# H3 Max VHS

> Generates 768p VHS-style video with audio from text prompts or an optional first-frame image. Supports 5–15 second clips and adjustable tape damage, from subtle analog noise to strong tracking distortion.


## Overview

- **Endpoint**: `https://fal.run/minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs`
- **Model ID**: `minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs`
- **Category**: text-to-video
- **Kind**: inference
**Tags**: vhs, analog, retro, tape-damage



## Pricing

Billing is calculated per second of video generated. Video at **768p** costs **$0.08 per second**, with audio included. A **5-second** video costs **$0.40**, and a **15-second** video costs **$1.20**.

For more details, see [fal.ai pricing](https://fal.ai/pricing).

## API Information

This model can be used via our HTTP API or more conveniently via our client libraries.
See the input and output schema below, as well as the usage examples.


### Input Schema

The API accepts the following input parameters:


- **`prompt`** (`string`, _required_):
  Describe the scene, action, camera and sound. VHS style and tape damage are applied automatically.
  - Examples: "A camcorder explores an abandoned shopping mall at midnight. A lone carousel starts turning beneath flickering fluorescent lights. Handheld push-in, mechanical creaks and distant music."

- **`image_url`** (`string`, _optional_):
  Optional first-frame image. Use a 4:3 image for the classic VHS frame; the image's aspect ratio determines the output canvas.

- **`damage_level`** (`DamageLevelEnum`, _optional_):
  Tape wear: light adds subtle analog noise, medium adds visible damage, and heavy adds strong tracking errors and distortion. Default value: `"medium"`
  - Default: `"medium"`
  - Options: `"light"`, `"medium"`, `"heavy"`

- **`duration`** (`integer`, _optional_):
  Requested video duration in seconds. Default value: `5`
  - Default: `5`
  - Range: `5` to `15`

- **`aspect_ratio`** (`AspectRatioEnum`, _optional_):
  Video aspect ratio for text-only generation. Ignored when image_url is provided. Default value: `"16:9"`
  - Default: `"16:9"`
  - Options: `"21:9"`, `"16:9"`, `"4:3"`, `"1:1"`, `"3:4"`, `"9:16"`

- **`seed`** (`integer`, _optional_):
  Random seed. Omit to choose one automatically.



**Required Parameters Example**:

```json
{
  "prompt": "A camcorder explores an abandoned shopping mall at midnight. A lone carousel starts turning beneath flickering fluorescent lights. Handheld push-in, mechanical creaks and distant music."
}
```

**Full Example**:

```json
{
  "prompt": "A camcorder explores an abandoned shopping mall at midnight. A lone carousel starts turning beneath flickering fluorescent lights. Handheld push-in, mechanical creaks and distant music.",
  "damage_level": "medium",
  "duration": 5,
  "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
}
```


### Output Schema

The API returns the following output format:

- **`video`** (`File`, _required_):
  Generated 768P VHS-style video with audio.

- **`seed`** (`integer`, _required_):
  Seed used for this generation.



**Example Response**:

```json
{
  "video": {
    "url": "",
    "content_type": "image/png",
    "file_name": "z9RV14K95DvU.png",
    "file_size": 4404019
  }
}
```


## Usage Examples

### cURL

```bash
curl --request POST \
  --url https://fal.run/minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs \
  --header "Authorization: Key $FAL_KEY" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
     "prompt": "A camcorder explores an abandoned shopping mall at midnight. A lone carousel starts turning beneath flickering fluorescent lights. Handheld push-in, mechanical creaks and distant music."
   }'
```

### Python

Ensure you have the Python client installed:

```bash
pip install fal-client
```

Then use the API client to make requests:

```python
import fal_client

def on_queue_update(update):
    if isinstance(update, fal_client.InProgress):
        for log in update.logs:
           print(log["message"])

result = fal_client.subscribe(
    "minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs",
    arguments={
        "prompt": "A camcorder explores an abandoned shopping mall at midnight. A lone carousel starts turning beneath flickering fluorescent lights. Handheld push-in, mechanical creaks and distant music."
    },
    with_logs=True,
    on_queue_update=on_queue_update,
)
print(result)
```

### JavaScript

Ensure you have the JavaScript client installed:

```bash
npm install --save @fal-ai/client
```

Then use the API client to make requests:

```javascript
import { fal } from "@fal-ai/client";

const result = await fal.subscribe("minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs", {
  input: {
    prompt: "A camcorder explores an abandoned shopping mall at midnight. A lone carousel starts turning beneath flickering fluorescent lights. Handheld push-in, mechanical creaks and distant music."
  },
  logs: true,
  onQueueUpdate: (update) => {
    if (update.status === "IN_PROGRESS") {
      update.logs.map((log) => log.message).forEach(console.log);
    }
  },
});
console.log(result.data);
console.log(result.requestId);
```


## Additional Resources

### Documentation

- [Model Playground](https://fal.ai/models/minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs)
- [API Documentation](https://fal.ai/models/minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs/api)
- [OpenAPI Schema](https://fal.ai/api/openapi/queue/openapi.json?endpoint_id=minimax/h3-max/styles/vhs)

### fal.ai Platform

- [Platform Documentation](https://fal.ai/docs/documentation)
- [Python Client](https://fal.ai/docs/api-reference/client-libraries/python)
- [JavaScript Client](https://fal.ai/docs/api-reference/client-libraries/javascript)

### Other agent-readable surfaces

This file covers one model. To find anything else:

- [Platform overview](https://fal.ai/llms.txt): Entry points and representative endpoint IDs
- [Documentation index](https://fal.ai/docs/llms.txt): Every documentation page
- [Full documentation text](https://fal.ai/docs/llms-full.txt): The whole documentation inlined
- Any other model: `https://fal.ai/models/<endpoint-id>/llms.txt`