I want Help Understanding Shotstack API for Video Editing

Shotstack API
1

Hey everyone,

I have started exploring Shotstack for a video editing project & I have a few questions that I am hoping someone here can help with. I have gone through the docs but I want to get some real-world insights from those who have worked with it.

I get the basic concept but how do you efficiently manage multiple clips in a single timeline without things overlapping incorrectly? Any best practices?
I need to add dynamic text overlays that change based on input data. What’s the best way to handle that?
Are there any tricks to optimize rendering time for longer videos?
What’s the most common mistake you ran into when first working with Shotstack and how did you fix it?

Also, if anyone has experience integrating Shotstack with AWS DevOps training workflows, I want to hear about it.
Any advice or examples would be super helpful.

Thank you.:slight_smile:

2

Few tips to get started!

Tracks as Layers

  • Higher track numbers (tracks[1], tracks[2]) appear on top of lower ones
  • Use separate tracks for background video, overlays, and text elements
  • Control z-index stacking through track assignment

Text Overlays with Merge Fields

  • Use {{variableName}} syntax in text assets
  • Pass dynamic data through the merge parameter in render requests
  • Example: "text": "Hello {{name}}" with {"find": "NAME", "replace": "World"}

Multipart Rendering for Longer Videos

  • Shotstack automatically splits long videos into segments
  • Renders in parallel, then combines them
  • No special configuration needed - happens automatically

Key Optimizations

  • Minimise effects and filters (each one increases processing time)
  • Enable caching for frequently used assets
  • Pre-optimize source videos before uploading (same fps and size as output)
  • Use appropriate output resolution for your needs