Build a Short Video Generator with Next.js, React, and AI

Learn how to create a full-stack short video generator application using Next.js, React, and powerful AI tools. This project covers everything from generating video scripts and audio files to creating captions and AI images. You’ll learn to use cutting-edge technologies and build a complete SaaS application. An accompanying video walks through the full process.

This tutorial guides you through building a short video generator using Next.js, React, and AI. It covers generating video scripts with Genie AI, creating audio with AI, adding captions using AssemblyAI, and generating AI images. The application uses Clerk authentication, a Neon Postgres database with Drizzle ORM, and Remotion.js for programmatic video creation, resulting in a fully functional SaaS platform.

Getting Started: Application Overview First, let’s explore the application’s features. The initial step involves authenticating using Clerk. Clerk simplifies the authentication process, allowing users to log in with various methods, including Facebook, Google, or email. Once logged in, you’re directed to the dashboard. Here, you can view videos previously generated using AI. These videos are short, typically around 30–60 seconds, and are designed for platforms like social media. Creating a New Video To create a new video, navigate to the “Create New” section. Here, you can select the type of content you want to generate. This could be motivational content, historical facts, or even a custom prompt. You can customize the video style, choosing options like watercolor effects. You also have control over the video’s duration, with options for 30, 50, or 60-second videos. After selecting your preferences, click the “Generate Short Video” button. The AI then processes your request, generating the video based on your chosen parameters. Once generated, the video appears with AI-generated images, synchronized audio, and captions. This creates an engaging and accessible viewing experience. Each video creation deducts credits from your account, encouraging users to upgrade for more usage. This model makes it suitable as a SaaS application, which can be monetized. Tech Stack Breakdown Let’s delve into the technologies used to build this application. The foundation is Next.js, a React-based web framework known for its performance and developer experience. Styling is handled with Tailwind CSS, a utility-first CSS framework. We’re also leveraging the Shadcn UI library, which is built on Tailwind CSS, providing pre-designed components for a faster development process.

Next.js: React framework for building web applications.
Tailwind CSS: Utility-first CSS framework for styling.
Shadcn UI: A collection of reusable components built with Radix UI and Tailwind CSS.

Authentication and Database User authentication is managed through Clerk. Clerk offers a seamless integration process and provides pre-built components, making it easy to implement authentication features. The database is a Neon-based PostgreSQL database. Neon offers a free tier, making it accessible for development and testing. Drizzle ORM is used to interact with the database, providing a type-safe and efficient way to manage data.

Clerk: Authentication service with pre-built components.
Neon PostgreSQL: Free tier PostgreSQL database.
Drizzle ORM: TypeScript ORM for database interactions.

AI-Powered Content Generation AI plays a crucial role in generating various content elements. Genie API is used to generate the text-based video scripts. It offers a free tier and is easy to integrate into the application. To generate captions from the audio files, AssemblyAI is employed. AssemblyAI specializes in audio intelligence and provides accurate transcription services.

Genie API: AI model for generating text-based content.
AssemblyAI: Service for generating captions from audio files.

Programmatic Video Generation Remotion.js is used to programmatically generate the videos. This allows for dynamic creation of video content based on the AI-generated scripts, images, and audio. It provides the flexibility to create engaging short-form videos. Remotion allows us to create videos using code, making the generation process automated and customizable. By using these technologies together, you can create a powerful video generation tool.

Key Takeaways Building a short video generator involves integrating various technologies, including AI, databases, and front-end frameworks. Choosing the right tools and understanding how they interact is key to creating a successful application.

Next.js provides a robust framework for building the application.
AI services like Genie API and AssemblyAI automate content creation.
Clerk simplifies user authentication.
Remotion.js enables programmatic video generation.

FAQs What is Next.js? Next.js is a React framework that enables features like server-side rendering and static site generation, making it ideal for building fast and SEO-friendly web applications. What is Clerk and why use it for authentication? Clerk is a user authentication and management platform that provides pre-built components and a simple API, making it easy to add authentication to your application without building it from scratch. What is Remotion.js? Remotion is a React-based framework for creating videos programmatically. It allows you to create dynamic video content using code, which is perfect for generating videos from data or AI-generated content. Can I use a different database instead of Neon PostgreSQL? Yes, you can use other databases, but Neon PostgreSQL is a good choice due to its free tier and ease of integration with Drizzle ORM. You may need to adjust your ORM configuration accordingly. In summary, creating a short video generator with Next.js, React, and AI involves combining the strengths of various technologies. From Next.js for the front-end to AI services for content creation and Remotion.js for video generation, each component plays a vital role. By following these steps, you can build a powerful tool for creating engaging short-form videos, opening up new possibilities for content creation and monetization. This project demonstrates how to leverage AI and modern web development practices to build a sophisticated SaaS application.

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