Name: Seedance 1 Lite API: Text to Video and Image to Video
Brand: magicapi
SKU: api-magicapi-text-image-video-generator-bytedance-seedance-1-lite
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

Shashank Agarwal

# 🎬 Text-to-Video and Image-to-Video API (ByteDance Seedance 1 Lite)

## Overview
Seedance 1 Lite is a video generation model from ByteDance. Its developer describes it as a model for text-to-video and image-to-video generation.

Send a `prompt` to generate a video from text, or add an `image` to use as the first frame (and optionally a `last_frame_image`). You can instead guide characters, clothing or settings with 1 to 4 `reference_images`. Choose a `duration` of 4 to 12 seconds, a `resolution` of `480p`, `720p` or `1080p`, and an `aspect_ratio`. Each request returns the URL of one video at 24 fps.

## Features
- **Text-to-video and image-to-video**: generate from a prompt alone, or start from an `image`.
- **First and last frame**: `last_frame_image` sets the final frame when a start `image` is given.
- **Reference images**: 1 to 4 `reference_images` for characters, avatars, clothing, environments or multi-character scenes (not with 1080p or frame images).
- **Duration**: 4 to 12 seconds (default 5).
- **Resolution**: `480p`, `720p` (default) or `1080p`, at 24 fps.
- **Aspect ratios**: `16:9` (default), `4:3`, `1:1`, `3:4`, `9:16`, `21:9`, `9:21` (ignored when an image is used).
- **Camera control**: `camera_fixed` keeps the camera position still.

## Use Cases
1. **Social and ad clips**: short videos in vertical, square or widescreen formats.
2. **Animating stills**: bring a product photo or illustration to life from its first frame.
3. **Consistent characters**: keep a person or outfit consistent with `reference_images`.
4. **Storyboards and previews**: quick motion drafts of scenes before production.

## Visual Examples
### Example Input
A 5-second 720p text-to-video request in 16:9:

```json
{
  "fps": 24,
  "prompt": "a woman walks in the park",
  "duration": 5,
  "resolution": "720p",
  "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
  "camera_fixed": false
}
```

### Example Output
[Watch the example output](https://blog.api.market/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/seedance-1-lite-output-1hd2x18k-api-market.mp4)

## Input Parameters
| Field | Type | Required | Default | Allowed values | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `resolution` | string | No | `720p` | `480p`, `720p`, `1080p` | Video resolution |
| `aspect_ratio` | string | No | `16:9` | `16:9`, `4:3`, `1:1`, `3:4`, `9:16`, `21:9`, `9:21` | Video aspect ratio. Ignored if an image is used. |
| `fps` | integer | No | `24` | `24` | Frame rate (frames per second) |
| `camera_fixed` | boolean | No | `false` |  | Whether to fix camera position |
| `duration` | integer | No | `5` | `4` to `12` | Video duration in seconds |
| `image` | string (URL) | No | none |  | Input image URL for image-to-video generation |
| `last_frame_image` | string (URL) | No | none |  | Input image URL for last frame generation. This only works if an image start frame is given too. |
| `prompt` | string | Yes | none |  | Text prompt for video generation |
| `reference_images` | array of URLs | No | none |  | Reference images (1-4 images) to guide video generation for characters, avatars, clothing, environments, or multi-character interactions. Reference images cannot be used with 1080p resolution or first frame or last frame images. |
| `seed` | integer | No | none |  | Random seed. Set for reproducible generation |

## Pricing
- **Pay As You Go (PAYG) pricing**: you only pay for what you use.
- **Price**: $0.023 per API unit.
- **1 API unit = 1 second of output video at the base rate, times the factor for the chosen `resolution`.** Videos are billed on the requested `duration`, rounded up per request.
- Price per second of video by resolution:

  | `resolution` | Price per second | 5-second video |
  | --- | --- | --- |
  | `480p` | $0.023 | $0.115 |
  | `720p` (default) | $0.046 | $0.23 |
  | `1080p` | $0.092 | $0.46 |

