You want to skip local setup
Open the hosted product in a browser instead of installing and maintaining the project locally.
MEDIA BUDDY · SOURCE-AVAILABLE EDITION
Run Media Buddy on your own machine.
Give it a channel and a few titles. It writes the script, plans the visuals, adds narration, subtitles and music, then renders a finished short or long video locally with your own API keys.
PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 · Commercial use is not permitted.
MEDIA BUDDY · SOURCE-AVAILABLE EDITION
A complete local video workflow
The source-available project is for creators who want to run the workflow themselves. You choose a channel and provide titles; the project does not generate topic ideas for you.
How one video comes together
01
Script
Research and write narration in your channel’s voice.
script.txt
02
Voice
Create narration with word-level timing.
narration.mp3 + word timings
03
Shot plan
Break the script into visual chunks and describe what each should show.
visual_plan.json
04
Footage
Find supporting clips and keep a selection trace for each chunk.
clips + selection trace
05
Subtitles
Create sentence-level subtitles from the narration timings.
Burned into the video
06
Music + compose
Add music, fit clips to narration, and render locally with ffmpeg.
final.mp4
Two ways to create
Choose the workflow that fits you
The open-source edition gives you the source and local control. The hosted edition removes local setup and adds managed creation features.
Workflow
Open-source edition
Hosted edition
Setup
Install and run it on your computer
Open it in a browser; no local setup
Starting point
You provide a channel and titles
Get help finding topics and trends
Visuals
Searches free stock libraries; availability varies by topic
Access to a licensed high-definition footage library
Your footage
Importing or editing your own footage is not included
Bring in your own footage and use AI editing
Commercial use
Not permitted under this license
Use the hosted service for business workflows
Billing
Use your own API keys and computer
Pay by finished video length; no monthly fee
Open-source project details and installation instructions are maintained in the GitHub README.
The hosted edition may fit better if…
Keep the local edition if you want to configure and run the project yourself. Move to hosted when you want less setup or more built-in capabilities.
You need help finding topics
Use channel inspiration and Trend Radar to find a direction before creating.
You need broader footage options
The hosted workflow includes access to a licensed high-definition footage library.
You want to use your own footage
Import footage into the hosted workflow and use its AI editing capabilities.
You create for a business
The source-available edition is non-commercial. Choose the hosted service for business use.
Run the project locally
First install Python 3.11+, Node 20+ and ffmpeg, clone the repository, and activate a virtual environment. Then run the README commands below in order.
Prerequisites: Python 3.11+, Node 20+ (for the one-time UI build), and ffmpeg on your PATH.
Read the full setup guide on GitHubCommands copied from the README
pip install -e ".[dev]"
cd src/frontend && npm install && npm run build && cd ../..
cd src && uvicorn backend.main:app --port 8000Frequently asked questions
Can I use the open-source edition commercially?
No. The repository is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. Commercial use is not permitted.
Does it come up with video topics for me?
No. You choose a channel and provide the titles. The hosted edition includes topic discovery features.
Where are my projects and files stored?
The open-source workflow runs locally on your computer. The README explains which external services are called when you configure their API keys.
Which API keys do I need?
The README lists the required keys and the optional key for additional voice options.
Can I bring my open-source projects into the hosted edition?
There is no automatic project migration. The two editions are separate workflows.
What does the open-source edition not include?
It does not suggest topics, import or edit your own footage, generate AI video clips, publish videos to platforms, or support multiple users.
MEDIA BUDDY
Prefer a ready-to-use workflow?
Create in the browser with managed services and pay by the finished length of each video.
Explore the hosted edition