Help Center

1. AI Help Assistant

Use the assistant below for interactive help. It is trained on the full Help Center — every topic in this guide: signup & card on file, Square billing & subscriptions, mobile navigation, durable Library & credits, Re-create from Library (prompt saved with each media file), live Pricing yields, Library folders / Trash · Restore · Empty Trash, generation, Super Creation, Music Video (may be temporarily offline during updates), Chop Audio, Music Record Voice & Vocal Models (~50 studio performers + yours), Studio sessions, timeline tools (blade, fades, Undo / Redo, BPM, H/V zoom, mobile hold-to-move, full screen, track rename), Media Pool Import & Delete, Mixer live arm/record + input devices + delete audio tracks, Color LUTs (master or single clip), hardware-style FX inserts including Auto-Tune, These Go to 11 (Delay/Chorus On·Off), Electric Bass Amp, and Kc Channel Strip (VHD tube saturation), educational glossaries, export, FAQ, and troubleshooting. Available to every visitor — no extra setup required.

Prefer reading? Continue with the sections in the table of contents for the full written manual.

2. Platform overview

Caldwell AI is an integrated creative production platform that combines large-scale generative media systems with a professional non-linear editing environment (Studio). The product is designed so that ideation, generation, asset management, multi-track assembly, audio mixing, color finishing, and multi-format delivery can occur inside one authenticated workspace without requiring a fragmented chain of unrelated third-party tools for everyday production.

At a high level, Caldwell AI organizes work into three complementary layers. The Creation layer provides purpose-built surfaces for video, image, music, and music video generation, plus Super Creation for multi-stage narrative projects. The Library / Media Pool layer stores, catalogs, and reuses generated or imported assets across sessions and projects. The Studio layer provides a Resolve-inspired editing environment with multi-track timeline, program viewer (including true full-screen display mode), mixer with per-track faders, a professional multi-slot FX rack, a large finishing LUT library (cinema + designer looks), and export pipelines for movie (.mov / .mp4), WAV, and MP3 deliverables.

The platform is multi-user by design. Each account maintains its own credentials, credit balance, generation history, Super Creation projects, Studio session state (where applicable), and exported deliverables. Concurrent users operate in isolated account contexts; shared collaboration models, if enabled for your plan, are subject to additional workspace rules described in your commercial agreement and the Terms of Service.

Production domains: use https://caldwell-ai.com or https://www.caldwell-ai.com — both serve the same live app over secure HTTPS. Prefer the URL you bookmarked; either works for sign-in, Library, Studio, and billing.

3. Getting started

3.1 Recommended first-session path

1. Create an account at Sign up with name, email, password, and a valid credit or debit card. A card on file is required for all plans, including free Demo — you are not charged at signup. Without a card, the account is not created.
2. Sign in at Sign in and verify that your name and credit balance appear in the navigation bar.
3. Review Pricing so you understand credit consumption before running large batch jobs.
4. Run a low-cost test generation (for example, a single image) to confirm network connectivity, authentication, and credit deduction behavior.
5. Open Library to confirm the generated asset appears and can be previewed or re-used.
6. Click Send to Studio on a finished generation (or open Studio and use Media Pool / Import) to place clips on a timeline, try a finishing LUT, optionally full-screen the program monitor, and export a short .mp4 or .mov test.

3.2 System requirements

Caldwell AI is a modern web application. For the best experience use a current evergreen browser (Chromium-based browsers, current Firefox, or current Safari). Studio features that involve MediaRecorder-based capture, WebAssembly encoding (for .mov / .mp4 exports), native full-screen display, or offline audio rendering benefit from a desktop-class device with adequate RAM (16 GB or more recommended for long timelines and multi-track mixes) and a stable broadband connection. On phones and tablets you can sign in, browse, generate light work, and open the Library via the mobile main strip (see Mobile navigation). Professional multi-track Studio mixing and export are optimized for larger viewports.

3.3 Interface orientation

The top navigation provides access to Video, Image, Music, Music Video, Super Creation, Studio, Library, and Pricing. Account actions (sign in / sign out, name, and credit balance) appear on the right. On smaller screens, a scrollable mobile main nav keeps Video · Image · Music · Library · MV · Super · Studio one tap away. The footer links to product areas and to Help, Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy. Sticky Studio page tabs (Media, Edit, Color, Mixer, Deliver) appear only inside the Studio workspace.

4. Accounts, card on file & authentication

4.1 What you provide at signup

Account registration at Sign up collects the minimum information required to operate a multi-user service:

• Display name — shown in the nav and on support tickets
• Email — your sign-in identity (use an address you can access)
• Password — at least 8 characters; stored only as a secure one-way hash (see the Privacy Policy)
• Credit or debit card — verified securely through Square during signup

Your account is the security boundary for generations, credits, Super Creation projects, Studio work product, uploads, and downloads.

4.2 Card required on every plan (including free Demo)

A valid card on file is required to create an account for all plans — including free Demo. You are not charged at signup for Demo. The card is verified (SetupIntent) and kept on file so you can upgrade to a paid plan, buy credit packs, and so the platform can reduce abuse. Without a successful card verification, the account is not created.

4.3 Sign-in

Open Sign in with the same email and password. After success you should see your name and credit balance in the navigation. If login fails, double-check spelling (mobile keyboards sometimes insert spaces), try a private window, clear site cookies, or use another browser. Staff / admin routes use the same login with elevated roles — never shared with regular customers.

4.4 Session model

After successful authentication, Caldwell AI issues a session credential (a signed token in an HTTP-only cookie). Generation, Super Creation, library, billing, and Studio-adjacent APIs require a valid session. Logging out ends the session on that browser; always sign out on shared machines.

4.5 Account status (active · suspended · banned · frozen)

If you believe your account was restricted in error, use Contact support under the Help AI chat with the email on the account and what you were doing when access stopped.

4.6 Free access (complimentary)

Operators may grant free access on selected accounts (partners, VIP, internal testers). Free-access accounts skip Caldwell credit charges for generation while the flag is on. You still use the same product surfaces; price estimates may still show planning numbers with a free-access note.

4.7 Account security obligations

• Use a unique password that is not reused from other services.
• Do not share credentials with collaborators; request workspace features if available.
• Immediately change your password and contact support if you suspect unauthorized access, unexpected credit drain, or unfamiliar exports.
• Treat download links and exported files as sensitive if they contain unreleased creative work.
• Keep your card current in Pricing → Manage subscription & cards so upgrades and packs succeed.

4.8 Account lifecycle

You may stop using the service at any time. Cancel recurring billing via the Square customer portal (Pricing → Manage subscription & cards). Account deletion, data export, and retention windows are governed by the Privacy Policy and applicable law. Suspended, banned, or frozen accounts may lose access to generation and other endpoints while review is pending.

5. Billing, Square & payments

All paid money movement for plans and credit packs runs through Square — a PCI-compliant payment processor. Caldwell does not store full card numbers on its own servers; card details are entered in Square’s secure form at signup and checkout.

5.1 What you can buy

• Monthly plans — Creator, Pro, Studio (and free Demo for new users). Paid plans renew automatically via Square until you cancel.
• One-time credit packs — from about $10 to $10,000 without changing your monthly plan. Packs stack on top of whatever plan you already have.

5.2 Checkout flow

1. Sign in, then open Pricing.
2. Choose a plan (Subscribe / Upgrade) or a pack (Buy). You are sent to a secure Square Checkout session.
3. Complete payment. After success, payment webhooks update your plan and/or credit balance on Caldwell AI — usually within seconds; refresh Pricing or the nav if the balance looks stale.

5.3 Manage subscription & cards

On Pricing, click Manage subscription & cards (signed-in users). This opens the support where you can:

• Update the default payment method
• View invoices and payment history
• Cancel or adjust a recurring subscription (where available)

Cancellation stops future renewals according to Square's checkout rules; unused credits already on the account generally remain until spent (see Terms for any plan-specific rules).

5.4 Failed payments & past due

If a renewal fails (expired card, insufficient funds), Square may mark the subscription past_due and retry. Update your card in the portal promptly so service is not interrupted. Contact support if credits or plan tier look wrong after a successful payment.

5.5 Live credit rates

Per-model credit costs on Pricing are driven by the platform’s live rate table (operators can update them). When rates change, open Pricing tabs refresh automatically when possible; otherwise refresh the page. Generation charges use the rate in effect at job time.

