AVScript — Getting Started: Step-by-Step Checklist

This guide is a hands-on walkthrough of AVScript from first launch to a finished edit — and through Story AI. Work through it top to bottom, checking off each item as you go. You don’t need to finish it in one session; your browser will remember which boxes you checked.

Step 01

Open a Library, Then a Project

AVScript organises your work in two layers: a Library (a collection of related projects) and Projects inside it. You always open the Library first, then pick or create a project from within it.

On the dashboard, click Open Library — or create a new one if this is your first timeInside the Library you’ll see all your projects — click one to open it, or click New ProjectThe editor loads with that project’s Media Bin, Timeline, and Clip ListTo switch projects later: go back to the Library (top-left breadcrumb) and pick another project

Tip: A Library is like a folder for a whole show or client — keep all episodes of the same project in one Library so they share the same media pool.

Step 02

Import Your Media

Load video files into the Media Bin. Supported formats include MP4, MOV, MXF, ProRes, MP3, and WAV.

Drag video files directly into the Media Bin (left panel)Or click the Import button in the toolbar and select files from your diskEach file appears as a card with a thumbnail — click a card to load it into the player

Tip: Files imported here are stored locally in your project. To make them available for Story AI processing, you’ll need to upload them to the server — see Step 04.

Step 03

Import an XML / FCPXML

Already have a rough cut in Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Premiere? Bring it in directly — no rekeying.

In your NLE, export your sequence as FCPXML (File → Export XML in FCP; or from the Share menu in Premiere/DaVinci)In AVScript click Import XML in the toolbar and select the .fcpxml fileAVScript reads all clips, in/out points, timecodes, descriptions, and multicam anglesThe Timeline and Clip List auto-populate — your assembly appears instantlyMulticam sequences are parsed automatically — camera angles per clip are preserved

Step 04

Upload Files to the Server

Server-uploaded files stay in cloud storage permanently — this is what Story AI processes. Upload once, access forever.

Click the Upload button (cloud ↑ icon) in the toolbarSelect a video file from your local driveA progress bar appears — wait for the upload to completeWhen done, the clip appears in the Media Bin with a ☁ server iconServer files persist between sessions — you never upload the same file twice

Important: Only server-uploaded files can be processed by Story AI (Transcription, Emotions, Visual AI). Local-only files can be used in the editor but cannot be sent through the AI pipeline.

Step 05

TAB — Switching the Active Panel

AVScript has three panels: Media Bin, Clip List, and Timeline. Only the active panel responds to navigation keys. TAB switches between them.

AVScript editor — Media Bin (active), Clip List, Timeline

Press TAB — the orange border moves from the Bin to the Clip ListPress TAB again — the border moves to the TimelinePress TAB once more — it cycles back to the BinNotice: J / K / L work everywhere regardless of which panel is active

Why this matters: If ↑↓ or Space are not doing what you expect, check which panel has the orange border. The same key does different things in each panel — by design.

Step 06

Keyboard Shortcuts

AVScript is designed to be controlled entirely from the keyboard. Here is the full reference.

Global — work in every panel:

Key	Action
`J`	Shuttle backward (×0.25 → ×0.5 → ×1 → ×2 → ×4 — press again to speed up)
`K`	Stop shuttle / pause
`L`	Shuttle forward (same speed ramp as J)
`I`	Set In point at current frame
`O`	Set Out point at current frame
`← →`	Step ±1 frame
`Shift + ← →`	Step ±10 frames
`Cmd/Ctrl + S`	Save project
`Escape`	Close modal / dismiss context menu

Media Bin (TAB until the Bin has the orange border):

Key	Action
`↑ / ↓`	Select previous / next clip in the bin grid
`Space`	Load selected clip into the player and play it
`← →`	Step ±1 frame (precise source scrubbing)

Clip List (TAB to activate):

Key	Action
`↑ / ↓`	Select previous / next clip in the script list
`Space`	Smart play: stop shuttle → stop sequence → play from playhead → toggle video
`E`	Add selected clip to the Timeline
`Enter`	Open clip details modal
`Backspace / Delete`	Delete selected clip from the list

