Key findings
- Across 30+ models, a standard 5-second clip rendered in ~33s to ~540s — a 16× spread.
- The median render time was ~150 seconds; "fast/turbo" tiers clustered well under a minute.
- Render time scales with resolution, duration and native-audio synthesis, not just the model.
- Per-model time estimates now drive Vivideo's loading bar, so the wait is shown, not guessed.
Why we measured this
The single most common question new users ask is "how long will this take?" Until now the honest answer was "it depends" — on the model, the resolution, the length, and whether the clip carries native audio. We wanted a real answer, so we timed the same standard text-to-video prompt across every model available on Vivideo and recorded wall-clock time from submit to a finished, playable clip.
The result is less a leaderboard than a map: there is no single "fast" or "slow" — there is a band, and where a model sits in that band tells you what to reach for when you are iterating versus when you are rendering a final cut.
The spread
A standard 5-second clip rendered in roughly 33 seconds at the fast end and close to 9 minutes (≈540s) at the slow end — about a 16× difference. The median landed near 150 seconds. The fastest results came from the "fast" and "turbo" tiers that trade a little fidelity for speed; the slowest were the highest-fidelity, longer-duration and 4K-with-audio renders.
| Tier | Typical render time | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Fast / Turbo | ~30–60s | Iterating on prompts, drafts, social drafts |
| Standard | ~90–180s | Most finished social + marketing clips |
| High-fidelity / 4K / audio | ~180–540s | Hero shots, final cuts, cinematic output |
What actually drives the wait
Resolution is the biggest lever: 4K renders take materially longer than 1080p. Duration is next — a 10-second clip is not simply twice a 5-second one, but it is consistently slower. Native audio synthesis adds time on the models that produce it. And queue load matters: at peak hours every model is a little slower, which is why we report bands, not single numbers.
What we did with it
We folded the per-model measurements into the product. Instead of a flat "please wait" spinner, Vivideo now shows a loading estimate calibrated to the model you picked — so the progress bar reflects reality. The practical takeaway for creators: iterate on a fast tier, then render your final on the high-fidelity model once the prompt is right. You spend the long render once, on the take you are actually going to publish.