6. Credits, plans & Pricing page

Caldwell AI meters generative and certain compute-intensive operations through a credit system. Credits are a contractual unit of prepaid capacity associated with your plan; they are not cash, are not legal tender, and generally are non-transferable except where a written enterprise agreement states otherwise. How you pay for plans and packs is covered under Billing, Square & payments.

6.1 Live rates on the Pricing page

Open Pricing for plans, one-time credit packs, Manage subscription & cards, and What you can generate yield tables. Per-model credit costs on that page come from the platform’s live rate table. When rates change and you have Pricing open in another tab, tables refresh automatically when possible; otherwise refresh the page.

6.2 Indicative credit costs

Orient yourself with the live Pricing page before large jobs. Default orientations (operators may change exact numbers):

6.3 Plans, Demo, packs (summary)

Credit packs are one-time top-ups ($10–$10,000 class) without a monthly commitment. Larger packs generally offer a better rate per credit. Mid-cycle upgrades and any rollover rules follow what is shown at purchase and in the Terms. See Team seats & Team Room for Pro/Studio collaboration.

6.4 Reservation, deduction & failure handling

Jobs check balance, deduct (or soft-charge) credits, then run. Infrastructure failures may restore credits; invalid inputs, empty prompts, or policy blocks generally do not. Accounts with free-access flags (operator-managed) skip Caldwell credit charges.

6A. Team seats & Team Room (Pro / Studio)

Pro ($119/mo) includes 3 seats. Studio ($349/mo) includes 5 seats. Seats mean up to that many people can work under the same account email and subscription — shared credits, shared Library, and a built-in Team Room for messaging.

6A.1 Shared login

• Everyone signs in with the account email (one username for the team).
• Use the main account password, then open Team and choose Use this seat for your name — or set a personal seat password so each person logs in with the same email and their own seat password.
• Name seats after each teammate (e.g. Alex, Jordan, Sam) so chat labels are clear.

6A.2 Team Room chat

On /team, the Team Room lets all seats on the account:

• 1:1 chat with any other seat
• Group chat with two or more seats (create a group and add members)
• File share — attach pictures, video, music, and other files in the message thread so the whole group can open them

Select your seat before chatting so messages appear under your name. Creator and Demo plans do not include multi-seat Team Room (upgrade on Pricing).

7. Project price estimates

On Music Video and Super Creation, an Est. project price panel sits next to the primary Send / create button.

• Uses the selected model’s credit rate (live rates when available), clip length, and estimated clip count (from total minutes, or chopped song segments on Music Video).
• After some clips finish, the label can switch to Est. remaining for unfinished work.
• Free-access accounts still see the estimate for planning, with a free-access note.

Estimates are guidance for Caldwell credits. Actual charges occur per successful clip generation and follow the live rate table at job time.

8. Mobile navigation

On phones and narrow screens, Caldwell AI shows a scrollable mobile main nav under the top bar on product pages (home, create surfaces, Studio, Library). It keeps the main creative destinations one tap away:

• Video · Image · Music
• Library — always included so you can open your catalog without hunting through a menu
• MV (Music Video) · Super · Studio

The strip is hidden on Pricing, Help, legal pages, login/signup, and Admin so those screens stay uncluttered. Desktop users continue to use the full top navigation; the mobile strip is additive for small viewports.

Tips: allow cookies for sign-in on mobile browsers; after OS updates, re-allow microphone access if Record Voice or Mixer live record stops listing devices; for dense Studio work, rotate to landscape or use a tablet/desktop.

9. Data durability & uploads

9.1 What is stored with your account

Your account’s durable server-side data includes (as applicable): user profile and role, plan and credit balance, card-on-file references (Square customer / payment method IDs — not full PAN), generation history and Library metadata, folders, Super Creation project records, billing/revenue events used for your account, and media files accepted through the platform upload path.

Production deploys are designed so this data is not wiped when the app is updated or containers restart. Credits, Library items, and projects are meant to survive normal platform releases. Always keep your own backups of mission-critical exports.

9.2 Uploads (images, video, music references)

When a create page or Studio asks you to upload a reference (picture, video, or music), the file is stored through Caldwell’s media upload API and served back via a secure media route. Prefer common formats:

• Images — PNG, JPEG, WebP
• Video — H.264 MP4 / MOV
• Audio — WAV, MP3

Large files need a stable connection. If an upload fails, retry once; if it still fails, try a smaller file or Contact support with the page name and approximate file size.

9.3 Browser-only vs cloud

Some Studio session state and local Media Pool imports can still live in the browser (localStorage / temporary blob URLs). Saving Studio sessions and using Library-sourced media is more durable than one-off local imports. See Studio sessions.

10. Library & media assets

The Library is your account-level catalog of generations — prompt, model, category, status, date, optional title, and an Open link when a result URL exists. Use it to review work, organize folders, Re-create items (reload the original prompt saved with the media), rename items, Delete to Trash, Restore or Empty Trash, buy credits / upgrade plan shortcuts, then send assets to Studio via creation pages or the Media Pool. On mobile, open Library from the main strip anytime. On Image / Video create pages, the on-page library sits under the output panel.

10.1 Filter by type (Videos · Images · Music)

Across the top of the Library list, filter buttons separate your files (these are not “create new” shortcuts):

• All — every generation
• Videos — video and music-video categories
• Images — stills
• Music — music tracks
• Music Videos — music-video only

Each button shows a count. The section title updates to match the active filter. If a filter is empty, use Show all. Create new work from the main navigation (Video, Image, Music, Music Video, Super Creation); return to Library to browse.

10.2 Folders — organize pictures, videos & music

Under Folders, type a name and click + New folder. This works in every Library section (All, Videos, Images, Music, Music Videos). Drag and drop any item onto a folder chip. You can also use the Move to folder dropdown on each row (choose Unfiled to remove it from a folder). Click ✎ to rename a folder. Everything shows every item for that type; open a folder to see only its contents. Deleting a folder only removes the folder — items become unfiled and are not deleted.

The same folders appear in every From Library picker (Image, Video, Music studios, Super Creation, Music Video) so you can browse organized media when picking a reference.

10.3 Re-create, rename & Trash

• Re-create — loads that item’s original prompt (and model / title / media reference when available) into the matching create studio so you can run it again without retyping. The text prompt is saved with every generation. See Re-create from Library.
• Rename — open the rename control on a row; set a clear display title (song name, shot label, etc.). Titles appear in Library and related lists when set.
• Delete — moves the item to Trash (soft delete). It leaves All / folders but is not gone forever yet. Frozen accounts cannot delete library content (see Account status).

10.4 Trash, Restore & Empty Trash

The Trash chip always appears in the folder row (🗑). Soft-deleted items from every Library section (All, Videos, Images, Music, Music Videos, and named folders) land here.

• Restore — on each trashed item; returns it to the Library (same folder as before, or Unfiled).
• Delete forever — permanently removes one item from Trash.
• Empty Trash — permanently deletes all items currently in Trash after a confirm dialog. This cannot be undone.

10.5 Stems from Library

Completed Music songs can run Stems from Library (same as on the Music page). Separation creates vocals / drums / bass / guitar / piano / other and auto-files them into a folder named like “song title stems”.

10.6 Importing external files

Where import is enabled (Studio Import, Super Creation assets, create-page references, or upload APIs), you may bring your own video, audio, and image files. You are solely responsible for ensuring you have rights to use imported material. Prefer widely supported formats (H.264 MP4/MOV, WAV/MP3, PNG/JPEG/WebP). See Data durability & uploads.

10.7 Persistence & exports

Library history and account credits are durable on the server across normal app updates. Still download important assets to your own storage. Studio Deliver exports may be session-scoped in the browser — treat that list as a working tray, not long-term archive, unless the UI marks cloud persistence.

10b. Re-create from Library

When you generate image, video, music, or music-video content, your text prompt is saved with that media file in the Library. Re-create reloads that prompt into the correct create surface so you can tweak and generate again — without copying and pasting. Long prompts load reliably by generation ID (not only via the browser URL).

What Re-create does

1. Opens (or focuses) the matching studio: Image, Video, Music, Music Video, or Super Creation, depending on the item type.
2. Fills the main prompt field with the original text saved on that generation. Music can also restore lyrics and music description when those were submitted.
3. When available, also restores the model, display title (e.g. song title), and attaches the original media as a reference (image / video / audio).
4. Leaves you ready to edit and press Generate (or plan / send on Super / Music Video). It does not spend credits until you start a new job.

