We are a Swiss Army knife for your files

Transloadit is a service for companies with developers. We handle their file uploads and media processing. This means that they can save on development time and the heavy machinery that is required to handle big volumes in an automated way.

We pioneered with this concept in 2009 and have made our customers happy ever since. We are still actively improving our service in 2025, as well as our open source projects uppy.io and tus.io, which are changing how the world does file uploading.

×
  1. Services
  2. Video Encoding
  3. Demos

Add text overlay to videos

Adding text overlays to videos is a powerful way to enhance your content with titles, subtitles, watermarks, or other textual information.

This demo shows how to use FFmpeg's drawtext filter via the ffmpeg parameter to add text overlays to your videos. We demonstrate two approaches: using the default font and using a custom font.

Key Features

  • Text Positioning: Center the text using dynamic expressions like x=(w-text_w)/2 and y=(h-text_h)/2
  • Background Box: Add a semi-transparent background box behind the text for better readability
  • Font Selection: Use the default Sans font or specify custom fonts like 'Times New Roman'
  • Styling Options: Control font color, size, box color, transparency, and border width

Important Notes

  • When specifying custom fonts, use the font parameter (not fontpath)
  • Font names for FFmpeg may differ from ImageMagick conventions - use spaces instead of dashes (e.g., 'Times New Roman' not 'Times-New-Roman')
  • The preset: "empty" ensures no additional encoding is applied beyond the text overlay
  • Use codec:a: "copy" to preserve the original audio without re-encoding

You can customize the text, position, font, colors, and many other properties by modifying the vf (video filter) parameter. See the FFmpeg drawtext documentation for all available options.

⚠️ It seems your browser does not send the referer, which we need to stop people from (ab)using our demos in other websites. If you want to use the demos, please allow your browser to send its referer to us. Adding us to the allowlist of blockers usually helps.

Step 1: Handle uploads

We can handle uploads of your users directly. Learn more ›

⚠️ It seems your browser does not support the codec used in this video of the page. For demo simplicity we'll link you to the original file, but you may also want to learn how to make videos compatible for all browsers.
surf.mp4
MPEG-4 video – 7.7 MB
22s · 1280 × 720 
":original": {
  "robot": "/upload/handle"
}
🤖/upload/handle
This bot receives uploads that your users throw at you from browser or apps, or that you throw at us programmatically

Step 2: Transcode videos to original codec Settings

We offer a variety of video encoding features like optimizing for different devices, merging, injecting ads, changing audio tracks, or adding company logos. Learn more ›

⚠️ It seems your browser does not support the codec used in this video of the page. For demo simplicity we'll link you to the original file, but you may also want to learn how to make videos compatible for all browsers.
surf-0.mp4
MPEG-4 video – 7.1 MB
22s · 1280 × 720 
"text_overlay_default": {
  "use": ":original",
  "robot": "/video/encode",
  "preset": "empty",
  "ffmpeg": {
    "codec:a": "copy",
    "vf": "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
  },
  "result": true,
  "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
}
🤖/video/encode
This bot encodes, resizes, applies watermarks to videos and animated GIFs

Step 3: Transcode videos to original codec Settings

⚠️ It seems your browser does not support the codec used in this video of the page. For demo simplicity we'll link you to the original file, but you may also want to learn how to make videos compatible for all browsers.
surf-0.mp4
MPEG-4 video – 7.1 MB
22s · 1280 × 720 
"text_overlay_custom": {
  "use": ":original",
  "robot": "/video/encode",
  "preset": "empty",
  "ffmpeg": {
    "codec:a": "copy",
    "vf": "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
  },
  "result": true,
  "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
}
🤖/video/encode
This bot encodes, resizes, applies watermarks to videos and animated GIFs

Step 4: Export files to Amazon S3

We export to the storage platform of your choice. Learn more ›

:original
text_overlay_default
text_overlay_custom

Once all files have been exported, we can ping a URL of your choice with the Assembly status JSON. 

"exported": {
  "use": [
    "text_overlay_default",
    "text_overlay_custom",
    ":original"
  ],
  "robot": "/s3/store",
  "credentials": "demo_s3_credentials",
  "url_prefix": "https://demos.transloadit.com/"
}
🤖/s3/store
This bot exports encoding results to Amazon S3
Since this is a store Robot, be sure to use Template Credentials so that any sensitive data is encrypted and stored in our database, making sure that they’re never exposed to any end-user.

Live Demo. See for yourself

This live demo is powered by Uppy, our open source file uploader that you can also use without Transloadit, andtus, our open protocol for resumable file uploads that is making uploading more reliable across the world.

