Choose the timing that serves your story
Music can give a photo slideshow a sense of direction. Before adjusting individual slide durations, decide whether the changes should follow the beat or whether the whole collection should fit the song.
| Timing | What it does | When to try it |
|---|---|---|
| Beat | Aligns slide changes with detected music beats. | Travel montages and rhythmic sequences. |
| Fit | Fits slide timing to the music length. | A complete story over a chosen track. |
| None | Leaves automatic music timing off. | Manual pacing or speech-led sequences. |
The examples below use Vayessa’s MCP tools through a connected assistant. AI control requires Studio; start with the Claude Desktop setup guide if needed.
1. Prepare the photographs and audio
Arrange your photos into a deliberate sequence and choose an audio file you have permission to use. Save the project. Make sure the assistant can identify the exact music file using its absolute path.
Tell it to inspect the current project before changing timing, including the number of slides, existing music, and total duration. Extra music or voice clips can affect the overall audio timeline, so include them in the review.
2. Try beat sync with room to breathe
Inspect my current Vayessa project first. Use the song at /Users/your-name/Music/travel-track.mp3 and sync slide changes to the beat. Start with 4 beats per slide. Report the resulting slideshow duration and preview the timing before exporting.
Vayessa’s set_music tool supports timing: "beat" and beats_per_slide choices of auto, 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16. Four beats is a starting point, not a rule: a fast song or a text-heavy photo may need a longer hold.
3. Use fit timing when the song defines the ending
Use the existing photo order. Set /Users/your-name/Music/travel-track.mp3 as the music and use fit-to-music timing rather than beat sync. Report the new total duration and flag any slides that feel too short to read.
Fit timing is useful when the song length matters more than landing every change on a beat. In MCP this is set_music with timing: "fit". Use it as an alternative to beat timing, then check the resulting pace.
4. Listen, watch, and refine
- Too fast: try more beats per slide or reduce the number of photographs.
- Too slow: try fewer beats per slide and check that the photographs still have time to register.
- Awkward cuts: listen to the actual track. Beat detection and the musical moments you care about may differ.
- Titles are hard to read: give them more time or simplify the wording, then recheck the total duration.
Preview the slideshow in motion and listen through its ending. Once the timing works, export a test video and check that audio, transitions, and the final frame feel complete together.