FFmpeg & PowerShell for Suno Creators

Before You Begin

What is FFmpeg?

FFmpeg is a free, open-source tool that processes audio and video files from the command line. It can convert formats, encode audio, resize video, trim clips, merge files, and write metadata. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and is the industry standard for media processing.

Why PowerShell?

This guide uses PowerShell, which is installed on every modern Windows machine. It handles long FFmpeg commands cleanly and is more capable than the older Command Prompt.

Install FFmpeg

Windows: Download from ffmpeg.org/download.html. Extract the zip and add the FFmpeg bin folder to your system PATH.

Mac: Install via Homebrew by running brew install ffmpeg in Terminal.

To confirm FFmpeg is installed correctly, run:

ffmpeg -version

You should see version information. If you see an error, FFmpeg is not on your PATH.

ffmpeg -i clean.wav `
  -metadata title="Factory Settings" `
  factory-settings-master.wav

ffmpeg -i clean.wav \
  -metadata title="Factory Settings" \
  factory-settings-master.wav

Part 1: Create Social Media MP4s

Most social media platforms treat audio files as second-class content. MP4 video files get more prominent placement, better autoplay behaviour, and wider reach. By combining your cover artwork with your audio, you create a standard video that plays natively on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

The result looks like a music video. It is a looping image with your audio attached, but platforms treat it as video.

Step 1: Set Up Your Folder

Create a working folder for each export. Place two files inside with consistent names so you can reuse these commands without editing them:

C:\Users\YourName\Desktop\mp4-export\
  audio.wav
  cover.jpg

Step 2: Open PowerShell in Your Folder

Open the folder in File Explorer, click the address bar, type powershell, and press Enter. PowerShell opens directly inside that folder.

Understanding the Pattern

Every FFmpeg command follows the same structure. Once you understand it, modifying commands is straightforward:

ffmpeg  [inputs]  [processing]  [encoding]  [output]

Facebook / Instagram (4:5)

ffmpeg -loop 1 -i cover.jpg -i audio.wav `
  -vf "scale=1080:-2:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=1080:1350" `
  -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30 `
  -c:a aac -b:a 256k -ar 48000 `
  -shortest -movflags +faststart `
  output_fb_4x5.mp4

YouTube / X (16:9)

ffmpeg -loop 1 -i cover.jpg -i audio.wav `
  -vf "scale=1920:-2:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=1920:1080" `
  -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30 `
  -c:a aac -b:a 256k -ar 48000 `
  -shortest -movflags +faststart `
  output_yt_16x9.mp4

Square (1:1)

ffmpeg -loop 1 -i cover.jpg -i audio.wav `
  -vf "scale=1080:-2:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=1080:1080" `
  -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -r 30 `
  -c:a aac -b:a 256k -ar 48000 `
  -shortest -movflags +faststart `
  output_sq_1x1.mp4

The -movflags +faststart flag moves video metadata to the beginning of the file so playback begins instantly when streaming. Always include it.

Part 2: Clean, Remove and Add Metadata

When Suno exports a file it embeds its own metadata: generation data, prompt information, and internal tags. This metadata is more than just a label. It is one of the primary signatures that AI detection tools use to identify and flag AI-generated music.

Platforms that automatically label or restrict AI content often read this embedded data before the audio is ever analysed. Replacing it before upload does not misrepresent your music. It simply ensures your file is evaluated on its own terms rather than flagged by a generation signature you never intended to keep.

Before releasing your music professionally, replace Suno’s embedded data with your own information.

Where Metadata Actually Matters

This surprises many creators. Streaming platforms do not use embedded metadata for display. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music all use the information you enter during upload, not what is stored in the file.

What embedded metadata is used for is detection. AI identification tools, platform scanners, and content flagging systems read embedded tags before a human ever reviews your file. That is the layer this cleanup step addresses.

Beyond detection, embedded metadata matters for local files, DJ software, and personal media libraries like Plex or Jellyfin. Think of it as your archive record: the information layer that belongs to you, not to the tool that generated the file.

Step 1: Strip Existing Metadata

ffmpeg -i song.wav -map_metadata -1 -c copy clean.wav

-map_metadata -1 removes everything. -c copy copies the audio without re-encoding, so there is no quality loss.

Step 2: Write Your Own Tags

Add exactly what you want to the clean file. Adjust the values – the field names stay the same:

ffmpeg -i clean.wav `
  -map_metadata -1 `
  -c copy `
  -metadata title="Factory Settings" `
  -metadata artist="Airon Sinth" `
  -metadata album="Factory Settings" `
  -metadata genre="Electronic / Experimental / Pop" `
  -metadata date="2026" `
  -metadata composer="MagnusPrime" `
  -metadata copyright="© 2026 MagnusPrime" `
  -metadata comment="Carrier: Airon Sinth | Signal: Factory Settings | Archive Status: Signal Verified" `
  factory-settings-master.wav

Field Reference

Always use: title, artist

Recommended: album, date, copyright

Optional: genre, composer, comment

Skip: encoder (FFmpeg fills this automatically), track and disc (only needed for multi-track albums)

Part 3: View and Verify Metadata

After tagging, confirm the file contains exactly what you intended before distributing.

FFprobe

FFprobe is installed alongside FFmpeg. Run either of these:

ffprobe -hide_banner song.wav

ffprobe -v quiet -show_format song.wav

MediaInfo

A free GUI application that shows every detail stored in any media file. Drag your file onto it and all metadata is displayed immediately. Available at mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo

Windows File Properties

Right-click the file, select Properties, then click the Details tab. Shows basic fields without any additional software. Use FFprobe or MediaInfo for complete verification.

Part 4: Command Cheat Sheet

Format Conversion

ffmpeg -i song.wav song.mp3
ffmpeg -i song.wav song.flac
ffmpeg -i song.mp3 song.wav

Extract Artwork from MP3

ffmpeg -i song.mp3 cover.jpg

Extract Audio from Video

ffmpeg -i video.mp4 audio.wav

Trim Audio

ffmpeg -i song.wav -ss 00:00:30 -t 00:03:00 trimmed.wav

-ss sets the start point. -t sets the duration.

Complete Release Workflow

The full sequence for every Suno release: