When you want to automate this

One video per row of your data.

1
See it
OutputMP4
Size1920 × 1080 (16:9)
Length10s
Frame rate25 fps
Tracks / clips2 / 2
Assets used1 audio, 1 html5
Soundtrackno
Merge fields19
2
Make it yours

Send a merge array with your values for these fields:

FieldDefault value
{{ ADDRESS }}12 Harbour St
{{ STREET }}Harbour St
{{ SUBURB }}Harbourside
{{ WALK_TIME }}5 min walk
{{ WALK_TO }}to the station
{{ PARKS }}2 parks
{{ PARKS_RANGE }}within 500 m
{{ CAFE_TITLE }}Café strip
{{ CAFE_SUB }}Wharf Lane, 3 min away
{{ STATION_NAME }}Harbour Station
{{ PARK_A }}Fig Tree Park
{{ PARK_B }}Bay Reserve
{{ CAFE_STREET }}Wharf Lane
{{ WATER_NAME }}The Harbour
{{ PAPER }}#F2ECE0
{{ INK }}#23282C
{{ ACCENT }}#CF6436
{{ BEATS }}0.361,0.986,1.611,2.236,2.861,3.486,4.111,4.736,5.361,5.986,6.611,7.236,7.861,8.486,9.111,9.736
{{ BARS }}0.361,2.861,5.361,7.861
Edit and save to your account
3
Run it once

Save the JSON above as template.json, then render in the free sandbox:

# Save the JSON above as template.json, then:
curl -X POST https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render \
  -H "x-api-key: $SHOTSTACK_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @template.json

# Poll until status is "done", then download response.url
curl https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render/RENDER_ID -H "x-api-key: $SHOTSTACK_API_KEY"
import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';

const headers = { 'x-api-key': process.env.SHOTSTACK_API_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' };
const edit = JSON.parse(readFileSync('template.json', 'utf8'));

const { response } = await fetch('https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render', {
  method: 'POST', headers, body: JSON.stringify(edit)
}).then((r) => r.json());

let render;
do {
  await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 3000));
  render = (await fetch(`https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render/${response.id}`, { headers }).then((r) => r.json())).response;
} while (!['done', 'failed'].includes(render.status));

console.log(render.status, render.url);
import json, os, time, requests

headers = {"x-api-key": os.environ["SHOTSTACK_API_KEY"]}
with open("template.json") as f:
    edit = json.load(f)

render_id = requests.post("https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render", json=edit, headers=headers).json()["response"]["id"]

while True:
    render = requests.get(f"https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render/{render_id}", headers=headers).json()["response"]
    if render["status"] in ("done", "failed"):
        break
    time.sleep(3)

print(render["status"], render.get("url"))
npm install -g @shotstack/cli
export SHOTSTACK_API_KEY=your_sandbox_key

shotstack validate template.json          # offline schema check, free
shotstack render template.json --env stage --watch

Sandbox renders are free and watermarked. Production: the v1 endpoint and key. SDKs

4
Automate it

One render is a demo. A video for every row of your data is the workflow.

Paste into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor — your AI assistant builds the workflow around your data.

Node.js, one render per CSV row, wired to this template's 19 merge fields. Setup steps in the header.

Guides: Bulk-create from a CSV · Webhooks · Templates endpoint · Render your first video

AI assistants: Markdown () · · · CLI skill: SKILL.md () · MCP server

Common questions

How do I change the text and media without editing the JSON?

Use the 19 merge fields listed above. Send a merge array with your own values for each field and the API swaps them in at render time, so one template can produce thousands of unique videos.

Can I render this in full HD or 4K for YouTube?

Yes. This template renders 1920×1080 by default. Set output.resolution to "1080" or output.size to a larger 16:9 size in the JSON; the layout scales with it.

What size and length is the output?

This template renders a 1920×1080 (16:9) MP4 that is 10 seconds long, built from 2 clips on 2 tracks.

Can I generate hundreds of these automatically?

Yes. Loop over your data source (a CSV, a database, a webhook payload), send one render request per row with different values, and use a callback URL so Shotstack notifies you when each video is ready.