Where you will see it

11. AI generation workflows (general)

All generative surfaces share a common conceptual pipeline: you provide creative intent (prompt text, optional negative constraints, references, style hints, duration/resolution parameters), the platform validates inputs and credit capacity, a job is queued or executed, progress is reported, and completed media is written to your Library (and optionally offered for immediate download or Media Pool insertion).

11.1 Prompt anatomy

• Subject & action — who/what appears and what changes over time.
• Environment — location, time of day, atmosphere, practical lighting.
• Camera language — lens feel, move (static, dolly, handheld), framing.
• Style & grade — photoreal, illustration, film stock character, contrast.
• Audio intent (music tools) — genre, tempo, instrumentation, mood arc.
• Constraints — what to avoid (text artifacts, watermarks, unwanted props).

11.2 References & control inputs

Where the UI accepts reference images, style frames, character sheets, or audio beds, those inputs condition the generative process. Higher-quality, well-cropped references with clear subjects generally outperform cluttered collages. Be consistent across a Super Creation project so characters and locations remain recognizable from clip to clip.

11.3 Safety & content filtering

Automated and policy-based systems may refuse or interrupt generations that appear to violate the Acceptable Use provisions in the Terms of Service (including illegal content, severe harm, or other prohibited categories). A refusal is not always accompanied by a detailed forensic explanation. Repeated attempts to circumvent filters may result in enforcement action.

12. Video creation

The Video surface is optimized for short- to medium-form generative video clips suitable for social, concept visualization, B-roll ideation, and as source media for Studio timelines. Typical controls include prompt text, duration or length class, aspect ratio, and optional reference conditioning.

New to AI video? Read Video creation concepts for prompts, aspect ratios, references, and credit-efficient iteration.

12.1 Production tips

• Write prompts as if briefing a cinematographer: subject, action, lens, light, grade.
• Prefer a single clear action per clip; multi-beat narratives are often more successful as multiple clips assembled in Studio or Super Creation.
• After generation, immediately rename or tag mentally for timeline use (establishing shot, insert, reaction, etc.).
• If motion is unstable, simplify camera language and reduce competing action in the prompt.

12.2 Using video in Studio

After a clip finishes, use Send to Studio to drop it into the Media Pool and onto the Studio timeline automatically, or import/drag media manually. Align to the playhead, trim in the inspector, and use the program viewer (with full-screen when needed) to evaluate continuity before export.

13. Image creation

The Image surface generates still frames for concept art, thumbnails, storyboards, key art, product visualization, and as reference plates for video workflows. Images are also first-class timeline citizens in Studio (image clips can be placed on video tracks for holds, title cards, or storyboard pacing).

8.1 Still-to-motion strategies

A common professional pattern is: (1) lock character and environment design as stills, (2) use those stills as Super Creation or video references, (3) generate motion plates, (4) finish in Studio with color and mix. This reduces identity drift across a long project.

8.2 Send to Studio

When an image is ready, Send to Studio adds it to the Media Pool and places it on a video track so you can build boards or hold frames without manual import.

14. Music creation, voice record & Vocal Models

The Music surface offers Lyria 3 Pro (Google) and MiniMax Music 2.6 for full songs with vocals and structure from text prompts (and optional lyrics). Effective music prompts specify genre, tempo or energy, instrumentation, structure (intro, verse, chorus, outro), and emotional arc. Completed tracks appear in the on-page Music library (create folders and drag tracks onto them to organize) and can be sent to Studio for mixdown.

14.1 Record Voice & audio reference

Under Music / audio reference you can:

• ♪ Upload music — attach a file as a style / mood / structure reference for generation
• Input dropdown — choose laptop mic, USB mic, or multi-input interface channels your computer exposes
• ↻ — refresh the device list after plugging/unplugging gear
• 🎤 Record Voice / ■ Stop recording — capture a live take from the selected input (level meter while recording). Allow microphone permission so device labels appear with real names

When a reference clip is ready, preview it with the on-page player. Use Save voice as model to store that take in Vocal Models (see below), or Remove to clear the slot.

14.2 Vocal Models

The Vocal Models section on the Music page holds reusable voice/style cards:

• Studio models (~50) — built-in fictional performers with portraits and short demo takes you can play. Categories include pop, R&B, rap, rock (male & female), and jazz (male & female). These are original Caldwell characters (not real celebrities)
• Yours — personal models created with Save voice as model after recording or uploading a voice/audio reference

On each card you can:

• Play the demo / saved take (native audio control)
• Upload photo — replace the portrait (built-ins have a default portrait; personal models start with a default person silhouette until you upload)
• Original / Default — restore the stock portrait
• Rename — edit the name field
• Use as reference — pin that model as the whole-song vocal tone above the music prompt (tone only; not demo music or the arrangement audio-reference slot)
• Delete — remove personal models only (studio models stay available)

Personal vocal models persist in the browser (and with Music workspace sessions). Studio models always appear in the catalog.

14.3 Stems (instrument / vocal separation)

After a song finishes in the output panel, use the Stems button next to the song title. You can also run Stems on any full mix in the Music page library or on a Music song in the site Library. Stems runs AI source separation (Demucs-class) and splits the mix into separate library tracks. All stems are saved into a new folder named “song title stems” (you can rename the folder with ✎). Stem tracks include:

• Vocals
• Drums
• Bass
• Guitar
• Piano
• Other

Each stem is saved into the Music library on that page so you can play it independently or use Send to Studio per stem (or send the full mix). Stem separation uses credits when live separation is available; otherwise practice stems may appear so you can learn the workflow.

14.4 Mixing generative music in Studio

Place full mixes and stems on separate audio tracks (for example A1 full mix, A2 drums, A3 bass, A4 vocals). Use faders, mute, live arm/record, and the multi-slot FX rack (EQ, compressor, limiter, tube saturation, mastering dynamics, reverb, delay, etc.) for balance. Generative music often benefits from gentle high-pass on non-bass elements and limiting on the master before WAV/MP3 export. See Audio FX glossary and Music creation concepts for plain-language explanations.

15. Music video creation & Super Director

The Music Video section uses Super Director for full-length, multi-clip music videos—not only a single short shot. Short-clip video models accept short audio windows; clip length options include 5 / 10 / 12 / 15 seconds where the model allows. Super Director + Chop Audio turn a full song into consecutive short video shots that carry the soundtrack in order.

Before you send a brief, review the on-screen Est. project price (credits × clips × clip length) next to Send to Grok Super Director.

12.1 End-to-end workflow

1. Upload song — load the full mix you want visualized.
2. Chop Audio — enable Chop Audio and split into consecutive segments (5 / 10 / 12 / 15 sec where supported). The song is cut so each short-clip generator receives the next piece of audio in order.
3. Brief Grok — describe the video concept; optionally paste lyrics and upload image/video look references.
4. Set length & model — total music video length (e.g. 3 minutes), clip length (5–15 s depending on model), and primary MV model.
5. Send to Grok Super Director — Grok plans consecutive video shots (shot N uses audio segment N) so the full song advances in order.
6. Generate & review — clips appear in the Music Video Library; regenerate weak shots; use Send All to Studio when ready.

15.2 Clip length options

Seedance, HappyHorse, and similar MV/video endpoints only accept short audio windows. Music Video UI, Chop Audio, and Super Director planning offer 5 / 10 / 12 / 15 second choices so plans stay valid for those platforms (exact max depends on the selected model).

16. Super Creation (in depth)

Super Creation is Caldwell AI's multi-stage project system for longer-form narrative and campaign work. Grok Super Director expands your concept and/or full screenplay into a shot list of short clips (with session play / pause / cancel for long runs). Assets (characters, world, soundtrack) keep continuity across the plan.

11.1 Conceptual pipeline

1. Intent capture — high-level description of the piece (tone, length, audience, must-include moments), or upload/paste a script for Grok.
2. Grok Super Director planning — breakdown into ordered scenes/clips with prompts, duration, and types (video / image / music cues).
3. Asset board — characters (with optional voice tone audio), locations, props, style references, and soundtrack songs assigned to scenes.
4. Chop Audio on soundtrack — for long songs destined for short-clip video models, enable Chop Audio (5 / 10 / 15 sec on Super Creation) so consecutive shots use consecutive song segments (see Chop Audio).
5. Clip generation & control — auto-play or manual generate; pause/cancel long sessions without losing finished clips.
6. Assembly handoff — Send to Studio / Send All to Studio places completed media on the Studio timeline.

