AI Short Drama Video Composition and Export Guide
What you will learn
- Where video composition ends and the AV editor begins
- What to check before rendering so you do not waste time
- How to choose between five transition styles or no transition at all
- How to estimate credits, retry failed renders, and decide when to move to the AV editor
1. What video composition is
Video composition merges storyboard clips, dialogue, sound effects, and music into one complete short drama. It is built for speed, not frame-by-frame precision editing.
Composition flow
How it differs from the AV editor
| Comparison item | Video composition | AV editor |
|---|---|---|
| Working style | One-click composition for fast output | Multi-track editing for deeper refinement |
| Transition range | Basic transitions | More transitions, filters, subtitles, watermarks, and keyframes |
2. Pre-composition checklist
- ☐ All storyboard videos have been generated
- ☐ All required dialogue has been voiced
- ☐ Lip-sync is finished or intentionally skipped
- ☐ Sound effects and BGM are configured or intentionally empty
- ☐ Transitions are set
- ☐ Audio balance has been reviewed
⚠️ You can still compose without completing every check, but the final viewing quality usually suffers.
3. Transition setup
| Effect | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| No transition | Hard cut | Fast rhythm and action-heavy content |
| Fade | Opacity blend | Lyricism, flashback, and time passing |
| Wipe right | Left-to-right push | Forward story movement and scene changes |
| Wipe left | Right-to-left push | Flashback, reversal, or directional contrast |
| Perlin | Organic texture dissolve | Dreamlike, fantasy, or time-slip sequences |
Preview the transition before committing to it whenever possible.
Transition tips
- Keep transition language consistent across one short drama
- Fade usually works well for urban emotional stories
- Perlin fits fantasy and other stylized material better
- Mystery and action often benefit from hard cuts instead of decorative transitions
4. Composition options and credit usage
Aspect ratio and quality are usually fixed when the project is created. At composition time, the important part is confirming the current parameters, balance, and estimated cost.
| Quality | Unit price | 30-second estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p | About 1.5 credits per second | About 45 credits |
| 1080p | About 2.5 credits per second | About 75 credits |
The confirmation dialog shows runtime, quality, unit price, estimated usage, and current balance. Credits are deducted only after you confirm.
What to do if credits are low
- Upgrade your subscription for more monthly credits
- Buy a one-off credit pack
- Use referral rewards to add credits
- Prefer 720p while testing because it reduces cost significantly
5. Composition process
- After submission, the video enters the render queue
- The page shows a progress bar and percentage
- Processing continues in the background even if you leave the page
- Runtime and quality mainly determine how long it takes
What to do if composition fails
- Common causes include timeout or temporary service pressure
- Wait a few minutes and retry directly
- A failed composition should not charge you again
6. Preview and download
- Use the built-in player to inspect image, dialogue, music, and effects
- Download links are usually time-limited and can be regenerated later
- Completed compositions are automatically saved into your works list
7. When to move into the AV editor
- You need frame-level or multi-track editing
- You need subtitles, watermarks, filters, or more transition control
- You need more precise audio-video alignment
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Multi-track timeline | Separate tracks for video, dialogue, music, effects, subtitles, and visual effects |
| Expanded transition set | More transition options than the composition page |
| Video filters | Brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, and related controls |
| Subtitle editing | Subtitle styling, animation, and export formats |
| Watermark and keyframes | Useful for branding and more precise motion control |
Composition is for getting a complete first cut quickly. The AV editor is for pushing that first cut toward a more polished deliverable.
FAQ
Q: How long does composition usually take?
Usually a few minutes up to around ten minutes. Shorter runtime and 720p often finish faster.
Q: What should I do if composition fails?
A failed job should not charge again. Wait a few minutes and retry, then inspect assets or contact support if the problem repeats.
Q: Can I still modify the video after composition?
Yes. You can return to the storyboard page and re-compose, or move directly into the AV editor for refinement.
Q: What is the difference between composition and AV editor export?
Composition quickly combines existing shots, while the AV editor is meant for multi-track refinement and more professional finishing work.