/.tests-manual/render-export-codecs.md

id, title, added, added-in-version, scope, tags, prerequisites

id	title	added	added-in-version	scope	tags	prerequisites
render-export-codecs	Render Export — Video Codecs	2026-06-19	4.2	render-export	user essential	A project is open with an operator that has a Texture2D output selected or pinned in the Output Window (so "Render To File" can render it). For the audio step, the project has a soundtrack on the timeline.

This checks the Codec picker in the [ui:RenderSettings|Render To File] window. A codec is the format your video is saved in, and TiXL offers several: H.264 and HEVC for everyday MP4 files, ProRes for editing, VP9 and AV1 as modern web formats, FFV1 for lossless (perfect-quality) masters, and the three Hap options for fast playback in VJ and media-server tools. They all save with sound. You don't need to install anything extra — every codec is built in. The way to check each one is a round-trip: render a few seconds, then play the file back (either by loading it into a [PlayVideo] operator or opening it in a normal media player) and confirm it looks right.

Step: The Codec dropdown lists all codecs with friendly labels

Action: Open the Render To File window and select the Format & Quality section in the left sidebar. With Render Mode set to Video, find the Codec dropdown and open it.

Expected:

• A Codec dropdown is shown, with H.264 selected by default.
• Opening it lists: H.264, HEVC (H.265), ProRes, VP9, AV1, FFV1, Hap, Hap Alpha, Hap Q — note the friendly labels (e.g. "Hap Alpha", not "HapAlpha").

Step: The filename ending follows the codec

Action: Note the Filename field in the Output Target section (e.g. render-v01.mp4). Change Codec (in Format & Quality) to ProRes, then to FFV1, then back to H264, watching the filename each time.

Expected:

• The ending of the filename follows the codec: ProRes → .mov, FFV1 → .mkv, VP9/AV1/H264 → .mp4.
• The name itself (e.g. render-v01) stays the same — only the ending changes.

Step: Bitrate shows only for the rate-controlled codecs

Action: Switch Codec through the options and watch for the Bitrate control and its quality hint.

Expected:

• Bitrate (and the "… quality (Est. … MB)" hint) appear for H.264, HEVC, VP9, and AV1.
• They are hidden for ProRes and FFV1 (those set their own rate / are lossless); HAP shows its own fixed-size estimate instead.

Step: The codec dropdown shows an inline encoder indicator

Action: With Render Mode set to Video, watch the small line just below the Codec dropdown while switching the codec. Try H264 first, then a non-H.264 codec (e.g. ProRes).

Expected:

• A single muted line appears under the dropdown (it may briefly read "Checking encoder…" the first time).
• On a machine whose graphics card can speed up encoding, H264 shows "Hardware encoder (…)" naming the graphics card it's using.
• On a machine that can't use the graphics card, H264 shows "Software encoder" — TiXL encodes it on its own, no extra software needed.
• The non-H.264 codecs (ProRes, VP9, AV1, FFV1, Hap) show "Software encoder" too.
• Switching codecs swaps the line in place without shifting the rest of the panel.
• No codec ever asks you to install anything or download a file — they all work out of the box.

Step: H.264 export produces a playable MP4 with audio

Action: Set Codec to H264, choose a short range (a few seconds), make sure Export Audio is on, and press Render. When it finishes, play the file back — load it into a [PlayVideo] operator or open it in a normal media player.

Expected:

• A video file appears in the chosen folder.
• It plays back with the correct image and audible, in-sync sound.

Step: HEVC export produces a playable MP4

Action: Set Codec to HEVC (H.265), choose a short range, press Render, then play it back with [PlayVideo].

Expected:

• A video file appears and plays back with the correct image. The indicator reads "Hardware encoder (…)" on a machine whose graphics card supports HEVC, otherwise "Software encoder" (in that case the render is noticeably slower).
• No prompts to install anything. (Note: a software-encoded HEVC file may not show a preview thumbnail in Windows Explorer or QuickTime, but it plays fine in [PlayVideo] and in VLC.)

Step: ProRes export produces a playable MOV

Action: Set Codec to ProRes, press Render, then play the result back with [PlayVideo].

Expected:

• A video file appears and plays back with the correct image.
• The file is noticeably larger than the H.264 render of the same range.

Step: VP9, AV1, and FFV1 each export and re-import

Action: For each of VP9, AV1, and FFV1 in turn: keep the range short, press Render, then play the result back with [PlayVideo]. VP9 and AV1 take longer to render than H.264 — especially at high resolution.

Expected:

• Each one produces a video file that plays back with the correct image.
• FFV1 looks identical to the original (lossless) and its file is much larger than the others.
• The [PlayVideo] operator shows no red error when loading any of them, and the editor never freezes during the render.

Step: Hap exports with a size estimate

The Hap codecs are built in and need nothing extra installed.

Action: Select Hap (also try HapAlpha / HapQ), keep the range short, Render, then play the result back with [PlayVideo].

Expected:

• The three Hap entries appear; the filename ends in .mov; the inline line reads "Software encoder" and Render is enabled — no prompts, nothing to install.
• A size estimate appears (e.g. "Est. 1.9 GB" with the dimensions) — Hap files are a predictable size, so the estimate is reliable; HapAlpha and HapQ are about twice the size of Hap. The estimate and the footer summary line agree.
• A video file appears and plays back with the correct image (HapAlpha keeps transparency; HapQ is higher quality and larger). With Export Audio on, it includes sound.

Step: Codec choice survives save and reload

Action: Set Codec to AV1, save the project, then close and reopen it (or reload). Open the Render To File window again.

Expected:

• Codec is still AV1, and the Filename still ends in .mp4. (The choice was remembered.)

Step: The content header has a section-aware help button

Action: In the Render To File window, look at the top-right corner of the content panel (level with the section title). Hover the help (?) icon on the Source section, then switch to Format & Quality and Output Target and hover it again. Click it once.

Expected:

• A help icon sits in the header's top-right corner, vertically aligned with the title.
• Hovering shows a short formatted summary specific to the active section (Source vs Format & Quality vs Output Target) — the content changes as you switch sections.
• Clicking opens the documentation page (help.tixl.app/using/ExportVideos) in the default browser.

Step: Parameters have inline (?) help

Action: In the Source section, hover the small (?) icon next to Range, Scale, Start, End, and FPS. Check Format & Quality (Render Mode, Codec, Export Audio) and Output Target (Filename, Auto-increment version) too.

Expected:

• Each of those parameters shows a (?) marker that, on hover, explains the parameter in plain language.
• The segmented controls (Range, Scale, Render Mode) also carry a (?) after the control.