Text, first frame, or references — pick the MiniMax H3 path before you render

If you open an AI video tool and immediately smash “generate,” you are making a production decision by accident. On TryH3, MiniMax H3 exposes three input paths—Text to Video, Image to Video, and Reference to Video. They share one credit gate (opening-frame review at 0 render credits, then a quoted full render), but they are not interchangeable.

This post is a chooser: when to use which path before you spend 25, 52, or more credits on a full clip. I am writing it the way I wish dashboards labeled their tabs—by input you already have, not by buzzwords.

Shared rules (all three paths)

Read these once so the per-path sections stay short:

• Clip length 4–15 s; quality 768P or native 2K; synced stereo audio generated with the scene.
• Six aspect ratios on text path (16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 21:9); image path can follow the upload.
• Prompt budget 7000 characters where a prompt exists.
• Visual / opening-frame review: 0 render credits. Full render starts after you confirm the quote.
• Example quotes from pricing: 25 credits for 5s · 768P; 52 for 5s · 2K; longer/reference jobs cost more.
• Failed generations refund credits automatically.
• TryH3 is an independent browser workflow — not affiliated with MiniMax.

Quick chooser

You have…	Start here	Why
Only words for subject, camera, sound	Text to Video	Fastest path; one written direction drives picture + motion + audio
A locked still (or start + end stills)	Image to Video	Motion from known frames; ratio follows upload
Identity / motion / rhythm references to hold	Reference to Video	Multimodal guidance with one written tie-breaker

If two rows both seem true, prefer the more constrained path. A signed-off poster frame beats a clever paragraph. A face-reference pack beats hoping text keeps identity stable.

Path 1 — Text to Video

Use when: you can name the shot in prose and you do not yet have a hero frame.

From the text-to-video generator:

• Describe subject, camera, movement, and sound in one pass.
• Durations 4–15 s; six aspect ratios; 768P / 2K (page note: 768P uses fewer credits).
• Tips on-page: 4–6 s for one action; 10–15 s for multi-shot; strong prompts often 30–80 words.
• No separate sound stage—stereo lands with the full render.

Skip this path when: the client already signed off on a poster frame. Jump to Image to Video so you are not re-rolling the still from text.

Mini workflow: write the shot → opening-frame review → if the still is wrong, change one thing (camera line, duration, or ratio) only then accept the quote.

Path 2 — Image to Video (first / last frames)

Use when: composition is already decided in a still—or you know the start and end poses.

From the image-to-video generator:

• One frame = open-ended motion; two frames = controlled transition (in-betweener).
• Formats: JPEG / PNG, ≤ 30 MB, max two images for a first/last pair.
• Output ratio follows the uploaded frame (adaptive / auto).
• Prompt should describe motion, not re-describe the image.
• Match source aspect to the intended output to avoid invented edges (page FAQ).

Skip this path when: you do not have rights to the still, or the still is a tiny compressed screenshot you cannot stand behind. Garbage in still applies.

Path 3 — Reference to Video

Use when: you need identity, camera language, or timing to stay anchored across a cut—character stories, brand motion language, music-timed social beats.

From the reference-to-video generator:

• Images ≤ 9 · video ≤ 3 · audio ≤ 3 (limits depend on selected model).
• Audio cannot be used by itself.
• Roles on-page: image → identity/style; video motion/camera; audio → rhythm/timing.
• Keep one written direction as the tie-breaker; combine with one job per reference intent rather than dumping every file you own.

Skip this path when: you only have a single still and no consistency problem—Image to Video is lighter and clearer.

Decision examples (no invented case studies)

These are decision patterns, not testimonials:

1. Social vertical, idea only → Text to Video, 9:16, 5 s, review opening frame, quote (~25 at 768P).
2. Product hero already shot as a still → Image to Video, one frame, prompt the move/light shift only.
3. Same character across two beats → Reference to Video with identity images; add a short motion video reference only if camera language must match.
4. Music bed timing matters → Reference to Video with audio plus image or video (audio alone is blocked).

Homepage use-case lanes (cinematic, product ads, character stories, social) map cleanly onto that list. The FAQ’s “when is H3 right?” answer—short directed scenes where motion, composition, and synced sound matter together—is the filter for whether you should be here at all.

The credit gate (do this after you pick a path)

1. Pick Text / Image / Reference.
2. Set length + ratio + 768P/2K.
3. Review the opening frame (0 render credits).
4. Read the quote; confirm only if the still works.
5. Wait for the MP4 (homepage FAQ: usually 1–3 minutes).

Packs (optional): first-buy 30% OFF live prices Boost $20.93 / Creator $34.93 / Studio $69.93, credits valid 12 months. Subscriptions available; sub credits do not roll over. Welcome credits = evaluation only; pack/sub credits support commercial use per site FAQ.

Honest limits

• Not a MiniMax affiliate product page—independent workflow (About).
• 4–15 s ceiling; not long-form.
• Reference audio never solo; image uploads capped as above.
• Full renders cost credits; only opening-frame review is free of render credits.
• Upload only media you have rights to use.
• Cash refunds case-by-case; failed gens auto-return credits.

Try it

Pick the path that matches your inputs, then review before you render: https://tryh3.com/. Feedback welcome in the comments—especially if your chooser table differs in production.