Getting started
Five steps. Roughly 15 minutes start-to-finish, including waiting for your first render to complete.
Check hardware
Specs (recommended)
Minimum
Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
16 GB RAM
50 GB free disk
Any CPU from 2018+
Recommended
Windows 11
32 GB RAM
NVIDIA RTX 3060+ (NVENC)
Or AMD RX 6700+ (AMF)
Without NVIDIA or AMD graphics, the processor makes the video instead. It works fine, just slower.
Install
Download the installer from your account page after purchase. Double-click to run it. ffmpeg (the video tool VidNexus uses) comes with the app, so you don't need to install it.
The app installs to your user folder, in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\VidNexus. You can pick another folder during setup. Your videos, working files and settings go to %APPDATA%\VidNexus. You can move the working files and finished videos in Settings > Storage & Compute.
Get your API keys
VidNexus is bring-your-own-keys for every external service. This means zero markup: you pay each provider directly at their published rate.
Ollama account (required for scripts)
Live web research for every script · Free account key
ElevenLabs (required)
Voiceover · ~10 min/month free tier
Pexels (required)
Stock footage · Free, no credit needed
Pixabay (optional)
Stock footage · Free with API key
Coverr (optional)
Stock footage · Free, no credit needed. Ask for a key by emailing team@coverr.co.
Pikzels (optional)
AI thumbnails · Paid tier
OpenAI (optional)
Scripts · Pay per use. Or use Ollama on your computer for free.
Claude (optional)
Ctrl+K assistant · Pay per use. Without a key it uses your AI model in Ollama.
Higgsfield (optional)
Cinematic shots (a short clip with a camera move, made from one picture) · About $0.21 per 5 second clip
Mapbox (optional)
Map motion graphics · First 50k loads/month free
YouTube Data API (optional)
Syncs your channel's videos and powers the research tools · Free (Google Cloud)
Google Cloud OAuth (optional)
YouTube publishing · Free, with your own Google keys
Where to paste them
In the app, paste keys in Settings > API keys. Two go somewhere else: the Claude key goes in Settings > Integrations > Ctrl+K assistant, and the Google keys for publishing go in Settings > Integrations > YouTube. Keys stay on your computer, in your VidNexus user folder. Settings shows only the first and last few characters.
Your first project
Click New project in the sidebar, or type your idea in the box on Home. Pick a channel (or create one).
Enter a topic: "how spices changed world history". Pick Landscape or Shorts, a length and a tone. Or paste your own script, or upload your own voiceover audio.
Review and edit the researched outline, then watch the full script stream in section by section.
Check the hook score and the fact-check panel. Apply any suggested rewrites you like. Then click Continue to voice & visuals.
In Video settings, check the title, voice, graphics and footage sources. Check the cost of the build.
Click Approve & build. Voiceover, captions, motion graphics and footage come together, and your graphics card makes the final MP4 when it can.
Polish in the timeline editor if you like. Then publish straight to YouTube, or use Export for the MP4, an FCP 7 XML file or subtitles (SRT).
What's next
Master motion graphics: 100+ types, when to use each, brand-aware styling.
Tune voice profiles: Per-channel voices, brand kits, pacing.
Pick your AI model: Run Ollama on your computer and save on OpenAI costs.
Join the community: Discord for Early Bird customers.