BeatDesign

Purpose

BeatDesign is an independent, open-source, local-first AI image and video creation workbench, positioned as "the open-source alternative to Higgsfield." It is aimed at users who want a coherent creative workflow similar to Higgsfield, while being able to run, inspect, and extend the workspace on their own machine.

Key Capabilities

Two creation modes, one project

• Infinite Canvas: Drag in prompts, images, videos, and audio, connect nodes, branch ideas, compare generated results, reuse outputs, and keep the complete visual workflow in a single project.
• Timeline Editor: Turn canvas results into a local timeline, trim, split, move, mix, place and transform image overlays, style SRT subtitles, create AI Takes, preview, and export MP4 in the browser.
• Studio: Provides a focused generation interface.
• Assets: Makes all imported and generated files available in Canvas, Editor, and MCP.

Core Features

• Local-first: Projects, media, canvas state, timeline, and generation history are all stored in the local workspace.
• Canvas and editor stay connected: Generated results become reusable project assets instead of disappearing into a single tool.
• Bring your own agent: Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, and other MCP hosts can inspect and update the same project you see in the browser.
• Bring your own generation access: BeatAPI is the built-in provider. Local import, orchestration, editing, preview, and export require no API key; only when you need to generate or analyze media, or use AI redo, do you need to add your own BeatAPI API key. Selecting local files does not upload them to the provider.
• A foundation that is easy to fork: Provider adapters, project storage, and the command layer are all clear extension points.

How to Use

1. Requirements: Node.js 22+, pnpm 10+, and a recent version of Chrome on macOS or Windows.
2. After starting, open http://127.0.0.1:3020 .
3. Only add your own BeatAPI API key when you want to generate or analyze media, or use AI redo.

Collaborating with agents

BeatDesign exposes 29 local MCP tools, covering Skills, Projects, Assets, Canvas, generation, and Editor operations, including built-in Skill discovery and authoritative MP4 timeline rendering. Agent changes use the same project services and are visible in the browser workspace.

After connecting an MCP host, you can make requests such as:

Open my most recent BeatDesign project, add these clips to the timeline, place a logo overlay, adjust the subtitles, and keep the editor open for review.

Local stdio and Streamable HTTP MCP transports are supported. A complete agent integration guide can be found on the official website.

From idea to finished video

The canvas handles ideation and generation, the timeline editor handles editing and export, Assets handles asset management, and the MCP agent handles automation; all four revolve around the same local project.

Currently implemented features

• Image and video generation, as well as Standard and Deep video analysis.
• Image, video, audio, generation, timeline, and text nodes on the canvas.
• Project assets are shared among Studio, Canvas, Editor, and MCP.
• Non-destructive timeline editing, supporting image, video, audio, movable image overlays, and styled SRT subtitle tracks.
• Local preview, as well as browser-side H.264/AAC MP4 export based on WebCodecs and Mediabunny.
• English, Chinese, and Japanese interfaces.
• Local stdio and Streamable HTTP MCP transports.

Use cases

• Individual creators who want to run, inspect, and extend AI image and video creation workflows locally.
• Users who need to organize canvas ideation and generation results into a timeline and export short videos directly in the browser.
• Developers who want to automate the same creative project through MCP agents such as Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor.
• Users who prefer local data storage and do not want to upload project materials to cloud services.

Limitations

• BeatDesign currently focuses on local, short-formcreative workflows.
• Hosted collaboration, multiple named timelines, advanced transitions, speed control, waveforms, desktop packaging, and other features are outside the scope of the current version.
• Requires Node.js 22+, pnpm 10+, and a relatively recent Chrome browser; only macOS and Windows are supported.
• Generating or analyzing media and using AI redo require a BeatAPI API key; local import, orchestration, editing, preview, and export do not.

License and notices

BeatDesign is licensed under the Apache License 2.0. The BeatAPI and BeatDesign trademarks, third-party model access, and bundled third-party components remain subject to their respective terms.