recoupable · recoupableorg · May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
diff --git a/skills/short-video/SKILL.md b/skills/short-video/SKILL.md
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+---
+name: short-video
+description: End-to-end playbook for producing a vertical, social-ready short-form music video (image + motion + caption + composed final) from an artist and a song. Use when the user asks to make a video, generate content for an artist, create a TikTok or Reel, produce a music-video clip, or kick off the content pipeline — phrases like "make a video about", "generate content for", "create a TikTok", "kick off a video for X", "short-form video", or "music video for $ARTIST". The skill has two paths: an async pipeline (`POST /api/content/create` + poll `/api/tasks/runs`) for short-shell agents, and a manual five-step recipe (template → image → video → caption → ffmpeg compose) when you want to swap a single stage.
+---
+
+# Short Video
+
+The canonical recipe used internally by Recoup's `create-content` background task. Follow it to produce a 9:16 music-video clip from an existing artist + song, ready to post.
+
+Two paths are documented below: the **async pipeline** that an LLM agent should use, and the **manual walkthrough** for humans (or for cases where you want to swap a single step).
+
+## Running as an agent? Use the async pipeline
+
+`POST /api/content/video` is synchronous and routinely takes 60–180s. Most agent shells (Claude Cowork, OpenAI tool calls, etc.) cap a single command at 30–60s and kill background processes when the shell exits. The manual walkthrough below is effectively un-runnable from those environments.
+
+Use the async path instead. Same five steps, run server-side:
+
+```bash
+# Trigger
+RUN_IDS=$(curl -sS -X POST "https://api.recoupable.com/api/content/create" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d "$(jq -n --arg artist "$ARTIST_ACCOUNT_ID" --arg template "$TEMPLATE" \
+        '{artist_account_id: $artist, template: $template}')" \
+  | jq -r '.runIds[]')
+
+# Poll (every ~10s) until COMPLETED / FAILED / CANCELED / CRASHED
+RUN_ID=$(echo "$RUN_IDS" | head -1)
+until STATUS=$(curl -sS "https://api.recoupable.com/api/tasks/runs?runId=$RUN_ID" \
+                 -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" \
+               | jq -r '.runs[0].status') && \
+      [[ "$STATUS" =~ ^(COMPLETED|FAILED|CANCELED|CRASHED)$ ]]; do
+  sleep 10
+done
+
+# Read the output
+curl -sS "https://api.recoupable.com/api/tasks/runs?runId=$RUN_ID" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" \
+  | jq '.runs[0].output'
+# -> { videoSourceUrl, imageUrl, captionText, template, lipsync, audio: {...} }
+```
+
+Polling fits inside short shell timeouts and survives session restarts. See [Tasks Runs](https://developers.recoupable.com/api-reference/tasks/runs) for the full status enum (`QUEUED`, `EXECUTING`, `COMPLETED`, `FAILED`, `CANCELED`, `CRASHED`, etc.) and the `CreateContentRunOutput` schema.
+
+### Resolving `$ARTIST_ACCOUNT_ID`
+
+`POST /api/content/create` needs the artist's `account_id`. Three calls:
+
+```bash
+ORG_ID=$(curl -sS "https://api.recoupable.com/api/organizations" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" | jq -r '.organizations[0].id')
+
+ARTIST_ACCOUNT_ID=$(curl -sS "https://api.recoupable.com/api/artists?org_id=$ORG_ID" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" \
+  | jq -r --arg name "$ARTIST_NAME" '.artists[] | select(.name == $name) | .account_id')
+```
+
+The artist record exposes both `id` and `account_id` (both UUIDs). Use **`account_id`**. `id` is the artist row's primary key, `account_id` is the underlying account that owns it. The two are easy to swap; you'll get a 404 from `/api/content/create` if you pass the wrong one.
