TEKWITCH / TOYS
BANDER FAQ
The media is the editor.
Start with the stable version. When you need a specific control, failure, or proof, find it here.
FIRST RUN · CONTROLS · AUDIO · EXPORT · VERSIONS
START WITH THE ACTUAL THING
Start with a clip.
The stable version is the predictable starting point. No account, no installation, and no source-video upload to TEKWITCH.
FIRST THREE MOVES
- Open Bander releases and select WEB VERSION under CURRENT STABLE.
- In an empty band choose the visible + source control, select a compatible local video, and repeat for additional bands.
- Use the global Play control to preview. Drag the video to adjust the crop or use the pointer wheel to zoom on desktop.
Need the full version? OPEN THE FIRST-RUN ANSWER ↓
QUESTIONS ABOUT BANDER
25 answers. No manual required.
Browse 25 common questions or open the 22-entry detailed reference. Search covers both, and you can filter for stable or experimental releases.
47 QUESTIONS · 8 TOPICS
Starting and versions
01What can I make with Bander?BOTH LINES
Combine local video and audio into an arrangement of bands. Set each band's crop and loop, choose what you hear, preview the composition, then export the result.
02Should I use stable or experimental Bander?BOTH LINES
Use stable for making media. Experimental builds are snapshots of new work, with their own permanent proof links; features may differ from stable or from one experiment to the next.
04What's the quickest way to try Bander?BOTH LINES
Open the stable web version, choose a local video in an empty band, add another, and press Play. You can experiment with crop and loop points before exporting.
- Open Bander releases and select WEB VERSION under CURRENT STABLE.
- In an empty band choose the visible + source control, select a compatible local video, and repeat for additional bands.
- Use the global Play control to preview. Drag the video to adjust the crop or use the pointer wheel to zoom on desktop.
- Open the in-app ? Controls reference to find the export control before trying a short render.
08Do I need an account or installation?BOTH LINES
No account or installation is needed for Bander's web version. If you want to run the stable release without an internet connection, use its separately packaged offline edition.
- To run online, open Bander releases and choose WEB VERSION under CURRENT STABLE.
- To keep an offline copy, open the stable offline page, use its download action, extract the ZIP, and open the named HTML entry file inside the extracted folder.
Media and compatibility
10Which media files can Bander play?BOTH LINES
Formats depend on your browser's decoders. H.264/AAC MP4 is a useful first test, but a file ending in .mp4 isn't necessarily encoded in a compatible way.
- Try playing the file directly in the same browser outside Bander.
- If it fails there, test a small known-working H.264/AAC MP4 in that browser.
- Load the known-working file into Bander using an empty-band + picker. If it works while your original fails, record the original container/codec details for troubleshooting.
12Does Bander work with touch or pen?BOTH LINES
Some builds support tap, drag, pinch, and held-press actions. Check the ? Controls reference inside the exact build you're using; not every gesture is available everywhere.
- Open the version you intend to use and its ? Controls reference.
- Tap an empty band to choose a file. Tap the target band before manipulating it.
- For a secondary action, follow the release's sustained-press indication; move away to cancel if the control visibly offers it. For crop, drag; for zoom, pinch.
- If the described control is absent, do not substitute an undocumented gesture: report the release identity through the appropriate support route.
13Why won't my video load?BOTH LINES
The browser may not decode the file, or the device may be running short of resources. Test the file directly in the same browser, then try a smaller known-working MP4 in Bander.
- Try the same file directly in your browser, outside Bander, to test basic decoding.
- Return to the empty/failed Bander band; choose its + source picker and retry a smaller known-working file.
- Note whether the band stays empty, displays an error, or loads without a visible frame.
- Record the browser/device, the Bander identity from the releases archive, and non-sensitive error text. Stable questions may use WORK; experimental questions go to live Twitch chat only.
Composition and controls
15Why bands instead of a timeline?BOTH LINES
The media itself is the control surface. You work on the picture—framing, looping, position, and audio—rather than arranging clips along a conventional editing timeline.
16What do IN and OUT do?BOTH LINES
They mark the section of a loaded clip that repeats. Adjust them on the band's timeline; the original file stays unchanged.
- Load a video, focus its band, and find the timeline shown for the focused band.
- Drag the IN and OUT triangles to choose the loop boundaries. The loop must remain at least two source frames long.
- On desktop, Shift-drag a boundary to move the entire interval without changing its length. The exact touch equivalent is described by the in-app ? Controls reference.
- Press Play to hear and see the selected loop.
