# Mirage Video 1

> Run Mirage Video 1 by mirage online or via API. $0.175/sec, no setup.

**URL:** https://inference.sh/apps/mirage/video-1
**Last updated:** 2026-07-29

---

Generate an expressive talking-head video from a portrait image and an audio track using Mirage Video 1, with natural lip sync, eye contact and micro-expressions.

- app: `mirage/video-1`
- maker: [mirage](https://inference.sh/apps/mirage.md)
- category: [video](https://inference.sh/apps/category/video.md)
- tasks: [lip sync](https://inference.sh/apps/tag/lip-sync.md), [talking avatar](https://inference.sh/apps/tag/talking-avatar.md)
- price: $0.175/sec
- runs via: api, javascript and python sdk, belt cli, mcp

## video-1 API Guide

### About
generate an expressive talking-head video from a portrait image and an audio track using mirage video 1, with natural lip sync, eye contact and micro-expressions.

### Get an API Key
Create one in [settings → api keys](https://app.inference.sh/settings/keys). The examples read it from `INFERENCE_API_KEY`.

```bash
export INFERENCE_API_KEY="inf_your_key"
```

### 1. Calling the API

#### Install the Client

```bash
pip install inferencesh
```

#### Run and Get Result
Submit a request and wait for the final result.

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## version @2yf0mb2e pinned
result = client.run({
        "app": "mirage/video-1@2yf0mb2e",
        "input": {
            "image": "https://example.com/file.png",
            "audio": "https://example.com/file.png"
        }
    })

print(result["output"])
```

#### Stream Live Updates
Get real-time progress updates as the task runs.

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## version @2yf0mb2e pinned
## stream=True yields updates as they arrive
for update in client.run({
        "app": "mirage/video-1@2yf0mb2e",
        "input": {
            "image": "https://example.com/file.png",
            "audio": "https://example.com/file.png"
        }
    }, stream=True):
    if update.get("progress"):
        print(f"progress: {update['progress']}%")
    if update.get("output"):
        print(f"output: {update['output']}")
```

#### Run in the Background
Start the task and get its id back right away, then check on it with `GET /tasks/{id}`. It is done when `status` is 10 (completed), 11 (failed) or 12 (cancelled).

```python
import os
from inferencesh import inference, TaskStatus

client = inference(api_key=os.environ["INFERENCE_API_KEY"])

## returns as soon as the task is created
task = client.run({
        "app": "mirage/video-1@2yf0mb2e",
        "input": {
            "image": "https://example.com/file.png",
            "audio": "https://example.com/file.png"
        }
    }, wait=False)

## later: read its current state
state = client.tasks.get(task["id"]).data
if state["status"] == TaskStatus.COMPLETED:
    print(state["output"])
```

### 2. Files

#### Automatic Upload

```python
## local file paths are automatically uploaded
result = client.run({
    "app": "mirage/video-1@2yf0mb2e",
    "input": {
        "image": "/path/to/local/image.png",  # detected & uploaded
        "audio": "https://example.com/audio.mp3",  # url passed through
    }
})
```

#### Manual Upload

```python
## upload and get a hosted URL
file = client.files.upload("/path/to/file.png")
print(file.uri)  # https://cloud.inference.sh/...
```

### 3. Schema

#### Input
- **image** (string) *required*: Portrait image to animate (JPEG or PNG). Use a clear, front-facing shot of a single person in a close to medium framing, with the mouth open. Closed mouths and multiple faces in frame both degrade the result.
- **audio** (string) *required*: Speech audio that drives the performance (WAV or MP3). The output video runs as long as this clip. Expressive, natural-sounding audio gives the best result — audibly synthetic voices look worse on screen.

#### Output
- **video** (string): The generated talking-head video.
- **video_id** (string): Mirage video ID for this generation, useful when following up on a specific run with support.

## other video apps

- [VACE](https://inference.sh/apps/pruna/vace.md): $0.40/video
- [P-Video-Animate](https://inference.sh/apps/pruna/p-video-animate.md): $0.03/sec 720p, $0.06/sec 1080p
- [P-Video-Upscale](https://inference.sh/apps/pruna/p-video-upscale.md): Std: $0.01/sec 720p, $0.02 1080p, $0.04 2k, $0.08 4k; high fps 2x
- [P-Video-2-Pro-Avatar](https://inference.sh/apps/pruna/p-video-2-pro-avatar.md): $0.02/sec 480p, $0.04/sec 768p, $0.06/sec 1080p, $0.08/sec 2k, $0.12/sec 4k
- [P-Video-2-Pro-Reference](https://inference.sh/apps/pruna/p-video-2-pro-reference.md): Output: cost $0.015-$0.105/sec, speed $0.02-$0.115/sec. Ref video: $0.03-$0.06/sec. Ref img: $0.005/img. Ref audio: $0.0015-$0.0025/sec

## faq

### how much does Mirage Video 1 cost?

$0.175/sec. you pay per run from your inference shell credits. no subscription is required.

### how do I run Mirage Video 1 via api?

call mirage/video-1 with the javascript or python sdk, the rest api, or `belt app run mirage/video-1` from a terminal. the api reference on this page lists every input.

### who makes Mirage Video 1?

Mirage Video 1 is made by mirage and runs on inference shell. every mirage app is listed at https://inference.sh/apps/mirage.

### can my agent use Mirage Video 1?

yes. agents call it as a tool through the inference shell mcp server (https://api.inference.sh/mcp), the belt cli or the sdk, and pay per run like you do.

### what are the alternatives to Mirage Video 1?

other video apps on inference shell include VACE, P-Video-Animate, P-Video-Upscale, P-Video-2-Pro-Avatar. they run through the same api, so switching is a one-line change.