Your first idea. Two real exports.

Install once. Check before rendering.

Open the extracted local-video-kit folder in a terminal. Install Node.js 20.9 or later, FFmpeg with libx264, FFprobe and Python 3.10 or later using the setup guide. Then run:

npm ci
node scripts/first-video.cjs doctor

Fix a failed check before continuing. Initial installation requires internet. Supplied audio needs no model download; new local speech has its own optional setup.

This page is a read-only guide. Copy commands into your terminal; the buttons do not run a render. The complete model route is tested on Apple Silicon macOS. Other systems remain unverified.

Make a working copy.

Choose a starter and a new output folder. This example uses the explainer with the dark Night Studio profile. Leave out --profile for Field Notes. Your supplied starter stays intact.

node scripts/first-video.cjs init --starter explainer --profile profiles/night-studio.json --out projects/my-first-video
node scripts/first-video.cjs status projects/my-first-video

For another project, use product-demo or recording-edit as the starter name and choose a new folder. Existing project folders are protected.

Change one visible thing.

Give the opening a shorter headline. This command updates both format plans and validates text fit.

node scripts/first-video.cjs edit projects/my-first-video --headline "Make space for your next idea."

This edits the visual title. Narration and caption words stay intact. A new spoken story needs a new script, permitted audio, alignment and retiming. The editable plans, words, sound plan and rights record are in your project folder.

Render. Watch. Listen.

Build both native layouts and wait for the command to finish. Then watch both MP4s all the way through with sound.

node scripts/first-video.cjs render projects/my-first-video --format both

projects/my-first-video/outputs/
  landscape.mp4  · 1920 × 1080
  portrait.mp4   · 1080 × 1920
  landscape.srt + landscape.vtt
  portrait.srt + portrait.vtt
  first-video-build.json

Check captions, text size, crops, speech continuity, scene changes and the final frame. After intentionally editing this working copy, use --force to replace its exports. Render timing depends on your computer.

Collect a clean handoff.

Choose a fresh delivery folder outside your working source. The helper decodes the video, checks caption structure and declared rights, and verifies hashes after copying.

node scripts/first-video.cjs deliver projects/my-first-video --format both --out deliveries/my-first-video

Each format gets the movie, English SRT/VTT, a cover, editable source, rights records and a checksum manifest. Unresolved rights stop delivery. This does not publish or upload anything.

Read the export checklist · Reuse your brand settings