+
+## Where the song lives
+
+Step 5 (and the async pipeline's lipsync mode) need a `song.mp3`. **Don't assume one exists, and don't assume the user has one locally.** Walk the agent through this fallback chain:
+
+1. **Check the artist's sandbox repo first.** Each Recoup account has a backing GitHub repo. If the user has imported songs through Recoup, they live at predictable paths:
+
+   ```
+   .openclaw/workspace/orgs/{org-slug}/artists/{artist-slug}/songs/{song-slug}/{song-slug}.mp3
+                                                                               /lyrics.json
+                                                                               /clips.json
+   ```
+
+   Discover the repo with `GET /api/sandboxes` (returns `github_repo` and a `filetree`); fetch a file with `GET /api/sandboxes/file?path=…`. **Binary files (`.mp3`, `.png`, `.mp4`) come back base64-encoded in the `content` field. Decode before writing to disk.**
+
+2. **If no song is in the sandbox, ask the user how to proceed.** Two options to offer:
+   - *"Want me to fetch the audio from YouTube?"* The agent downloads via `yt-dlp` (or equivalent), saves locally; user is responsible for any rights / DSP-licensing implications.
+   - *"Want to supply the song yourself?"* User uploads / drops a path; agent reads from there.
+
+   Don't pick a path silently. The cost of fetching the wrong song from YouTube (or fetching one at all) is enough that the user should make the call.
+
+3. **Don't fall back to "use a placeholder track."** A music video without the song is not a deliverable.
+
+## Manual walkthrough (humans + targeted overrides)
+
+The rest of this skill walks the same steps you can run by hand or call individually if you want to swap a single stage (different prompt for image, different motion, different caption length).
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- An auth credential for `api.recoupable.com`. Two options. Pick one and use it for every call below:
+  - **API key** (`recoup_sk_…`, recommended for sandbox / agent use): pass as `-H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY"`.
+    - One-shot agent: `POST /api/agents/signup` with an `agent+{unique}@recoupable.com` email returns the key immediately.
+    - Real-email signup: same endpoint with a real email mails a 6-digit code; complete with `POST /api/agents/verify`. See [Agents](https://developers.recoupable.com/agents).
+  - **Privy access token** (for end-user flows in chat/UI): pass as `-H "Authorization: Bearer $RECOUP_ACCESS_TOKEN"`.
+  - The examples below use `x-api-key`. Substitute `Authorization: Bearer …` if you're using a Privy token.
+- `$ARTIST_NAME`, `$SONG_TITLE`, `$SONG_LYRICS_CLIP` (a 1–2 sentence mood snippet)
+- `$REFERENCE_IMAGE_URL` *(optional)*: an artist photo or album cover to seed the image. If your template's purpose is "show this exact image" (e.g. `album-record-store`), set this and skip image generation in step 2.
+- A `song.mp3` for step 5. **Don't ask the user for a local file.** Fetch from the artist's repo via `/api/sandboxes/file`.
+- `ffmpeg` installed locally for step 5
+
+### Step 0: Scaffold the workspace BEFORE any API call
+
+The `VIDEO.md` checklist *is* the workflow state. Tick boxes and persist values back to the frontmatter as you go. To resume later, find the first unchecked box.
+
+```bash
+VIDEO_SLUG=$(echo "$SONG_TITLE" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | sed -E 's/[^a-z0-9]+/-/g; s/^-//; s/-$//')
+VIDEO_DIR="videos/$VIDEO_SLUG"
+mkdir -p "$VIDEO_DIR"
+
+cat > "$VIDEO_DIR/VIDEO.md" <<EOF
+---
+artistName: $ARTIST_NAME
+songTitle: $SONG_TITLE
+template:
+imageUrl:
+videoUrl:
+captionText:
+finalVideoPath:
+---
+
+# $SONG_TITLE: $ARTIST_NAME
+
+## Pipeline checklist
+
+- [ ] 1. Pick template (\`GET /api/content/templates\` + detail). Capture \`template\`.
+- [ ] 2. Generate the base image (\`POST /api/content/image\`). Capture \`imageUrl\`.
+  - [ ] 2a. (Optional) Upscale image (\`POST /api/content/upscale\` with \`type: "image"\`).
+- [ ] 3. Generate the video (\`POST /api/content/video\`). Capture \`videoUrl\`.