17Can I crop or zoom without changing my original video?BOTH LINES
Yes. Drag and zoom inside the band to change how its video appears in the composition. The source file remains untouched.
- Load the video into a band.
- On desktop, drag the picture inside that band to reposition its crop.
- Use the pointer wheel to zoom on desktop, or pinch to zoom on touch hardware.
- Preview the result in Bander; your original local file remains unchanged.
19Where did the controls go?BOTH LINES
Bander hides its controls when you're not using them. Move the pointer to bring them back; if Clean View is on, use the eye control to return to editing.
- Move the pointer across the canvas to reveal the global controls on desktop.
- Place the pointer over the global capsule to keep it visible while deciding what to do.
- If Clean View is active, use the revealed eye control to return to the normal interface.
- Open ? for the Controls reference when the controls are visible.
Audio and orchestration
21Can several bands play audio together?BOTH LINES
In builds with multiple audio contributors, yes. Each band's ♪ control determines whether it contributes sound. Choosing the orchestrator is a separate decision.
- Focus a band and locate its ♪ audio control.
- Use ordinary click/tap to toggle that band's audio-contributor selection. Repeat on other bands to include more than one contributor where supported.
- Use global mute to compare muted and active output without changing selections.
- If the version supports only an older audio model, check the ? Controls reference and give its identity when asking for help.
22What does an orchestrator band do?BOTH LINES
It supplies the timing reference for music-responsive behavior. It doesn't have to be audible, and audible bands don't have to be orchestrators.
- Load a band containing usable audio.
- On supported desktop builds, Shift-click its ♪ control to designate it as orchestrator; on touch/pen use the sustained-press secondary action.
- Use ordinary click/tap on ♪ separately if you want that band to contribute audible audio.
- If the orchestration control is absent in your build, consult ? and report its identity rather than assuming the feature exists.
25What is Beat This?BOTH LINES
Beat This analyzes music locally in the browser so Bander can respond to its timing. Its output is an interpretation of the track, not an infallible musical judgment.
- Open the specific Bander release you plan to use.
- Load music into a compatible band and use that build's ? Controls reference to locate its orchestration/Beat This action, if present.
- Compare the analysis with the audible timing before using it as your composition's reference. If no action appears, the chosen release may not expose it.
Export and results
27How do I save a composition as a video?BOTH LINES
Use the composition-wide Export control after arranging and previewing the bands. Bander renders locally in your browser, then lets you save the resulting media file.
- Load and arrange playable media, set the intended loop ranges, and preview them.
- Find the composition-wide ↓ Export control in the global capsule, rather than a source-file download link.
- Start a short export and wait for the progress indicator to complete.
- Use the browser's download/save behavior to keep the resulting media file on your device, then play it to confirm picture and audio.
28Will my export be MP4?BOTH LINES
Not necessarily. Browser-native Bander export has commonly produced WebM. Check the actual download and your destination app's supported formats; renaming the extension doesn't convert it.
- Complete a short Bander export.
- Locate the file in your browser's Downloads list or chosen download folder.
- Check the file extension and open it in your intended playback or publishing application.
- If the destination rejects it, record the actual filename/extension and target application; do not rename a WebM file to .mp4 as a substitute for conversion.
30Why does export sound different from preview?BOTH LINES
Check global mute and which bands contribute audio. The orchestrator sets timing, not audibility. Test a short export and compare the saved file with preview.
- Play the composition and confirm sound is audible before export.
- Check global mute and ordinary ♪ contributor selection on the intended audio bands; orchestration designation alone does not make a band audible.
- Export a short excerpt and play the downloaded file outside Bander.
- If preview and file differ, bring the exact Bander identity, browser version, and expected/actual audio behavior to the appropriate help route.
32What is Enhanced Export?EXPERIMENTAL ONLY
Experimental proofs explore alternative aspect ratios, layout review, approval, and multiple renders. Controls change between proofs; follow the interface of the exact version you opened.
- From Bander releases, choose LATEST EXPERIMENT or a specific historical experimental row.
- Read the Bander version displayed in the archive label for that proof and save its permanent URL.
- Open its Enhanced Export workflow only if that proof exposes it; follow the onscreen review and approval states of that proof rather than older screenshots.
- For discrepancies, discuss that exact proof in live Twitch chat. Experimental Bander has no asynchronous support.
Privacy and offline
35Does Bander upload my source media?BOTH LINES
No. Its first-party browser app reads the media on your device and performs playback and export locally. Opening the app itself still involves ordinary website requests.
