---
name: ai-media
description: "Generates images, videos, and audio via AI models (fal-ai MCP): cheap iteration models, expensive production finals, cost-estimate before generation. Trigger for 'generate an image', 'create a thumbnail', 'make a voiceover', 'AI video', 'text to speech for'. Not for design composition; use /ai-visual instead. Not for animation specs; use /ai-animation instead."
effort: mid
argument-hint: "image|video|audio [description]"
tags: [media, generation, fal-ai]
requires:
  mcp:
  - fal-ai
model_tier: sonnet
mirror_family: codex-skills
generated_by: ai-eng sync
canonical_source: .claude/skills/ai-media/SKILL.md
edit_policy: generated-do-not-edit
---


# Media

## Purpose

Generate images, videos, and audio using fal.ai models via MCP. Progressive quality pattern: iterate cheap, finalize expensive. Covers text-to-image, text/image-to-video, text-to-speech, and video-to-audio.

## When to Use

- `image`: generating images from text prompts (thumbnails, hero images, insert shots)
- `video`: creating videos from text or images (demos, b-roll, social clips)
- `audio`: generating speech, music, or sound effects (voiceover, background music, SFX)

## Process

### Step 1 -- Gate Check (MCP Required)

Verify the fal.ai MCP server is configured. If not available, inform the user and provide setup instructions:

```json
"fal-ai": {
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["-y", "fal-ai-mcp-server"],
  "env": { "FAL_KEY": "YOUR_FAL_KEY_HERE" }
}
```

Get an API key at [fal.ai](https://fal.ai).

### Step 2 -- Estimate Cost

Before generating, always check estimated cost:

```
estimate_cost(model_name: "fal-ai/...", input: {...})
```

Inform the user of the estimate before proceeding with expensive generations (video especially).

### Step 3 -- ElevenLabs Gate Check

Before using ElevenLabs, verify `ELEVENLABS_API_KEY` is set. If not, fall back to csm-1b or inform the user.

### Step 4 -- Generate with Progressive Quality

Start with cheaper models for prompt iteration, then switch to production models for finals.

### Step 5 -- Deliver

Provide the generated media with:

- file path or URL
- model used and parameters
- cost incurred
- suggestions for iteration if quality is not satisfactory

## Quick Reference

### Model Table

| Model                       | Type  | Best For                                        | Cost Tier |
| --------------------------- | ----- | ----------------------------------------------- | --------- |
| `fal-ai/nano-banana-2`      | Image | Quick iterations, drafts, image editing         | Low       |
| `fal-ai/nano-banana-pro`    | Image | Production images, realism, typography          | Medium    |
| `fal-ai/seedance-1-0-pro`   | Video | Text-to-video, image-to-video, high motion      | High      |
| `fal-ai/kling-video/v3/pro` | Video | Text/image-to-video with native audio           | High      |
| `fal-ai/veo-3`              | Video | Video with generated sound, high visual quality | High      |
| `fal-ai/csm-1b`             | Audio | Conversational text-to-speech                   | Low       |
| `fal-ai/thinksound`         | Audio | Video-to-audio (matching sounds from video)     | Medium    |

### Image Parameters

| Param            | Type   | Options                                                                      | Notes                                                    |
| ---------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| `prompt`         | string | required                                                                     | Describe what you want                                   |
| `image_size`     | string | `square`, `portrait_4_3`, `landscape_16_9`, `portrait_16_9`, `landscape_4_3` | Aspect ratio                                             |
| `num_images`     | number | 1-4                                                                          | How many to generate                                     |
| `seed`           | number | any integer                                                                  | Reproducibility                                          |
| `guidance_scale` | number | 1-20                                                                         | How closely to follow the prompt (higher = more literal) |

### Video Parameters

| Param          | Type   | Options                     | Notes                           |
| -------------- | ------ | --------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `prompt`       | string | required                    | Describe the video              |
| `duration`     | string | `"5s"`, `"10s"`             | Video length                    |
| `aspect_ratio` | string | `"16:9"`, `"9:16"`, `"1:1"` | Frame ratio                     |
| `seed`         | number | any integer                 | Reproducibility                 |
| `image_url`    | string | URL                         | Source image for image-to-video |

### MCP Tools Available

| Tool            | Purpose                          |
| --------------- | -------------------------------- |
| `search`        | Find available models by keyword |
| `find`          | Get model details and parameters |
| `generate`      | Run a model with parameters      |
| `result`        | Check async generation status    |
| `status`        | Check job status                 |
| `cancel`        | Cancel a running job             |
| `estimate_cost` | Estimate generation cost         |
| `models`        | List popular models              |
| `upload`        | Upload files for use as inputs   |

## Progressive Quality Pattern

Iteration (low-cost) -> Production (high-cost): nano-banana-2 -> nano-banana-pro · seedance-1-0-pro -> veo-3 · csm-1b -> ElevenLabs. Use `seed` for reproducible results when iterating; lock once composition works, then switch to the production model.

## Image Editing

Use Nano Banana 2 with an input image for inpainting, outpainting, or style transfer:

```
upload(file_path: "/path/to/image.png")
generate(model_name: "fal-ai/nano-banana-2", input: {
  "prompt": "same scene but in watercolor style",
  "image_url": "<uploaded_url>",
  "image_size": "landscape_16_9"
})
```

For non-MCP integrations (ElevenLabs, VideoDB), follow `handlers/external-apis.md`.

## Common Mistakes

Do not skip `estimate_cost`, use production models for first-pass iteration, ignore `seed`, choose pure text-to-video when image-to-video is more controlled, or assume fal.ai access covers ElevenLabs credentials.

## Examples

### Example 1 — generate a hero image for a blog post

User: "create a hero image for the blog post about parallel agent planning"

```
/ai-media image hero for parallel agent planning blog
```

Iterates with `nano-banana-2` (cheap), locks composition with `seed`, switches to `nano-banana-pro` for the production final, returns URL + cost.

### Example 2 — voiceover for a demo video

User: "make a 30-second voiceover for the v1.0 demo"

```
/ai-media audio voiceover for v1.0 demo
```

Iterates with `csm-1b` for cheap previews, finalizes with ElevenLabs for production-quality output.

## Integration

Called by: user directly, `/ai-build`, `ai-video-editing` (Layer 5 generated assets). Calls: fal.ai MCP, ElevenLabs API, VideoDB API. See also: `/ai-visual` (composed visuals), `/ai-slides` (deck visuals), `/ai-animation`.

$ARGUMENTS