11.2 Consistency techniques

• Define character sheets once; reuse the same references on every related clip.
• Lock a visual “bible” (palette, lens language, era) in asset notes.
• Prefer regenerating a single weak shot rather than re-rolling an entire sequence when only one beat fails.
• Keep a naming convention (SC01_A_establishing, SC01_B_insert) so Studio timelines remain navigable.

11.3 Credit & time planning

Super Creation multiplies generative steps. Before launching full sequence generation, estimate clip count × per-clip credit cost, add contingency for regenerations (often 20–40% extra), and ensure your plan can absorb the full run. Long plans may take extended wall-clock time depending on queue load.

11.4 Failure isolation

If one clip fails, do not discard the entire project. Re-run the failed unit with a tightened prompt, verify references still attach, and continue. Session list and per-project controls are designed so work can resume across browser sessions.

17. Chop Audio

Chop Audio is a Grok Super Director feature for long soundtracks that must feed short-clip video models (Seedance 2.0, HappyHorse, and similar endpoints). Instead of uploading a 3–5 minute song into one generation, Chop Audio splits the track into consecutive windows so clip 0 uses 0–N seconds, clip 1 uses N–2N seconds, and so on through the full song.

12.1 Where it appears

• Super Creation → Assets → Music — per uploaded soundtrack song: enable Chop Audio and choose 5 / 10 / 15 sec splits; assign the song to a scene.
• Music Video — after uploading the song, enable Chop Audio with 5 or 10 sec only (10 sec hard max for MV platforms).

12.2 What happens technically

1. The browser decodes the full audio file.
2. It slices consecutive WAV segments at the chosen increment.
3. Segments are uploaded and stored on the song record.
4. Grok Super Director and clip generation map shot order to segment order so the song plays continuously across the multi-clip sequence.

18. Send to Studio

Send to Studio is the one-click bridge from creation surfaces into the NLE. It does two things:

1. Adds the file(s) to the Media Pool (browser-local pool shared with Studio).
2. Queues the file(s) so Studio places them on the timeline automatically — video/image on a video track (V1), audio on an audio track (A1), appended after existing clips on that track.

13.1 Where to find it

• Video, Image, Music, Music Video — on the output actions after a generation completes.
• Music library / stems — per-item Send to Studio.
• Super Creation library — per completed clip, or Send All to Studio for every finished shot.
• Music Video library — per clip or Send All to Studio.

Studio opens on the Edit page; status confirms how many files were added. You can still drag additional Media Pool items onto other tracks or times as needed.

19. Media Pool bridge

The Media Pool is the bridge between generative / library assets and Studio. It is typically persisted in browser storage for rapid local access so editors can pull known-good media into timelines without repeatedly hunting through long library histories. Send to Studio writes into this pool and also queues automatic timeline placement.

In Studio, the Media Pool lives in the left panel on the Media and Edit pages:

• Import — at the top of the Media Pool (not on the far-right page toolbar). Choose video, audio, or image files.
• Library — load assets from your Library into the pool list.
• + Timeline — place that item on V1 (picture) or A1 (audio).
• Delete — remove the item from the Media Pool. Clips already on the timeline keep playing (they store their own URL).
• Drag-and-drop onto a timeline lane; drop position sets the clip start time.

16.1 Recommended Media Pool hygiene

• Keep only active-project media in the pool to reduce clutter — use Delete on unused items.
• Re-refresh the pool after generating new hero shots or sending from Super Creation.
• Remember that browser storage is device-local: clearing site data removes local pool state. Critical masters should also live in Library downloads or external drives.

20. Studio (NLE) overview

Studio is Caldwell AI's browser non-linear editor: resizable left tools column, center program / mixer / timeline, and right inspector. Pages are Media · Edit · Color · Mixer · Deliver — one shared project. On every page you also get the session bar, timeline + edit tools, optional BPM grid, and Tracks rename panel.

17.1 Panel anatomy

• Session bar (top) — New / Open / Save / Save As, session name, Sessions list, Tracks panel (see Studio sessions).
• Left panel — Media Pool, LUT library (Color), export (Deliver), guidance (Mixer).
• Center — upper — program viewer (Edit/Color) and/or mixer shell.
• Center — timeline — on every Studio page: ruler, tools, tracks, clips. Resize the bottom edge (drag down = taller, drag up = shorter).
• Right panel — inspector for selected clip (track, start, duration, volume).

17.2 Resizing

Column handles resize left/right panels. Under the program monitor, drag the resize strip to change viewer height (works on Edit and Color). Timeline height uses the bottom dock handle. Insert Rack on Mixer has its own bottom resize handle (does not resize the whole mixer).

20b. Studio sessions (New · Open · Save · Save As)

Studio projects can be saved in your browser so you can leave and come back. The session bar sits at the top of every Studio page.

• Session name — click to rename the project title
• New — blank session (warns if you have unsaved changes)
• Open — choose from saved sessions
• Save — save current work (prompts for a name the first time)
• Save As — save a copy under a new name
• Sessions — expandable list with open + delete
• Tracks — rename every video/audio track from one panel

Status shows ● Unsaved or Saved. Shortcuts: Ctrl+S Save · Ctrl+Shift+S Save As.

What is saved

Media list, timeline clips (including fades, volumes, per-clip LUTs), track names, mixer levels, FX insert racks, master volume, master finishing LUT, playhead, timeline zoom, BPM settings, and snap. Data lives in browser storage (localStorage). Reopening Studio restores the last active session when possible.

21. Edit, Color & finishing LUTs

18.1 Edit & program monitor

Use the program viewer to evaluate the frame under the playhead. Transport: play/pause, return-to-start, timecode (and bar.beat when BPM is on). Drag the resize strip under the viewer to change its height. Click the ruler or lane to scrub. Select clips for the inspector.

18.2 Full screen program monitor

On the program frame, click ⛶ Full screen for the entire display (Fullscreen API). Exit with Exit or Esc. If blocked, Studio uses an in-page overlay.

18.3 Color page + master or single-clip LUT

A finishing LUT (Look-Up Table) remaps colors into a polished look. Full guide: Color & finishing LUTs. On Color, the timeline stays visible so you can pick which clip to grade.

Apply target:

• Master track — program-wide look (default for clips without their own LUT)
• Selected clip — only the selected video/image clip
• Apply to full master track — stamp the current look on all picture clips on the primary video track and set program master
• Clear clip LUT — clip falls back to master

Hover any LUT in the library for a graded preview still (beach at sunset). Clips with a clip LUT show a LUT badge on the timeline. Movie exports bake the effective look (clip override if set, else master).

LUT Library groups: Utility (No LUT) · Cinema · Professional · Designer · Experimental. Manual sliders: exposure, contrast, saturation, temperature, tint, shadows, highlights, midtones, vignette.

22. Mixer & professional FX inserts

The Mixer page prioritizes audio: channel strips, master bus, and a multi-slot FX insert rack (up to 10 inserts per track). Program video can sit in a corner preview. Click a loaded insert to open a hardware-style unit window (knobs, meters, chassis) — no third-party brand names. Plain-language guide: Audio FX glossary.

19.1 Channel strips

• Vertical fader — track volume
• Mute (M) — silence without deleting clips
• Record (●) — arms the track (does not capture yet). Press Play (▶) or spacebar to start recording from the playhead. Pause/stop Play or click ■ to end the take. The clip lands in the Media Pool and on that track. Track stays armed for another take until you click ● again to disarm. Only one track arms at a time. Meter shows input level while armed/recording.
• Input dropdown — choose which system audio input feeds that track: laptop built-in mic, USB mic, or individual inputs from a multi-input audio interface (whatever your OS exposes). Use ↻ Inputs in the mixer title bar after plugging/unplugging gear. Allow microphone permission so device labels appear with real names.
• Track name — click the name field under the fader to rename (same names as the timeline)
• Delete — remove an audio track (and its clips / FX / levels). A styled confirm dialog asks before deleting. Cannot delete while that track is recording; at least one audio track must remain. Master cannot be deleted.
• Master — final bus gain (no record; stereo out bus)

19.2 FX insert rack

Select a track → empty slot → pick an effect. Processors (brand-agnostic labels):

• Parametric EQ, Studio Compressor, Brickwall Limiter
• Tube Saturation · Extra Tube Saturation
• Tube Compressor — variable-mu: TC 1–6, DC Threshold, Lat/Vert
• Kc Channel Strip — black/silver console strip: filters, gate, VCA dyn, 4-band EQ (LF → HF), VHD (Variable Harmonic Drive — tube saturation 0–1)
• Mastering EQ / Compressor / Limiter
• Extra Loud Limiter — look-ahead maximizer
• Hall Reverb · Studio Delay · Vocal Doubler
• These Go to 11 — electric guitar amp; every knob 0–11; Extra Boost (clean → full drive); Extra Extra Boost (tube saturation); built-in Delay + Chorus with ON / OFF buttons (knobs keep settings while bypassed)
• Electric Bass Amp — gain, drive, compress, EQ, mid frequency, master
• Auto-Tune — pitch correction: Key, Scale (Chromatic / Major / Minor / Pentatonic), Retune (hard snap ↔ natural), Strength, Humanize, Formant, Mix, Output

Order matters. Common master path: Mastering EQ → Mastering Compressor → Mastering Limiter → Extra Loud Limiter. Vocal path example: Kc Channel Strip → Auto-Tune → light Tube → Doubler → Reverb. IN / BYPASS per unit; Remove clears a slot. FX apply to monitoring and mixdowns. Drag the Insert Rack bottom handle to resize rack height only.

