diff --git a/ethology/io/video_utils.py b/ethology/io/video_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..37ac4ab8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ethology/io/video_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+"""Utility function for extracting video metadata."""
+
+import json
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def get_video_specs(video_path: str):
+    """Extract metadata from all streams in a video file using ffprobe.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    video_path : str
+            Path to the video file.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict[str, Any]
+        Dictionary containing 'duration' (float) and 'streams' (list of dicts).
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    FileNotFoundError if the video file does not exist.
+    RuntimeError if ffprobe failed to process the file
+
+    Example
+    -------
+    Get the specifications of a video file
+
+    >>> from ethology.io.video_utils import get_video_specs
+    >>> test_file = "path/to/video_file.mp4"
+    >>> specs = get_video_specs(test_file)
+    >>> print(json.dumps(specs, indent=2))
+
+    """
+    # To check whether the file exists
+    path = Path(video_path)
+    if not path.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Video file not found: {video_path}")
+
+    cmd = [
+        "ffprobe",
+        "-v",
+        "quiet",
+        "-print_format",
+        "json",
+        "-show_entries",
+        "stream=index, codec_type, width, height, nb_frames,\
+                         r_frame_rate, sample_rate, channels, codec_name",
+        "-show_entries",
+        "format=duration",
+        str(path),
+    ]
+
+    result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
+
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"ffprobe failed: {result.stderr}")
+
+    data = json.loads(result.stdout)
+
+    streams = []
+    for s in data.get("streams", []):
+        info = {
+            "index": s.get("index"),
+            "type": s.get("codec_type"),
+            "codec": s.get("codec_name"),
+        }
+
+        if info["type"] == "video":
+            info.update(
+                {
+                    "width": s.get("width"),
+                    "height": s.get("height"),
+                    "total_frames": s.get("nb_frames"),
+                    "frame_rate": s.get("r_frame_rate"),
+                }
+            )
+        elif info["type"] == "audio":
+            info.update(
+                {
+                    "sample_rate": s.get("sample_rate"),
+                    "channels": s.get("channels"),
+                }
+            )
+
+        streams.append(info)
+
+    return {
+        "duration": float(data.get("format", {}).get("duration", 0)),
+        "streams": streams,
+    }
+
+
+def compress_video(
+    input_path: str,
+    output_path: str,
+    crf: int = 23,
+    preset: str = "superfast",
+    overwrite: bool = True,
+):
+    """Compress video using H.264 codec with specified quality settings.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    input_path : str
+            Path to the input video file.
+
+    output_path : str
+            Path where the compressed video file will be saved.
+
+    crf : int, optional
+            Constant Rate Factor determining the quality and bitrate.
+            Lower values yield higher quality and larger file sizes
+            (range 0-51, typical 18-28).
+            Default is 23.
+
+    preset : str, optional
+            The encoding speed preset. Faster presets result in larger files
+            but quicker encoding. Options include 'ultrafast', 'superfast',
+            'veryfast', 'faster', 'fast', 'medium', 'slow', 'slower',
+            'veryslow'.
+            Default is 'superfast'.
+
+    overwrite : bool, optional
+            If True, overwrite the output file if it already exists.
+            Default is True.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    bool
+            True if successful, False if an error occurred
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+            FileNotFoundError if the video file does not exist.
+
+    Example:
+    --------
+    >>> from ethology.io.video_utils import compress_video
+    >>> compress_video("input.mp4", "output.mp4")
+           True
+    >>> compress_video("input.mp4", "output.mp4", crf=20, preset="medium")
+           True
+
+    """
+    path = Path(input_path)
+    if not path.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Video file not found: {input_path}")
+
+    cmd = [
+        "ffmpeg",
+        "-y" if overwrite else "",
+        "-i",
+        str(input_path),
+        "-c:v",
+        "libx264",
+        "-pix_fmt",
+        "yuv420p",
+        "-preset",
+        preset,
+        "-crf",
+        str(crf),
+        "-progress",
+        "pipe:1",
+        str(output_path),
+    ]
+
+    cmd = [
+        arg for arg in cmd if arg
+    ]  # Filter out empty args, say in case of overwrite=False
+
+    try:
+        subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, check=True)
+        print("File compressed successfully!")
+        return True
+
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        print(f"FFmpeg error: {e.stderr}")
+        print("File compression failed.")
+        return False
diff --git a/tests/test_unit/test_io_video_utils/__init__.py b/tests/test_unit/test_io_video_utils/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/tests/test_unit/test_io_video_utils/test_video_utils.py b/tests/test_unit/test_io_video_utils/test_video_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..668f4c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_unit/test_io_video_utils/test_video_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+import json
+import subprocess
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from ethology.io.video_utils import compress_video, get_video_specs
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def valid_get_video_specs():
+    """Mock successful ffprobe execution."""
+    mock_data = {
+        "format": {"duration": "123.456"},
+        "streams": [
+            {
+                "index": 0,
+                "codec_type": "video",
+                "codec_name": "h264",
+                "width": 1920,
+                "height": 1080,
+                "nb_frames": 3720,
+                "r_frame_rate": "30/1",
+            },
+            {
+                "index": 1,
+                "codec_type": "audio",
+                "codec_name": "aac",
+                "sample_rate": "48000",
+                "channels": 2,
+            },
+        ],
+    }
+    mock_result = MagicMock()
+    mock_result.returncode = 0
+    mock_result.stdout = json.dumps(mock_data)
+    mock_result.stderr = ""
+    return mock_result
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def valid_video_file(tmp_path):
+    """Create a temporary video file for testing."""