+  - [ ] 3a. (Optional) Upscale video (\`POST /api/content/upscale\` with \`type: "video"\`).
+- [ ] 4. Generate the caption (\`POST /api/content/caption\`). Capture \`captionText\`.
+- [ ] 5. Compose 9:16 final with audio + caption (local \`ffmpeg\`). Capture \`finalVideoPath\`.
+
+## Notes
+EOF
+```
+
+### Step 1: Pick a template (required: list **and** detail)
+
+Templates carry the prompt, reference images, and styling that drive the rest of the chain. You can't write a good Step 2 prompt without them. List, pick, then fetch detail:
+
+```bash
+curl -sS "https://api.recoupable.com/api/content/templates" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" \
+  | jq -r '.templates[] | "\(.id): \(.description)"'
+
+TEMPLATE="album-record-store"   # or artist-caption-{bedroom,outside,stage}
+
+TEMPLATE_DETAIL=$(curl -sS "https://api.recoupable.com/api/content/templates/$TEMPLATE" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY")
+```
+
+**Templates that list "Requires: face image"** (e.g. `artist-caption-bedroom`) will fall back to their bundled reference images and produce a generic-likeness subject if you don't supply one. They don't 400. Pass `$REFERENCE_IMAGE_URL` if you want the model to preserve a specific artist's likeness, or omit it for a stock-feeling result.
+
+See [List Templates](https://developers.recoupable.com/api-reference/content/templates) and [Template Detail](https://developers.recoupable.com/api-reference/content/template-detail).
+
+**After:** write `template` into frontmatter, tick the box.
+
+### Step 2: Generate the base image
+
+Use the template's own prompt and reference images. Don't write your own from scratch. The template encodes the visual style; freeform prompts almost always drift off-brand.
+
+```bash
+PROMPT=$(echo "$TEMPLATE_DETAIL" | jq -r '.image.prompt')
+REFS=$(echo "$TEMPLATE_DETAIL" | jq -c '[.image.reference_images[]?]')
+# $REFS is 5–15 URLs depending on the template; pass all of them via images[]
+
+IMAGE_URL=$(curl -sS -X POST "https://api.recoupable.com/api/content/image" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d "$(jq -n --arg prompt "$PROMPT" --argjson refs "$REFS" \
+        --arg ref "$REFERENCE_IMAGE_URL" \
+        '{prompt: $prompt, images: $refs} + (if $ref == "" then {} else {reference_image_url: $ref} end)')" \
+  | jq -r '.imageUrl')
+```
+
+**Shortcut:** if `$REFERENCE_IMAGE_URL` is the exact image you want (e.g. an album cover for `album-record-store`, or a final editorial photo), set `IMAGE_URL=$REFERENCE_IMAGE_URL` and skip this call entirely.
+
+**Avoid:** prompts that aim for a real artist's likeness. Veo (used in step 3) rejects celebrity-likeness images with a 422. Use the template's prompt as-is and let the reference images carry the style.
+
+See [Generate Image](https://developers.recoupable.com/api-reference/content/generate-image).
+
+**After:** write `imageUrl`, tick the box.
+
+### Optional: Upscale (image or video)
+
+Same endpoint for both, swap `type`. Skip if you don't need the resolution bump.
+
+```bash
+# Image (after step 2)
+IMAGE_URL=$(curl -sS -X POST "https://api.recoupable.com/api/content/upscale" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d "$(jq -n --arg url "$IMAGE_URL" '{url: $url, type: "image"}')" \
+  | jq -r '.url')
+
+# Video (after step 3): same call, type: "video", reassign $VIDEO_URL
+```
+
+See [Upscale](https://developers.recoupable.com/api-reference/content/upscale).
+
+### Step 3: Generate the video
+
+Pass the image and a short motion prompt. For lipsync, also pass a presigned `audio_url` to a song clip and the model will animate the artist's mouth.