Timeline (TAB to activate):

Key	Action
`↑ / ↓`	Jump to previous / next cut
`Space`	Smart play sequence
`S`	Split clip at current playhead position
`E`	Add clip from current In/Out points
`M`	Add a marker at the current frame
`W`	Insert a 5-second black slug at the playhead
`[`	Trim clip start to current playhead
`]`	Trim clip end to current playhead
`Cmd/Ctrl + =`	Zoom in on the timeline
`Cmd/Ctrl + -`	Zoom out on the timeline
`Enter`	Open clip details modal
`Backspace / Delete`	Delete selected clip

Load a clip in the bin — press J and L to shuttle; K to stopPress I to mark an In point, then O for an Out point — watch the filmstrip highlightPress TAB until the Clip List is active — use ↑↓ to navigate, E to add to timelinePress TAB again for the Timeline — try ↑↓ to jump between cuts

Step 07

The Filmstrip

The filmstrip runs below the video player and gives you a visual timeline of the currently loaded clip — with your In/Out range highlighted.

Filmstrip — Interview_CEO_4K_001.mov

00:00

00:30

01:00

01:30

02:00

02:30

03:00

03:30

04:00

04:30

00:00:00;00I 00:01:22;08 → O 00:02:47;1200:04:58;00

Load a clip and look below the player — the filmstrip shows frame previews across the whole clipDrag the red playhead line left and right to scrub to any pointClick anywhere on the filmstrip to jump the playhead to that frame instantlyPress I at one point, O at another — a yellow highlight appears between them on the filmstripWhen playing a sequence, the playhead follows the current clip position in real time

Step 08

Media Bin Settings

Click the Media Bin heading label to open the clip settings panel on the right side. This is where you control how each clip behaves in the editor — including the colour it uses when you make an In/Out selection in the timeline.

Click the Media Bin label (top-left heading of the bin panel) — the settings panel opens on the rightHere you can rename the clip and add a descriptionChoose a colour label — this is the colour the clip will show in the timeline whenever you mark an In/Out and add it to the editTry setting different colours for different camera angles or speakers — your timeline becomes readable at a glance

Tip: Assign colours before you start editing — it takes 2 seconds per clip but saves a lot of hunting once your timeline fills up.

Step 09

Text Video Editor — Edit from the Transcript

Select words in the transcript, get precise IN/OUT points automatically. No timecodes to write down. No scrubbing to find the line.

Click on a transcribed clip in the bin to load it into the player — the Transcribe button is green when a transcript exists (from Whisper or from Story AI)The transcript panel appears with every word time-stamped — you can read the whole clip at a glanceClick and drag to select a sentence or phrase you want as a clipAVScript instantly sets the In point to the first word of your selection and the Out point to the last wordPress E to add it to the Clip List — the transcript text becomes the clip’s description automaticallyRepeat for every line you need — build your paper edit entirely from text

This also works on multicam: if the source clip is from a multicam sequence, the extracted clip arrives in the timeline already linked to its multicam context — ready for angle switching.

Step 10

The Timeline

The horizontal timeline at the bottom of the screen is your assembled edit. Each block is a clip in order — play them as a sequence, jump between cuts, reorder.

CEO Opening · 00:02:14 – 00:02:47

B-Roll Office

CEO Growth Quote · 00:05:33

Crowd

00:00:0000:00:2000:00:4000:01:0000:01:20;07

Press TAB to focus the Timeline (orange border appears around it)Press Space to play your sequence from the current playhead positionPress ↑ or ↓ to jump between cuts (the playhead snaps to the start of each clip)Click any clip to select it — it highlights and the source clip loads in the bin playerCheck the total duration display in the bottom bar — it updates as you add or remove clips

Step 11

Drag & Drop — Script List and Timeline

Everything in AVScript can be reorganised by dragging. From bin to script, from script to timeline, within the timeline.

