Documentation

Introduction

ReelFast is a local-first AI video generator that runs entirely on your machine. After purchasing, you'll receive the full source code — clone the repository, install a few dependencies, and start generating shorts and reels from your own computer.

ReelFast works on both Windows and macOS. The setup steps are nearly identical on both platforms, with small differences noted where they apply (for example, using validate.bat on Windows vs validate.sh on Mac).

Everything runs locally — your API keys, generated scripts, and exported videos never leave your device unless you choose to upload them.

Installing Dependencies

Before running ReelFast, you need two tools installed on your system: Node.js and FFmpeg.

Node.js

ReelFast requires Node.js 18 or later. Download the LTS version from nodejs.org and follow the installer for your platform.

Verify installation:

node --version
npm --version

FFmpeg

FFmpeg is used to stitch visuals, audio, and captions into the final video. Install it using one of the methods below.

macOS

brew install ffmpeg

Windows

Install via ffmpeg.org or using winget:

winget install ffmpeg

Verify installation:

ffmpeg -version

Validate your setup

The ReelFast repository includes validation scripts that check whether Node.js and FFmpeg are installed and accessible on your system. Run the appropriate script from the project root:

macOS / Linux

chmod +x validate.sh
./validate.sh

Windows

validate.bat

If any dependency is missing, the script will tell you what to install before continuing.

Running ReelFast Studio

Once your dependencies are validated, install the project packages and start the ReelFast Studio web interface.

1. Install packages

From the root of the ReelFast repository:

npm install

2. Configure API keys

Copy the example environment file and add your API keys for OpenAI (scripts & voiceover) and Replicate (visuals):

cp .env.example .env

Open .env in a text editor and fill in your keys. Generate them here if you don't have them yet:

OpenAI — used for script generation and voiceover. Generate an OpenAI API key
Replicate — used for AI-generated visuals. Generate a Replicate API token

3. Start the studio

Launch the development server:

npm run dev

Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:5173 to access ReelFast Studio. From there you can create topics, generate scripts, and batch-produce videos.

Generated videos are saved to the output folder in your project directory. You own everything you create — no attribution required.

Demo

Watch the walkthrough below to see ReelFast Studio in action — from setup to generating your first reel.

A full video walkthrough of ReelFast Studio in action.

Contact Support

Stuck during setup or running into an issue? You can always reach out for help — we're happy to assist.

Email us at hello@piyushchhabra.com and we'll get back to you. Expect a reply within 24 hours.