We changed the default video duration in one of our recent tests.

I expected it to change the output. I didn't expect it to change the prompts people wrote.

With the shorter default, prompts were usually about one thing happening:

person turns toward the camera

car drives past the building

camera moves slowly toward the product

When we tested a longer starting duration, we started seeing prompts with more going on. Someone would describe an action, then a camera change, then something else happening near the end.

I don't have enough data to call this a pattern yet. It was noticeable enough that we started looking at some of the other defaults.

We had treated duration as an output setting. I'm less sure about that now.

We also tried putting more controls on the first screen.

The idea was simple: if the workflow supports more inputs, people should be able to see them.

It looked fine when we built it.

Using it felt a little busy.

We removed some of the controls, put them back, then tried hiding a few until after the first generation. I'm still not sure which version I prefer.

The same issue showed up again when setting up a MiniMax H3 test. There were several kinds of reference input we could make available, but putting every option in front of someone immediately didn't seem especially helpful.

Right now the first step is closer to:

prompt
optional image
generate

Then the other controls become available when they're useful.

This has a downside.

If I already know that I want to work with a specific reference, I don't want the interface making me hunt for it. We've already had a couple of moments internally where the "simpler" version felt slower because we knew exactly which control we wanted.

So we may change it again.

One thing I'm watching now is what people do immediately after the first result.

Do they change the prompt?

Change duration?

Add another reference?

Generate again without touching anything?

That seems more useful than arguing about which version of the first screen looks cleaner.

We're leaving the lighter version in place for now. I want to see which controls people actually go looking for before we move them around again.