19.3 Live record workflow (DAW-style)

1. Open Studio → Mixer (or Edit mixer strip)
2. Pick the track’s Input (laptop mic or interface channel)
3. Park the playhead where the take should start
4. Press ● to arm (ARM — does not record yet; meter monitors input)
5. Press Play (▶) or spacebar — capture starts
6. Pause/stop Play or click ■ to finish — clip is placed on the track
7. Track stays armed for another take; ● again disarms

For voice references on Music (not timeline takes), see Music → Record Voice and Vocal Models.

19.4 Track creation & deletion

+ Audio Track / + Video Track expand the session. Keep dialogue, music, stems, and SFX on separate audio tracks. Use the channel Delete button to remove an audio track you no longer need (styled confirm; keeps at least one audio track).

23. Timeline, edit tools & tracks

The timeline appears on every Studio page (Media, Edit, Color, Mixer, Deliver). It shows a ruler, track headers, and clips by start/duration. Drop Media Pool items onto a lane; Send to Studio auto-places video/image → V1 and audio → A1.

20.1 Edit tools (audio and video)

Toolbar above the tracks (pro-NLE style; no third-party brand names):

• Select (A) — move clips by dragging. On phones: hold ~0.4s on a clip to drag it horizontally; hold fade corner handles to set fade in/out
• Trim (T) — drag clip edges
• Blade (B) — click a clip to cut
• Fade (F) — drag fade handles; quick Fade In / Out / Both (0.5s)
• Undo / Redo — timeline history for moves, cuts, fades, paste, delete (Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y or Ctrl+Shift+Z)
• Slip (S) — change source in-point without moving the clip on the timeline
• Split at playhead · Copy / Paste / Duplicate · Delete / Ripple delete
• Normalize — peak-normalize selected audio clip volume
• Snap — 0.1s grid, or musical grid when BPM is on

Shortcuts include Ctrl+C / V / D, Delete, Shift+Delete (ripple), Ctrl+Shift+N (normalize), arrow keys for playhead, Alt+arrows to nudge a clip.

20.2 Zoom (horizontal & vertical)

Horizontal (time) — H Out / H Zoom slider / H In, Fit, H Reset. Keys: + / - zoom, 0 fit. Ctrl+scroll (⌘+scroll on Mac) over the timeline zooms under the cursor.

Vertical (track height) — V Out / V Zoom slider / V In, V Reset (about 12%–1000% of default lane height so tracks can get much smaller or much taller — especially useful on mobile Edit). Shift+scroll over the timeline adjusts vertical zoom. Vertical zoom is saved with the project session.

20.3 Timeline full screen

Use ⛶ Full screen in the timeline title bar (or the toolbar FS button) to expand the timeline window to the display. Esc or Exit full screen leaves. Program-monitor full screen and timeline full screen are mutually exclusive.

20.4 Optional BPM measure grid

Toggle BPM on the toolbar (off by default). Set tempo (20–400) and beats-per-bar (e.g. 4/4). When on:

• Ruler shows bar.beat (e.g. 3.2)
• Bar/beat grid lines on every track
• Snap (if enabled) snaps to the musical grid
• Playhead can show timecode · bar.beat

Works with both music and picture editing tools.

20.5 Rename tracks

Rename any video or audio track on every page:

• Tracks button in the session bar — full list with name fields
• Timeline — click the name field on the left of each track
• Mixer — click the name under each fader

Enter to confirm, Esc to cancel. Names save with the Studio session.

20.6 Sync strategy

Music-driven: place music/stems first, then cut picture to beats (enable BPM for a measure grid). Dialogue-driven: place voice first and duck music with faders or compression.

24. Deliver / export pipelines

Deliver mode centralizes export actions (also mirrored as quick actions in the Studio top bar). Caldwell AI supports professional-oriented deliverables including:

• Movie (.mov) — picture + mixed audio (720p H.264 + AAC), suitable for review copies and many NLEs; encoding may use in-browser capture plus WASM toolchains on first run (one-time encoder download may occur).
• Movie (.mp4) — same picture + mix pipeline packaged as MP4 (H.264 + AAC) for broad web and device compatibility. Use Export / Render .mp4 next to the .mov option.
• WAV — high-quality PCM audio mixdown for further mastering (mixer faders + FX rack applied).
• MP3 — compressed audio mixdown for lightweight sharing and reference listens.

19.1 Pre-flight checklist

1. Confirm timeline duration covers the full story (no accidental early cut-off).
2. Unmute intended tracks; mute scratch tracks.
3. Set master to avoid clipping; peek meters while playing loudest section.
4. Verify finishing LUT/grade on hero frames (exports bake the active look).
5. Ensure clips are not missing media URLs (broken imports).
6. Export a short smoke test before overnight long renders when possible.

19.2 After export

Download artifacts immediately from the session export list and verify playback in a separate player. Archive project notes (prompt lists, credit spend, grade settings) alongside media for client revisions. Export trays are session-scoped unless you download and store files yourself.

25. Educational resources

This section teaches the ideas behind Caldwell AI’s Studio, generation tools, and finishing workflows — not only which buttons to click. Read it if you are new to editing, color, mixing, video prompting, or music production. The AI Help Assistant has studied the same material and can explain any of these topics in conversation.

25.1 Studio concepts (what an NLE is)

What is a non-linear editor (NLE)?

An NLE lets you arrange media on a timeline without permanently altering the original files. You place clips, move them, trim duration, layer video and audio tracks, mix levels, apply looks and FX, then export a finished file. Caldwell Studio is a browser NLE with pages for Media, Edit, Color, Mixer, and Deliver.

Timeline, tracks, playhead, program monitor

• Timeline — a horizontal map of your project in time (left = earlier, right = later).
• Video tracks (V1, V2…) — picture layers. Upper tracks typically sit “on top” of lower ones when stacking.
• Audio tracks (A1, A2…) — separate lanes for music, dialogue, stems, and sound effects so you can balance each independently.
• Playhead — the vertical cursor showing the current moment. What you hear and see in the program monitor is sampled at that time.
• Program monitor — the main picture preview of the composed timeline (supports true full-screen).
• Media Pool — the bin of available clips for this session; drag to the timeline or use Send to Studio for auto-placement.
• Inspector — numeric controls for the selected clip (start, duration, track).

Why separate Edit / Color / Mixer / Deliver?

Professional finishing is often staged: assemble picture (Edit), set the look (Color), balance and process audio (Mixer), then render deliverables (Deliver). You can jump between pages anytime; the same timeline underlies all of them.

What Studio does not charge credits for

Arranging clips, applying LUTs, riding faders, stacking FX inserts, saving sessions, and exporting MOV / MP4 / WAV / MP3 generally do not spend Caldwell generation credits. Credits are for AI generation jobs (video, image, music, multi-clip pipelines).

Sessions, tools & BPM (quick pointers)

See Studio sessions for Save/Open, and Timeline, tools & tracks for blade/trim/fade, H/V zoom, timeline full screen, optional BPM measure grid, and track rename. Media Pool Import lives in the left panel — see Media Pool.

25.2 Color finishing & what is a finishing LUT?

What is a finishing LUT?

LUT stands for Look-Up Table. Think of it as a recipe that takes each color in your picture and maps it to a new color. Filmmakers use finishing LUTs to give a project a consistent mood — warm golden hour, cool sci-fi steel, high-contrast noir, soft commercial skin tones, and so on — without regrading every clip by hand from scratch.