Build this in your own language

// implementation 'com.transloadit.sdk:transloadit:1.0.0'

import com.transloadit.sdk.Assembly;
import com.transloadit.sdk.Transloadit;
import com.transloadit.sdk.exceptions.LocalOperationException;
import com.transloadit.sdk.exceptions.RequestException;
import com.transloadit.sdk.response.AssemblyResponse;
import java.io.File;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

public class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    // Initialize the Transloadit client
    Transloadit transloadit = new Transloadit("YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY", "MY_TRANSLOADIT_SECRET");
    
    Assembly assembly = transloadit.newAssembly();
    
    // Set Encoding Instructions
    Map<String, Object> _originalStepOptions = new HashMap();
    assembly.addStep(":original", "/upload/handle", _originalStepOptions);
    
    Map<String, Object> text_overlay_defaultStepOptions = new HashMap();
    text_overlay_defaultStepOptions.put("use", ":original");
    text_overlay_defaultStepOptions.put("preset", "empty");
    text_overlay_defaultStepOptions.put("ffmpeg", {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2",
      });
    text_overlay_defaultStepOptions.put("result", true);
    text_overlay_defaultStepOptions.put("ffmpeg_stack", "v6.0.0");
    assembly.addStep("text_overlay_default", "/video/encode", text_overlay_defaultStepOptions);
    
    Map<String, Object> text_overlay_customStepOptions = new HashMap();
    text_overlay_customStepOptions.put("use", ":original");
    text_overlay_customStepOptions.put("preset", "empty");
    text_overlay_customStepOptions.put("ffmpeg", {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2",
      });
    text_overlay_customStepOptions.put("result", true);
    text_overlay_customStepOptions.put("ffmpeg_stack", "v6.0.0");
    assembly.addStep("text_overlay_custom", "/video/encode", text_overlay_customStepOptions);
    
    Map<String, Object> exportedStepOptions = new HashMap();
    exportedStepOptions.put("use", new String[] { "text_overlay_default", "text_overlay_custom", ":original" });
    exportedStepOptions.put("credentials", "demo_s3_credentials");
    exportedStepOptions.put("url_prefix", "https://demos.transloadit.com/");
    assembly.addStep("exported", "/s3/store", exportedStepOptions);
    
    // Add files to upload
    assembly.addFile(new File("surf.mp4"));
    
    // Start the Assembly
    try {
      AssemblyResponse response = assembly.save();
    
      // Wait for Assembly to finish executing
      while (!response.isFinished()) {
        response = transloadit.getAssemblyByUrl(response.getSslUrl());
      }
    
      System.out.println(response.getId());
      System.out.println(response.getUrl());
      System.out.println(response.json());
    } catch (RequestException | LocalOperationException e) {
      // Handle exception here
    }
  }
}

// go get gopkg.in/transloadit/go-sdk.v1
package main

import (
  "context"
  "fmt"
  "github.com/transloadit/go-sdk"
)

func main() {
  // Create client
  options := transloadit.DefaultConfig
  options.AuthKey = "YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY"
  options.AuthSecret = "MY_TRANSLOADIT_SECRET"
  client := transloadit.NewClient(options)
  
  // Initialize new Assembly
  assembly := transloadit.NewAssembly()
  
  // Set Encoding Instructions
  assembly.AddStep(":original", map[string]interface{}{
    "robot": "/upload/handle",
  })
  
  assembly.AddStep("text_overlay_default", map[string]interface{}{
    "use": ":original",
    "robot": "/video/encode",
    "preset": "empty",
    "ffmpeg": map[string]interface{}{
      "codec:a": "copy",
      "vf": "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2",
    },
    "result": true,
    "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0",
  })
  
  assembly.AddStep("text_overlay_custom", map[string]interface{}{
    "use": ":original",
    "robot": "/video/encode",
    "preset": "empty",
    "ffmpeg": map[string]interface{}{
      "codec:a": "copy",
      "vf": "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2",
    },
    "result": true,
    "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0",
  })
  
  assembly.AddStep("exported", map[string]interface{}{
    "use": ["text_overlay_default", "text_overlay_custom", ":original"],
    "robot": "/s3/store",
    "credentials": "demo_s3_credentials",
    "url_prefix": "https://demos.transloadit.com/",
  })
  
  // Add files to upload
  assembly.AddFile("surf.mp4"))
  
  // Start the Assembly
  info, err := client.StartAssembly(context.Background(), assembly)
  if err != nil {
    panic(err)
  }
  
