# Getting started

> Your first video: start from Home, let your agent make the first cut, then refine and export it.

Formats Studio docs · Start · https://formats.app/docs/getting-started · Updated 2026-09-27

## What Formats Studio is

Formats Studio is a video editor for your Mac that your AI agent can drive. Ask **Claude Code**, **Codex** or **GitHub Copilot** for an edit in plain words and it works on a real multi-track timeline: cuts, captions, graphics, looks and exports. Every change is ordinary editing you can review, undo or refine by hand.

> **Note:** Editing, playback, effects and export run on your Mac against the files in your workspace. Hosted AI, such as AI captions and generation, sends only what that feature needs and uses credits.

## Start from Home

Home asks **What do you want to create today?** and offers a few starting points, each saying what to bring:

| Starting point | Bring | What happens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Talking-head video** | A video of you talking | Choose **Captions only**, **Clean talking head**, **Talking head + callouts** or **Talking head + floating B-roll** |
| **Motion graphics** | The words to animate | Your agent builds editable titles and animated scenes |
| **Release video** | Notes and screenshots | Your agent cuts a short announcement from your material |
| **AI avatar video** | A script | A presenter reads it in the voice you choose (Creator plan) |

Or skip the cards: describe the video in the request box, add files with **Add attachments**, and press **Start video request**. Formats creates the project, places your media and hands the request to your agent.

## Your first edit

1. Choose **Talking-head video**, add a clip of someone speaking, and pick **Clean talking head**.
2. The editor opens with your clip on the timeline and the agent at work in the **AI** panel. It transcribes the audio, removes long pauses and filler words, and adds captions.
3. Read the activity as it arrives. With **Review edits** on, each change waits as a card with **Apply edit** and **Decline**.
4. Press `Space` to play, and `←` and `→` to step one frame at a time.
5. Refine anything by hand: drag a cut, change a caption word, restyle the captions in the Inspector.
6. Save with `⌘S`, then choose **Export** (`⇧⌘E`) to render the finished video.

> **Tip:** Everything the agent did is one `⌘Z` away, and the same undo history holds your own edits too.

## Start with an empty project

For a traditional edit, choose **New project** from the app menu on Home. Set the name, resolution and frame rate, then import media from the **Media** tab. You can ask your agent for help at any point from the **AI** panel.

## Check that everything works

- Home opens after you sign in, with your workspace ready.
- A new project opens in the editor with your media in the **Media** tab.
- Playback starts when you press `Space`.
- The **AI** panel shows your agent and model in the composer; if it asks you to set up an agent, see [Work with your agent](https://formats.app/docs/agent).
- **Export** opens and its checks report nothing blocking.

> **Tip:** If a step fails, [Troubleshooting](https://formats.app/docs/troubleshooting) lists the common symptoms and fixes.

## Related

- [Install Formats Studio](https://formats.app/docs/install): What your Mac needs, installing the app, signing in, where projects live, and staying up to date.
- [Work with your agent](https://formats.app/docs/agent): Choose Claude Code, Codex or GitHub Copilot, ask for edits in plain words, and review, apply or undo what it does.
- [How Formats Studio works](https://formats.app/docs/concepts): The mental model: your agent and you on one timeline, local files and linked media, sequences, and frames.
- [Export](https://formats.app/docs/export): Render video or audio on your Mac, choose the format and sequence, and clear any blocking checks.