+
+```bash
+MOTION=$(echo "$TEMPLATE_DETAIL" | jq -r '.video.movements[0] // "Slow camera drift, subtle subject motion"')
+
+VIDEO_URL=$(curl -sS --max-time 360 -X POST "https://api.recoupable.com/api/content/video" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d "$(jq -n --arg image "$IMAGE_URL" --arg prompt "$MOTION" \
+        '{image_url: $image, prompt: $prompt, aspect_ratio: "9:16"}')" \
+  | jq -r '.videoUrl')
+```
+
+This call routinely takes 60–180s. **From a short-shell agent, use the async pipeline at the top of this page instead.** From a long-lived shell, output is an 8s clip. Step 5 loops it to song length.
+
+See [Generate Video](https://developers.recoupable.com/api-reference/content/generate-video).
+
+**After:** write `videoUrl`, tick the box.
+
+### Step 4: Generate the caption
+
+```bash
+TOPIC="Song: \"$SONG_TITLE\". Lyrics: \"$SONG_LYRICS_CLIP\". Artist: $ARTIST_NAME."
+
+CAPTION_RESPONSE=$(curl -sS -X POST "https://api.recoupable.com/api/content/caption" \
+  -H "x-api-key: $RECOUP_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d "$(jq -n --arg topic "$TOPIC" --arg template "$TEMPLATE" \
+        '{topic: $topic, template: $template, length: "short"}')")
+
+CAPTION_TEXT=$(echo "$CAPTION_RESPONSE"     | jq -r '.content')
+CAPTION_FONT=$(echo "$CAPTION_RESPONSE"     | jq -r '.font          // "/System/Library/Fonts/Helvetica.ttc"')
+CAPTION_COLOR=$(echo "$CAPTION_RESPONSE"    | jq -r '.color         // "white"')
+CAPTION_STROKE=$(echo "$CAPTION_RESPONSE"   | jq -r '.borderColor   // "black"')
+CAPTION_FONT_SIZE=$(echo "$CAPTION_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.maxFontSize  // 48')
+```
+
+`length` accepts `"short"` (default), `"medium"`, `"long"`, or `"none"` to skip. The four styling fields (`font`, `color`, `borderColor`, `maxFontSize`) are template-driven hints. Step 5 wires them into ffmpeg's `drawtext` so the burned-in caption matches the template's brand.
+
+See [Generate Caption](https://developers.recoupable.com/api-reference/content/generate-caption).
+
+**After:** write `captionText`, tick the box.
+
+### Step 5: Compose the final 9:16 video (local)
+
+The API returns a 16:9 motion clip. Compose locally: crop to 9:16, overlay the song audio for the full duration, and burn in the caption with the styling from step 4.
+
+```bash
+curl -sS -o "$VIDEO_DIR/clip.mp4" "$VIDEO_URL"
+SONG_PATH="$VIDEO_DIR/song.mp3"           # see "Where the song lives" above
+FINAL_PATH="$VIDEO_DIR/final.mp4"
+
+# Write caption to a file. drawtext reads it via textfile=, sidestepping shell-escaping (apostrophes, etc.)
+echo -n "$CAPTION_TEXT" > "$VIDEO_DIR/caption.txt"
+
+# Single-line filter graph: newlines inside -filter_complex are literal characters and break the [v] label
+ffmpeg -y \
+  -stream_loop -1 -i "$VIDEO_DIR/clip.mp4" \
+  -i "$SONG_PATH" \
+  -filter_complex "[0:v]crop=ih*9/16:ih,scale=1080:1920,drawtext=fontfile=$CAPTION_FONT:textfile=$VIDEO_DIR/caption.txt:fontcolor=$CAPTION_COLOR:fontsize=$CAPTION_FONT_SIZE:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=h-text_h-120:box=1:boxcolor=$CAPTION_STROKE@0.5:boxborderw=20[v]" \
+  -map "[v]" -map "1:a" \
+  -shortest -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -pix_fmt yuv420p \
+  "$FINAL_PATH"
+```
+
+**After:** write `finalVideoPath`, tick the box. With every box ticked, the music video is complete.
+
+---
+
+The checklist is the source of truth. If a box isn't ticked, treat the step as not run.