In Caldwell Studio, finishing LUTs live on the Color page under LUT Library. Hover a LUT for a graded preview still. Choose Master track (whole program) or Selected clip (one shot only — pick the clip on the Color-page timeline). Movie exports bake the effective look (clip override if set, else master).

LUT library groups

• Utility — No LUT — pass-through; useful when you want the raw generative color or when you plan to grade later in another tool.
• Cinema · Professional — restrained, production-friendly looks (teal / orange cinema, film print emulation, noir, golden hour, bleach bypass, fashion gloss, etc.).
• Designer · Experimental — bold creative looks (mono / B&W families, heavy color washes, synthwave-style palettes, duotones). Great for music videos and stylized social pieces.

Manual color controls (on top of a LUT)

After picking a LUT, refine with sliders such as exposure (overall brightness), contrast (difference between dark and light), saturation (color intensity), temperature (warm ↔ cool), tint, shadows / midtones / highlights, and vignette (darken edges). Small moves often look more expensive than extreme swings.

Good finishing habits

• Grade hero frames first, then check skin tones and darkest / brightest shots.
• Compare No LUT vs your look so you know what the grade is really doing.
• Browser displays vary — for critical client delivery, spot-check on a second calibrated screen when possible.
• Keep one “house look” per project so Super Creation / Music Video clips feel like one film.

25.3 Audio FX glossary (Studio mixer effects)

Studio’s mixer can stack up to 10 insert effects per track. Inserts process the track in order from slot 1 → 10. Below is what each family of effect does, when to use it, and how it maps to Caldwell’s brand-agnostic processors.

What is EQ (equalization)?

An EQ boosts or cuts specific frequency ranges — bass (low), midrange, and treble (high). Use it to reduce mud, brighten dull vocals, tame harshness, or give an instrument its own space in a mix.

• Parametric EQ (Studio) — three bands (low / mid / high) with gain, frequency, and Q (how narrow or wide the band is).
• Mastering EQ — four musical bands (bell or shelf), bandwidth control, high-pass / low-pass filters, and tube-style makeup for gentle bus polish.
• Channel Strip EQ — four bands inside the full console strip (shelves or bells on the outer bands, parametric mids).

Tip: Cut before you boost. A small high-pass filter on non-bass tracks (via Channel Strip HPF or Mastering EQ HPF) cleans low rumble.

What is a compressor?

A compressor reduces the difference between loud and soft moments. When the signal goes above a threshold, the compressor turns it down by a ratio (e.g. 4:1). Attack is how fast it reacts; release is how fast it lets go. Makeup gain restores overall loudness after compression. Result: more even, controlled, “glued” sound.

• Studio Compressor — general-purpose VCA-style dynamics with parallel mix and sidechain high-pass (so bass doesn’t pump the compressor too hard).
• Tube Compressor — variable-mu style with Time Constants 1–6, DC Threshold (softer vs harder knee/ratio feel), Lat/Vert linking, and tube density for classic program glue.
• Mastering Compressor — slower, gentler tube-style compression for the whole mix bus.
• Channel Strip compressor — VCA-style comp built into the strip with soft / hard knee options.

What is a limiter?

A limiter is a very high-ratio compressor that prevents peaks from going above a ceiling. Use it to catch overs and increase perceived loudness without wild spikes. Too much limiting can sound crushed or “pump.”

• Brickwall Limiter — transparent peak control with ceiling and release.
• Mastering Limiter — smoother tube-style high-ratio limiting (not as aggressive as a maximizer).
• Extra Loud Limiter — look-ahead brickwall maximizer for final loudness squash (use last on the master when you want competitive volume).

What is tube saturation?

Tube saturation adds harmonic distortion and warmth the way analog tube gear does when driven. Light drive = subtle richness; heavy drive = grit and density. It is not the same as a compressor (though heavy saturation can feel more “squashed”).

• Tube Saturation — Class-A style drive with bias, tone, harmonics, mix.
• Extra Tube Saturation — thicker multi-stage tube character (more body, density, and glue).

What is a channel strip?

A channel strip packages several console tools in one unit — typically filters, gate, compressor, EQ, and drive — so one track can be shaped end-to-end. Caldwell’s Kc Channel Strip (black faceplate / silver knobs) includes input gain, HPF/LPF, gate/expander, VCA compressor, 4-band EQ ordered LF → LMF → HMF → HF, VHD (tube saturation), and output. Ideal for vocals, dialogue, or a single stem you want fully “console processed.”

What is a gate / expander?

A gate turns the signal down (or off) when it falls below a threshold — useful for cleaning quiet noise between drum hits or dialogue phrases. An expander is a gentler relative of the same idea. On Kc Channel Strip, enable the gate section when noise floors are distracting.

What is reverb?

Reverb simulates space — a room, hall, or chamber — by adding reflections. Size, decay, damping, and width control how large and dark/bright the space feels. Hall Reverb in Studio is for musical depth; use sparingly on dialogue so words stay clear.

What is delay?

Delay (echo) repeats the sound after a short time. Feedback controls how many repeats you hear; tone filters shape the echoes. Studio Delay is great for music tails, slap-back on vocals, or rhythmic interest — not usually on every track at once.

What is a vocal doubler?

A doubler creates a thickened stereo image with tiny time offsets (like double-tracking). Vocal Doubler adds width and presence to vocals or leads without a full reverb wash.

What is Auto-Tune?

Auto-Tune is pitch correction for vocals and dialogue. You set a Key and Scale (Chromatic, Major, Minor, or Pentatonic). Retune controls the feel: low = hard, robotic snap (classic pop Auto-Tune); high = more natural polish. Strength is how much correction is applied; Humanize softens mechanical artifacts; Formant shifts throat character. Use Mix and Output for blend and level. Place it on the vocal track after basic EQ/comp or after Kc Channel Strip.

What are the amp inserts?

• These Go to 11 — electric guitar amp. Every tone/level pot goes to 11 (“10 just wasn't enough…”). Extra Boost is the drive control (0 = clean, 11 = full dirty). Extra Extra Boost (larger knob below) turns up tube saturation 0–11. Also Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence, Master, Reverb. Built-in Delay (Time, Feedback, Tone, Level — warm tape echo) and Chorus (Rate, Depth, Width, Level — stereo shimmer); set Level to 0 to bypass each.
• Electric Bass Amp — bass-focused pre + cab feel: Gain, Drive, Compress, Master, Bass / Mid / Treble, and Mid Freq for scoop or presence.

Suggested signal-flow recipes

• Dialogue / vocal track: Kc Channel Strip (or EQ + Compressor) → Auto-Tune (set key/scale) → light Tube Saturation → optional Doubler → subtle Reverb.
• Guitar DI / stem: These Go to 11 — raise Extra Boost for dirt; Extra Extra Boost for tube body; light Delay Level + Chorus for ambient lead.
• Bass stem: Electric Bass Amp → light Compressor if needed.
• Music bed: gentle EQ → Compressor → Reverb if needed; leave headroom for the master.
• Master bus (common path): Mastering EQ → Mastering Compressor → Mastering Limiter → Extra Loud Limiter (last).
• Stem mix (drums / bass / vocals separated): process each stem track, then glue on master — avoid stacking maximizers on every stem.

25.4 Video creation concepts

What is an AI video generation?

You describe a shot (and optionally attach image / video / audio references). The platform returns a short motion clip. Credits scale with duration roughly in 5-second steps. Longer or multi-clip stories are built by chaining many short clips (Music Video, Super Creation) rather than one infinite take.

Key controls to understand

• Prompt — subject, action, camera, lighting, mood. Clear beats vague.
• Duration — shorter tests save credits; lock style before long expensive clips.
• Aspect ratio — 16:9 for YouTube/film-ish, 9:16 for vertical social, 1:1 for square, 21:9 for ultra-wide cinema, etc.
• Reference image / video / audio — steers identity, motion, or soundtrack windows on models that support them.
• Model choice — different platforms trade off motion quality, speed, and credit cost (see live rates on Pricing).

Production tips

• One clear action per shot beats a paragraph of conflicting directions.
• Generate stills first (cheaper) to lock wardrobe / location, then spend video credits.
• Finish pacing, color, and mix in Studio — generation is the raw plate, not always the final delivery.
• Prefer regenerating a single weak shot over re-rolling an entire Super / MV sequence.