  // All files have now been uploaded and the Assembly has started but no
  // results are available yet since the conversion has not finished.
  // WaitForAssembly provides functionality for polling until the Assembly
  // has ended.
  info, err = client.WaitForAssembly(context.Background(), info)
  if err != nil {
    panic(err)
  }
  
  fmt.Printf("You can check some results at: ")
  fmt.Printf("  - %s\n", info.Results[":original"][0].SSLURL)
  fmt.Printf("  - %s\n", info.Results["text_overlay_default"][0].SSLURL)
  fmt.Printf("  - %s\n", info.Results["text_overlay_custom"][0].SSLURL)
  fmt.Printf("  - %s\n", info.Results["exported"][0].SSLURL)
}

# pip install pytransloadit
from transloadit import client

tl = client.Transloadit('YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY', 'MY_TRANSLOADIT_SECRET')
assembly = tl.new_assembly()

# Set Encoding Instructions
assembly.add_step(":original", "/upload/handle", {})

assembly.add_step("text_overlay_default", "/video/encode", {
  'use': ':original',
  'preset': 'empty',
  'ffmpeg': {
    'codec:a': 'copy',
    'vf': 'drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2'
  },
  'result': True,
  'ffmpeg_stack': 'v6.0.0'
})

assembly.add_step("text_overlay_custom", "/video/encode", {
  'use': ':original',
  'preset': 'empty',
  'ffmpeg': {
    'codec:a': 'copy',
    'vf': 'drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2'
  },
  'result': True,
  'ffmpeg_stack': 'v6.0.0'
})

assembly.add_step("exported", "/s3/store", {
  'use': ['text_overlay_default', 'text_overlay_custom', ':original'],
  'credentials': 'demo_s3_credentials',
  'url_prefix': 'https://demos.transloadit.com/'
})

# Add files to upload
assembly.add_file(open('surf.mp4', 'rb'))

# Start the Assembly
assembly_response = assembly.create(retries=5, wait=True)

print(assembly_response.data.get('assembly_ssl_url'))
# or:
print(assembly_response.data['assembly_ssl_url'])

# gem install transloadit

# $ irb -rubygems
# >> require 'transloadit'
# => true

transloadit = Transloadit.new([
  :key => "YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY"
])

# Set Encoding Instructions
_original = transloadit.step(":original", "/upload/handle", {})

text_overlay_default = transloadit.step("text_overlay_default", "/video/encode", [
  :use => ":original",
  :preset => "empty",
  :ffmpeg => [
    :"codec:a" => "copy",
    :vf => "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
  ],
  :result => true,
  :ffmpeg_stack => "v6.0.0"
])

text_overlay_custom = transloadit.step("text_overlay_custom", "/video/encode", [
  :use => ":original",
  :preset => "empty",
  :ffmpeg => [
    :"codec:a" => "copy",
    :vf => "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
  ],
  :result => true,
  :ffmpeg_stack => "v6.0.0"
])

exported = transloadit.step("exported", "/s3/store", [
  :use => ["text_overlay_default", "text_overlay_custom", ":original"],
  :credentials => "demo_s3_credentials",
  :url_prefix => "https://demos.transloadit.com/"
])

transloadit.assembly([
  :steps => [_original, text_overlay_default, text_overlay_custom, exported]
])

# Add files to upload
files = []
files.push("surf.mp4")

# Start the Assembly
response = assembly.create! *files

until response.finished?
  sleep 1; response.reload!
end

if !response.error?
  # handle success
end

// composer require transloadit/php-sdk
use transloadit\Transloadit;

$transloadit = new Transloadit([
  "key" => "YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY",
  "secret" => "MY_TRANSLOADIT_SECRET",
]);

// Start the Assembly
$response = $transloadit->createAssembly([
  "files" => ["surf.mp4"],
  "params" => [
    "steps" => [
      ":original" => [
        "robot" => "/upload/handle",
      ],
      "text_overlay_default" => [
        "use" => ":original",
        "robot" => "/video/encode",
        "preset" => "empty",
        "ffmpeg" => [
          "codec:a" => "copy",
          "vf" => "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2",
        ],
        "result" => true,
        "ffmpeg_stack" => "v6.0.0",
      ],
      "text_overlay_custom" => [
        "use" => ":original",
        "robot" => "/video/encode",
        "preset" => "empty",
        "ffmpeg" => [
          "codec:a" => "copy",
          "vf" => "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2",
        ],
        "result" => true,
        "ffmpeg_stack" => "v6.0.0",
      ],
      "exported" => [
        "use" => ["text_overlay_default", "text_overlay_custom", ":original"],
        "robot" => "/s3/store",
        "credentials" => "demo_s3_credentials",
        "url_prefix" => "https://demos.transloadit.com/",
      ],
    ],
  ],
]);