  When `resolution` is omitted, the `720p` price applies.
- Text-to-video, image-to-video and reference-image requests cost the same.
- **Example cost**: the example request asked for 5 seconds at 720p: 5 x $0.046 = **$0.23**.
- **Failed or cancelled predictions are not billed.**
- **GET requests to check prediction status** are free and don't count toward API unit usage.
- **No monthly subscription fee.**

## API Documentation

### Base URL
All API requests go to: `https://prod.api.market/api/v1/magicapi/text-image-video-generator-bytedance-seedance-1-lite`

### Authentication
Send your api.market API key in the `x-api-market-key` header:
```
x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY
```

### Asynchronous Processing
**IMPORTANT**: This API is asynchronous. The flow is:
1. Send a POST request to `/predictions`. A successful request returns **201 Created** with a prediction `id` and a `status` of `starting` or `processing`.
2. Poll GET `/predictions/{id}` with that ID.
3. Keep polling while `status` is `starting` or `processing`.
4. Stop when `status` is `succeeded` (read `output`), `failed` or `canceled` (read `error`).

A polling interval of 2 seconds and an overall timeout of 600 seconds (10 minutes) work well. The example took about 42 seconds.

### Endpoints

#### Create a Prediction
```bash
curl -X POST "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/magicapi/text-image-video-generator-bytedance-seedance-1-lite/predictions" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "version": "bytedance/seedance-1-lite",
    "input": {
      "fps": 24,
      "prompt": "a woman walks in the park",
      "duration": 5,
      "resolution": "720p",
      "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
      "camera_fixed": false
    }
  }'
```

Response (201 Created):
```json
{
  "id": "1hd2x18k8hrmy0d1c6qsy0jv84",
  "version": "bytedance/seedance-1-lite",
  "status": "starting",
  "created_at": "2026-10-22T03:37:06.314Z"
}
```

#### Check Prediction Status
```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/magicapi/text-image-video-generator-bytedance-seedance-1-lite/predictions/{id}" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
```

Response when the prediction has finished (200 OK):
```json
{
  "id": "1hd2x18k8hrmy0d1c6qsy0jv84",
  "status": "succeeded",
  "output": "https://blog.api.market/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/seedance-1-lite-output-1hd2x18k-api-market.mp4",
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2026-10-22T03:37:06.314Z",
  "started_at": "2026-10-22T03:37:06.514Z",
  "completed_at": "2026-10-22T03:37:48.414Z"
}
```

`output` is a single URL string pointing to the generated MP4 video.

### Status Codes
- **201 Created**: prediction created (POST `/predictions`). This is the normal success response.
- **200 OK**: prediction details returned (GET `/predictions/{id}`).
- **400 Bad Request**: invalid input, for example a missing `prompt`, a `duration` outside 4 to 12, or `reference_images` combined with `1080p`.
- **401 Unauthorized**: missing or invalid API key.
- **404 Not Found**: no prediction with that ID.
- **429 Too Many Requests**: rate limit exceeded.
- **500 Internal Server Error** or **503 Service Unavailable**: temporary server problem; retry later.

## Rate Limits
All plans allow 10 requests per second. Requests above that return `429 Too Many Requests`; back off before retrying and honour any `Retry-After` header. Polling a prediction with GET is free but still counts toward the per-second limit, so poll every 1 to 5 seconds rather than in a tight loop.
## Error Handling
- Check the HTTP status code of every request and read the response body for the error message.
- A prediction can also end with `status` set to `failed`; the `error` field then explains why. Failed predictions are not billed.
- Retry 429, 500 and 503 responses with exponential backoff. Fix the input before retrying a 400.