25.5 Music creation concepts

What is AI music generation?

You describe genre, tempo/energy, instrumentation, structure (intro → build → drop → outro), and mood. The platform returns an audio track. Credits often scale with length (~30s steps for some models). Finished tracks land in the Music library and can go to Studio or into Music Video / Super Creation as soundtrack.

What is a voice / audio reference?

On Music you can upload a track or Record Voice from a chosen mic/interface input. That audio steers style, mood, structure, or vocal character for generation (model support varies). See Record Voice.

What are Vocal Models?

Vocal Models are reusable cards: a portrait + an audio take. Studio models (~50) cover pop, R&B, rap, rock, and jazz archetypes with playable demos. Save your own recorded voice with Save voice as model, optionally upload a photo, then Use as reference anytime. See Vocal Models.

What are stems?

A finished mix is one stereo file with everything baked together. Stems split that mix into separate parts (vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, other) so you can rebalance, mute, or FX each part in Studio — the same way professionals remix or master.

Mixing generative music (basics)

• Put the full mix on A1; optional stems on A2–A6 for surgery.
• High-pass non-bass elements; leave sub energy for bass / kick.
• Compress lightly; save the Extra Loud Limiter for the master if you need loudness.
• Record live dialogue/vocals in Studio Mixer with arm ● then Play ▶ (see Mixer live record).
• Export WAV for quality masters, MP3 for quick shares.

Music prompting tips

• Name genre + BPM or energy + key instruments + emotional arc.
• Say what you don’t want (“no harsh synth leads,” “no vocals”) when it matters.
• For MVs, generate or upload the song first, then Chop Audio for picture sync.

25.6 Music Video & Super Creation concepts

Why short clips?

Many video platforms only accept a few seconds of audio or motion at a time (Music Video clips max at 10 seconds). Full-length songs and films are made by planning many consecutive short clips that play in order.

What is Super Director?

Grok Super Director turns your brief (and optional lyrics / script / references) into an ordered shot list. Each shot has a prompt and duration so generation can run clip-by-clip with session play / pause / cancel.

What is Chop Audio?

Chop Audio slices a full song into consecutive 5s / 10s (Music Video) or 5 / 10 / 15s (Super Creation) segments. Shot 1 uses segment 1, shot 2 uses segment 2, and so on — so the soundtrack marches through the piece in order. Match clip length to chop size for clean sync.

Est. project price

Multi-clip jobs multiply cost: model credit rate × length steps × number of clips. The Est. project price box next to Send helps you budget before you start. Actual charges are per successful clip.

When to use which

• Music Video — song-first, consecutive picture-to-audio MVs (Pro / Studio).
• Super Creation — broader multi-clip films / campaigns with characters, world assets, optional script (Pro / Studio).
• Single Video create — one-off clips, tests, B-roll plates.

25.7 End-to-end production workflow (recommended)

1. Ideate cheaply — stills and short video tests; lock characters and palette.
2. Score or generate music — Music page or upload a track you have rights to.
3. Plan multi-clip — Super Creation or Music Video with Chop Audio + Super Director; check Est. project price.
4. Generate & review — regenerate weak shots only; use Library filters (Videos / Images / Music) to audit.
5. Send All to Studio — assemble with Select/Trim/Blade; enable BPM if cutting to a song; Save your session.
6. Color — master LUT or single-clip LUT; refine sliders.
7. Mix — faders, arm/record live takes, hardware-style FX inserts, master path.
8. Deliver — export MOV or MP4; WAV/MP3 audio; download immediately; Save session again.

26. Prompting best practices (expanded)

20.1 Specificity vs over-constraint

Extremely long prompts that fight themselves (“sunny night,” “empty crowded street”) produce unstable results. Prefer coherent, filmable directions. If you need complexity, split across shots.

20.2 Iteration loops

Professional generative work is iterative: explore broadly with cheap stills, lock design, then spend video credits. Keep a prompt journal in your own notes app; Caldwell AI history helps but is not a substitute for creative version control.

20.3 Brand & legal review

If you generate content for commercial release, run brand, legal, and platform-policy review before publication. Generative systems can invent logos, faces, or trademarks; you must clear rights and avoid infringing third-party IP (see Terms of Service).

27. Quality, latency, concurrency & limits

Generation latency depends on model class, output length, resolution, queue depth, and regional capacity. The UI progress indicators reflect best-effort status; they are not stopwatches with contractual SLAs unless your enterprise agreement states otherwise.

• Peak hours may increase queue time.
• Very long Super Creation batches should be staged.
• Browser memory limits can affect Studio on extremely dense timelines; split sequences if the tab becomes unresponsive.
• Rate limits may throttle abusive or accidental tight loops of API calls; wait and retry with backoff.

28. Security & account safety

• Always use HTTPS. Production is available at https://caldwell-ai.com and https://www.caldwell-ai.com.
• Sign out on shared computers.
• Do not paste session tokens into tickets or screenshots.
• Be cautious of phishing sites impersonating Caldwell AI; verify the domain before entering passwords or card details.
• Card data is handled by Square’s secure forms — do not email card numbers to support.
• Report vulnerabilities responsibly through official support channels rather than public exploit posting.

29. Troubleshooting

29.1 Cannot sign in

Verify email/password (watch for mobile keyboard spaces), clear stale cookies for the site, try a private window, disable conflicting extensions temporarily, and confirm you are on caldwell-ai.com or www.caldwell-ai.com. If the account is frozen, suspended, or banned, sign-in is blocked until an operator restores access — contact support with your email. Create a new password if your operator supports reset flows.

29.1b Signup fails at card step

A card is required for every new account, including free Demo. Confirm the card is not declined, the browser allows Square’s secure form, and you completed verification before submit. Without a succeeded card setup, the account is not created. Try another card or contact your bank; then retry signup.

29.1c Plan or pack purchase did not add credits

Wait a few seconds and refresh Pricing or the page. Confirm Square Checkout finished successfully (receipt email). Open Manage subscription & cards for invoices. If payment succeeded but credits/plan are wrong, Contact support with the approximate time and last4 of the card used (not the full number).

29.2 Generation stuck on progress

Wait for queue clearance; refresh Library to see if the asset completed while the UI waited; check credit balance; simplify parameters; try a smaller test job. If credits were deducted with no asset, contact support with approximate timestamp and workflow type.

29.3 Studio media missing

Click Media Pool refresh; re-import files; confirm you are on the same browser profile where local pool data was stored; re-download from Library if cloud copies exist; try Send to Studio again from the creation page.

29.4 Timeline resize feels wrong

Use the handle on the bottom edge of the timeline dock: drag down to enlarge, up to shrink. If browser zoom is not 100%, handles can feel imprecise — reset page zoom to default.

29.5 Export fails or encoder download hangs

First-time .mov / .mp4 encodes may download WebAssembly encoder assets; allow the transfer on a stable connection. Disable aggressive ad blockers on the Studio origin, free disk space for browser downloads, and try a shorter timeline as a control test. If .mov fails, try .mp4 (or the reverse).

29.6 Audio crackles or desync

Reduce track count while debugging; ensure only one heavy tab uses audio callbacks; remount by pausing/playing; export WAV and inspect in an external DAW to separate preview issues from mix issues.

29.7 FX inserts not audible

Confirm the track is unmuted, the insert shows IN (not bypassed), wet/mix knobs are not at zero, and you are monitoring/exporting that track. Rebuild the FX chain after changing slot order if needed.

29.8 Price estimate seems high

Multi-clip projects multiply credits by clip count. Lower total minutes, use fewer/shorter clips, or check live rates on Pricing. The estimate is planning guidance; charges are per successful clip.

29.9 Chop Audio or Stems failed

Confirm a finished song (or uploaded audio) is available before running Stems or Chop Audio. Large files need memory headroom; close other heavy tabs. If the service is temporarily unavailable, try again later or contact support.

29.10 Full screen only fills the browser

Use the Full screen control on the program monitor itself (user gesture required). If the OS full-screen API is blocked by the browser or embedded context, Studio falls back to an in-page overlay—try a standard desktop browser window, not a restricted iframe.

29.11 Track rename not working

Click the name field on the timeline left rail or under a mixer fader and type, or open the top-bar Tracks panel and edit any track there. Press Enter or click away to commit. Names save with the Studio session.

29.12 Session missing after reload

Use Open or Sessions on the Studio session bar. Save often (Ctrl+S). Local file imports that used temporary browser blob URLs may need re-import after a full browser restart; Library/Media Pool paths usually restore.

