Remotion Render Config

Generates render configuration documents that define video output settings, codec parameters, format options, and quality settings for Remotion video renders. This skill focuses exclusively on render/export configuration.

What This Skill Does

Generates render configurations for:

1. Output format — MP4, WebM, ProRes, etc.
2. Codec settings — H.264, H.265, VP9 parameters
3. Quality settings — CRF, bitrate, compression level
4. Resolution — Output dimensions and scaling
5. Platform optimization — YouTube, Twitter, Instagram presets

Scope Boundaries

IN SCOPE:

• Render command configuration
• Codec and format selection
• Quality and compression settings
• Platform-specific optimizations
• Output file parameters

OUT OF SCOPE:

• Composition implementation (use /remotion-composition)
• Scene logic (use /remotion-component-gen)
• Animation parameters (use /remotion-animation)
• Asset management (use /remotion-asset-coordinator)

Input/Output Formats

Input Format: Target Platform/Quality Requirements

Accepts render target specifications:

Natural Language:

Render for YouTube at high quality with H.264 codec

Structured Format:

## Render Requirements

**Target Platform:** YouTube
**Quality Level:** High
**Format:** MP4 (H.264)
**Resolution:** 1920x1080
**Frame Rate:** 30 fps
**Additional:** Upload-ready, optimized file size

Output Format: RENDER_CONFIG.md

Generates complete render configuration document:

# Render Configuration: ProductDemo

## Status
✅ Render settings defined
⏳ Ready for video render

## Render Command

npx remotion render \ src/index.tsx \ ProductDemo \ output.mp4 \ --codec=h264 \ --crf=18 \ --pixel-format=yuv420p \ --audio-codec=aac \ --audio-bitrate=320k

## Configuration Details

### Output Format
- **Container:** MP4
- **Video Codec:** H.264 (x264)
- **Audio Codec:** AAC
- **Pixel Format:** yuv420p (for maximum compatibility)

### Quality Settings
- **CRF:** 18 (high quality, ~15-20 MB/min)
- **Audio Bitrate:** 320 kbps (high quality)
- **Preset:** medium (balanced speed/quality)

### Resolution
- **Output:** 1920x1080 (16:9)
- **Frame Rate:** 30 fps
- **Duration:** 30 seconds (900 frames)

## Platform: YouTube

Optimized for YouTube upload:
- ✅ H.264 codec (widely supported)
- ✅ yuv420p pixel format (required)
- ✅ AAC audio (recommended)
- ✅ CRF 18 (high quality, good file size)
- ✅ Metadata compatible

**Estimated File Size:** ~45-60 MB

## Alternative Render Options

### Web Delivery (Smaller File)

npx remotion render \ src/index.tsx \ ProductDemo \ output.mp4 \ --codec=h264 \ --crf=23 \ --audio-bitrate=192k

File size: ~25-35 MB

### Maximum Quality (Archive)

npx remotion render \ src/index.tsx \ ProductDemo \ output.mp4 \ --codec=h264 \ --crf=15 \ --audio-bitrate=320k \ --preset=slower

File size: ~80-100 MB

### Fast Preview Render

npx remotion render \ src/index.tsx \ ProductDemo \ preview.mp4 \ --crf=28 \ --preset=ultrafast

File size: ~15-20 MB

## Render Workflow

1. **Test render** (first 3 seconds):

npx remotion render src/index.tsx ProductDemo test.mp4 --frames=0-90

2. **Full render** with progress:

npx remotion render src/index.tsx ProductDemo output.mp4 --codec=h264 --crf=18

3. **Verify output**:
   - Check file size
   - Play in video player
   - Verify audio sync
   - Check quality

4. **Upload to platform** (YouTube, etc.)

## Next Steps

1. **Run test render** to verify timing and quality
2. **Adjust CRF** if file size too large/small
3. **Full render** when ready
4. **Upload to target platform**

## Troubleshooting

**File too large:**
- Increase CRF (23-28 for web)
- Lower audio bitrate (192k or 128k)

**Quality issues:**
- Decrease CRF (15-17 for higher quality)
- Use slower preset (slow, slower)

**Rendering slow:**
- Use faster preset (fast, veryfast)
- Reduce resolution temporarily for testing

## Checklist

- [x] Codec selected
- [x] Quality settings defined
- [x] Platform optimized
- [x] Render command generated
- [ ] Test render completed
- [ ] Full render completed
- [ ] Output verified

Codec Reference

H.264 (Most Compatible)

Best for: YouTube, web delivery, social media

--codec=h264
--crf=18          # Quality (lower = better, 15-28 typical)
--pixel-format=yuv420p
--audio-codec=aac
--audio-bitrate=320k

Quality Levels:

• CRF 15-17: Excellent (large files)
• CRF 18-20: High (recommended)
• CRF 21-23: Good (web delivery)
• CRF 24-28: Acceptable (preview/draft)

H.265 (HEVC) - Better Compression

Best for: Modern platforms, smaller files, 4K video

--codec=h265
--crf=23
--pixel-format=yuv420p10le

Note: Not universally supported, but ~50% smaller files at same quality

VP9 (Open Source)

Best for: WebM format, web delivery, Chrome/Firefox

--codec=vp9
--crf=30
--pixel-format=yuv420p

ProRes (Professional)

