X media upload total_bytes ceiling of 16 GiB: trim long AI video first

The X API media upload initialization takes a total_bytes value with a maximum of 17,179,869,184, which is 16 GiB. An AI-generated clip is nowhere near that, so the number is not your constraint; X's own per-type media rules are. Trim the clip to the length you want to post first, since a shorter file uploads faster and fails less.

What does the spec say about total_bytes?

The OpenAPI document gives the upload init body a total_bytes integer with maximum: 17179869184. That figure is a property of the request schema. The same document does not, in the part read here, list per-type duration or resolution limits, so those need X's media documentation and should not be assumed.

Why trim before uploading?

A short file is the cheapest fix for most upload problems: fewer chunks, less to retry, and a better fit for a feed where people scroll quickly. Sume's video-trim cuts a Sume-hosted video to a start and an end or duration (0.2-900 seconds), and a source up to 1800 seconds is accepted.

import json, os, urllib.request

body = {
    "video_url": "https://media.sume.com/artifacts/artf_demo/talk.mp4",
    "start": 5,
    "end": 35,
    "precision": "exact",
    "output": {
        "width": 1280,
        "height": 720,
        "fps": 30
    }
}
req = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.sume.com/v1/video-trim",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode(),
    headers={
        "Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["SUME_API_KEY"],
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
        "Idempotency-Key": "x-trim-001",
    },
    method="POST",
)
print(urllib.request.urlopen(req).read().decode())

What does a trim job return?

When the job is ready, GET /v1/jobs/:id/result returns a kind: video_trim result with a new video_url, duration_seconds, actual_start_seconds, precision, audio and output. Download that MP4 for the chunked upload.

What should I verify?

Read X's media upload documentation for the supported types and durations before you automate. The video trim guide lists Sume's caps and error codes.