
3. Post one per day leading up to the full episode release
4. Each clip becomes a teaser

Best Practices

Clip Length Guidelines

• Social media: 30-90 seconds (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter)
• YouTube Shorts: 15-60 seconds (under 60 seconds gets more reach)
• LinkedIn: 45-120 seconds (professional attention spans)
• Email: 60-120 seconds (quick value delivery)

Naming Conventions

Use descriptive, benefit-driven names:

❌ Bad: "Clip 1", "Video Excerpt 2" ✅ Good: "How I Saved 10 Hours Per Week with Automation", "The #1 Mistake Most Creators Make"

Timestamp Selection

Look for:

• Natural pauses: Don't cut mid-sentence
• Complete thoughts: Entire stories or explanations
• Strong opens: Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds
• Clear endings: Don't leave viewers hanging

Testing First

Before batch creating 20 clips:

1. Create 2-3 test clips
2. Watch them completely
3. Verify timing and quality
4. Adjust your selection criteria
5. Then scale up

FAQ

"How many clips can I create at once?"

2-5 clips at a time works best through conversation. For more, break it into multiple conversational requests (e.g., "Create 5 more clips focusing on different segments").

"What if Claude picks bad moments for clips?"

Give more specific criteria:

"Create clips but focus on:
- Moments where I share specific numbers or results
- Before/after transformations
- Common mistakes people make
- Step-by-step processes"

Or manually provide timestamps:

"Create a clip from 2:15 to 3:30 with the title 'How to Save 10 Hours Per Week'"

"Can I edit the titles after creation?"

Yes! Through Claude:

"Update the title of video [VIDEO_ID] to '[NEW TITLE]'"

Or manually in your Tella workspace.

"The clips are too long/short"

Ask Claude to adjust:

"Make clip 2 shorter - aim for 45 seconds and cut out the intro"

Or be more specific in your initial request:

"Create clips between 30-45 seconds - shorter is better for Instagram Reels"

"Claude can't find my video"

Try different search approaches:

❌ "Find my video" (too vague)
✅ "Show me videos about automation from the last week"
✅ "List my 10 most recent videos"
✅ "Find videos with 'Webflow' in the title"

"I want to review clips before they're created"

Use a two-step approach:

Step 1: Ask for suggestions

"Analyze [VIDEO TITLE] and suggest 3 good clip opportunities with timestamps.
Don't create them yet - just show me the suggestions."

Step 2: Approve and create

"Great! Create clips 1 and 3. Skip clip 2."

"MCP connection issues?"

If Claude can't connect to Tella:

1. Run /mcp command in Claude Code to reconnect
2. Check that Tella MCP is properly configured in your settings
3. Verify you're logged into your Tella account
4. Restart Claude Code if issues persist

"Clips not trimming correctly?"

If clips start at 00:00 instead of your specified time, this was a known rendering issue that has been fixed. Make sure you're using the latest version of Tella MCP.

"How long can clips be?"

There's no hard limit, but keep clips under 5 minutes for best performance and social media compatibility. Most platforms prefer:

• Instagram Reels: 15-90 seconds
• YouTube Shorts: Under 60 seconds
• TikTok: 15-60 seconds
• LinkedIn: 30-120 seconds

What's Next? Future Automation Ideas

You now have a complete system for turning long-form videos into multiple highlight clips. But this is just the beginning.

YouTube Upload Automation (Coming Soon)

One workflow I'm working on next is how to take these promo clips and automatically schedule them for publishing on YouTube. This can be done using automation tools, but requires some additional setup.

Here's how it will work:

1. Export the video: Tella allows you to download/export videos
2. Get the download URL: Once the export is done, it gives you the download URL
3. Upload to YouTube: Use this download URL to upload it back to YouTube
4. Schedule publishing: Set publish dates and times

Current Limitations:

As of right now, if you want to turn these clips into YouTube Shorts, you would need to:

• Manually update the aspect ratio (change from 16:9 to 9:16)
• If you're using Studio Voice (which I use all the time), you'll need to set that up manually

Future Automation:

Soon, as far as I know (and I'm not on the product team so I can't make any promises), all of this stuff we might be able to automate as well. Which is super exciting because that will basically mean we don't need to be involved in the editing process at all.

More Integration Possibilities

• Combine all three workflows: Transcript → Blog post + Highlight clips in one command
• Add more platforms: Auto-upload to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram
• Integrate with other tools: Add clips to Airtable, schedule in Buffer, track in Notion
• Build a content library: Tag and organize thousands of clips with AI categorization
• Create content calendars: "Generate 30 days of social content from my last 3 videos"

The possibilities are endless when you combine Tella MCP for analysis and automation.

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Key Takeaways

Now that you understand highlight clip automation, you can:

1. Turn long videos into social content - Extract promotional clips using natural conversation
2. Leverage millisecond-precise timestamps - Tella's transcript includes exact timing for perfect cuts
3. Use natural language for clip creation - No coding required at all
4. Automate playlist organization - Let Claude manage your clip collections
5. Create multiple clips easily - Process 2-5 clips at a time through conversation
6. Build toward full automation - YouTube scheduling and aspect ratio changes coming soon

What This Enables:

Imagine being able to do this with multiple clips. You can essentially build yourself a pipeline of short videos that you can use in your YouTube Shorts, all that type of stuff. You can do this on loop. It's lots of fun.

Next Step: Stay tuned for the YouTube automation guide where we'll cover automatically uploading and scheduling these clips.

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Resources

• Tella MCP Documentation - Official MCP setup and configuration guide

Related Articles

• Part 1: Getting Started with Tella MCP
• Part 2: Turn Video Transcripts into Blog Posts

Tools Mentioned

• Tella - Screen recording and video editing platform
• Claude Code - AI assistant with MCP support for conversational automation

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What are you building with Tella automation? Share your workflows in the comments below!