I've actually used ffmpeg + GNU screen to do something very similar in the past. The benefit of using GNU screen is that the "tape" can be a shell script. I su

I've actually used ffmpeg + GNU screen to do something very similar in the past. The benefit of using GNU screen is that the "tape" can be a shell script. I suppose if you don't like shell scripts that's not a benefit, but I do like them. For example, instead of: Type "echo 'Welcome to VHS!'" # Pause for dramatic effect... Sleep 500ms Enter With GNU screen, you would write: #!/bin/sh screen -d -m -S whatever -- bash screen -S whatever -X stuff "echo Welcome to screen" sleep 0.5 screen -S whatever -X stuff $'\n' If you want to start interacting with the session, just do screen -r whatever You can also read what is in the screen with -X hardcopy, then do something with the output, like verify the output is correct or adjust the input.