Best for: Video editing, maximum quality, no compression

--codec=prores
--prores-profile=3  # HQ profile

Warning: Very large files (~1-2 GB/minute)

Quality vs File Size Reference

For 30-second 1080p video at 30fps:

Platform-Specific Presets

YouTube

npx remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName output.mp4 \
  --codec=h264 \
  --crf=18 \
  --pixel-format=yuv420p \
  --audio-codec=aac \
  --audio-bitrate=320k

Specifications:

• Resolution: 1920x1080 or higher
• Frame rate: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, or 60 fps
• Codec: H.264 or H.265
• Audio: AAC-LC, 320 kbps

Twitter/X

npx remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName output.mp4 \
  --codec=h264 \
  --crf=20 \
  --audio-bitrate=192k

Specifications:

• Max duration: 2:20 (140 seconds)
• Max file size: 512 MB
• Resolution: Up to 1920x1200 or 1200x1920

Instagram Feed

npx remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName output.mp4 \
  --codec=h264 \
  --crf=20 \
  --audio-bitrate=192k

Specifications:

• Max duration: 60 seconds
• Resolution: 1080x1080 (1:1) or 1080x1350 (4:5)
• Frame rate: 30 fps
• Codec: H.264

Instagram Reels/Stories

npx remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName output.mp4 \
  --codec=h264 \
  --crf=20 \
  --audio-bitrate=192k

Specifications:

• Resolution: 1080x1920 (9:16)
• Max duration: 90 seconds (Reels), 15 seconds (Stories)
• Frame rate: 30 fps

TikTok

npx remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName output.mp4 \
  --codec=h264 \
  --crf=20 \
  --audio-bitrate=192k

Specifications:

• Resolution: 1080x1920 (9:16)
• Max duration: 10 minutes
• Max file size: 287.6 MB
• Frame rate: 30 or 60 fps

LinkedIn

npx remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName output.mp4 \
  --codec=h264 \
  --crf=20 \
  --audio-bitrate=192k

Specifications:

• Max file size: 5 GB
• Resolution: 256x144 to 4096x2304
• Frame rate: 10-60 fps

Advanced Render Options

Concurrency (Faster Renders)

--concurrency=8  # Use 8 CPU cores

Image Sequence (for Post-Processing)

--sequence
--image-format=png

Outputs PNG sequence for After Effects, Premiere, etc.

Specific Frame Range

--frames=30-90  # Render frames 30-90 only

Scale Output

--scale=0.5  # Render at 50% resolution (960x540)

Useful for quick previews.

Overwrite Existing File

--overwrite

Custom Output Name

npx remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName "output/final-video.mp4"

Environment Variables

# Number of CPU cores to use
export REMOTION_CONCURRENCY=8

# Disable browser sandbox (Docker)
export REMOTION_DISABLE_CHROMIUM_SANDBOX=true

# Set custom Chromium path
export REMOTION_CHROMIUM_PATH=/path/to/chromium

Render Configuration File

Create remotion.config.ts:

import { Config } from "@remotion/cli/config";

Config.setCodec("h264");
Config.setCrf(18);
Config.setPixelFormat("yuv420p");
Config.setAudioBitrate("320k");
Config.setAudioCodec("aac");
Config.setConcurrency(8);
Config.setOverwriteOutput(true);

Then render with:

npx remotion render

Render Scripts

Add to package.json:

{
  "scripts": {
    "render:preview": "remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName preview.mp4 --crf=28 --preset=ultrafast",
    "render:draft": "remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName draft.mp4 --crf=23",
    "render:final": "remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName output.mp4 --codec=h264 --crf=18",
    "render:youtube": "remotion render src/index.tsx VideoName youtube.mp4 --codec=h264 --crf=18 --audio-bitrate=320k"
  }
}

Usage:

npm run render:youtube

Render Performance Tips

1. Use concurrency to utilize all CPU cores
2. Close other applications during render
3. Use SSD for faster file I/O
4. Reduce composition complexity if render is too slow
5. Test render small ranges before full render
6. Use image-format prop if you need transparency

Quality Verification Checklist

After rendering:

• [ ] File plays without errors
• [ ] Audio is in sync with video
• [ ] Visual quality meets expectations
• [ ] File size is reasonable for platform
• [ ] No encoding artifacts visible
• [ ] Colors look correct
• [ ] Text is readable
• [ ] Animations are smooth

Integration Workflow

1. Complete composition via other skills
2. Generate render config using this skill → RENDER_CONFIG.md
3. Run test render (first few seconds)
4. Verify quality and timing
5. Run full render
6. Upload to target platform

Integration with Other Skills

This skill is the FINAL STEP in the pipeline:

remotion-render-config (this skill)
    ↓ outputs: RENDER_CONFIG.md
    ↓ used after: All implementation is complete
    ↓ produces: Final video file

Works with:

• /remotion-scaffold — Render outputs completed project
• /remotion-composition — Renders structured composition
• /remotion-component-gen — Renders implemented scenes
• /remotion-spec-translator — Orchestrates this as final step

This skill provides production-ready render configurations that ensure high-quality video output optimized for target platforms.