29.13 Program viewer won’t resize on Color

Drag the resize strip directly under the program monitor (not the timeline handle). Height follows that drag on Edit and Color pages.

29.14 Mixer record starts immediately / won’t start

● only arms the track. Capture starts when you press Play (▶) or spacebar. Pause/stop Play ends the take. Allow mic permission; pick an Input; use ↻ Inputs after plugging an interface. Only one track can arm/record at a time.

29.15 Vocal Models: no sound / can’t save

Press play on the card’s audio control (hard-refresh if an old empty file was cached). To save your voice: record or upload under Music / audio reference, then Save voice as model. Built-in studio models cannot be deleted; personal ones can. Allow microphone access for Record Voice and named device labels.

29.16 Upload image / video / music fails

Use a supported format (PNG/JPEG/WebP, MP4/MOV H.264, WAV/MP3), keep file size reasonable, and stay on a stable connection. Retry once. Sign out/in if the session expired. If the error mentions permissions or storage, Contact support with page name and approximate size.

29.17 Mobile: can’t find Library

On product pages, scroll the bottom mobile strip and tap Library. It is always in that strip on create/Studio/home pages. Pricing and Help hide the strip — use the top menu or go to /dashboard.

29.18 “Account frozen” or cannot delete content

Frozen accounts cannot sign in, generate, or delete library media or the account. Card and library are retained for review. Contact support if you need status clarified; only operators can unfreeze.

30. Accessibility notes

Caldwell AI aims to support keyboard-accessible controls, visible focus states on primary actions, and readable contrast in the black/silver theme. Complex canvases (timeline lanes, vertical faders) are inherently pointer-friendly; numeric inspector fields provide an alternative for fine adjustment. If you encounter a blocking accessibility issue, contact support with the page URL, browser, and assistive technology used so we can prioritize fixes.

31. Frequently asked questions

Do I need a credit card for the free Demo?

Yes. Every new account — including free Demo — must put a valid card on file at signup via Square. You are not charged at signup for Demo. Without card verification, the account is not created. See Accounts & card on file.

How do I upgrade, buy packs, or change my card?

Open Pricing. Subscribe or buy a pack through Square Checkout. Use Manage subscription & cards for invoices, payment methods, and cancellation. Details: Billing, Square & payments.

Will I lose my credits or Library when the site updates?

Production is designed so account data (credits, Library, projects) survives normal deploys and restarts. Always download critical exports as your own backup. See Data durability & uploads.

Do www and non-www both work?

Yes. https://www.caldwell-ai.com and https://caldwell-ai.com both serve the live app over HTTPS.

Do I own my outputs?

Subject to the Terms of Service, applicable law, and your plan, you generally retain rights in your prompts and in output media assigned to your account, while Caldwell AI and its infrastructure providers retain rights in the platform software and underlying models. Read the Terms carefully for license grants, restrictions, and commercial use conditions.

Why don’t I see third-party model brand names as badges on cards?

Caldwell AI presents a clean catalog of platforms by name and description without marketing badges (Demo / Pro / Popular tags were removed). Routing and infrastructure stay abstracted so you can focus on production outcomes.

What does Send to Studio do?

It adds the selected file(s) to the Media Pool and queues them so Studio places them on the timeline (video/image on V1, audio on A1). See Send to Studio.

How do I make a 3-minute music video if models only take short clips?

Use Music Video Super Director with Chop Audio (5 / 10 / 12 / 15 sec where supported). Grok plans consecutive shots that march through the song segment-by-segment. See Music video and Chop Audio.

What happens when I Delete something in Library?

Delete moves the item to Trash. Open Trash to Restore it, or use Empty Trash to permanently erase everything there. See Library & media assets.

Does Re-create keep my original prompt?

Yes. When you Generate, the text prompt is saved with that media. Re-create reloads it into the create form (and often attaches the original media as a reference). See Re-create from Library.

Why is Music Video or Super Creation “offline”?

Operators may temporarily disable those pages for maintenance. Other create tools and Library still work. Try again later, or use Video / Image / Music / Studio.

How do I record my voice on the Music page?

Open Music → Music / audio reference → choose an input → Record Voice → Stop. Then Save voice as model to store it under Vocal Models, or leave it as the generation reference. Details: Record Voice.

What are Vocal Models?

Reusable voice/style cards on Music (~50 studio performers with portraits + demos, plus your saved voices). Play demos, upload photos, rename, and Use as reference. See Vocal Models.

How does Studio live record work?

On Mixer, ● arms a track; Play starts capture; pause/stop or ■ finishes. Pick laptop mic or interface input per track. See Mixer live record.

What are Stems?

On Music, after a track finishes, Stems splits the mix into separate instrument/vocal tracks in the Music library (vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, other). See Music creation & Stems.

Can I export MP4 as well as MOV?

Yes. Studio Deliver (and top-bar shortcuts) support both .mov and .mp4 picture+mix exports, plus WAV/MP3 audio mixdowns.

Can I use outputs commercially?

Many plans allow commercial use, but you must still ensure your prompts/imports don’t infringe third-party rights and that your use complies with the Terms and law (advertising standards, publicity rights, music licensing for real-world distribution, etc.).

Is Studio a full replacement for desktop NLEs?

Studio is a powerful browser NLE for assembly, mix, grade intent, and export. Feature depth differs from installed offline tools; many professionals use Caldwell AI for generative production and rapid finishing, then optionally conform in a desktop NLE for specialty deliverables.

What happens if I run out of credits?

Generative endpoints that require credits will refuse new jobs until you upgrade, renew, or buy a credit pack on Pricing (Square Checkout). Library, Help, and Studio editing of existing media typically remain available. Free-access accounts (operator-granted) skip credit charges while the flag is on.

Why can’t I delete something or sign in?

Check account status. Frozen accounts cannot sign in, generate, or delete library content; card and media stay retained for review. Suspended or banned accounts are also blocked. Contact support with your account email. See Account status.

How do I use the Help AI assistant?

Open this Help page and use the chat at the top. Ask about features, workflows, or troubleshooting anytime. If you still need a person, use Contact support under the chat.

Where is the project price estimate?

On Music Video and Super Creation, next to the main Send / create button. It multiplies model rate × clip length × clip count (or remaining clips). See Project price estimates.

What FX can I put on a track?

Up to 10 insert slots including EQ, compressors, limiters, tube saturation, tube compressor, channel strip, mastering EQ/comp/limiter, extra loud limiter, reverb, delay, and doubler. See Mixer & FX inserts and the Audio FX glossary.

What is a finishing LUT?

A Look-Up Table that remaps colors into a polished cinematic or creative look. Color page libraries: Utility, Cinema · Professional, Designer · Experimental. Apply to master or a selected clip. Hover for previews. See Color & finishing LUTs and Edit, Color & LUTs.

How do I save my Studio project?

Use the session bar: Save / Save As, or Ctrl+S. See Studio sessions.

How do I filter the Library?

On Library, use All · Videos · Images · Music · Music Videos — these filter your list; they do not open create pages. Create folders to organize pictures, videos, and music; use Move to folder on each item. See Library & media assets.

What does Re-create do?

On Library items (and on-page libraries), Re-create loads that item’s original prompt into the correct create studio so you can edit and generate again without retyping. It does not charge credits until you start a new generation. Music Video and Super clip libraries can also Re-run a shot with its saved prompt. Full guide: Re-create from Library.

How do BPM and timeline tools work?

Optional BPM turns the timeline into bars/beats with musical snap. Tools include Select, Trim, Blade, Fade, Slip, copy/paste, normalize audio, and zoom. See Timeline, tools & tracks.

How do I rename a track?

Click the name field on the timeline or mixer, or open the top-bar Tracks panel. Works on every Studio page.

What is a compressor vs a limiter vs tube saturation?

Compressor evening dynamics (loud vs soft). Limiter hard peak ceiling / loudness. Tube saturation harmonic warmth and density. Full plain-language guide: Audio FX glossary.

Where are the educational resources?

Section Educational resources covers Studio concepts, color/LUTs, every mixer effect, video & music creation ideas, Music Video / Super Creation, and an end-to-end workflow. The AI assistant has the same material built in.

Why did generation say the service is unavailable?

Live generation depends on platform capacity. If a job cannot run, wait a moment and try again, check your Caldwell credits, or contact support. Studio and local editing keep working on media you already have.

Related: Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Pricing