Drag a clip from the Media Bin into the Clip List to add it to your script without setting In/Out points yetIn the Clip List, drag clips up and down to reorder your paper editDrag a clip from the Clip List into the Timeline to place it at a specific positionIn the Timeline, drag clips left and right to reorder the edit sequenceDrag from the Timeline back into the Clip List if you want to un-place a clip without deleting it

Step 12

Click a Clip — Source Always in the Bin

No matter where you are in the edit, clicking any clip always loads the original source video in the bin player. You never lose track of what you shot.

Click a clip in the Timeline — watch the Media Bin: the source file appears in the player automaticallyClick a clip in the Clip List — same result: source loads in the binUse J/K/L to scrub through the source around the cut — check what you left outUse I / O in the bin to adjust the In/Out of the source before updating the clip

Why this matters: On a long interview you often need to verify what’s just before or after a selected line. The bin always shows the full source — not the trimmed version — so you can check context without any extra clicks.

Step 13

Trim with Brackets in the Timeline

The fastest way to tighten a clip in the timeline is to position your playhead and press a bracket key. No mouse dragging required.

Focus the Timeline (TAB) and click a clip to select itUse L to play and K to stop at the exact frame you want as the new startPress [ — the clip’s start point trims to the current playhead. The clip gets shorter from the left.Move the playhead to where you want the clip to end, then press ] — the end point trims to that frameThe source file is not changed — only the in/out pointers in your project update

Step 14

Zoom In / Zoom Out on the Timeline

Zoom in for frame-accurate work, zoom out to see the full edit.

Focus the Timeline, then press Cmd + = (or Ctrl + =) to zoom in — clips expand horizontallyPress Cmd + - to zoom out — useful to see your full sequence at a glanceWhen zoomed in far enough, individual frame marks appear on each clipTry zooming in and then using ← → for frame-by-frame accuracy on a cut point

Step 15

Split a Clip

The S key splits a clip at the exact playhead position — creating two independent clips you can trim, delete, or reorder separately.

Focus the Timeline and click the clip you want to splitNavigate to the exact frame where you want the split — use L to play, K to stop, ←→ to fine-tunePress S — the clip becomes two clips with the split point as the new boundarySelect either half and press Backspace to delete, or drag it to a new positionUse split + delete to remove a section in the middle of a clip without any third-party tools

Step 16

Export as PDF Script

Export your assembled clip list as a formatted PDF — useful for paper edits, director reviews, and client approvals.

Once your Clip List looks complete, click Export in the toolbarSelect PDF Script from the export optionsA formatted PDF downloads containing: scene order, clip filenames, descriptions, timecodes, speakers, and slugsShare it with a director or client before you open your NLE — get approval on paper first

Step 17

Export to your NLE

Choose the right export for your NLE. Your assembly cut opens with every clip, description, and timecode intact — no re-logging, no retyping.

Final Cut Pro — click ··· → FCPXML. A .fcpxml file downloads — import via File → Import → XML. Descriptions appear as titles on the timeline.Adobe Premiere Pro — click ··· → Premiere XML. Choose your options in the modal (captions, bin metadata, FPS). Import the .xml file via File → Import. No Translation Report.DaVinci Resolve — use FCPXML. Import via File → Import Timeline → Import AAF, EDL, XML.The paper edit IS the NLE edit. No double work.

Before you start: Story AI requires credits (AI minutes). Check your balance at Settings → Story AI → Credits. You can purchase additional minutes there. For details on how pricing works see Build Your Pipeline. Own Your Story →

Step 01

Configure Your Pipeline

Before running any AI job you need to activate a pipeline configuration — which services to run and in what combination. You only need to do this once, or whenever you want different results.

🎙 Transcribe

3 services

💜 Emotions

1 service

👁 Visual

2 services

✓

TranscriptionSpeech → text · word-level timestamps · 99 languages · FOUNDATION

€0.0072/min

Speaker DiarizationWho speaks when — automatic labelling per segment

€0.0048/min

✓

TranslationTranslates transcript to 30+ languages · DeepL Pro

€0.0108/min

✓ Activate pipeline — save this configuration

Go to Settings → Story AI → Pipeline ConfiguratorThe configurator has three tabs: Transcribe, Emotions, Visual — each contains individual servicesEnable Transcription (under the Transcribe tab) — this is the foundation; most other services depend on itOptionally enable Speaker Diarization if you have multiple speakers (interviews, panels)Optionally enable Translation if you need the transcript in another languageSwitch to the Emotions tab — enable if you want per-shot emotional scoring (joy, tension, energy…)Switch to the Visual tab — enable Visual AI if you want scene descriptions, objects, and compositions searchableWatch the cost calculator on the right update as you toggle services — it shows the total cost per minute of footageWhen satisfied, click “Activate pipeline” — this saves the configuration to your account

