# Video

**Video** layer template was created to play various types of video files.

## Variables

### **Render**

Explained in [Stock Layer Templates](/layers-and-layouts/stock-layer-templates.md).

### **Media**

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/ega0VTGS0jDvftUiPy8U" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

* **Video asset**: select the video asset you want to play.
* **Speed multiplier**: adjusts the playback speed of the chosen video asset. 1 means unchanged.
* **Play mode:** this dropdown has 4 options:
  * *Normal*: in this playmode video asset will always follow the position of the playhead relative to the beginning of the video layer.
  * *Free run*: in this playmode, the playback will ignore position of the play head and play even when the timeline is in pause mode. If the playhead jumps out of the layer and back onto it again, the video will restart from the same position it was at when the playhead jumped out.
  * *Free run & restart*: same as *Free run*, but if you jump out of the layer and back onto it again, the video will always restart from the *Begin at* position.
  * *Timecode*: in this playmode, LightAct will refer to the *Timecode device* as the source of the timecode the playback should follow. It allows you to control the playback of the video with an external timecode source.
* **Loop**: if checked the video will loop when it reaches the end.
* **Hold last frame:** if checked and *Loop* is unchecked, the video will hold the last frame after the end is reached. Otherwise, you'll see a black texture.
* **Begin at**: defines the starting timecode of the video asset. Parts of the video before *Begin at* will never be played back by LightAct.
* **End at**: defines the end timecode of the video asset. Parts of the video after *End at* will never be played back by LightAct.
* **Loop in**: if *Loop* is checked, this variable defines the timecode to which LightAct will jump back to when it loops the video.
* **Loop out**: if *Loop* is checked, this variable defines the timecode from which LightAct will make the jump. If *Loop* is checked, this variable essentially overrides *End at* variable.
* **Frame blending**: if checked, 2 consecutive frames of the video will get blended proportionally if the framerate of the video is different from the project's framerate. This should be left checked in 99% of cases.
* **Timecode device**: defines the source of the external timecode that should be used if *Play mode* is set to *Timecode*. This variable is ignored if *Play mode* is anything other than *Timecode*.
* **Video texture**: the video frame is saved into this texture variable which is then passed through all texture processing steps. Useful for layer connections.
* **Auto rename:** if checked the video layer is going to always take the name of the video asset that's currently playing.

### **Audio**

<figure><img src="/files/ndoYx5s9X71KrJIS7S8M" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* **Audio output:** determines the Audio output device through which the embedded audio is going to be played.
* **Volume**: determines the volume of the playback of audio embedded in the chosen video file.

### Other variable groups

Explained in [Content Layer Templates](/layers-and-layouts/stock-layer-templates/content-layer-templates.md).


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