- Open a Bander release in your browser.
- Select a media file using the empty-band + control. This invokes the browser's local file picker, not a web upload form.
- Play or export locally. Bander's own architecture does not submit that source file to TEKWITCH.
- Do not treat this as protection from compromised browsers, extensions, or operating systems.
36Can I use Bander offline?STABLE ONLY
Yes, for the separately packaged stable 140a edition. Download and extract the whole archive, then open its HTML entry file in a supported browser.
- Open the Stable Bander offline page linked below.
- Use its explicit download button to save the verified ZIP.
- Extract the entire ZIP to a local folder; do not launch the HTML directly inside the ZIP archive.
- Open the Bander 140a stable HTML entry inside the extracted folder in a supported browser.
Licensing and support
39Does Bander cost anything?BOTH LINES
Bander's current web version does not require payment, activation, or an account. Its published permissions specify which personal and commercial uses are covered.
- Open Bander releases and use its Licensing link to read the terms applicable to the present release.
- Determine whether you are using Bander itself, monetizing videos made with Bander, or distributing Bander to others.
- If your use involves hosting or distributing Bander, read the restrictions in the governing license before proceeding; don't infer rights from the fact that the application is free to run.
40Can I monetize work made with Bander?BOTH LINES
Eligible independent creators can monetize their own media under Independent Creator Commercial Permission 2.0 without a software fee. Distributing or embedding Bander itself is different.
- Open the Independent Creator Commercial Permission 2.0 using the link below.
- Read its eligibility and scope conditions, then identify whether you are selling your own created media or distributing Bander as software.
- If your arrangement falls outside those permissions, use WORK to propose a separate service or integration arrangement. Do not assume additional distribution rights.
41Where can I get help with stable Bander?STABLE ONLY
Ask in TEKWITCH's live Twitch room. For private or asynchronous questions about stable Bander, use WORK. Include the version, browser, and a short description of what happened.
- Look through the Bander FAQ and open the stable WEB VERSION from the release archive to reproduce the problem.
- Record the displayed stable Bander version, browser/device, what you tried, and what happened.
- For public live conversation, use the Twitch community linked from SUPPORT when TEKWITCH is streaming; do not share private media or credentials.
- For private text, use the SUPPORT link to WORK, select Bander — stable, and prepare and send the email yourself.
42Where can I ask about an experimental proof?EXPERIMENTAL ONLY
Bring the proof's permanent link and your question to TEKWITCH's live Twitch chat. Experimental builds do not have asynchronous support.
- Open Bander releases and note the version displayed in the archive proof label and permanent URL for the experiment you are testing.
- Visit the TEKWITCH Twitch community during a live stream and ask in chat, describing the proof identity, the steps tried, and the observed behavior.
- Do not send the experimental issue through WORK; if the channel is offline, wait for a live session.
Troubleshooting
45Why is my exported video blank?BOTH LINES
Check that your source bands display actual frames and that their loop ranges and crop show what you intend. Try a short export with one known-working file.
- Confirm each intended band displays an actual frame during playback.
- Inspect its IN/OUT range and crop so the selected image should be visible.
- Render a short test with one known-working clip and play the downloaded file outside Bander.
- If still blank, note which test failed and identify the precise release before asking for help.
DETAILED CONTROLS + TROUBLESHOOTING · 22 ENTRIES
Specific gestures, version details, audio, export, and diagnostics. You can also search these entries above.
Starting and versions
03How can I check which version I'm using?BOTH LINES
The archive identifies the current stable and current experimental versions. Every preserved experiment has its own link, so record the exact proof rather than relying on 'latest'.
- Open the Bander releases archive using the link below (or choose OTHER VERSIONS on the TOYS Bander section).
- Read the heading of the CURRENT STABLE card (for example, Bander 140a) or LATEST EXPERIMENT card (a version displayed in the archive identity).
- For an older build, open Complete archive and locate the entry you actually launched. Copy the exact proof page URL from your browser address bar.
- When comparing behavior or asking for help, include that displayed Bander identity and URL. For experimental questions, include the permanent proof URL.
05Where is the stable release?BOTH LINES
Open the Bander release archive and choose CURRENT STABLE. Its web version runs in your browser; a separate offline download is available for the stable edition.
- Open the Bander releases archive using the direct link under this answer.
- Find CURRENT STABLE and read the Bander version printed above WEB VERSION.
- Choose WEB VERSION to run it, or OFFLINE VERSION to get the download instructions. The displayed version is the identity to report.
