OpenMontage Installation Guide: Build an AI Video Pipeline with Remotion

OpenMontage is not an online generator that “returns a video file in one sentence,” but rather a local video production pipeline driven by an AI programming assistant. It completes research, proposals, scripts, storyboarding, material selection, dubbing, compositing, and quality inspection in the project directory. Therefore, successful installation cannot be judged solely by whether dependencies are fully installed; it also requires verifying the tool registry, provider capabilities, and final media files.

Project address: calesthio/OpenMontage

Quick Conclusion

• The minimum requirements are Python 3.10+, Node.js 18+, FFmpeg, and an AI programming assistant capable of reading files and executing commands.
• make setupIt is the shortest path for macOS/Linux; Windows should use a standalone virtual environment and PowerShell installation commands.
• Piper, Open Archive materials, and Remotion/HyperFrames can be used without a paid API Key, but actual usable capabilities must be confirmed through the tool registry.
• Don’t make a long video the first time. Start with zero-key examples or 15 to 30 second test clips, then check the output files, duration, tracks, and logs.

Check prerequisites before installation

Don’t waitmake setupOnly check the version after a failed mid-game process. Run first:

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python3 --version
node --version
npm --version
ffmpeg -version
git --version

Python should be no less than 3.10, Node.js should be no less than 18. As long asffmpeg -versionIf it cannot be executed, subsequent encoding, subtitle burning, or audio mixing cannot pass completely.

You can install FFmpeg on macOS and Ubuntu separately:

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brew install ffmpeg
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ffmpeg

macOS or Linux Installation

The official quick start is as follows:

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git clone https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage.git
cd OpenMontage
make setup

Nomakeperform manual installation in a virtual environment to avoid writing dependencies into the system Python:

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python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
cd remotion-composer
npm install
cd ..
python -m pip install piper-tts
cp .env.example .env

After installation, run source .venv/bin/activate again whenever you open a new terminal.

Windows PowerShell Installation

On Windows, do not copy the Bash commands source and cp directly:

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git clone https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage.git
Set-Location OpenMontage
py -3 -m venv .venv
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
Set-Location remotion-composer
npm install
Set-Location ..
python -m pip install piper-tts
Copy-Item .env.example .env

Ifnpm installReturnERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE, the official README provides an alternative command as:

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npx --yes npm install

If PowerShell refuses to activate the script, first confirm that it is a policy execution issue, rather than repeatedly rebuilding the environment. You can also choose not to activate it and use it directly.\.venv\Scripts\python.exeExecute subsequent Python commands.

Verify actual capabilities with the registry

Completing file installation does not mean all video tools have been discovered. Run with the repository root directory and virtual environment activated:

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python -c "from tools.tool_registry import registry; import json; registry.discover(); print(json.dumps(registry.support_envelope(), indent=2))"
python -c "from tools.tool_registry import registry; import json; registry.discover(); print(json.dumps(registry.provider_menu(), indent=2))"

The first item confirms which production capacities the current machine can support, and the second shows the available Providers. If the command is not zero exit, Python import fails, or returns empty capacity, the Agent should not continue to produce the full video.

Start with a zero-key example

Provided by OpenMontage officiallymake demoAs a low-cost rendering entry:

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make demo

Codex, Claude Code, or Cursor can also perform a defined task in an open repository:

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Make a 30-second animated explainer about why the sky is blue, with narration and captions. Use only tools available without paid API keys.

Don’t just look at the Agent’s summary during acceptance. First, locate the newly generated MP4, then use FFprobe to check the media stream:

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find . -type f -name "*.mp4" -print
ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration:stream=codec_type,codec_name -of json PATH_TO_OUTPUT.mp4

The passing result should include at least a non-zero-duration video stream; When dubbing is required, there should also be an audio stream. If there is only a project file but no final MP4, it means the pipeline is not completed.

Configure providers one at a time

Copy.env.exampleOnly the services required for this round of testing will be added:

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PEXELS_API_KEY=your-key
PIXABAY_API_KEY=your-key
UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEY=your-key
ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=your-key
OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key
FAL_KEY=your-key

First, verify free assets or individual providers, then add capabilities one by one. Only start testing after writing all keys simultaneously, which will mix 401, 429, insufficient quotas, and model unavailability..envshould not be submitted to Git; run before committinggit status --short, confirming that it has not entered the temporary storage range.

Local NVIDIA GPU paths require additional installation:

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make install-gpu

Then enable the corresponding model:

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VIDEO_GEN_LOCAL_ENABLED=true
VIDEO_GEN_LOCAL_MODEL=wan2.1-1.3b

If local generation fails, first check CUDA, video memory, and model downloads. Do not mistakenly interpret “Python can import” as “GPU inference available.”

Start the task from the reference video

Reference videos are better suited for restraining rhythm, structure, and cinematography rather than copying the original content:

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Analyze this reference video and propose three original 45-second variants about quantum computing. Keep the pacing pattern, but do not reuse its script or assets. Show estimated tool choices and cost before generation.

Before generating assets, review the proposal, estimated cost, and selected render_runtime. Data-driven explainers usually fit Remotion, while HTML/CSS-heavy motion graphics may use HyperFrames. Confirm the actual path from the project records.

How to Identify Common Failures

Restore a working installation

When the dependency environment is corrupted, do not directly cover the entire warehouse. First, keep the site and confirm whether the code has been modified by the Agent:

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git status --short
git rev-parse --short HEAD
python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)"

Rename the old virtual environment to .venv-broken, then create a new .venv with the installation steps. This preserves the old environment for comparison. Reinstall frontend dependencies only inside remotion-composer; do not change Python, Node, FFmpeg, and the Provider at the same time.

If the new Provider or GPU configuration causes failure, start with.envRemove the newly added item, rerun the capability registry and zero-key examples. The recovery standard is not “error disappearing,” but rather regenerating the same video sample and checking it through FFprobe.

Final Acceptance Checklist

1. Python, Node, and FFmpeg can all read versions in the new terminal.
2. Two tool registry commands zero exit and show the expected capabilities and Provider.
3. A 15 to 30-second test task generates a playable MP4.
4. FFprobe displays non-zero duration as well as expected video and audio streams.
5. .envand generated materials did not accidentally enter Git.
6. Removing the newly added Provider has been tested, and the zero-key or previous working configuration can be restored.

OpenMontage is suitable for assembly line experiments willing to check intermediate products and costs, and not for direct commercial mass production without acceptance records. First, make a short sample a repeatable baseline, then add video length, provider, and local GPU, which greatly reduces error troubleshooting costs.