Start lean: If you’re trying Story AI for the first time, activate only Transcription. It costs the least and unlocks the core feature: the chat and the text search. Add Emotions and Visual AI later once you know what your footage needs.

Pipeline changes take effect on the next job: Activating a new configuration does not reprocess old footage. The new pipeline applies to the next Story AI job you run. If you want Emotions on footage you already transcribed, you need to re-run the job with Emotions enabled.

Step 02

Check Your Credits Balance

Story AI jobs consume AI minutes from your credits balance. Check what you have before running a long job.

Go to Settings → Story AI → Buy AI CreditsYour current balance is shown in minutes (e.g. 500 min)Estimate cost: total footage minutes × your active pipeline cost per minute (shown in the configurator)If you need more, purchase a credit pack — available in 100 min, 500 min, and 2000 min bundlesCredits never expire — unused minutes carry over forever

Step 03

Upload Your Footage to the Server

Story AI needs your video files on the AVScript server. If you already uploaded them in Part 1 Step 04, they’re ready — skip to Step 04.

In any project, click the cloud upload ↑ button in the toolbarSelect the video file(s) you want Story AI to processWait for the upload to complete — a ☁ icon appears on the clip card when doneYou can close the browser and come back — the file stays on the server permanently

Step 04

Run the Story AI Job

With your pipeline configured and footage uploaded, you’re ready to run the analysis. AVScript sends the video through each enabled service and stores every result.

Navigate to Story AI in the main menuSelect the uploaded video file you want to processAVScript shows the pipeline that will run and the estimated cost — verify it matches what you configuredClick Run Story AI — the job starts immediatelyA progress bar shows which stage is running: Transcription → Diarization → Emotions → VisualYou can navigate away — the job runs in the background and you’ll be notified when it’s doneCredits are deducted when the job completes (not when it starts)

Sandbox mode: Before running on your full footage, try the Sandbox checkbox — it runs the pipeline on only the first 2 minutes of the video so you can verify the results before committing credits to the full run.

Step 05

Chat with Your Footage

Once the job is complete, the AI chat is unlocked. Ask questions about the footage in plain language — it understands transcript content, emotions, and visual descriptions.

When the job completes, click Open in Story AI or navigate to the projectThe chat panel opens — type a question like “Find moments where the CEO sounds confident”The AI responds with timecode references — click any timecode to jump the player to that momentTry an emotion search: “Show me the most energetic moments” (requires Emotions service)Try a visual search: “Find shots with golden hour outdoor wide” (requires Visual AI)Try a transcript search: “Who talks about the budget?”Each response includes exact file names, in/out timecodes, and a short description of the moment

Step 06

Build a Project from Story AI Results

Story AI results aren’t just for searching — you can turn a chat conversation into a complete project with a timeline, script, and FCPXML export.

In the chat, click the + Add to project button next to any result to add that clip to your working projectOr ask: “Build me a 3-minute edit of the best emotional moments” — Story AI generates a clip listReview the generated clip list and remove anything that doesn’t fitClick Create Project — a new project opens with those clips in the Clip List and Timeline, ready to exportFrom the new project, do a final review in the editor, trim if needed, then export as FCPXMLImport the FCPXML into Final Cut Pro or DaVinci — your AI-assisted assembly cut is complete

AI results are permanent: Once a file has been processed by Story AI, the results are stored forever. You can come back months later, open the chat, and search the same footage again — no re-processing required, no additional credits consumed.

You’ve completed the full AVScript workflow. From raw footage to a finished assembly cut — with AI that understands what’s in it. If you haven’t configured your pipeline yet, start there: Build Your Pipeline. Own Your Story →