Recording & Exporting Videos
How the Record button turns your scene into an MP4: where to find it, how clip length works, and what happens while it renders.
How Exporting Works
When you press Record, BallEngine does not film your screen. It renders the clip frame by frame, from the very first frame of the run, using the seed your preview is running on. Every frame lands in the file at a steady frame rate, so the video is smooth even if your preview stutters, and the same project gives the same video every time. Every export is an MP4 file.
While it renders you see the progress and a Cancel render button. When it finishes, the video is saved to your device automatically.
Record has two destinations, set with Render on. "This device" renders in your browser and uses your monthly export allowance. "Cloud" renders on our servers and uses cloud render credits.
| Stage shown | What is happening |
|---|---|
| Rendering the frames | Your scene is being simulated and drawn one frame at a time. This is most of the wait. |
| Adding the sound | Your music and sound effects are being mixed into the file. |
| Packaging your MP4 | The video and sound are being written into the final file. |
Tip
- Long clips, high resolutions and 3D modes take longer. After a couple of minutes the progress explains which of your settings make this render longer.
- Cancelling a render costs nothing. Only a finished video counts against your export allowance.
Clip Length
Choose the length in the top bar: 15s, 30s, 59s, or Custom for any length from 1 to 600 seconds. The seed generator aims at the same number, so a seed you find is the seed you record, and timed ball growth finishes about a second before the clip ends. Cloud renders accept 5 to 300 seconds, so a longer clip is shortened to 300 seconds in the cloud.
Tip
- 59 seconds keeps a clip under the one-minute mark that many short-form apps treat specially.
The Export Controls in Basics
The Export section of Basics holds the decisions you make before pressing Record. On a wide screen the same controls sit in the Export and Frame side panels instead.
| Control | What it does | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Render on | Where Record makes the video. | This device (shows exports left) or Cloud (shows credits left, or your free render). |
| Your cloud videos | Finished cloud renders still stored for you, each with Save, Delete and the days it has left. | Appears only when you have one. |
| Quality | Size and frame rate, on this device and in the cloud. | 720p · 30 fps or 1080p · 60 fps. 2K, 4K and other frame rates are in the Video section. |
| Aspect ratio | The shape of the video. | 9:16 on every plan. 16:9, 1:1 and 4:3 from Creator. |
Your First Export, Step by Step
- 1Pick a clip length in the top bar (15s, 30s or 59s).
- 2In Basics > Export, leave Render on at "This device", pick a Quality and 9:16 for Shorts, TikTok and Reels.
- 3Press Record. Keep the tab open and visible while it renders.
- 4At 100% the MP4 saves to your Downloads (on a phone, Downloads or Files). On a phone, tap Share in the "Your video is ready" message to post it.
Modes in Development
Modes that are still in development can be previewed but not exported, on any plan and with either destination. Your export allowance is not touched.
More from BallEngine
Guides, plans and answers for making your videos.