# [sudo] npm install transloadify -g

# Auth
export TRANSLOADIT_KEY="YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY"

# Save Encoding Instructions
echo '{
  "steps": {
    ":original": {
      "robot": "/upload/handle"
    },
    "text_overlay_default": {
      "use": ":original",
      "robot": "/video/encode",
      "preset": "empty",
      "ffmpeg": {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
      },
      "result": true,
      "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
    },
    "text_overlay_custom": {
      "use": ":original",
      "robot": "/video/encode",
      "preset": "empty",
      "ffmpeg": {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
      },
      "result": true,
      "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
    },
    "exported": {
      "use": ["text_overlay_default", "text_overlay_custom", ":original"],
      "robot": "/s3/store",
      "credentials": "demo_s3_credentials",
      "url_prefix": "https://demos.transloadit.com/"
    }
  }
}' > ./steps.json

# Execute
transloadify \
  --input "surf.mp4" \
  --steps "./steps.json" \
  --output "./output.example"

// yarn add transloadit || npm i transloadit

// Import
import { Transloadit } from 'transloadit'

const main = async () => {
  // Init
  const transloadit = new Transloadit({
    authKey: 'YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY',
    authSecret: 'MY_TRANSLOADIT_SECRET',
  })

  // Set Encoding Instructions
  const options = {
    files: {
      myfile_1: './surf.mp4',
    },
    params: {
      steps: {
        ':original': {
          robot: '/upload/handle',
        },
        text_overlay_default: {
          use: ':original',
          robot: '/video/encode',
          preset: 'empty',
          ffmpeg: {
            'codec:a': 'copy',
            vf: 'drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2',
          },
          result: true,
          ffmpeg_stack: 'v6.0.0',
        },
        text_overlay_custom: {
          use: ':original',
          robot: '/video/encode',
          preset: 'empty',
          ffmpeg: {
            'codec:a': 'copy',
            vf: 'drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2',
          },
          result: true,
          ffmpeg_stack: 'v6.0.0',
        },
        exported: {
          use: ['text_overlay_default', 'text_overlay_custom', ':original'],
          robot: '/s3/store',
          credentials: 'demo_s3_credentials',
          url_prefix: 'https://demos.transloadit.com/',
        },
      },
    },
  }

  // Execute
  const result = await transloadit.createAssembly(options)

  // Show results
  console.log({ result })
}

main().catch(console.error)

<!-- This pulls Uppy from our CDN -->
<!-- For smaller self-hosted bundles, install Uppy and plugins manually: -->
<!-- npm i --save @uppy/core @uppy/dashboard @uppy/remote-sources @uppy/transloadit ... -->
<link
  href="https://releases.transloadit.com/uppy/v4.3.1/uppy.min.css"
  rel="stylesheet"
/>
<button id="browse">Select Files</button>
<script type="module">
  import {
    Uppy,
    Dashboard,
    ImageEditor,
    RemoteSources,
    Transloadit,
  } from 'https://releases.transloadit.com/uppy/v4.3.1/uppy.min.mjs'
  const uppy = new Uppy()
    .use(Transloadit, {
      waitForEncoding: true,
      alwaysRunAssembly: true,
      assemblyOptions: {
        params: {
          // To avoid tampering, use Signature Authentication:
          // https://transloadit.com/docs/api/authentication/
          auth: {
            key: 'YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY',
          },
          // It's often better store encoding instructions in your account
          // and use a `template_id` instead of adding these steps inline
          steps: {
            ':original': {
              robot: '/upload/handle',
            },
            text_overlay_default: {
              use: ':original',
              robot: '/video/encode',
              preset: 'empty',
              ffmpeg: {
                'codec:a': 'copy',
                vf: 'drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2',
              },
              result: true,
              ffmpeg_stack: 'v6.0.0',
            },
            text_overlay_custom: {
              use: ':original',
              robot: '/video/encode',
              preset: 'empty',
              ffmpeg: {
                'codec:a': 'copy',
                vf: 'drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2',
              },
              result: true,
              ffmpeg_stack: 'v6.0.0',
            },
            exported: {
              use: ['text_overlay_default', 'text_overlay_custom', ':original'],
              robot: '/s3/store',
              credentials: 'demo_s3_credentials',
              url_prefix: 'https://demos.transloadit.com/',
            },
          },
        },
      },
    })
    .use(Dashboard, { trigger: '#browse' })
    .use(ImageEditor, { target: Dashboard })
    .use(RemoteSources, {
      companionUrl: 'https://api2.transloadit.com/companion',
    })
    .on('complete', ({ transloadit }) => {
      // Due to `waitForEncoding:true` this is fired after encoding is done.
      // Alternatively, set `waitForEncoding` to `false` and provide a `notify_url`
      console.log(transloadit) // Array of Assembly Statuses
      transloadit.forEach((assembly) => {
        console.log(assembly.results) // Array of all encoding results
      })
    })
    .on('error', (error) => {
      console.error(error)
    })
</script>