06Where are the experimental versions?BOTH LINES
The Bander archive shows the latest experiment and a history of immutable proofs. Choose the exact version you want to inspect; an experimental proof isn't the stable release.
- Open the Bander releases archive using the direct link under this answer.
- Find LATEST EXPERIMENT for its Bander version displayed in the archive label and WEB VERSION link.
- To find an older experiment, expand Complete archive, select the corresponding Bander-labeled entry, and copy its page URL.
- Use the proof's label and permanent link when asking about that build in live Twitch chat. There is no asynchronous support for experimental Bander.
07Why do proof numbers and commit links matter?BOTH LINES
A proof number names a particular build. Its permanent source-commit link lets you return to that exact version or show what changed; it isn't a quality grade.
- Open the release archive and read the displayed Bander version (for example, 140a or a version displayed in the archive suffix).
- For an experimental row in Complete archive, copy its permanent URL; the long hexadecimal segment identifies the exact published source.
- For a retained older proof, open its record and find Provenance → Identity and Source commit. Share the version and that record URL when relevant.
Media and compatibility
09How do I load my own media?BOTH LINES
Use the + picker on an empty band to choose a file on your device. Choose files for additional bands the same way; Bander doesn't submit source videos to TEKWITCH.
- Open a runnable Bander release.
- Find an empty band and choose its + source picker (or activate the empty band).
- Select a local media file your browser can decode. Repeat in another band if needed. A loaded band can be replaced by double-clicking its video area on desktop.
11Which browser works best?BOTH LINES
Start with a current desktop Chromium-family browser. Mobile and other browsers may work, but decoding, audio analysis, controls, and export can behave differently.
14Can one clip appear in several bands?BOTH LINES
Yes. Load the file into each band that needs it, then set its framing, loop, and audio independently. Clone shortcuts vary by version.
- Load a compatible file into one empty band.
- In another empty band, use its own + picker and select the same local file if that is the desired source.
- Adjust its loop and framing independently. Consult the running version's ? Controls reference if you specifically want the build's clone or move gesture.
Composition and controls
18How do I reorder bands?BOTH LINES
Use the ordering controls on the band you want to move. For clone and secondary actions, consult the ? Controls reference in the build you're running.
- Open the current Bander app and focus a loaded band (pointer focus on desktop; tap on touch).
- Use the previous/next ordering arrows attached to that band to change its position.
- For a clone or secondary move, open the ? Controls reference on that version and follow its listed modifier or hold gesture.
20How do I cancel a gesture?BOTH LINES
Some touch or pen actions can be canceled by moving away before release. Escape closes certain open control clusters. The exact behavior is listed in the running build's ? Controls reference.
- For a held touch/pen action, keep contact while the target visibly changes to its secondary-action state.
- If you do not want that action, move away from the target before release where the build provides cancellation.
- For an attached configuration cluster, Escape closes the cluster before returning to ordinary editing.
- Use that version's ? Controls reference for the exact operation; don't assume a generic global Undo is available.
Audio and orchestration
23Is orchestrating the same as playing audio?BOTH LINES
No. Audio contributors determine what you hear; one orchestrator sets the timing reference, where that feature is supported.
- Locate ♪ on a loaded band. Ordinary click/tap toggles audio contribution in builds using the accepted model.
- Shift-click (desktop) or sustained-press (touch) selects its orchestrator role where supported.
- To make a silent orchestrator, leave the orchestrator role active but turn off ordinary audio contribution for that band.
- Use the running build's ? Controls reference if it predates the plural-contributor interaction.
24Does global mute forget my audio selections?BOTH LINES
No in the multiple-contributor design. Global mute silences playback temporarily without clearing which bands contribute audio.
- Find the global speaker mute/unmute control in the top-level capsule.
- Mute while the composition is playing; confirm that audio stops.
- Unmute and listen for the previously selected audio contributors. If they are missing, note the exact build identity and current contributor indicators.
26Can I work with audio without a music video?BOTH LINES
Music belongs to a band, not a separate global soundtrack. Some releases accept audio-only sources; check the file picker and ? Controls reference for your version.
- Open the Bander release you want to use from the archive.
- Open its ? Controls reference, and check whether that release accepts audio-only files as band sources.
- If it does, choose an empty band's + file picker and select the audio file, then use its ♪ controls as documented for that build.
- If the audio-only file is rejected or its controls are absent, do not assume the feature exists in that version. For experiments, ask in live Twitch chat with the exact proof identity.