+    video_path = tmp_path / "test_video.mp4"
+    video_path.touch()
+    return video_path
+
+
+def test_get_video_specs_valid_file(valid_video_file, valid_get_video_specs):
+    """Test function returns correct structure for valid video."""
+    with patch(
+        "ethology.io.video_utils.subprocess.run",
+        return_value=valid_get_video_specs,
+    ):
+        result = get_video_specs(str(valid_video_file))
+
+    assert isinstance(result, dict)
+    assert "duration" in result
+    assert "streams" in result
+    assert isinstance(result["duration"], float)
+    assert isinstance(result["streams"], list)
+
+
+def test_get_video_specs_missing_file():
+    """Test function raises FileNotFoundError for missing files."""
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError) as excinfo:
+        get_video_specs("nonexistent_file.mp4")
+
+    assert "Video file not found" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+
+def test_get_video_specs_ffprobe_failure(valid_video_file):
+    """Test function raises RuntimeError when ffprobe fails."""
+    mock_result = MagicMock()
+    mock_result.returncode = 1
+    mock_result.stdout = ""
+    mock_result.stderr = "ffprobe error"
+
+    with (
+        patch(
+            "ethology.io.video_utils.subprocess.run", return_value=mock_result
+        ),
+        pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo,
+    ):
+        get_video_specs(str(valid_video_file))
+
+    assert "ffprobe failed" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+
+def test_video_stream_has_required_fields(
+    valid_video_file, valid_get_video_specs
+):
+    """Test video streams contain expected metadata."""
+    with patch(
+        "ethology.io.video_utils.subprocess.run",
+        return_value=valid_get_video_specs,
+    ):
+        result = get_video_specs(str(valid_video_file))
+
+    video_streams = [s for s in result["streams"] if s["type"] == "video"]
+    assert len(video_streams) > 0
+
+    stream = video_streams[0]
+    assert stream["width"] == 1920
+    assert stream["height"] == 1080
+    assert stream["total_frames"] == 3720
+    assert stream["frame_rate"] == "30/1"
+
+
+def test_audio_stream_has_required_fields(
+    valid_video_file, valid_get_video_specs
+):
+    """Test audio streams contain expected metadata."""
+    with patch(
+        "ethology.io.video_utils.subprocess.run",
+        return_value=valid_get_video_specs,
+    ):
+        result = get_video_specs(str(valid_video_file))
+
+    audio_streams = [s for s in result["streams"] if s["type"] == "audio"]
+    assert len(audio_streams) > 0
+
+    stream = audio_streams[0]
+    assert stream["sample_rate"] == "48000"
+    assert stream["channels"] == 2
+
+
+## Video Compression
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def valid_compression_run():
+    return subprocess.CompletedProcess(
+        returncode=0, cmd=["ffmpeg"], stderr=b"", stdout=""
+    )
+
+
+def test_compress_video_file_not_found(tmp_path):
+    """Test that FileNotFoundError is raised if input file does not exist."""
+    input_file = tmp_path / "non_existent.mp4"
+    output_file = tmp_path / "output.mp4"
+
+    with pytest.raises(
+        FileNotFoundError, match=f"Video file not found: {input_file}"
+    ):
+        compress_video(str(input_file), str(output_file))
+
+
+def test_compress_video_success(valid_video_file, tmp_path):
+    """Test successful compression when input file exists."""
+    output_file = tmp_path / "output.mp4"
+
+    with patch(
+        "ethology.io.video_utils.subprocess.run",
+        return_value=valid_compression_run,
+    ) as mock_run:
+        result = compress_video(str(valid_video_file), str(output_file))
+
+        assert result is True  # Check if compression worked
+
+        mock_run.assert_called_once()
+
+        # Checking if valid args were passed to mock_run
+        call_args = mock_run.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "ffmpeg" in call_args
+        assert str(valid_video_file) in call_args
+        assert str(output_file) in call_args
+
+
+def test_compress_video_failure(valid_video_file, tmp_path):
+    """Test handling of FFmpeg failure (CalledProcessError)."""
+    output_file = tmp_path / "output.mp4"
+
+    with patch("ethology.io.video_utils.subprocess.run") as mock_run:
+        mock_run.side_effect = subprocess.CalledProcessError(
+            returncode=1, cmd=["ffmpeg", "..."], stderr=b"Error: Invalid data"
+        )
+
+        result = compress_video(str(valid_video_file), str(output_file))
+
+        assert result is False
+
+
+def test_compress_video_overwrite_false(valid_video_file, tmp_path):
+    """Test that -y flag is omitted when overwrite=False."""
+    output_file = tmp_path / "output.mp4"
+
+    with patch(
+        "ethology.io.video_utils.subprocess.run",
+        return_value=valid_compression_run,
+    ) as mock_run:
+        compress_video(
+            str(valid_video_file), str(output_file), overwrite=False
+        )
+
+        call_args = mock_run.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "-y" not in call_args