## Implementation Guide
### Example Code

#### JavaScript
```javascript
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY";
const baseUrl = "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/magicapi/text-image-video-generator-bytedance-seedance-1-lite";

async function createAndWaitForPrediction(input) {
  const response = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/predictions`, {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      "x-api-market-key": apiKey
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ version: "bytedance/seedance-1-lite", input })
  });

  if (response.status !== 201) {
    throw new Error(`API error: ${response.status} ${await response.text()}`);
  }

  const prediction = await response.json();
  return pollForResults(prediction.id);
}

const delay = (ms) => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));

async function pollForResults(predictionId) {
  const maxTimeout = 600000;
  const pollInterval = 2000;
  const startTime = Date.now();

  while (Date.now() - startTime < maxTimeout) {
    const response = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/predictions/${predictionId}`, {
      headers: { "x-api-market-key": apiKey }
    });

    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error(`API error: ${response.status} ${await response.text()}`);
    }

    const prediction = await response.json();

    if (prediction.status === "succeeded") {
      return prediction.output;
    }

    if (prediction.status === "failed" || prediction.status === "canceled") {
      throw new Error(`Prediction ${prediction.status}: ${prediction.error || "Unknown error"}`);
    }

    await delay(pollInterval);
  }

  throw new Error("Prediction timed out after 10 minutes");
}

createAndWaitForPrediction({
    "fps": 24,
    "prompt": "a woman walks in the park",
    "duration": 5,
    "resolution": "720p",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
    "camera_fixed": false
  }).then((output) => console.log(output));
```

#### Python
```python
import time
import requests

API_KEY = "YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
BASE_URL = "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/magicapi/text-image-video-generator-bytedance-seedance-1-lite"


def create_and_wait_for_prediction(input_data):
    headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json", "x-api-market-key": API_KEY}
    response = requests.post(
        f"{BASE_URL}/predictions",
        headers=headers,
        json={"version": "bytedance/seedance-1-lite", "input": input_data},
    )

    if response.status_code != 201:
        raise Exception(f"API error: {response.status_code} {response.text}")

    return poll_for_results(response.json()["id"])


def poll_for_results(prediction_id):
    max_timeout = 600
    poll_interval = 2
    headers = {"x-api-market-key": API_KEY}
    start_time = time.time()

    while time.time() - start_time < max_timeout:
        response = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/predictions/{prediction_id}", headers=headers)

        if response.status_code != 200:
            raise Exception(f"API error: {response.status_code} {response.text}")

        prediction = response.json()

        if prediction["status"] == "succeeded":
            return prediction["output"]

        if prediction["status"] in ("failed", "canceled"):
            raise Exception(f"Prediction {prediction['status']}: {prediction.get('error') or 'Unknown error'}")

        time.sleep(poll_interval)

    raise Exception("Prediction timed out after 10 minutes")


print(create_and_wait_for_prediction({
    "fps": 24,
    "prompt": "a woman walks in the park",
    "duration": 5,
    "resolution": "720p",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
    "camera_fixed": False
}))
```

## FAQ
- **How long can a video be?**
  - 4 to 12 seconds, set with `duration` (default 5). You pay for the duration you request.
- **How much does a video cost?**
  - $0.023 per second at 480p, $0.046 at 720p (default) and $0.092 at 1080p. A 5-second 720p video costs $0.23.
- **How do I animate an image?**
  - Pass it as `image`; it becomes the first frame. Add `last_frame_image` to set the last frame too. `aspect_ratio` is ignored when an image is used.
- **Can I combine reference images with 1080p?**
  - No. `reference_images` cannot be used with 1080p or with first or last frame images.
- **Is the 201 response from POST an error?**
  - No. 201 Created means the prediction was accepted. Use the returned `id` to poll GET `/predictions/{id}` until `status` is `succeeded`, `failed` or `canceled`.
- **What if my prediction fails?**
  - Failed predictions are not billed. Read the `error` field, adjust the input and try again.

## Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach out to us through the embedded chat on the bottom right corner of the page or send an email to hello@magicapi.com.


Seedance 1 Lite API by ByteDance: create 4 to 12 second videos at 480p to 1080p from text, a first frame image or reference images. Pay per second.