// Install via Swift Package Manager:
// dependencies: [
//   .package(url: "https://github.com/transloadit/TransloaditKit", .upToNextMajor(from: "3.0.0"))
// ]

// Or via CocoaPods:
// pod 'Transloadit', '~> 3.0.0'

// Auth
let credentials = Credentials(key: "YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY")

// Init
let transloadit = Transloadit(credentials: credentials, session: "URLSession.shared")

// Add files to upload
let filesToUpload: [URL] = ...

// Execute
let assembly = transloadit.assembly(steps: [_originalStep, text_overlay_defaultStep, text_overlay_customStep, exportedStep], andUpload: filesToUpload) { result in
  switch result {
  case .success(let assembly):
    print("Retrieved (assembly)")
  case .failure(let error):
    print("Assembly error (error)")
  }
}.pollAssemblyStatus { result in
  switch result {
  case .success(let assemblyStatus):
    print("Received assemblystatus (assemblyStatus)")
  case .failure(let error):
    print("Caught polling error (error)")
  }

# Prerequisites: brew install curl jq || sudo apt install curl jq
# To avoid tampering, use Signature Authentication
echo '{
  "auth": {
    "key": "YOUR_TRANSLOADIT_KEY"
  },
  "steps": {
    ":original": {
      "robot": "/upload/handle"
    },
    "text_overlay_default": {
      "use": ":original",
      "robot": "/video/encode",
      "preset": "empty",
      "ffmpeg": {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
      },
      "result": true,
      "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
    },
    "text_overlay_custom": {
      "use": ":original",
      "robot": "/video/encode",
      "preset": "empty",
      "ffmpeg": {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
      },
      "result": true,
      "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
    },
    "exported": {
      "use": ["text_overlay_default", "text_overlay_custom", ":original"],
      "robot": "/s3/store",
      "credentials": "demo_s3_credentials",
      "url_prefix": "https://demos.transloadit.com/"
    }
  }
}' | curl \
    --request POST \
    --form 'params=<-' \
    --form myfile1=@./surf.mp4 \
    https://api2.transloadit.com/assemblies | jq

{
  "steps": {
    ":original": {
      "robot": "/upload/handle"
    },
    "text_overlay_default": {
      "use": ":original",
      "robot": "/video/encode",
      "preset": "empty",
      "ffmpeg": {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
      },
      "result": true,
      "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
    },
    "text_overlay_custom": {
      "use": ":original",
      "robot": "/video/encode",
      "preset": "empty",
      "ffmpeg": {
        "codec:a": "copy",
        "vf": "drawtext=font='Times New Roman':text='My text overlay':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=(h-text_h)/2"
      },
      "result": true,
      "ffmpeg_stack": "v6.0.0"
    },
    "exported": {
      "use": ["text_overlay_default", "text_overlay_custom", ":original"],
      "robot": "/s3/store",
      "credentials": "demo_s3_credentials",
      "url_prefix": "https://demos.transloadit.com/"
    }
  }
}

So many ways to integrate

Transloadit is a service for companies with developers. And there are many ways developers can put Transloadit to good use inside your company to automate media processing.

  • Bulk imports

    Add one of our import Robots to acquire and transcode massive media libraries.

  • Handling uploads

    We are the experts at reliably handling uploads. We wrote the protocol for it.

  • Front-end integration

    We integrate with web browsers via our next-gen file uploader Uppy and SDKs for Android and iOS.

  • Back-end integration

    Send us batch jobs in any server language using one of our SDKs or directly interfacing with our REST API.

  • Pingbacks

    Configure a notify_url to let your server receive transcoding results JSON in the transloadit POST field.

  • On-demand

    Use our Smart CDN to adapt files on-demand and stream them directly to your users.
RestAPI Android cURL iOS & macOS jQuery Legacy Browsers Browsers Node.js CLI PHP Ruby Python Rails Go Java Zapier Heroku Terraform

Other cool demos

Ready to integrate?

Try out Transloadit’s powerful features and see the difference for yourself. Start with no strings attached, and upgrade whenever youʼre ready.

Sign up Book a Demo
No credit card needed · 5 GB included in the free plan
Cancel anytime