Export and results
29How long will an export be?BOTH LINES
Duration follows the version's export workflow and chosen loops or timing options—not necessarily the original file length. Render a short test if duration matters.
- Before exporting, set and preview each loaded band's intended IN/OUT loop.
- Open the composition-wide Export control and read any duration or frame-total information the active build shows.
- Render a short test and inspect the finished file's playback duration.
- If the export UI provides no duration information, use the resulting file rather than assuming a particular length.
31Why is export slow or stalled?BOTH LINES
Your device is decoding and rendering the media. Large source files, simultaneous bands, and demanding output settings can exhaust available graphics, memory, or encoding capacity.
- Try a much shorter composition with a single known-compatible source.
- Reduce source resolution or simultaneous media where practical and retry.
- Watch for an explicit progress or error state; do not assume silence means completion.
- If the small test succeeds and the larger one fails, report the version, source size/resolution and observed state without uploading private media.
33Can I save or share custom export ratios?EXPERIMENTAL ONLY
Some experimental proofs let you define ratios and save, import, or export profiles as JSON. Look for those controls in the proof you're using; they're not part of stable 140a.
- Open the exact experiment from the release archive; record its Bander identity and permanent URL.
- If its Enhanced Export exposes a Custom ratios toggle, open it and use the visible + action to add a ratio row.
- Edit the ratio/dimension fields, save using the row's feedback, and use its labeled Import or Export controls if present.
- Verify the resulting media dimensions by playing or inspecting a saved test export. If those controls are absent, ask in live Twitch chat about that proof.
34Why does a build ask me to approve a layout?EXPERIMENTAL ONLY
Some experimental export workflows separate approving a composition's framing from rendering the actual file. Review the panel, approve if needed, render, then save.
- Open the specific experimental proof and its Enhanced Export review.
- Inspect the status shown on the selected ratio panel; an unapproved panel is not ready to be treated as approved.
- Use the panel's visible Approve action before Render, then Save after rendering completes, when that sequence is present.
- Verify the saved file itself. If the workflow differs, identify the proof and ask in live Twitch chat rather than applying instructions from another version.
Privacy and offline
37What's the difference between downloading Bander and exporting?BOTH LINES
Downloading Bander saves the application. Exporting saves a video or audio result you made with it.
38Is Bander safe for untrusted files?BOTH LINES
Bander's local processing is not a security sandbox. Browser, extension, system, or file vulnerabilities remain possible; don't open untrusted media on an insecure device.
Licensing and support
43Will these controls match every experiment?EXPERIMENTAL ONLY
Not always. Experimental behavior evolves. Use the ? Controls reference in the exact proof you opened when instructions differ.
- Open the exact experimental proof from the release archive and note its identifier.
- Use the ? Controls help and visible current UI within that proof to identify how its controls behave.
- If that proof disagrees with this FAQ, discuss the particular action and permanent proof URL in live Twitch chat. Do not file an asynchronous experimental support request.
44What makes a useful bug report?BOTH LINES
Give the exact Bander version or proof URL, browser and device, steps to reproduce, and expected versus actual behavior. Keep private media and credentials out of public chat.
- Open the Bander release archive and copy the exact stable version or experimental proof label and URL.
- Note your browser and device, plus whether you used mouse, touch, or pen.
- Write the smallest sequence that reproduces the issue, what you expected, what actually happened, and any non-sensitive error message.
- For stable, use Twitch or WORK. For experimental, use live Twitch chat only. Never put passwords, account details, or private recordings into public chat.
Troubleshooting
46What if an export stops progressing?BOTH LINES
Check the progress or error display, then try a short composition with a smaller compatible file. An unfinished render is not a saved file.
- Check whether the export control still shows progress or a visible error.
- Wait for the explicit download/save completion state; do not assume a file was produced.
- If stalled, retry a brief composition using one smaller known-working input and compare.
- If still reproducible, report the exact Bander version, browser, and progress state without uploading source videos.
47Why is Bander different on another computer?BOTH LINES
Browsers and hardware differ in codecs, graphics, memory, and input behavior. Compare the same proof and a small test file on both devices before assuming the project changed.
- Open the same identified Bander stable release or immutable experimental proof link on both devices.
- Try the same small compatible source file, comparable loop points and the same operation.
- Record the two browser/device versions and what differs; for experimental, include the permanent proof URL.
- Ask for stable help via SUPPORT, or discuss experimental behavior during live Twitch chat.
No matching answers. Try another term or show all release lines.