How to mirror a dance tutorial so left matches right
- Step 1Get the tutorial clip onto your device — Save or download the choreography video (within the creator's terms). The mirror runs locally, so it works on private or class-only footage.
- Step 2Drop it onto the tool — Drag in the file — MP4, MOV, MKV, WEBM, AVI, M4V or TS. It loads into your browser only and is never uploaded.
- Step 3Leave the Axis dropdown on h — The single Axis control defaults to h for a horizontal mirror — exactly the follow-along mirror dancers want. Do not switch to v (that would turn the dancer upside down).
- Step 4Run the mirror flip — JAD applies
-vf hflipand re-encodes withlibx264 -preset medium -crf 20, copying the music track unchanged so the count stays on beat. - Step 5Download the mirrored MP4 — You get an H.264 MP4 with the audio identical to the source. Prop it against your practice mirror or cast it to a screen.
- Step 6Spot-check a directional cue — Watch a move where the instructor steps clearly to one side. In the mirror, that step should now match the direction you would step facing the screen.
Why mirror mode helps choreography
How a horizontal flip changes a face-to-face tutorial into a beside-you follow-along.
| Without mirror | With horizontal flip | Result for the student |
|---|---|---|
| Instructor steps to THEIR left | Now appears to step to YOUR left | You move the same direction, no mental flip |
| Arm raises on instructor's right | Appears on your right | Mirrored copying is intuitive |
| Music / count audio | Unchanged, still in sync | Beat stays aligned to the moves |
| Burned-in 'left' / 'right' text | Reads backwards (mirrored) | Watch out — verbal cues are safer than on-screen text |
Dance-tutorial mirror specifics
Behaviour of the hflip pass for choreography clips.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Filter | hflip (horizontal mirror) |
| Audio (music + counts) | Stream-copied, perfectly in sync |
| Video | Re-encoded H.264, CRF 20 |
| Output | MP4, one file per run |
| Free tier | 1 GB per file — fits most full class clips |
| Batch | One clip per run (no multi-file mirror) |
Cookbook
Follow-along mirroring in practice, including multi-clip class playlists and the gotcha of on-screen left/right text cues.
Mirror a full choreography tutorial for practice
A 4-minute routine flipped so you can copy it facing your mirror. Music stays on beat because audio is copied.
Input: routine_full.mp4 Axis: h FFmpeg: -i routine_full.mp4 -vf hflip -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 20 -c:a copy out.mp4 Output: routine_full-out.mp4 (mirror mode, music in sync)
Mirror a class playlist clip by clip
The flip handles one file per run, so process each section individually, then optionally join them.
warmup.mp4 -> Axis h -> warmup-out.mp4 verse1.mp4 -> Axis h -> verse1-out.mp4 chorus.mp4 -> Axis h -> chorus-out.mp4 Optional: join with /video-tools/video-merger
Tutorial with burned-in 'LEFT' text — heads up
On-screen left/right labels mirror with the frame and will read backwards. The moves are mirrored correctly; only the text is reversed.
Before: caption 'STEP LEFT' (readable) After hflip: caption appears reversed The footwork is correct for follow-along; trust the motion, not the flipped text.
Keep music perfectly on the count
Because audio is stream-copied, every count and beat lands exactly where it did in the original.
-c:a copy -> music track byte-identical hflip preserves video timing Result: counts and beats unchanged, picture mirrored
Mirror, then crop to vertical for phone practice
Flip first for mirror mode, then crop to 9:16 so the dancer fills a propped phone screen.
Step 1: Axis h -> routine-out.mp4 Step 2: /video-tools/video-cropper -> 9:16 Step 3: download vertical mirror-mode clip
Edge cases and what actually happens
Burned-in 'left'/'right' captions now read backwards
By designA horizontal mirror reverses everything in the frame, including on-screen text cues. The footwork mirrors correctly for follow-along, but any baked-in 'LEFT'/'RIGHT' labels will appear reversed. Rely on the motion, not the flipped text.
Step-diagram overlay is now reversed
ExpectedFloor-pattern or footwork diagrams burned into the video flip with the frame. They remain consistent with the mirrored dancer, but text/numbers in them read backwards. This is inherent to mirroring.
Mirrored the wrong way — instructor still opposite
User errorIf it still feels opposite, the source may have already been mirror-mode, so flipping made it face-to-face again. Flip is reversible — flip back. Decide based on whether the instructor's side matches yours.
Switched Axis to v by accident
User errorAxis v applies vflip and turns the dancer upside down — not what choreography needs. Keep Axis on h for mirror mode.
Music drifted out of sync
Not possible from flipThe flip copies audio with -c:a copy and preserves video timing, so it cannot introduce drift. If you hear drift, it existed in the source file before flipping.
Class clip larger than Free limit
RejectedA long, high-bitrate class recording could exceed 1 GB on Free. Compress it first or use Pro (10 GB). There is no duration cap — only file size.
Output is MP4 even though source was MOV/WEBM
By designThe mirror always outputs H.264 MP4, which is ideal for casting to studio screens. Use the transcoder if you need a different container.
Tiny quality change after mirroring
ExpectedThe picture is re-encoded once at CRF 20 (near-visually-lossless); audio is untouched. There is no quality slider on the flip tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is mirror mode for a dance tutorial?
It is a horizontal flip of the video so the instructor's movements line up with yours as if standing beside you. When they step to their left, the mirrored video shows it as your left, so you copy moves without reversing them in your head.
How do I mirror a dance video here?
Drop the clip in, leave the Axis dropdown on h (horizontal), and run. JAD applies hflip and gives you a mirrored MP4 with the music kept in sync.
Will the music stay in sync with the moves?
Yes. The audio — music and counts — is stream-copied with -c:a copy and the flip preserves video timing, so every beat and count lands exactly where it did in the original.
Why do the 'left'/'right' captions read backwards now?
Mirroring reverses everything in the frame, including burned-in text. The footwork mirrors correctly for follow-along; just trust the motion rather than the reversed on-screen labels.
Is the tutorial uploaded anywhere?
No. The flip runs in your browser via FFmpeg.wasm, so private class footage or paid choreography never leaves your device.
Can I mirror a whole class playlist at once?
The tool processes one clip per run. Mirror each section individually, then optionally join them with the merger at /video-tools/video-merger.
What if it still feels opposite after flipping?
The source may have already been in mirror mode. Flip is reversible — flip back. Decide based on whether the instructor's side now matches yours.
Does mirroring reduce quality?
There is a small re-encode cost (libx264, CRF 20), usually invisible, and the audio is untouched. There is no quality slider on this tool.
What format do I get back?
An H.264 MP4 — ideal for casting to a studio TV or playing on a phone or tablet. Convert with the transcoder if you need another format.
What input formats are supported?
MP4, MOV, MKV, WEBM, AVI, M4V and TS, all output as H.264 MP4.
Is there a size limit on long class clips?
Yes — 1 GB per file on Free, 10 GB on Pro, 100 GB on Pro-media and Developer. There is no duration limit, only file size.
Can I mirror just one section of the routine?
No — the flip applies to the whole clip. Trim the section with the lossless trimmer, mirror it, then rejoin with the merger.
Privacy first
Every JAD Video tool runs entirely in your browser via WebCodecs and FFmpeg (WebAssembly). Your video files never leave your device — verified by zero outbound network requests during processing.